DNA found to be Nina Reiser's, forensic expert testifies today

OAKLAND - A expert in forensic investigations testified Wednesday that there is almost no chance blood lifted from a pillar in Hans Reiser's home and blood on a sleeping bag stuff sack found in his car is not that of his estranged wife Nina Reiser.

In fact, the chance is less than 1 in 45 trillion, said Shannon Cavness, a criminalist with the Oakland Police Department who both sides agreed is an expert in forensic biology and DNA analysis

Cavness testified during the second week of a preliminary hearing in Alameda County Superior Court in Oakland for Hans Reiser,

Hans Reiser is charged with murder, even though the body of Nina Reiser has never been found, a rare legal occurrence.

Nina Reiser was last seen about 2 p.m. on Sept. 3 when she dropped off the couple's two children, ages 5 and 7, at Hans Reiser's home in the 6900 block of Exeter Drive in the Oakland hills.

Hans Reiser, 42, and Nina Reiser, 31, were in the midst of a acrimonious divorce when she disappeared.

Cavness said during a Sept. 13 search of the home forensic investigators found two "distinct blood stains" on a pillar inside the living room of the Exeter Drive home.

"The first thing I did was test the stain to determine if that red-brown stain could be blood," said Cavness on the stand Wednesday. Both tested positive for blood, which belonged to a female and a male, she said.

Cavness said tests concluded that DNA samples extracted from Nina Reiser's razor, contact lens case and cotton underpants match DNA samples extracted from the pillar and the sleeping bag stuff sack.

But Hans Reiser's defense attorney William Du Bois argued during cross examination of Cavness there is no way to know how long the blood had been on the pillar or the sleeping bag sack.

Also, he said, moisture or light could have degraded the samples. Cavness testified it was true she does not know what date they were deposited.

Cavness also testified about the condition of Hans Reiser's Honda CRX when forensic investigators collected evidence from it.

"It was quite torn apart, really," she said. The front passenger seat was missing, she said. Cavness also found two store receipts from Kragen Auto Parts for shop towels and Isopropyl alcohol, a common cleaning solvent.

The second receipt from Kragen was for a 40-piece socket set, which was found in the back area of the car. Investigators recovered four loose seat bolts, and a wrench with a socket in it on the right front floor of the car, Cavness said.

Police also found black trash bags, masking tape, and two books, "Homicide, A Year on the Killing Streets," by David Simon, and "Masterpieces of Murder," by Jonathan Goodman. The books were purchased Sept. 8 — five days after Nina Reiser went missing. Both provide detailed accounts of homicide investigations.

After the conclusion of the preliminary hearing — likely in January — Judge Julie Conger will determine whether there is enough evidence to hold a trial. The preliminary hearing continues today.