Photos Of Slain Mother Found Inside SUV Shown To Jury

JOLIET, IL — As several family members of Joliet gunshot victim Maya Smith sat in the courtroom, Will County prosecutors showed the jury saw several crime-scene photographs from Joliet police evidence technicians showing her body in the silver sports utility vehicle.

On Wednesday morning, Joliet police evidence technician Michael Matutis testified that he recovered eight spent shell casings from inside the silver Nissan sports SUV where the 24-year-old homicide victim was found during the early morning hours of Jan. 8.

The vehicle was discovered shortly after midnight in an alley near Oakland Avenue and Clement Street. Jermaine Mandley, 47, of Bolingbrook, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder two days later. Mandley's Will County jury trial started on Tuesday.

The Joliet police evidence technician testified Wednesday morning that the spent shell casings he recovered from inside the vehicle were Sig Sauer 10mm.

"They are very uncommon rounds," he told jurors.

One of the projectiles was recovered from Maya Smith's left shoulder area, Matutis testified. "This, I collected for evidence," he testified.

After going to the crime scene, Matutis was sent to 605 Ingalls Avenue, an address about seven houses away from the homicide.

Inside, Joliet police confiscated several liquor bottles because "our suspect was at the residence indulging in alcoholic beverages," Matutis testified.

From the victim's vehicle, Joliet police also recovered Maya Smith's purse; her phone was discovered under her body, according to Joliet Police Detective Jonathan Rutkoski.

"I recovered a cell phone from the vehicle, front passenger seat of the vehicle," Rutkoski told the jury.

Joliet Police Detective Stephen Boe showed the jury the pair of designer-ripped blue jeans he recovered from Mandley's address on Harmony Court in Bolingbrook. Joliet police went there during a search warrant following the young mother's murder.

Mandley was not there at the time the warrant was served.

When the pants were recovered, "a Mike Hard's Lemonade cap fell from one of the pockets," Boe testified.

Once Mandley was arrested two days after the homicide, the murder defendant was taken back to the Joliet police station.

"At Joliet Police Station, did you take a buccal swab of the defendant Jermaine Mandley?" prosecutor Tom Slazyk asked.

"I did," Boe answered.

Mandley's jury trial was scheduled to resume shortly after 1 p.m.

It's taking place in Will County Courtroom 405 of Judge Dave Carlson. Mandley is being defended by Will County Public Defenders Zack Strupeck and Phil Villasenor.

Related Joliet Patch coverage:

Murder Defendant's Wife Told Joliet Police Where To Find Him: Trial

Joliet Murder Trial Underway In Slaying Of Young Mother