11:00 a.m. Update: After a two hour recess, the defense called several witnesses briefly to the stand.

First, Carl Rothove, a retired forensic chemist with the Missouri State Highway Patrol crime lab. Rothove says Spencer did not have any sign of methamphetamines in her system. At the time of her death Rothove says Spencer did have a blood alcohol level of .18 or two times the legal amount. He testified he did not find any evidence of gun shot residue on the kit performed on Nash in 1982. Special prosecutor Ted Bruce cross examined. Rothove agreed if someone repeatedly washed their hands they could eliminate gun shot residue.

Afternoon Summary Update:

Jennie Boxx was next on the stand. Boxx was a Salem police department
dispatcher in 1982. She says on several occasions Spencer called dispatch
saying she was scared and felt someone was following her. Each time Boxx
says she dispatched officers to walk Spencer to her car after work at the
hospital in Salem.

Then the defense called Regina White. White became the Dent County coroner in January this year. She brought a death certificate prepared by the
original county coroner. According to the certificate, the coroner in 1982
listed Spencer's time of death as 9:10 a.m. on March 11, 1982. In opening
statements the defense said Nash was at home making phone calls to
Spencer's friends and family during that time.

The attorney did not produce any evidence of those phone calls as of Wednesday afternoon. Bruce asked if the former coroner had any scientific training to make that determination. White said she did not know.

Carlson called the man who found Spencer's body with his brother on March
11, 1982. James Nickels says he and his brother went to check on cattle at
a property they rented at the time. The property was used to run cattle at
the time. When Nickels arrived, he says he found evidence of what appeared
to be a "large party." He described walking past beer cans before spotting
a human foot. He says he then called the sheriff's office to investigate.

The defense called Stephanie Beine as their final witness. Beine works as
a DNA analyst for Genetic Tech Incorporated. The company is hired to
analyze evidence. She was paid $165 an hour for her work on Nash's case.