CASE FILES: Evidence ‘probe’ over before it began at JPD

A review of the probe’s case file shows that the JPD had found the “missing” evidence — three guns, a small amount of drugs and $371 in cash — within days of asking the GBI to look into the matter.

According to the case file, the only apparent direct contact the GBI had with the JPD was an Aug. 1 visit to go over the paperwork documenting the formerly “missing” evidence. All the “missing” evidence had been located by July 23, according to the case file.

JPD Chief Joe Wirthman called for a GBI probe on June 27, saying there had been “possible improprieties dating back three or four years” in the evidence room of the JPD.

But on July 10, Wirthman located a deposit slip in a JPD file that accounted for the $371, according to the case file. The GBI didn’t assign an agent to the matter until the following day, July 11. The $371 had been deposited into a JPD account on March 4, 2004, according to the documents.

On July 23, Wirthman called the GBI and told them all of the “missing” evidence had been located. At that time, the GBI had not yet begun looking into the matter.

According to the case file, the missing drugs were located in a safe used for the training of the department’s K-9 dogs.

Two of the guns thought missing had been returned to their owner in February of this year. Both Wirthman and his evidence room custodian, Amber Mathewson, had signed off to release the guns back to the owner on Feb. 11.

The third gun was found in a group of weapons the department was holding to destroy. Wirthman had signed off on the guns’ destruction in May. They were destroyed on July 29, according to the case file.

GBI agent J.M. Marlar met with Wirthman and Mathewson on Aug. 1 to go over the paperwork. All the paperwork was subsequently sent to District Attorney Rick Bridgeman, who closed the matter on Aug. 8.