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Trooper creates timeline in Clemons murder case

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Jordan Clemons, charged with the murder of his ex-girlfriend, arrives at Washington County Courthouse for a 2012 hearing.

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Katie Roupe/Observer-Reporter Jordan Clemons, 26, enters Washington County Courthouse for the start of his trial in the death of Karissa Kunco. The prosecution is seeking the death penalty for Clemons.

Dressed in a crisp white shirt and dark slacks, Jordan Clemons sat at the front of the courtroom Wednesday glued to the large screen that sat a short distance away. Occasionally fidgeting, Clemons watched several surveillance videos depicting his actions in the early hours of Jan. 12, 2012, just hours after Karissa Kunco was last seen alive.

The videos were shown Wednesday in Washington County Court during state police Trooper Thomas Schuster’s testimony on the third day of Clemons’ murder trial. Schuster’s testimony helped to further define the timeline of events between Jan. 11, 2012, and Jan. 12, 2012, when Kunco’s body was discovered in Mt. Pleasant Township.

Investigators said Clemons, after disposing of Kunco’s body, drove around the city of Washington and Cecil Township withdrawing money and purchasing an Xbox 360 gaming system with a debit card Kunco shared with her father, Paul Kunco.

Schuster compiled cellphone and debit card records as a part of his investigation. Surveillance video taken from an automated teller machine in Whitehall about 6 p.m. Jan. 11, 2012, is believed to be the last known image of Kunco. The video shocked her family and friends when it was played for the jury, and many began to cry or left the courtroom.

Kunco’s body was found Jan. 12, 2012, along Sabo Road in Mt. Pleasant Township by two land surveyors. State police allege that after killing her, Clemons, 26, dragged her naked body into the woods and covered it with leaves, brush and a tree stump. Kunco had a protection-from-abuse order against Clemons from Allegheny County Court following a Dec. 18, 2011, assault that left her face bruised and battered. Despite the PFA order, Kunco agreed to meet Clemons the evening of Jan. 11 after he threatened to kill himself, according to social media accounts shown in court.

Investigators were unable to determine exactly when Kunco was killed, placing her time of death in a 12- to 24-hour period. The testimony from the last two days helped establish a timeline of events for the jury.

Several different surveillance videos were played, including those that showed Clemons’ purchasing the gaming system from Walmart in South Strabane Township.

Clemons did not appear intoxicated in the surveillance videos. The defense has suggested that he was under the influence of alcohol or drugs when Kunco was killed.

At one point, Schuster – who interviewed Clemons after he turned himself in about 11:45 p.m. Jan. 12 to state police at the Washington barracks – did mention that he detected an odor of alcohol from Clemons. He said Clemons was not tested for drugs and alcohol, and that he was upset and crying when interviewed. Schuster also said Clemons made mention of a headache.

Clemons, formerly of Canonsburg, could face the death penalty if convicted of killing the 21-year-old Kunco, of Pittsburgh.

First Assistant District Attorney Chad Schneider said he plans to call four more witnesses before the prosecution rests its case, which could happen as early as this afternoon.

Clemons’ attorney, Brian Gorman, said he plans to call at least four witnesses including Clemons’ mother. He would not confirm or deny if Clemons’ would testify on this own behalf. Gorman reiterated the possibility of turning the case over to the jury Friday.

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