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By DAVID WEISS dweiss@leader.net
Thursday, March 20, 2003 Page: 3A
WILKES-BARRE – A scientist said numerous fibers found on the bodies or
clothing of Elena Herring and her daughter are similar to fibers found on a
sweater prosecutors said belonged to the suspect in their deaths.
Herring and her 6-year-old daughter, Viktoria Ivanova, were found dead
inside their 7 Stark St. home. The sweater was found next door at 5 Stark.
St., police said, where Henry Christopher Stubbs III was staying at the time.
Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas Judge Peter Paul Olszewski Jr. on
Wednesday ruled prosecutors can use the fiber evidence against Stubbs at his
trial in the double homicide next week.
Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty against Stubbs.
His attorneys, Al Flora and Shelley Centini, sought to keep evidence about
the fibers out of the trial. But Olszewski, after hearing testimony from
numerous prosecution witnesses, denied the request.
The evidence could be used to link a single suspect who wore the sweater to
the two deaths. No testimony on Wednesday identified a person who wore the
sweater, but police have previously said Stubbs had worn the green sweater.
Wilkes-Barre police Detective Robert Zavada said he oversaw the collection
of various evidence, including the sweater, at the double block building
before sending it to the state police crime lab, where forensic scientist
Sandra Singer tested the fibers.
She said certain tests show fibers from the bottom of Ivanova’s nightgown,
left foot and underwear, and Herring’s nightgown and couch near her head were
“microscopically consistent” with fibers found on the green sweater.
Microscopically consistent means the fibers “could have originated from
the same source,” she said.
Olszewski’s ruling on the matter was the last major ruling regarding
evidence in the case and sets the stage for jury selection to resume Monday
morning.
Five jurors need to be picked before completing the panel. The trial will
start upon the completion. But Olszewski will still rule on whether the jury
will be sequestered throughout the trial.
David Weiss, a Times Leader staff writer, can be reached at 831-7397.