Trial begins in alleged LSD-induced 2012 Halloween murder
SANTA ROSA, Calif. (BCN) -- Testimony began in Sonoma County Superior Court Tuesday at the trial of a Santa Rosa man for the alleged drug-induced Halloween murder of a woman three years ago.
Jessy Zetino, 23, is charged with the stabbing murder of Michela Wooldridge, 24, whose body was found outside a business at 1200 4th St. in east Santa Rosa on Nov. 1, 2012.
Wooldridge had recently moved to the Santa Rosa area from Humboldt County, according to Santa Rosa police. Zetino was arrested for her murder on Aug. 19, 2014 based on DNA evidence found at the scene, and he had been at a Halloween party in the area the night before her body was found, according to police.
Zetino's 19-year-old girlfriend at the time, Zoe Kind, of Windsor, testified at Zetino's preliminary hearing in January that he was having a frightening LSD trip and left a party on Halloween night.
Deputy Public Defender Lynne Stark-Slater told the jury in her opening statement this morning that because of his drug-induced state, Zetino did not have the mental ability to intentionally commit murder.
Deputy District Attorney Jane Murray called witnesses who testified about blood drops found on the concrete and the outside window of the Lamp and Shade Shop where Wooldridge's body was found face up with her arms outstretched partially on the sidewalk and driveway.
Murray also presented photos taken after Zetino's arrest of scars on his hands.
Scott Serena, a Santa Rosa Police Department field evidence technician, testified there were puddles containing blood near Wooldridge's body that presented challenges in gathering evidence.