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Aragon Murder Trial Wraps the Week with Investigator Testimony

(La Junta, CO) -- Edward Aragon could soon learn his fate as testimony wrapped up this week in his murder trial in Otero District court.


"After the 21st, I bugged her for a property list almost on a daily basis."

Defense investigator Joe Areano testified Friday that he was persistent in asking the Rocky Ford Police department for a list of the evidence he was to review in the case of the murder of Amanda Ybarra.



Areano stated under oath on the stand that he was hired by the defense to investigate the case. He told the court he's been an investigator for 35 years. He explained that he completed three dates of viewing evidence, January 21, 2022, February 14, 2022 and February 15, 2022.


The Defense asked Areano to explain what he did when he arrived at the Rocky Ford Police department to examine the evidence on January 21st. Areano replied that the evidence log is a list of the evidence gathered and states where that evidence is kept. Areano explained that he was told by the Rocky Ford Police department that a computer malfunction would prevent him from examining the evidence log. Later, a phone call to him explained that the Feds had the list...CBI maybe.


Areano furthered that this was not common in his years of experience.

On February 14th, however, Areano testified that a box with evidence that had not yet been seen was found. The box contained the following items according to Witness Areano's testimony:


  1. a phone

  2. a sim card

  3. a shower handle

  4. finger nails


Then Areano was asked by the defense to explain the procedure for opening an evidence bag. Areano explained that there are procedures for opening the bag in a different place each time to show how many times evidence had been viewed and taped at the different site.


Areano also was asked to describe the area at the Rocky Ford Police department where evidence was observed. Areano described the room to be, in his opinion, in a state of disarray, with dust, dirt, food, opened chip bags and subway sandwich stuff present and it appeared that employees must eat and drink in that room.

"The surrounding area was just dirty, just dirty, " Arenao elaborated.


Areano told the court that careful steps must be taken and best p