Blood-stained leaves, maggots, tire tracks and all things forensic were discussed and on display during the second day of a Lyndora man's murder trial.

Ishemer Ramsey, 23, is accused of killing his girlfriend, Melissa Barto, on June 8, 2017.

The Butler woman's half-burned body was discovered four days later on a Lawrence County farm.

While DNA and other evidence were discussed Tuesday in the non-jury trial before Common Pleas Judge William Shaffer, Ramsey's lawyer Christopher Capozzi continued to build on his claim from Monday that the case should be declared a mistrial.

State Police Trooper Brian Kershaw continued his testimony Tuesday into his investigation that led him and prosecutors to charge Ramsey with Barto's death.

However, Capozzi also picked up Monday's thread, asking Kershaw if he knew he wasn't supposed to mention at a trial his defendant's right to counsel and remain silent.

“At the time of testimony, I didn't know that wasn't supposed to be mentioned,” Kershaw told Capozzi. “I've never encountered that scenario before.”

Capozzi asked Kershaw if Assistant District Attorney Terri Schultz, who is prosecuting the case, or any of the other prosecutors working on the case had told him not to mention that during the trial.

Kershaw said none of them had mentioned it.

Shaffer said he understood that Capozzi was trying to lay the groundwork for prosecutorial misconduct, which would open the door for a mistrial. With that the trial continued.

Man describes finding body

Schultz next called to the stand Joseph R. Busin, the owner of the Lawrence County property on Old Pulaski Road where Barto's body was found. Driving by that spot in the morning, Busin noticed a big garbage bag.

“I didn't think anything of it. We have a garbage problem,” Busin said.

In the evening, Busin said, he returned to clean it up.

“There was a rotting smell as I got close, thought it was a dead deer,” Busin testified. “The first thing I saw when I got up to it was a hand, a very swollen hand.”

Busin wasn't alone in his first impression. Another officer Schultz called to testify also recalled the state of Barto's body.

State Police Trooper Adam Peth, a member of the Forensic Services Unit, was called to the scene soon after Busin told authorities about his grisly discovery.

Lower half of body burned

“Her body appeared to be burned, especially the lower half,” Peth said. “A lot of bloating. Lots of maggots on her.”

Peth testified observing red rope by Barto's head and the area around her body was burned.

He said he also was called to the area around Mars, where Barto's hair extensions were found. At that location, he found blood on leaves, tire tracks and boot prints, both of which he made casts.

Schultz called former state trooper Garrick Lapusnick to the stand. Now head safety officer at Moniteau School District, Lapusnick was in the same unit as Peth at the time of the investigation.

Lapusnick took photos of Barto in Lawrence County. They were entered into evidence, but prosecutors and Capozzi agreed they wouldn't show the photographs with Barto's family in attendance, according to District Attorney Richard Goldinger, who has been present throughout the trial but not directly questioning witnesses.

Bullet, blood in Ramsey's car

Lapusnick testified he collected Barto's fingernails and her blood-stained clothing as evidence. As part of Lapusnick's investigation, he went through Ramsey's car, a 2004 silver Hyundai Tiburon. He found a bullet lodged in the right door.

After a brief court recess, Lapusnick was further questioned by Schultz and noted the strong scent of bleach and smears in the car.

Capozzi took the opportunity to criticize Schultz's prosecution methods.

He asked Lapusnick if he spoke with anyone during the recess. Lapusnick said he had spoken with Schultz and asked the assistant district attorney to allow him to testify about the smell of bleach he observed in Ramsey's car.

“Did she explain to you that you're on the stand and you can't talk about testimony?” Capozzi said.

After that, Schultz presented a tan shirt Barto was wearing when her body was found.

“It was maggot-infested and wet with body fluids,” Lapusnick said. “It had a little bit of everything.”

All the evidence collected was sent to a Greensburg Regional Crime Lab to be tested for DNA, according to testimony from two forensic scientists.

According to Ashlee Mangan, one of two who examined the evidence, much of the evidence didn't have enough blood on it to determine where it came from.

Melinda Charley, the second forensic scientist, testified Barto's tank top did have her blood on it. She also said Barto's blood was found on the ceiling of Ramsey's Tiburon.

Both specialists also found DNA matching Barto's in the trunk of a Pontiac Grand Am involved in the case.

Leading up to Barto's murder, Ramsey and co-defendant James Howard George were seen driving the Grand Am to a Walmart. The men bought a tarp, 100 feet of red rope and a box of latex gloves, according to surveillance video shown in court Tuesday.

Ramsey's trial continues Wednesday and is expected to go through the end of the week.