ALBIA – Today testimony continued at the Monroe County Courthouse for the murder and arson trial of 27-year-old Patrick Thompson.
Thompson is accused of killing his stepsister, Paige Exline, and her cousin, Shakiah Cockerman, in a fire inside Exline’s home in May 2017.
Today graphic images of the girls’ bodies were shown in the court room. Paige was found in the kitchen under a significant amount of debris and was unrecognizable. Shakiah was found in a bathtub, also badly burned and covered in debris.
Stephanie Yocca, the Criminalist who took the pictures said they identified the girls by their clothing.
Paige and Shakiah died from carbon monoxide poisoning. Experts say they most likely could not breathe and passed out.
Yocca said she did not find the presence of ignitable liquid on Paige, Shakiah or Patrick’s belongings.
“That doesn’t mean it wasn’t present at all, it could have evaporated before I conducted my test,” added Yocca.
Local 5 will continue to give live updates for the duration of the Patrick Thompson trial.