Jury selection for the trial of Tyler Witham-Jordan, accused of murdering his then-girlfriend’s three-year-old daughter, began on Tuesday in Lincoln County Superior Court.
Witham-Jordan, from Edgecomb, faces charges of depraved indifference murder related to the death of Makinzlee Handrahan on Christmas morning, 2022. The child was reportedly killed by blunt-force trauma.
Court clerks stated that jury selection for the case, State of Maine vs. Tyler Witham-Jordan, is expected to last two days. According to court documents, Witham-Jordan’s DNA was found on several items connected to the crime scene, including under the victim’s fingernails, on a broken hairbrush, and on various objects like a towel, shirt, and the child’s diaper. Blood spots were also found on the bathroom wall.
Earlier this September, Witham-Jordan’s defense attorney, Jim Howaniec, contested the inclusion of DNA evidence, claiming that Witham-Jordan’s DNA could have been naturally present in the home, given that he lived there. Additionally, Howaniec attempted to subpoena the mother’s medical records, alleging that the child’s mother might have been responsible for the death. However, the judge denied both requests.
Howaniec argued that the prosecution lacked sufficient evidence for a conviction, stating, “There are no eyewitnesses in this case. They only have a theory and a few DNA cells in a house with many people.”
In contrast, state prosecutor Jennifer Ackerman argued that the DNA evidence, including its presence on the victim’s clothes and fingernails, was crucial for the case. “This type of evidence must be presented to the jury to determine the facts,” she said.
Opening statements are expected to begin later this week after jury selection concludes.