Crime-scene investigator testifies to photos, parts and firearm recovered in two scenes

Allison Bustamante, a crime-scene investigator with the City of San Antonio, told jurors she was dispatched to two locations on the date listed in the case file and documented them with photographs and evidence collection.

Bustamante testified she responded first to 4803 Viewcrest, where she said she found tire marks through grass, a breached concrete barrier and vehicle parts. "There were vehicle parts," she said while identifying State's Exhibit 20 as one of the parts she collected. She also identified State's Exhibits 16–20 and 26–32 as photographs she took and later submitted to the record.

The investigator said she later processed a second scene at 12607 Judson Road, Apartment 1101, where detectives had identified items for her to photograph and collect. Bustamante said she photographed the apartment in a 360-degree sweep, took item-level photos at the scene, and later re‑photographed items back at the lab for documentation. She identified State's Exhibits 67–98 as images and later acknowledged lab photography for some packaged items (for example, she said Exhibits 84–88 showed items laid out for lab photography).

At the apartment, Bustamante said she collected a firearm that had been found in a closet in the restroom. She identified the firearm and related evidence brought to court as State's Exhibits 99 (the firearm case), 99A (the protective case), 99B (the magazine and live rounds) and 99C (other packaged evidence). When asked about ammunition, she told jurors she recorded "18 live rounds in the magazine and then there was the one in the chamber," later clarifying that the count was 17 rounds in the magazine plus one in the chamber for a total of 18.

She described handling and packaging practices: firearms are never packaged with the magazine installed, the chamber is kept separate, and evidence packages are resealed with SCPD evidence tape when opened. Bustamante said some evidence packages bore multiple tape initials and dates, indicating other technicians had processed or viewed them after initial collection.

Bustamante also identified other items recovered at or associated with Apartment 1101: a hat (State's Exhibit 72), a tablet, mail bearing a name she read as Tyler Ashbaugh, a holster (State's Exhibits 92–94), shirts recovered from a hamper (three shirts identified around State's Exhibits 98–104), and swabs taken for possible biological material. She testified she attempted latent-print lifts on several items (E1, the tablet, the pistol and the cell phone) but did not obtain legible prints.

Judge: The court admitted multiple exhibits without objection, including State's Exhibits 67–98, 99 (and subparts 99A–99C), 100–105 and 103–104, which the witness identified on the stand. Bustamante confirmed she had taken the photographs and collected the items she identified.

Ending

Bustamante finished her direct testimony after the defense declined to ask questions. The record shows a chain of custody and laboratory handoffs were discussed on the stand; Bustamante repeatedly noted that some items were re‑photographed and re‑packaged at the lab and that labs sometimes performed their own sampling in sterile conditions, for example for gunshot-residue (GSR) or DNA testing.