ELYRIA — Lorain County Common Pleas Judge James Burge set a hearing for 9 a.m. Oct. 3 to consider a request from The Ohio Innocence Project for additional DNA testing in the case of convicted killer Ray Smith Jr.
A previous round of DNA testing sought by Smith’s attorneys proved inconclusive, but the Innocence Project has continued efforts to clear Smith in the 1997 slaying of Angela Galloway.
Smith maintains that he wasn’t involved in killing the 20-year-old Galloway, whose body was discovered Dec. 24, 1997, in the trunk of her car, which was parked in a lot at EMH Medical Center in Elyria.
Police and prosecutors contend that Smith killed Galloway by asphyxiating her with a plastic bag after she caught him stealing from the nearby Friendly’s restaurant where they worked.
According to the request for additional DNA testing, law students working for the Innocence Project discovered trial exhibits in court files that Smith’s lawyers argue should be tested for DNA evidence.
The students discovered a money bag, plastic that was found under Galloway’s head and a knotted piece of plastic wrap with hair fiber.
The Innocence Project also wants DNA testing of Galloway’s fingernail and cigarette butts found at the scene, evidence the court documents suggested may be in the possession of the Elyria Police Department.
Innocence Project attorney Jennifer Bergeron also asked county Common Pleas Judge James Burge to order authorities to run several fingerprints taken during the investigation through law enforcement databases to see if there is a match.
Co-workers had left the pair closing the restaurant before Galloway was supposed to complete her shift at midnight. When Galloway didn’t return home, her boyfriend and family became concerned and began looking for her, eventually contacting police.
Contact Cindy Leise at 329-7245 or cleise@chroniclet.com.
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