HAMILTON — Law enforcement officials spent Tuesday morning testifying about evidence collected from a gruesome homicide scene at a West Chester Twp. motel last winter.

It was the second day of the murder trial of Amber Rodriguez, 16, in the courtroom of Butler County Common Pleas Judge Keith Spaeth. The trial is expected to be wrapped up by week's end.

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Amber RodriguezClick to enlarge

Although a teen, Rodriguez is being tried as an adult in the stabbing death of Sabyasachi Debnath during the early morning hours of Nov. 12 at the Tri-County Inn, 10110 Princeton-Glendale Road.

Rodriguez is charged with aggravated murder, aggravated robbery, kidnapping, aggravated burglary, theft and tampering with evidence in connection with Debnath's death.

Rodriguez, of Parksly, Va., sat mostly unresponsive to pictures of the crime scene and blood-stained clothing and towels, which were presented to the jury Tuesday morning, April 29.

The jury sat likewise as Butler County Assistant Prosecutor Glenn Rossi held up the clothing Debnath was wearing at the time of his death, covered in brown splotches that surrounded inch-long slits referred to only as "marks" during testimony.

Police collected various items from room 201 — where Debnath was found — including clothing and towels dotted or smeared with blood and personal items, such as receipts obtained in the days leading up to Debnath's death.

Police have said that Debnath — as well as Rodriguez, her brother, Roger Whitten, 18, of Hamilton and Michael Douglass, 18, of Middletown — were all staying at the Tri-County Inn days before the stabbing.

Police said that at approximately 1 a.m. on Nov. 12, patrons staying in rooms adjacent to Debnath's reported hearing a commotion. Hours later, Debnath's body was discovered by a motel maid, wrapped in knotted sheets and blankets, bound with black tape and stabbed multiple times.

Later that day, police caught up with the three accused of killing Debnath after tracking them down because they were allegedly using his stolen credit cards and cell phones.

Detective David Stromberg testified that the three were hiding in the bathroom of their motel room at the Hamilton Inn when police barged in.

Whitten and Douglass were indicted on the same charges, and both are due in court next month.

In court on Monday, Rossi said Rodriguez initially admitted she, Whitten and Douglass attacked Debnath. He said she then took law enforcement officers to a Dumpster that held the weapons used in the killing.

Rodriguez' attorney Bradley Fox has said he client at first admitted guilt, then told police the truth and has been cooperative.

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