Embedded Files
SEPTEMBER 14, 1982 –JANET MISSING SIX DAYS
• On September 14, 1982, two CalDOJ forensic teams were dispatched to the Kovacich home on Forest Court, and the family’s ski cabin located in Cisco Grove, CA.
Cisco Grove Cabin
CalDOJ 9/14/1982
Cabin Interior
CalDOJ 9/14/1982
Cabin Kitchen
CalDOJ 9/14/1982
Cabin Living Room
CalDOJ 9/14/1982
• CalDOJ Criminalist Robertson, Photographer Peterson & Latent Print Analyst Ito conducted the examination of Cisco Grove. Nothing of evidentiary value was found at the cabin.
• CalDOJ Criminalist Lou Maucieri, Photographers Tom Corcoran and Norm Evans, and Latent Print Analyst Marty Colins conducted the examination of the Kovacich residence at 244 Forest Court, Auburn. They were accompanied by APD Detective Dan Boon, PCSO Inspector Johnnie Smith, and PCSO Lieutenant Larry Newman. Maucieri led the team through the entire interior of the house, but nothing of evidentiary value was found.
• Two samples of suspected blood stains were collected: one being a spot of blood in the cargo area of the Bronco (noted to be canine vomit/blood as seen by the veterinarian) and a fleck from the master bath in the upstairs area of the residence. Hair samples were collected from the 240Z and from the Bronco.
• The lead forensic investigator at 244 Forest Court - Lou Maucieri, wrote in his draft report:
“The outside of this home was then visually examined to attempt to detect any forced entry. The only things that appeared questionable were a broken window in the back of the home. This would be one of the large three farthest from the raised patio porch. The screen was in place. Three of the screens on the second story appear to be not totally affixed inside the window frames. Other than this, there were no apparent marks on any of the windows.”
NOTE: At the top of this page, Maucieri noted Paul Kovacich as “S” (Suspect) and Janet Kovacich as “V” (Victim). He confirmed that APD Smith & PCSO Newman and Smith were also present.
Tire Tread Photo
CalDOJ 9/14/1982
Tire Tread Photo
CalDOJ 9/14/1982
Vehicle Examination Photo
CalDOJ 9/14/1982
Vehicle Examination Photo
CalDOJ 9/14/1982
Vehicle Examination Photo
CalDOJ 9/14/1982
Vehicle Examination Photo
CalDOJ 9/14/1982
• The final version of Maucieri’s report (below):
- removed the fact that Maucieri was told that Paul was the only suspect in Janet’s disappearance;
- minimized the signs of forced entry;
- deleted the knowledge that the “blood” in the Bronco was identified as dog vomit; and,
- left out numerous items that were examined and tested negative for blood.
• Overall the changes were made to give the impression that it was an unbiased field investigation that found no signs of forced entry or stranger violence in the home, but possible hair and blood in the rear of the Bronco. Boon and Smith had told Maucieri that their theory was that Paul had killed Janet inside the home, and transported her body in the Bronco.
That was the narrative Maucieri tried to follow:
• Because of the bias that Boon and Smith introduced into the forensic examination, Lou Maucieri failed to follow the instructions in the evidence manual he authored and edited. Maucieri was particularly deficient when it came to collecting, documenting, and examining the broken window:
• Because signs of a break-in pointed to a stranger abduction, and away from a fight between Janet and Paul inside the house, Maucieri did not follow his own procedures. He did not collect or examine the evidence, and he minimized it in his report.
• The same thing happened with the work of the fingerprint technician, Marty Collins. Not only did he fail to collect fingerprints from the screens and broken window, his report said the team's examination “failed to reveal any signs of forced entry,” after “details of the case were discussed” with PCSO and APD—it was as if the broken window and pried screens were never found or documented on the day of the search.
• CalDOJ stopped following the evidence before they even arrived on the scene. They were told to find evidence that pointed to Paul, and to ignore anything that indicated a stranger kidnapping, and that’s exactly what they did. The investigators’ tunnel vision had introduced bias, and critical evidence was lost forever.
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