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Aaron Trout’s trial resumes

By Temi Fadayomi 2 min read

HARRISVILLE -- Additional witnesses were called by the prosecution as day four of Aaron Trout's murder trial came to an end.

Trout is facing murder and child abuse charges for the alleged killing of 2-year-old Jayde McDonnell, the child of his then-girlfriend, Adrienne Pavelka.

Thursday's trial saw the prosecution call a large number of witnesses up to testify. Several witnesses that were called to the stand were employees at Tawas Bay Beach Resort, the business Pavelka was employed at the time of Jayde's death. These employees provided additional insight and information on Pavelka's work schedule.

The rest of the witnesses called up were people who, in some shape or form, work with the Michigan State Police and were either in Trout's arrest or the various investigations that began as a result of Jayde's death.

One notable officer who spoke was Matt Wilt, a detective sergeant at the Michigan State Police with the seventh district in Gaylord, who was able to finish the testimony that began on Dec. 4.

The prosecution continued to show various photos taken by the investigation team during their search of Trout's residence while Wilt provided the context to the jury on what was found. In addition to the photos some of the evidence was physically presented in the courtroom such as numerous firearms found in Trout's residence.

Another noteworthy witness was Michigan State Police-Alpena Post-Lincoln detachment officer, Jacob Strong.

Strong was another officer who had significant interactions with Trout on the day of his arrest on July 22, 2022, being the one who detained Trout while he had his injuries treated by paramedics and transported Trout from his home in Alcona County to the MSP Alpena Post for interrogation.

As a part of Strong's testimony, the prosecution showed video from both his dash camera and body camera of his actions on July 22, 2022, and his interactions with Trout.

The trial was adjourned before Strong's testimony could be completed and was scheduled to resume today.

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