During the second day of trial for Tamir Hamilton — accused of the grisly rape and murder of Sparks teen Holly Quick in 2006 — detectives and crime lab workers testified about evidence found at the crime scene, collected from Hamilton's garbage bags and home and gathered during the autopsy.

Quick had recently celebrated her 16th birthday and was a Spanish Springs High School student at the time of her murder. Quick's body was found by her mother, Patricia Doss, on Sept. 15, 2006 in the teen's bedroom of their Marina Village apartment near the Sparks Marina. An autopsy concluded the teenager bled to death from a 2-inch-deep gash to her neck.

Hamilton, 30, has pled not guilty by reason of insanity for the crimes. His defense team in opening statements claimed that Hamilton's untreated schizophrenia, complicated by alcohol or drug use, led to the tragedy.

The District Attorney's Office is seeking the death penalty against Hamilton.

During Tuesday’s opening statements and first six witnesses, attorneys worked to establish key personal relationships, the timeline, and whether or not Hamilton seemed drunk or high on drugs on the night of Sept. 14.

On Wednesday, Deputy District Attorney Luke Prengaman continued to question Sparks Police Det. Jason Woodard, who arrived at Quick’s apartment in the early morning of Sept. 15. Woodard described several specific blood stains he observed on the bedroom walls, carpet and surrounding the body on the bed. No weapon was found at the crime scene. Woodard also described his key roles later during the investigation and suspect interviews.

By the night of Sept. 15, Sparks Police had sealed off the entire apartment as the crime scene, and had no leads on the suspect’s identity, Woodard said. A major break in the investigation came on Sept. 21 in the form of a call to Secret Witness that tipped off police to the suspect’s possible identity.

Two Sparks detectives were sent to do surveillance that afternoon on the Spanish Springs home that Hamilton shared with girlfriend Erin Trujillo and her two children, located at 159 Rosetta Stone Drive.

Detectives quickly discovered that it was trash day and neighborhood garbage had not yet been collected. The detectives talked to the driver of a trash truck and arranged for the back hopper to be clear of trash; then the trash from that specific home was picked up and the driver met detectives a few blocks away for collection of potential evidence.

Sparks detectives found many pieces of clothing with potential blood, semen or other DNA evidence on them, including a plastic cigar tip, three socks, bathroom tissue, white sweater with blue stripe, blue boxers, blue checkered long-sleeved shirt, white t-shirt and jeans, all in men's sizes. Nearly all items were found in a smaller black trash bag within a larger trash bag, said Det. William Valenti.

Evidence was taken to the Washoe County Crime Lab for processing and testing, and photos were taken for the lab and to assist during questioning of Hamilton, detectives said.

On Sept. 22, Woodard questioned Hamilton at his home and later convinced Hamilton to voluntarily come to the Sparks police station for more questioning.

While Woodard questioned Hamilton at the police station, a search warrant was served to Trujillo and police questioned her, took her mouth swab DNA sample, and discovered a number of items on shelves in the master bedroom closet, where Hamilton kept his things. These included an empty knife sheath for a blade approximately 4-5 inches in length, his Social Security card and a pair of athletic shoes with possible blood stains, said Forensic Investigator Victor Ruvlacaba.

Woodward testified that during the voluntary questioning at the police station, he requested and received a swab sample of Hamilton’s saliva and skin cells from his inside cheeks to identify his DNA.

Law enforcement and crime lab witnesses also testified about the "chain of command" sheet attached to all items of evidence — including Hamilton's mouth swab DNA sample, which had been transferred to a few personnel before reaching the crime lab because of pending unrelated crime calls and the lunch hour.

Washoe County forensic investigator Marci Margreteer testified about a number of items processed as evidence from Quick's bedroom and during her autopsy at the Washoe County Crime Lab.

Senior Criminologist Suzanne Harmon informed the jury about blood and semen testing methods through a PowerPoint presentation, then testified about items of evidence and stains that were tested in "presumptive positive" tests for blood, semen and sperm that are not 100-percent accurate, but make it highly likely as to the presence of the substance.

Harmon testified that many stains at the crime scene tested presumptive positive for blood, and that dried stains and fluid coming from the victim's body tested positive for semen and sperm cells, which were collected for DNA testing.

Also tested were Quick's underwear, the bed which she was partly lying on, and several sections of carpet, including two carpet stains which appeared to be bloody hand-swipes. No semen was found on the underwear, bed or carpet.

During the autopsy, Quick's blood sample was taken to establish a DNA comparison standard, fingernail clippings taken from both hands — in an effort to collect the suspect's skin cell DNA — and swabs taken from several areas of her body.

Harmon testified that several areas of Quick's body tested presumptive positive and were later confirmed with certainty that they contained specific fluids. Her right palm of her hand — which is thought to have a defensive wound — tested positive for blood but negative for semen. Her left thigh and two private areas all tested positive for semen and sperm cells were collected.

From the clothing items found in Hamilton's garbage, Harmon testified that semen, sperm cells and blood were collected from a pair of boxer shorts, and the following items tested presumptive positive for the presence of blood: a pair of jeans, a t-shirt, a long-sleeved checkered shirt, a sweater, tissues and three socks.