A Lane County Circuit judge declared a mistrial Friday in the murder trial of Kenneth John Alvord, 37, after prosecutors disclosed a Eugene police detective’s forensic notes to defense attorneys in the middle of the trial.
What happened in court
Judge Curtis Conover said the late disclosure of material — notes describing blood drippings, stains and crime scene measurements — “affected or created the possibility of affecting the ability to prepare a defense in this case.” The files were provided to defense lawyers by Deputy District Attorney Zori Cook after she received an email from the testifying detective the night before.
“I did not sleep last night. I came in and immediately tried to solve this problem and provided information to the defense.” — Deputy District Attorney Zori Cook
Alvord is charged with murder and manslaughter in the March 8, 2025, shooting death of Justin Garrett Huser, 35. During opening arguments earlier in the week, defense attorneys described Huser as Alvord’s “best friend,” and the defense has argued the shooting occurred in self-defense.
Defense response and judge’s ruling
Defense attorneys John Kolego and Willow Hillman told the court they received pages of the detective’s notes in an email at 9:17 a.m. Friday. Hillman urged the judge to dismiss the charges entirely, citing a statute that prohibits prosecutors from withholding information that could show a defendant’s innocence. She argued parts of the notes appeared to be exculpatory, asserting that descriptions of blood patterns — “droplets on the ground and blood stains, circular and elliptical blood stains” — undercut the state’s theory that Huser was shot while he was on the ground and supported the defense view that a struggle had occurred.
- Midtrial disclosure: forensic notes describing blood evidence and measurements.
- Court action: Judge Conover granted a mistrial but denied a request to dismiss charges.
- Next steps: case remains pending; prosecutors and defense will determine whether to retry.
Local implications
The mistrial halts the jury’s work and returns the case to the courtroom calendar in Eugene. It underscores the importance of disclosure rules in criminal prosecutions and will draw scrutiny to the Lane County District Attorney’s office and Eugene Police Department practices around evidence sharing. For families connected to the case and for neighbors who followed the trial, the decision means a continuation of uncertainty: the charges are not dismissed, but the jury will not reach a verdict in this proceeding.
| Key date | Event |
|---|---|
| March 8, 2025 | Shooting death of Justin Garrett Huser |
| July 10, 2026 | Judge Conover declares mistrial after midtrial disclosure |
The judge’s decision to deny dismissal means prosecutors can still pursue the case. Defense lawyers indicated that information in the newly disclosed notes could be central to their theory that the shooting occurred amid a struggle and in self-defense. The DA’s acknowledgement that she had not known about the notes until receiving the detective’s message the night before raises procedural questions that may influence whether and how the state proceeds with a new trial.
As the case moves forward, Eugene residents can expect additional court dates and possible motions over the disclosure. The mistrial is a reminder that procedural issues in criminal cases can be as decisive as the evidence itself.
