The state has conducted DNA testing on blood evidence found
related to the suspected homicide of Ryann Bunnell Crow, Salinas
Police Chief Louis Fetherolf confirmed Thursday. Fetherolf declined
to say where the blood was located or whose DNA was identified in
the samples but said
”
the DNA (testing) came through for us.
”
By Virginia Hennessey
The state has conducted DNA testing on blood evidence found related to the suspected homicide of Ryann Bunnell Crow, Salinas Police Chief Louis Fetherolf confirmed Thursday. Fetherolf declined to say where the blood was located or whose DNA was identified in the samples but said “the DNA (testing) came through for us.”
At a news conference Thursday, Fetherolf and Sheriff Mike Kanalakis vowed a commitment to finding the 23-year-old woman’s body and “bringing her home.” Fetherolf said a team of investigators working around the clock had developed “solid forensic evidence” and probable cause to believe she was killed by her husband, Jesse John Crow, 33.
Jesse Crow, who was arrested late Tuesday, is expected to be arraigned on a murder charge today. Fetherolf said his office had delivered to prosecutors late Thursday morning a 2-inchthick packet of investigative reports and would be delivering more today.
Salinas defense attorney Tom Worthington, who has been retained by Jesse Crow’s parents, attended Thursday’s press briefing. He criticized Fetherolf and Kanalakis for discussing evidence at a “media event” before they’d even presented all of their reports to the District Attorney’s Office.
“It takes an enormous hit out of (my client’s) constitutional right to be presumed innocent until proven or not proven guilty in the court of law,” Worthington said.
Ryann Bunnell Crow was reported missing Feb. 2 after she failed to attend a family party and missed two days
of work. She was last seen Jan. 30 near Langley Canyon Road in Prunedale. Her white 2002 Chevrolet Malibu was found in Foster City on Feb. 9.
Fetherolf said detectives and forensic experts are continuing to investigate whether others were involved in her suspected homicide. He said Summer Donovan, reported to be Jesse Crow’s girlfriend, continues to be a person of interest.
Jesse Crow, who’d been married to Ryann for about a year, was in a car with Donovan in Pacific Grove when he was arrested. Fetherolf said Donovan’s home was later searched and items were taken.
Christina Joyce, co-owner of Carmel Laser Aesthetics, confirmed Thursday that Donovan was a receptionist there until June. At the time, she said, Donovan said she was moving with Jesse Crow to Sacramento, where he had been offered a job.
Joyce said Donovan, a “pretty bright gal” with a couple of degrees already, was planning to return to school in the Sacramento area.
Asked if she was a good employee, Joyce said, “That’s a bit of a stretch. We had a mutual separation.”
Donovan, 32, did not respond to a request for comment Thursday evening.
Jesse Crow is being held in Monterey County Jail in lieu of $3 million bail, three times the normal bail for a first-degree murder charge.
Fetherolf declined to discuss in detail the reasons for his request for elevated bail, which was approved by the court.
Crow’s parents have retained one of the most prominent criminal attorneys in Monterey County and are believed to have considerable resources. His father is Dr. Deane Crow, former director of the emergency department at Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital.
The Medical Board of California lists his practice at his home address in the 6600 block of Langley Canyon Road in Prunedale. The Web site for the Medicinal Cannabis Caregivers Directory lists him as the owner of Opti-Med, a medicinal marijuana dispensary in Stockton. The day Ryann Crow was reported missing, Feb. 2, sheriff’s deputies found 300 marijuana plants growing inside her husband’s Prunedale home. He said he had a medicinal marijuana prescription and was growing the plants legally, a contention still under investigation.
Kanalakis dispelled rumors Thursday that Ryann Crow had reported the hydroponic growing operation. He said the plants were discovered when his deputies went to the home to look for Ryann after her family reported her missing.
Ryann Crow was last seen Jan. 30 in the area of her inlaws’ home. Her car was found 10 days later in Foster City.
Fetherolf said Thursday it was found in a residential area of the city south of San Francisco, but declined to say who found it or what evidence was in it. The car has been impounded and no properties have been sealed as crime scenes, he said.
Because Ryann Crow lived part time with her sister in Salinas, Salinas police will continue to investigate her disappearance. Kanalakis said the sheriff’s department will take over the search for her body, which was ongoing Thursday.
The sheriff said his highly trained teams conducted land, water and wilderness searches, many of which were directed by tips from the public. Those searches will continue in a methodical grid pattern, he said.
Fetherolf encouraged the public to report any information that may be related to the case to the department’s anonymous tip line, 775-4222.
