Frein returns from hospital to more testimony from the prosecution

By Marilyn Rosenthal
MILFORD — Rumors spread Thursday morning that murder defendant Eric Frein had fallen in the bathroom when brushing his teeth and hit his head.
But no official reason for his hospital visit was given, and he had no bruises or bandages when he returned to the courtroom that afternoon. He behavior seemed the same as before.
Frein was taken to Pocono Medical Center at 8:30 a.m. by sheriff's deputies, Pike County District Attorney Ray Tonkin announced Thursday morning.
The capital murder trial of Commonwealth vs. Frein resumed with no further mention of the incident.
Before Frein entered the courtroom, his attorney, Michael Weinstein, told his parents, "He's not feeling well, but he'll be out."
The 'straight line' searchMost of the witness testimony on Thursday centered around troopers doing a "straight line search" for evidence in the woods surrounding Routes 6 and 402, near the state police barracks at Blooming Grove, site of the Sept, 12, 2014, shooting ambush that killed Cpl. Byron Dickson and critically injured Trooper Alex Douglass.
A "straight line search" is when troopers walk shoulder to shoulder in a straight line looking for shell casings and other evidence. When a trooper finds something, the line stops to examine the evidence.
Trooper Mark Pizzuti, who leads the criminal investigation unit at Blooming Grove, led as many as 100 to 150 troopers in the straight line search. The prosecution showed a diagram of troopers combing the area.
Jeep found in pondJames Novak, a witness called by the prosecution, said he was out walking his dog near his property on Route 6 near 402, which borders state land, when he came upon a jeep alleged to be owned by Frein submerged in a retaining pond.
Novak said he was out looking for evidence "to help the state police." The jeep was stuck in the swampy part of the pond, he said. He looked inside and saw lots of papers on the passenger's seat.
He said he opened the driver's side door and looked in the back, where he found a gun case and military supplies.
Novak said he didn't touch anything. He returned home and called the state police. Two troopers arrived right away and within 15 minutes, many more troopers were on the scene.
Novak said he received a $22,000 reward from Crime Stoppers.
Crime Stoppers is a nonprofit organization that gives cash rewards to people whose tips result in a felony arrest or warrant.
Weapons in the woodsForensic Trooper Sean Doran unpacked the AK47 assault rifle and two magazines with 27 live rounds that he said were found in the woods near the jeep.
The rifle was disabled for courtroom demonstration purposes.
Doran also talked about the jeep and its contents. Slides of the jeep stuck in the pond were shown.
Defense Attorney Weinstein, who has not done much cross-examination of witnesses so far, then asked a piercing question.
"Did you see any tire tracks from the jeep?" he asked Doran.
Doran said there were no tire tracks.
Weinstein then replied, "So you don't know how the vehicle got there!"
Frein has pleaded not guilty to the multiple charges of murder and terrorism brought against him.