Reagan Tokes trial: DNA evidence presented matches Brian Golsby

Matt Dorsey, Zach Varda
Mon, 12 Mar 2018 17:52:18 +0000
Campus, Features, News, Online Exclusive, Web, brian golsby, Brian Golsby murder trial, ohio state, osu, reagan tokes, reagan tokes murder, reagan tokes trial

The sexual assault evidence kit containing DNA samples swabbed from the body of Reagan Tokes. The collected samples contained DNA found to be consistent with samples from Brian Golsby. Credit: Matt Dorsey | Engagement Editor

DNA taken from the body of Reagan Tokes was consistent with the DNA profile of Brian Golsby, forensic experts testified Monday morning.

The morning’s testimony came from four expert witnesses from the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the state’s official crime lab. DNA collected from Tokes’ body, as well as from two cigarette butts collected from the crime scene was consistent with a DNA sample from Golsby, two experts who specialize in DNA analysis said.

Hallie Dreyer, who specializes in DNA analysis for BCI, testified that DNA consistent with Golsby’s was found on two swabs from the sexual-assault kit used on the body of Tokes.

“The estimated rarity of that profile that is consistent with Brian Golsby, it is rarer than every one in 1 trillion unrelated individuals,” Dreyer said on the witness stand in reference to one of the swabs.

During interviews with police following his arrest, Golsby confessed to raping Tokes, as well as to kidnapping and robbing her after she left her job at Bodega in the Short North the night of Feb. 8, 2017. A video of that confession was presented Thursday.

Additionally, the revolver collected from a sewer in the North Linden area, where Golsby admitted to police he had placed it, contained DNA in the barrel consistent with a sample of Tokes’ DNA, Katherine Dailey, a forensic scientist for BCI, testified.

Tokes was found dead at Scioto Grove Metro Park with two gunshot wounds to the head last February.

During cross-examination the defense repeatedly mentioned that Golsby’s DNA profile was created in November 2010, before either of the DNA specialists worked for BCI.

Much of the morning’s testimony centered on handling and processing of the DNA samples. All four witnesses testified that there were no abnormalities in the process.

Dreyer said she tested the Golsby profile against the necessary controls. She said there were “no issues” of contamination, quality or degradation and that DNA does not change over time.

Gun residue on Golsby’s clothes from the night of Feb. 8 was presented as well.

Donna Schwesinger, a GSR expert for the Ohio BCI, testified that she found GSR particles on both samples taken from the front of Golsby’s sweatshirt.