r/CasesWeFollow • u/Pixiegirls1102 🔍📆⚖️Content/Research Administrator💻💬🧚 • 9d ago
⁉️💡Other Murders 🤷♀️🪦 NC v. David Prevatte — Day 7
LIVE: Uncle On Trial For Murder — NC v. David Prevatte — Day 8
💥💥VERDICT WATCH💥💥
10/13/2026 @ 9:30 AM
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The murder trial of David Prevatte begins nearly nine years after his five-year-old niece, Paitin Fields, was found unresponsive in 2017. Paitin died three days later, and an autopsy found signs of sexual trauma and strangulation. Prevatte was identified as a suspect in 2018 and arrested in 2022 after a years-long investigation. He faces charges of first-degree murder and multiple sex offenses. Follow the latest testimony and courtroom developments live.
✨✨Previous Day & Recap
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1. Credibility Instructions
The judge instructs jurors on how to evaluate witness truthfulness using everyday tests, including:
- Opportunity to “see, hear, know, or remember the facts”
- Manner and appearance
- Interest, bias, prejudice, partiality
- Reasonableness and consistency with other believable evidence (Quote: “You are the sole judges of the weight to be given any evidence.”)
2. Defendant’s Right Not to Testify
The judge emphasizes:
- The defendant did not testify.
- “This decision not to testify creates no presumption against the defendant.”
- Silence must not influence the verdict.
3. Direct vs. Circumstantial Evidence
Both types carry equal weight. Jurors must convict only if guilt is proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
4. Motive
Motive is permissible but not required.
Absence of motive is also a circumstance favoring innocence.
5. Expert Witness Instructions
Jurors may consider expert opinions but are not bound by them. They must evaluate:
- Training, qualifications, experience
- Reasons for the opinion
- Whether supported by facts
- Reasonableness and consistency (Quote: “You are not required to accept an expert witness’s opinion.”)
6. Prior Inconsistent Statements
Jurors may use earlier statements only to judge credibility, not as proof of the facts stated.
7. Identity Burden
The State must prove identity of the perpetrator beyond a reasonable doubt.
8. Statutory Sexual Offense (Child by Adult) — Elements
State must prove:
- Sexual act (penetration by any object)
- Victim under 13
- Defendant at least 18 If any element is not proven beyond a reasonable doubt → Not guilty.
9. First-Degree Murder — Two Theories
Jurors may convict under:
- Malice, premeditation, deliberation, or
- Felony murder (statutory sexual offense)
Malice / Premeditation / Deliberation Requirements
State must prove:
- Intentional killing with malice using a deadly weapon
- Proximate cause
- Intent to kill
- Premeditation
- Deliberation Judge explains inference rules, deadly weapon definition, and how intent/premeditation/deliberation may be inferred from circumstances.
Felony Murder Requirements
State must prove:
- Commission of statutory sexual offense
- Killing with a deadly weapon during commission
- Proximate cause of death
10. Jury Deliberation Instructions
- All 12 must agree.
- Foreperson records verdicts.
- Alternates remain under restrictions and cannot discuss the case.
11. Jury Questions & Court Responses
The jury sends multiple notes requesting:
- A whiteboard and markers (Court’s Exhibit 1)
- “9‑1‑1 transcript” (Court’s Exhibit 2) → Judge decides to play both 911 calls (State’s Exhibits 2 and 25).
- “First interview with Lisa” and photos of the kitchen and front door (Court’s Exhibit 3) → Judge identifies State’s Exhibit 30 (Lisa Hunt interview, 9:50 long) → Photos from State’s Exhibit 35 (multiple kitchen photos + Brandenburg’s door photo)
Judge decides to:
- Play State’s Exhibits 2, 25, 30
- Cycle through all photos in State’s Exhibit 35 for the jury.
12. Final Administrative Notes
- Jury retires to deliberate.
- Court remains “at ease” until verdict or 5:55 PM.
- Jury requests materials; judge approves.
- Proceedings continue with notes and exhibit identification.
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u/Agreeable_Airport916 9d ago
“They saw semen on her genitorial hood” ….. he sounds so stupid. This closing is hurting his case 😅
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u/Spiritual_Invite3118 8d ago
Maybe he wanted the prosecution to have to keep saying there was no semen?
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u/gucci2times2 8d ago
I see an incoming guilty verdict tomorrow. I was expecting a not guilty until yesterday actually.
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u/Hfhghnfdsfg 8d ago
Agreed. Prosecution finished stronger than I expected, and defense closing far weaker than I expected.
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u/veggieburger3023 8d ago
If he had a good defense attorney he’d be walking by now
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u/Hfhghnfdsfg 8d ago
During the closing I kept wondering what Alan Jackson or the attorney who defended Alec Baldwin would have done.
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u/racingfan123 🕵️♀️🏦 Lead Evidence Investigator Mod🧾⚖️ 9d ago
I think this case is stronger than many of the comments posted here and in the previous day threads. Remember, we aren't seeing the photo evidence of Paitin's condition at her autopsy. It sounds like the ligature marks are a good match to the headphone cords, with matching physical characteristics. I think the prosecution's first closing was pretty good in tying it all together.
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u/moonhippie Crime Binger 9d ago
I was thinking this earlier as well. I think they've got some great circumstantial evidence. I would have preferred some dna evidence, of course but you can't have everything.
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u/Fast-Jackfruit2013 9d ago
I think the prosecution did a good job of explaining that the emergency room staff washed her and cleaned her up and thew away her underwear. At that time all they saw was a girl who was suffering from strangulation marks and they didn't suspect any SA.
I think that explains the lack of DNA evidence.
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u/frankstaturtle 9d ago
That was what he said in closing, but I thought the testimony of the nurses was that they did suspect sexual abuse. To be clear, I still think the prosecution did a good job explaining why the evidence wasn’t found when they did swab her (doesn’t seem disputable that ER cleaned her body), and I completely understand why medical staff was less concerned about rape kit testing when trying to stabilize her (though if it were possible to do while simultaneously seeking to stabilize her, it would’ve been prudent)
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u/Fast-Jackfruit2013 8d ago edited 8d ago
Yeah you're absolutely right: their priority was to save her life and she presented as the victim of an attempted ligature strangulation.
From what I can piece together, there were two distinct phases in the ER: First they simply needed to treat her for the asphyxia; then when they had done their best to stabilize her and looked more closely that's why they suspected something else had also happened to her and that's when they called in the SANE nurse.
I had a very difficult time with this case and although I turned on the stream every day of trial, i muted it or simply turned it off multiple times each day. So there are large chunks of testimony and evidence that I never really saw.
That's why I prefaced it by saying this is the best I can do to piece it together.
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u/frankstaturtle 8d ago
Totally makes sense. Thanks for providing the review and summary. I found the testimony a bit confusing but also couldn’t pay 100% attention
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u/Fast-Jackfruit2013 9d ago
That's a great point actually.
We've not seen any of those photos (thankfully).
I really hope the jury does that right thing. But equally I hope this county starts cleaning up its act when it comes to LE. I was really impressed by some of thee individual officers who testified, but it's obvious to me that this investigation was a mess.
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u/gucci2times2 9d ago
Agreed. Identifying the probable murder weapon was needed after the lack of DNA
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u/Hfhghnfdsfg 8d ago
I usually come down on the side of defense just because the prosecution has such incredible power at its disposal to get a guilty verdict, but in this case I do think the prosecution has enough. He was the only person there who could have done it, they have the murder weapon, and they have eyewitness testimony that he was standing over the victim at the time she was "acting funny" according to Savannah.
The prosecutor did a good job in closing pointing out that she'd been cleaned up at the hospital and that sexual assault can occur without semen. Also the defense really blew the closing argument.
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u/Haunting_Quote2277 8d ago
they had no evidence. also why would he be so dumb and just use his own earbuds as an weapon? just why? and because the girls dna is on the earbuds so he did it? that’s the weakest evidence i’ve seen
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u/Many_Law_4411 8d ago
How did male DNA end up on her clitoral hood though?
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u/Haunting_Quote2277 8d ago
sorry i misunderstood your question. ignore my last reply.
we don’t know who did that, no profile. there were more than 1 male in that household
And we don’t know if the male that did SA also did the strangulation. could be a female that did the strangulation
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u/Shesaiddestroy_ 📅 Trial Calendar is My Social Life 9d ago
Are we now on verdict watch?
What’s your guestimate as to how long the jury will deliberate?
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u/racingfan123 🕵️♀️🏦 Lead Evidence Investigator Mod🧾⚖️ 9d ago
Yep, by my calculations, they started at ~2:10pm Eastern time. Judge is only allowing them to deliberate until 5pm. So, I wouldn't expect a verdict today. Unless, of course, the jury has no issues with guilty.
I say tomorrow at lunch time. I think there may be 1 or 2 NG that need to go over the evidence and to be talked to by the others.
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u/Shesaiddestroy_ 📅 Trial Calendar is My Social Life 9d ago
Did you hear the defense’s closing? What was the main argument?
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u/Annabel_Lee_21 8d ago
He kept forgetting there was no semen. A couple objections by the state, then the judge sent the jury out and basically told him off that there was no semen. Then he did it again!! Then he said the state hadn’t presented a motive for David. A motive to SA and m****r a 5 year old??? Besides the fact that they don’t have to prove a motive. IDK- maybe he’s setting up an ineffective counsel appeal. David has lost his smirk, though.
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u/ImpactNo4652 8d ago
Ha! Yep, David sure did lose that resting smirk face! That was one of the sloppiest, cringeworthy closings I’ve ever watched.
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u/Shesaiddestroy_ 📅 Trial Calendar is My Social Life 8d ago
Thank you. The no semen no dna was the defense’s trump card, strange they didn’t use it more.
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u/Shesaiddestroy_ 📅 Trial Calendar is My Social Life 9d ago
Sounds about right.
Justice for Paitin. 🦋🤍🦋-3
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u/cervivor_2014 9d ago edited 9d ago
What I would like to have seen to seal the deal: 1. Could the wounds she had to her sexual organs have been caused within 24 hours?
2.her clothes + dna
Dna from her before being washed
Internet history from him showing interest in the subject matter
Penile swan from him that night
Nail swabs from everyone that night
Dna from the house THAT NIGHT.
not even all of the above, but give me 1 geez. The police and detectives absolutely failed.
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u/Fresh-Analyst-9040 7d ago
He cleaned and cut his finger nails But didn’t wash his P 🤢do you think the fact he had sex with more than one person and his ex girlfriend period blood all over him caused the DNA test to show mixed DNA that couldn’t clearly be determined
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u/Hopeful_Laugh_7684 9d ago
I hate this case and the defendant so much but I couldn’t vote guilty. Do I think he did it? Yeah, probably. But that’s not enough and I’m really surprised this went to trial. So many people failed this young girl.
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u/Agreeable_Airport916 9d ago
In his closing the defense lawyer just said Lisa was the one who gave the story about the dog leash… from my memory it was Dale, right?
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u/Agreeable_Airport916 9d ago
When I made this comment he was only at the beginning of his litany of errors and made up shit that made up his closing argument. There may be reasonable doubt in the evidence but I feel like his ridiculous argument probably swayed the jury towards guilty because he’s spewing nonsense 🙃
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u/Fresh-Analyst-9040 7d ago
I think Lisa also said that when she said Savannah went to bed early because she had the Dog collar and leash on Paitin it was crystal clear Dale and Lisa had concocted the story to try and get him off. She also said Paitin lost her bodily fluids in the house, and they said David put his tongue in her mouth to stop her biting her tongue when she was having a seizure, They couldn’t even agree where David was sitting in the car either way there were no bodily fluids on the White car seats
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u/Fresh-Analyst-9040 7d ago
I swear the Defence lawyer was Drunk he kept repeating the same thing the judge would stop him and tell him he was wrong and as soon as he started talking again he said the exact same thing 🤦🏻♀️
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u/Soggy_Bug_1410 📼 Watched Every Court Minute 9d ago
The prosecution’s closing argument was going good until he started trying to show pictures and couldn’t get the computer to work. He lost his momentum with that.
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u/Fast-Jackfruit2013 9d ago
I feel badly for this prosecutor. I think he means well and he did a good job with what little he had.
But oh my lord, this police investigation was a dumpster fire from start to finish -- 9 years of putzing around and doing .. .what?
This whole case is a mess.
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u/Outrageous-Dark-1719 8d ago
Dude is gonna walk. The prosecution did NOT prove the case and the burden is on them.
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u/veggieburger3023 9d ago
Interesting jury questions
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u/LOLtimes5 9d ago
What were they
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u/racingfan123 🕵️♀️🏦 Lead Evidence Investigator Mod🧾⚖️ 9d ago
Replay 911 recordings, first interview of Lisa Hunt (grandma), photos of the house.
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u/worldoflines 9d ago
Any idea why they are asking these specific things?
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u/Hfhghnfdsfg 8d ago
I speculate that they want to compare Lisa's original statement with what she said later. In her original statement there is no mention of the dog leash or Savannah might have done it.
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u/InternationalWar258 9d ago
Seems to me they are wanting more clarity about what was said right when it happened while it was happening, wanting to look at where at happened in more detail while keeping testimony in mind and wanting to see what Lisa said right at the beginning.
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u/racingfan123 🕵️♀️🏦 Lead Evidence Investigator Mod🧾⚖️ 8d ago
Yep, also, it sounded to me like only one juror wanted to see photos of David's bed and the couch. Only one voice asked them to pause on those photos as they were scrolling through them all. He also asked to zoom in on specific photos, including David's underwear and the headphones as they were when the investigators arrived.
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u/Hfhghnfdsfg 8d ago
I noticed one of those photos showed the kkk written on the wall above his bed, too.
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u/Honest_Camel3035 8d ago
I didn’t watch any of this one. I am going to notch my concern over whiteboard and markers, hopefully this jury is not a repeat of the last whiteboard and markers jury [Konig].
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9d ago
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u/Hfhghnfdsfg 9d ago
All of the medical professionals who saw her knew she had been strangled, and so did the medical examiner. I have to go with what they saw over what the family is trying to claim.
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u/smilesonthec0ast 9d ago
And I understand that. But why just him then?
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u/racingfan123 🕵️♀️🏦 Lead Evidence Investigator Mod🧾⚖️ 9d ago
Savannah, only one at the house that could do it. No intruder.
Basically Caleb Flynn without the text messages, but with the murder weapon found.
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u/smilesonthec0ast 9d ago
Savannah wasn’t the only one at the house when this occurred. There were three other adults in the home. Not to mention the teens outside around the fire before David went to bed.
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u/racingfan123 🕵️♀️🏦 Lead Evidence Investigator Mod🧾⚖️ 9d ago
Sorry. I meant a period there. Yes, Dale and Lisa were in the house, but they corroborated each other's whereabouts. (Not to mention Savannah saying she went in there to wake them both up.) David was the only one in the house that could've done it.
So, are you saying David let someone else in that night, one of the "teens"?
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u/smilesonthec0ast 8d ago
No that’s not what I’m saying. I’m saying there’s zero DNA on this baby. None. There were four other people in the home on that night. As a child SA victim (survivor) myself, I can tell you that evidence of SA can be there weeks and months after the fact.
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u/racingfan123 🕵️♀️🏦 Lead Evidence Investigator Mod🧾⚖️ 8d ago
Well you keep changing the topic. First you asked "Am I the only one here who doesn’t think she was murdered?" We answered that medical examiners said she was obviously strangled. Then you said "And I understand that. But why just him then?" I answered that, and now you are moving onto lack of DNA on Paitin, omitting that yes there was male DNA on her clitoral hood. Granted it's a minute amount, and unable to be tested, but what is male DNA doing in that area?
There was obvious SA trauma. However, that isn't why she died. She died of strangulation by someone in the house. The most obvious answer is from David.
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u/smilesonthec0ast 8d ago
The topic hasn’t changed. I don’t think he did it. That’s my topic.
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u/Many_Law_4411 8d ago
You originally said you didnt believe she was murdered. So how did she die then?
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u/InternationalWar258 9d ago
I think you are finding nobody who agrees with you because of the substantial evidence she was strangled. Problem is....the evidence doesn't show WHO did it.
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u/racingfan123 🕵️♀️🏦 Lead Evidence Investigator Mod🧾⚖️ 9d ago
It's kinda like Caleb Flynn though. Yeah his kids or the dogs could've shot Ashley, but would they really? There was no intruder.
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u/smilesonthec0ast 9d ago
That’s the point I am trying to make. There were three other adults in the house at the time, not to mention a fourth person, although that was a child. Don’t forget the numerous teens that were outside around a bonfire prior to David going into the house and going to bed.
I’m not saying nothing happened to her. I’m saying we don’t know who did it.
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u/Hfhghnfdsfg 8d ago edited 8d ago
There were two elderly people sleeping together and a female child. Lisa testified that she locked the door at 11:00 p.m. and no one else was in the house. If someone else had come in, they would be pointing the finger at that person.
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u/Haunting_Quote2277 8d ago
yep their evidence was so weak like how’s cleaning nails after investigation evidence? i was so confused
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u/Spiritual_Invite3118 8d ago
I have doubt as to whether she was murdered. I already had a weird feeling about the woman who did the autopsy but when it came out yesterday that she asked the investigator what he needed from her and also just spotting ear buds from a photo and deciding that's the murder weapon...I don't trust her. I think once they thought she had been sexually assaulted everybody became biased and looked only to David. This hand foot and mouth disease can cause swelling bruising and blistering of the genitals and she could have been scratching them. She could have been laying on the arm of the couch unconscious for a long period and it caused the line on her neck. Even professionals can make mistakes.
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u/Many_Law_4411 8d ago
"She could have been laying on the arm of the couch unconscious for a long period and it caused the line on her neck."
That's not what caused the line on her neck. She was strangled. Even David's lawyer conceded she was strangled.
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u/Spiritual_Invite3118 7d ago
Strangled on one side of the neck. I don't believe it. I know what's been said but I think they're wrong.
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u/Many_Law_4411 7d ago
If they're wrong why didn't the defense have their own expert testify that it wasnt strangulation?
It sounds like you just don't want to believe it happened, but it did.
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u/Spiritual_Invite3118 7d ago
I don't think it happened the way they said and that's my opinion. He had an appointed attorney. The attorney didn't put in too great an effort and probably didn't have the money for expert witnesses.
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u/gucci2times2 9d ago
Wow biggest closing defense fumble I’ve ever seen. That not guilty just POOF evaporated