Braae trial turns to DNA evidence

By Jeremy Pawloski | The Olympian • Published May 19, 2008

A forensic scientist testified Monday that there is a one in 290 quadrillion chance that male DNA found in semen taken after Lori Jones' rape and murder could belong to someone other than "Cowboy" Mike Braae.

Karen Green of the Washington State Patrol Crime Lab said 290 quadrillion is greater than the number of people ever to have lived on this planet.

Braae, 48, is on trial for first- degree murder and rape in Thurston County Superior Court. He is accused of raping and strangling Jones in July 2001 in the bedroom of her Lacey apartment.

Jones, a 44-year-old single mother, met Braae at Bailey's Motor Inn on July 6, 2001, according to a bartender there, court papers state.

A few days later, a group that included Jones' then-11-year-old daughter entered Jones' apartment at Summer Ridge Apartments in Lacey after a camping weekend, and the apartment complex's assistant manager found Jones' body under the bed, according to prior court testimony.

Braae was known to frequent karaoke bars and was called "Cowboy Mike" for his taste in Western wear and country music, reports say.

In other testimony Monday, three law enforcement officers from Idaho told about Braae leading them on a 40-minute, more-than-40-mile chase July 20, 2001, when Braae was wanted for questioning by Lacey police in connection with Jones' homicide.

Idaho State Police Trooper Gene Wunsch testified that he approached a truck parked near a fuel station about 6 a.m., and the driver, later identified as Braae, drove off.

Timothy Harms of the Boise Police Department, who was with the Idaho patrol at the time, testified that when he pulled over near Braae's pickup that morning, he recognized Braae's face from a news broadcast.

Officers testified Monday that Braae fired shots at them during the pursuit on Interstate 84 in Idaho, but a gun was never found.

"The defendant shot at us multiple times," Harms said.

Prosecutors played the jury video excerpts from a camera mounted on Wunsch's patrol car. At one point, an officer shot out a front tire of Braae's pickup. Braae stopped a short time later on the Snake River bridge bordering Oregon, and jumped off of the 40-foot structure into the river.

A local Idaho sheriff's deputy, Paul Maund, and his K-9 unit dog, a Belgian malinois named Bosco, followed as Braae floated downriver. When Maund sent Bosco to try and apprehend Braae, the defendant tried to drown the dog, Maund testified.

Maund said he pulled on Bosco's leash to keep the dog out of Braae's grasp.

Maund said Bosco later went out again and grabbed Braae by the shoulder with his teeth, and officers hauled Braae onto a police boat.

Braae's trial continues today before Superior Court Judge Richard Strophy.

Jeremy Pawloski covers public safety for The Olympian. He can be reached at 360-754-5465 or jpawloski@theolympian.com.