OWEGO, NY (WENY) -- One of the 13 suspects accused in the 2023 kidnapping and murder of an Ithaca man is on trial in Tioga County, NY. After a day full of witness testimony, the prosecution rested and the defense called one witness to the stand, before court adjourned for the day.
Angelo Baez is on trial for murder and kidnapping charges.
On Tuesday, December 10th, several witnesses testified, including a New York State Police Investigator with the Major Crimes Unit. She presented a slideshow talking about how she used Baez's Google Subscriber Information and the photos from his phone to check his geolocation.
She said the photo's information or 'metadata' includes the date, time, and the latitude and longitude of where a photo was taken. The investigator then used the data along with information from T-Mobile to pinpoint where Baez's phone was during his alleged involvement in Thomas Rath's kidnapping and murder.
According to police, Rath was abducted from a homeless encampment known as 'The Jungle' in Ithaca on May 20th, 2023. Then on May 31st, (2023), a search warrant was executed for a home on Benjamin Hill Road in Newfield, based on info that Rath had been there. After months of the investigation, Rath's remains were eventually found on state game lands in Candor, NY on August 3rd, 2023.
RELATED: 11th person arrested in connection to alleged kidnapping of Ithaca man who was later murdered
Another person who testified was a college professor in criminal justice and forensic anthropology. She was called in to help with Rath's skeletal remains in September/October 2023. She testified that Rath's remains showed numerous injuries from head to knee, which happened near or at the time of death, a time known as "perimortem."
In court, the prosecutors showed photos of Rath's skeletal remains to the jury. It included a partial skull reconstruction, a chest bone with a metal pellet lodged in it, and an almost complete lower jaw with a fracture line. The professor testified that these wounds were either a result of gunshot or blunt force trauma.
In total, 13 people have been charged in connection to Rath's disappearance and death. One defendant, Joseph Howell, was convicted of first degree murder in October, and faces life in prison.
SEE: Newfield resident facing life in prison after being convicted of murder for abducted Ithaca man
SEE ALSO: 13th Person Charged with Murder in Thomas Rath Investigation
Baez's trial continues Wednesday (12/11) with the defense likely calling more witnesses. Once the defense rests, the case will head to the jury for deliberation.
At this time, the defense and the prosecutors declined to comment.