PORT ANGELES — Travis Criswell was six years her senior, making their relationship illegal.
But he didn’t mince words when asked the nature of their four-month relationship.
“I was in love with her,” said Criswell, 22, the boyfriend of Melissa Leigh Carter, 15, whose naked body was found Dec. 26, 2004, in a brushy hollow just east of downtown Port Angeles.
Carter had been strangled and sexually assaulted there, an expert testified earlier.
On Tuesday, the sixth day of testimony in the first-degree murder trial of Robert Gene Covarrubias, 25, Carter’s boyfriend testified about the volatile relationship in the morning, and detectives testified about the investigation in the afternoon.
Covarrubias’ attorney, public defender Ralph Anderson, also said that Covarrubias would likely take the stand.
Covarrubias has pleaded not guilty.
Volatile relationship
The volatile nature of the relationship between Criswell and Carter has been established by a host of other young people present at a motel party where Carter was last seen alive by her friends.
Criswell was known to get emotional, and had spent the days after her disappearance asking fellow travelers and police about the girl known as Messa.
He also testified that during an argument at the party, Carter punched him several times in the face before she left.
However, Criswell testified that he was not using methamphetamine at the small party at the Chinook Motel on Dec. 23, 2004.
Other witnesses testified that not only was Criswell under the influence of methamphetamine and alcohol, he was badgering the host of the party, a self-admitted purveyor of the powerful and illegal stimulant, for a line of credit.
Also, in contrast to testimony that Carter was looking forward to the Christmas holiday, Criswell said she was despondent after fighting with her brother on the day of the party.
“She said she wanted to eat a bottle of aspirin,” Criswell said.
“That way this Christmas her family would have a reason to call.”