Uncle on Trial Jury Hears Family's Hospital Tapes, Then His Nails Were 'Cut and Cleaned' | Pt 12

The 2017 lead detective plays the jury the family's hospital tapes, and the judge limits how jurors may use them. Then the next detective says the uncle on trial's long, dirty fingernails were "cut and cleaned" by the next day. Paitin Fields was five years old when her uncle, David Prevatte, carried her into the emergency room in Burgaw, North Carolina, in November 2017. He was named a suspect in 2018 and not charged until 2022. He is on trial in her death in Pender County Superior Court. The State gave notice Feb. 9 that it will not seek the death penalty, and he is presumed innocent. Day 3, first block: retired Det. John Leatherwood, then Det. Sgt. Mark Lobel. The State itself asks Leatherwood about his 2025 diagnosis of mild cognitive decline before he tells how he recorded Lisa and Dale Hunt at the hospital in Wilmington. The State offers those recordings, State's 30, as substantive evidence. The judge admits them for corroboration or impeachment only. On Dale's tape the detective tells him, "I'm not saying he did it... I'm not saying he didn't do it, but somebody did it." On cross: at the hospital, David "was angry... But he wasn't crying." Then Lobel says on Nov. 13 David's nails were long with dirt or objects under them, and on Nov. 14 they had been "manicured." "So they were cut and cleaned." Here is what I want you watching. The jury heard Lisa's and Dale's tapes only to back up or undercut their testimony. David's own 30 to 40 minute interview was recorded too, and was not played. The lead detective answers "I can't remember" again and again on cross. He never interviewed Savannah himself. He retired in 2020 with David uncharged: "When I left, I left." And if a detective saw something under those nails on Nov. 13, did anyone collect it before they were cut? Nothing in this block says. --- WATCH WITH JUSTICE 0:00:00 What this video is, and a preview 0:00:19 Intro 0:01:19 to 0:06:58 - Video starts: Court opens, the jury comes in, and the State calls the 2017 lead investigator, retired Det. John Leatherwood. 0:06:58 to 0:10:41 - The State asks about his 2025 diagnosis of mild cognitive decline. Then the hospital in Wilmington, and two recorded interviews. 0:10:41 to 0:15:07 - Jury out. The State offers State's 30 as substantive evidence, the defense says corroboration or impeachment only, and the judge admits it for that purpose alone. 0:15:07 to 0:25:47 - The jury is told how it may use State's 30, then hears Lisa Hunt's 2017 hospital interview. 0:25:47 to 0:36:11 - Dale Hunt's hospital interview. "I'm not saying he did it... I'm not saying he didn't do it, but somebody did it." 0:36:11 to 0:40:45 - Crime scene investigators sent to the family home, and State's 31, hospital photos the court kept off the broadcast. 0:40:45 to 0:50:17 - The defense's cross. David at the hospital: "He was angry." His own recorded interview, 30 to 40 minutes. The search of the home. 0:50:17 to 1:00:20 - The years after. He retired in 2020 with no charge: "When I left, I left." He never interviewed Savannah. He is released, subject to recall. 1:00:20 to 1:09:16 - The State calls Det. Sgt. Mark Lobel. Long, dirty nails on Nov. 13, "cut and cleaned" by Nov. 14. State's 32 and 33 come in. 1:09:16 to 1:11:26 - The jury takes a five-minute break while the State reads in which parts of the sheriff's office videos will be muted. CASE BACKGROUND REPORT: https://justiceisaprocess.com/nc-v-da... Complete case overview including the charges, the timeline, the key players, and the legal questions this trial raises. State of North Carolina v. David Wesley Prevatte. Pender County Superior Court in Burgaw, North Carolina. Prevatte is charged with first-degree murder in the 2017 death of his five-year-old niece, along with other charges. Jury selection began on September 28, 2026. He is presumed innocent unless and until the State proves each charge beyond a reasonable doubt. LATEST ARTICLE: https://justiceisaprocess.com/desk-20... PLAYLISTS AND RESOURCES Website: https://justiceisaprocess.com/coverag... Full Trial Live Broadcasts:    • NC v. David Prevatte: Full Trial Live Broa...   No Breaks Edition:    • NC v. David Prevatte: No Breaks Edition   Trial Analysis Podcast:    • NC v. David Prevatte: Case Story Trial Pod...   Key Moments and Testimony:    • NC v. David Prevatte: Key Moments & Testimony   Commentary:    • NC v. David Prevatte: Commentary   Subscribe for Daily Coverage:    / @justiceisaprocess   FAIR USE AND EDUCATIONAL PURPOSE This content is produced under Fair Use (17 U.S.C. 107) for news reporting, criticism, and educational purposes. We provide transformative commentary on public court proceedings, advancing public understanding of the judicial process through timestamps, analysis, and educational context. #JusticeIsAProcess #DavidPrevatte #PrevatteTrial