Uncle on Trial: Pathologist Linked Red Earbuds to Paitin Fields' Marks From Photos Sent Years Later

The pathologist who did Paitin Fields' autopsy first judged the red earbuds from pictures, years later. Then the defense opened her 2017 report. This clip is from Day 4 of the trial of David Wesley Prevatte in Pender County, North Carolina. The uncle on trial is charged in the November 2017 death of his five-year-old niece, Paitin Fields, along with other charges. He has pleaded not guilty and he is presumed innocent. Investigators named him a suspect in 2018 and charged him in 2022. The State gave notice in February that it will not seek the death penalty (StarNews, Oct. 1). On Day 1 the State told jurors to pay attention to a pair of red earbuds found in David's room. The defense said a detective kept sending information back to the doctor, asking, could this be it? Dr. Karen Kelly is that doctor. Under questioning from prosecutor Mr. Smith, she said pathologists confer with law enforcement very commonly, and sometimes investigators come back later when new information comes to light. Here, she said, Det. Eric Short contacted her years after the autopsy, asked about the earbuds and sent her pictures of them, not the earbuds themselves. Her opinion then: consistent with the marks she documented. In court the State walked her through other items. State's 47, not consistent, because its pattern would show in the skin. State's 46 and 44, nothing that makes the horseshoe shape. Then State's Exhibit 43, the red earbuds. Smaller than a quarter inch: it does. Folded or doubled: consistent. A U or horseshoe shape: it does, yes. On cross, defense attorney Johnson Britt asked whether she noticed that horseshoe shape at the first autopsy. "I may have, I don't recall." Would she have noted it in her report? "Most likely, yes." He had her read her injury findings to the jury, then put it to her: neither paragraph mentions a horseshoe shape. Her answer: she did not, that's correct. She also told him the healing abrasions on the back of her neck were all part of the same event, nothing before the early hours of November 13, 2017. Then he held the earbuds up. Tangled, almost knotted in more than one place, with a rectangular piece between the knots. If there were knots, she said, she believes we would see impressions of them. Here is what I am watching. Her link between the earbuds and Paitin's marks began as an opinion formed from photos, years later, and now leans on a horseshoe shape that the injury findings in her 2017 report do not describe. The defense has to answer the other half: she held to consistent, and she put those abrasions in one event. Which half will this jury remember? --- KEY MOMENTS 0:00 Video starts: the State asks about the call that came years later 6:38 The State shows her State's Exhibit 43, the red earbuds 8:12 The defense cross-examines the pathologist 11:05 She reads her own 2017 report to the jury 14:56 The defense holds up the earbuds: would knots leave a mark? 17:08 Three questions for you --- COMPLETE CASE COVERAGE justiceisaprocess.com SUBSCRIBE for daily trial coverage. 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