Wood County Trial Decades in the Making Starts Today

Monday, October 24th, 2022 -- 12:01 PM

(Mike Leischner, WSAU) A trial decades in the making begins Monday in Wood County.

John Sarver faces murder charges for the death of 73 year old Elanore Roberts back in 1984. He was interviewed numerous times in the years that followed the crime, and often told conflicting stories about where he was that night that never checked out.

But investigators couldn't conclusively tie him to the crime until recent advances in forensic technology were able to tie his DNA to a ski mask found near the scene and a handprint found in the bathroom of the crime scene.

Wood County Sheriff Shawn Becker announced his arrest during the Summer of 2020- and he's been held on a one million dollar bond since. The trial is scheduled to run through November 4th.

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