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Statement by DA James Murphy and NYSP Steven James regarding investigation into the death of Chris Stewart and Deanna Rivers, and serious physical injury sustained by Bailey Wind and Matthey Hardy and conduct by Dennis Drue.

Release Date: December 6, 2012

Statement by DA James Murphy and NYSP Steven James regarding investigation into the death of Chris Stewart and Deanna Rivers, and serious physical injury sustained by Bailey Wind and Matthey Hardy and conduct by Dennis Drue.

Saratoga County District Attorney James A. Murphy, III and NYSP Troop “G” BCI Captain Steven James announced today that the results of the blood test from the NYSP Crime lab have been received regarding Dennis Drue’s blood alcohol content (BAC) on the night of December 1, 2012.

At this time, the NYSP and the DA have chosen to postpone any charging decisions and have asked the NYSP Crime Lab to continue testing the blood sample for other substances, as they would in the ordinary course of the investigation. The NYSP and the DA will wait for these test results before a charging decision is made. Such results typically take 45 days, but the NYSP and the DA have asked that the NYSP Crime lab expedite these tests in order to provide a test result as soon as possible due to the seriousness of the case. It is anticipated that such test results will not be available until the end of next week.

The District Attorney’s Office is ethically prohibited from disclosing the percentage of alcohol by weight in Drue’s blood, the BAC, but DA Murphy said:

“Captain James and I have discussed the status of the investigation in general and the lab results in particular. We both agree that before a charging decision is made, further testing needs to be done. The blood sample would normally be tested for a whole range of substances in the ordinary course of the investigation and that is what is being done here. It is important for us to allow the lab to do a thorough investigation rather than one that is based on artificial time tables. Captain James, the families and I know that we must exercise patience and give our lab experts the necessary time to conduct these scientific tests in order to ensure the integrity of the investigation and trust its outcome.”

Captain James said “The investigation is progressing. However, further essential investigative steps are necessary before the full scope of the case has been reviewed.”

The NYSP and DA’s Office will continue to meet with the victims and the families of the victims in the coming days. The other aspects of the investigation are continuing.

No further comment will be forthcoming from Captain James or District Attorney Murphy, at this time.

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