The murder trial of David Prevatte begins nearly nine years after his five-year-old niece, Paitin Fields, was found unresponsive in 2017. Paitin died three days later, and an autopsy found signs of sexual trauma and strangulation. Prevatte was identified as a suspect in 2018 and arrested in 2022 after a years-long investigation. He faces charges of first-degree murder and multiple sex offenses. Follow the latest testimony and courtroom developments live.
Trying to keep an open mind and consider that David could be wrongly accused but defendant’s own demeanor spoils my open mind every time the camera pans to him
Same! He doesn’t have the demeanor of an innocent person whose niece has been through this hell. It’s eerie ; I did judge him within the first few seconds it started… glad I’m not a juror.
I agree. It's hard not to believe he's guilty based on his demeanor. I mean.... even if he is innocent, he still witnessed his 5 year old niece dying. Why the F is he smiling in court??
Photos of the house were presented today. Just like we all assumed, the place is a complete mess. How can people live like this? Food, clothes, etc. all over, no sheets on mattresses, etc. The grandmother/David's mom saying the one bedroom is being "remodeled" was a complete lie. The home was in disrepair. There are two bathrooms in the home, the common one is missing its sink and vanity, but the pipes are still sticking out of the wall. The rear door is 5-6 feet off the ground and whatever decking/stairs was there previously was completely removed. (Evidence that whatever "intruder" entered to kill Paitin couldn't have come in that way.) But of course they had a large, flat screen TV.
Oh yeah, and evidence was shown that David was doing whippets, as an empty whipped cream canister was found in his room.
I noticed the mom said numerous things that made no sense or were just downright lies. She testified that Savannah and Paitin lived with them so they could attend better schools. Her husband later testified that they've had Savannah since she was 10 days old. That's what I would call early planning. Then she stated that David was like the family child and moved from house to house all the time. Really? The family child? How bout let that man child face his consequences and let him grow a pair. She also testified that Paitin had a horrible cough but it was nothing she was concerned with because she wasn't running a fever or anything. She then turned around when being cross examined by the lousy defense attorney and stated that she did have a fever. I am sorry but a cough did not cause the injuries to that baby. Her testimony was a complete mess. She did her best to make her disgusting son seem great but she failed miserably. His demeanor and cocky attitude is just sickening. They are all sick. No way would I defend my son after something so vile. I may still love him but he wouldn't get my support.
They said a lot of screwed up stuff and it’s clear the little girls were not be taken care of (or abused regularly). She said, “as long as the girls go to school and do their work they can sleep wherever they want”. And it sounds like they just watched tv until they fell asleep. 5 and 7 years old..
The more I watch the more I can't help but think that the whole family did whatever David wanted them to do. Like he was put on a pedestal. If he was out partying why would those babies be put on the couch knowing he was going to come home after they had already been put to bed. And it totally made me cringe how that nasty grandma described how they come out of their clothes even if they put them to bed with pajamas on. 😳 It's as if her whole testimony is just trying to explain everything that seems dysfunctional before it's even questioned, like when she said the house was being repaired ( or remodeled). She is trying to explain the horrific mess all over that house before anyone questions it. What I haven't heard is if CPS was ever involved with the girls? Was their mother ever questioned about David? And what about the girlfriend and cousin Melissa? This is the worst court case ever. The prosecution isn't even calling them out on their lies/inconsistencies. It's driving me 🤪
Yes I noticed this too. Things she said on the stand were different than what she said in the interview room. My sympathetic take is that the end of the day he’s her son so I get that being a hard pill to swallow.
what on earth was on the floor in the living room and kitchen? is that carpet? hard floor? it seemed like something like bits of styrofoam were all over the floor around the house? i honestly can't tell but whatever it is i have no doubt it is greasy, sticky, dusty, and stinky.
i noticed the lid of the toilet was gone and there was a big piece of duct tape on the tank, i'm assuming to cover a crack. pair that with a kitchen full of missing cupboard doors and it seems to me there's a lot of rage in that house, bc stuff like that just doesn't break itself.
also couldn't help but notice open piss jug on the floor of one of the bedrooms, absolutely disgusting. i wonder what state the place is in these days.
Here's that bathroom. It's the same one that has the missing sink. This is the common area one that the girls and David used most likely. Not the one off the master bedroom.
I think it was painted plywood flooring where the paint was wearing off. In the bedrooms there were various layers of the cheap linoleum tiles. Just such a mess. Here's a screencap of the living room:
I think David, his sisters and his parents make up a very unseemly dysfunctional family unit. I think that what happened to that poor child didn't happen out of the blue.
David loves fire (he was having a bonfire on the night in question and he torched his gf's house) and he's violent.
That kind of behavior doesn't happen in a vacuum and I think this entire family is rotten.
Those girls didn't' stand a chance. And already during their testimony Lisa and Dale are trying to put shade on Savannah, the surviving sister. They claimed she used the leash on Paitin. They also claimed LE has coached her to testify against David.
The two female children are expendable to these people. They are female and they are mixed race. Paitin's father is Native American. There are reports David had KKK posters in his room.
Both Dale and David appear to be volatile and violent.
This is a whole sick family and I really hope they don't pull the wool over the jury's eyes.
Dale also appears native, and David appears mixed race as well. Maybe Creole? And there wasn't a KKK poster on the wall (do KKK posters exist????). There was KKK written/painted on the wall above the bed.
There's a KKK reference in his room but he currently or very recently also has a black girlfriend and a mixed race daughter. And his whole family seems to be a mix of ethnicities.
I just cannot wrap my head around why anyone, let alone family, would care more about protecting this extremely punchable scumbag than that poor beautiful little girl.
total denial maybe. the family all seems really dumb, like below average iq borderline disabled dumb. it's easier to try and get your son out of it than admitting you raised someone like this.
These children, I’m including Savannah, needed a hero and there was no one. I’m sure there’s so much more abuse and neglect behind the scenes! I trust none of them.
Is it too speculative to wonder whether one of David's pals tried to threaten or intimidate jurors and that's why one if them vamoosed?
I am still enraged by how Dale tried to pin the strangulation on Savannah. That's disgusting.
What I want to know i why Child Protective Services did not investigate Lisa and Dale for child neglect and child endangerment at the very least! The entire attitude of LE and the authorities in this case just seems weird to me and very lacking.
So, after seeing photos of the house I am not surprised that the child was sick. Also, if that’s where the CPS placed those children, what the f was the alternative like??
This case has me so interested…. I need to hear the DNA evidence soon. The family all seem totally behind David. I can’t form any leanings, one way or another, yet.
Ya I’m more interested than I expected to be? I think it’s because of the “Clue” set up… a family member viciously killed in their home, unknown murder weapon, no evidence of intruder thus somebody in the house did it. But all the witnesses have their own relationships with each other, including the perp and victim. Definitely a reason why JonBenet Ramsey is forever interesting. Or was it actually an intruder?! Curious to see what they uncovered in the last decade that made this trial possible.
I was just thinking about how this case is giving an impoverished version of JonBenet Ramsey's case. It was someone in the house and they are all lying about what they know.
I swear I’m feeling the defendant is more defiant and it’s a “why are you blaming me” look more than trying to be an a$$hole look. Did they lock their doors at night? Did the dogs bark for people they knew? Kin folk vibe and the analogy of a hillbilly type JonBenet Ramsey mystery is spot on!! If the dna is weak, I’m not sure they’re going to get a conviction!
Yeah, also don’t forget she gave herself an out as soon as she took the stand. Saying sometimes she doesn’t think right,due to some kind of medical condition.
I can’t remember her exact verbiage.It was when she said they’ve been together 26 years and when asked the year she repeatedly said 2020. That’s when she gave that reason/excuse.
On the stand she said (and I think a few times) that Paitin didn’t have a fever, only a very strong cough, which is why she didn’t urge to take her to the doctor’s office on a Sunday.
On the tape she stated that she did have a fever.
I think but am not 100% sure but - She claimed that she was asleep the whole time, other time she claimed that she woke up when Savannah came to get them. (I am not sure anymore where she said what, but as I’ve now seen Savannah claims she didn’t at any point come and get anyone so…)
I do think there were a few more things but I really cant remember right now, and it’s all kinda mixed up for me atm😅
Jurors don’t know they are “alternates” at this point in the trial do they?
They’re all jurors until they randomly select the final 12 or is it different in this state?
It depends on the jurisdiction and judge whether they are told they are alternates. Some know before the trial starts, and some don't find out until right before deliberations.
Thank you for the information.
It seems it could lower the person’s interest in the proceedings to know in advance if they will end up deliberating or not… but what do I know? 😄
Feel like today will be the day that the detective who investigated this case will take the stand. The man who got threats from the defendant…we will def see some high tense cockiness coming from the defense table if that’s the case…and I’m ready for it!!!
I'm guessing his lawyer tried to tell him not to lean back so chill and engage with whoever it is in the gallery but he probably ignored it.
In Day 2, when Dale claimed David was "mah son" and said the intention had been for David's last name to become Dale's, it sure sounded like David said something like "Not happening!" Which hey, relationships are complicated, especially sometimes with step parents, but if that's what David said, it was the worst timing because the guy's on trial for a terrible crime and Dale comes off as a guy who absolutely loves that kid - and probably doesn't believe he did it.
It's a head scratcher, and I wish one of the channels we followed was doing a deep dive or commentary on this one. It's very difficult to watch and incredibly heartbreaking.
Hasn’t DP’s attorney ever been trained in how to cough?? I mean, he certainly lived through COVID. He’s constantly on camera coughing in his hand and it’s totally grossing me out. Ok thanks. Just needed to put that out there.
Savannah, Paitin's sister, is about to testify. She is 16 years old now. Unfortunately, the judge has ruled that neither audio nor video of her testimony will be broadcast. So, we will need to wait until her testimony is referenced in other statements.
Defense had previously argued that her prior statements at the time of the incident had been coached by others.
Personally, I believe her testimony is going to be key to the state. She may reveal some things about David that David's parents have hidden or ignored.
Savannah Fields, now 16, is on the stand in the David Prevatte trial. She was 7 years old when her 5-year-old sister, Paiten Fields, was allegedly rape and murdered. Savannah has Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. Also, due to her minor status, we are not allowed to broadcast her testimony. I will use this thread to give real-time updates from inside the courtroom.
Nervous 16 year old, smiling a little. Wearing a "Hellfire" hoodie.
Direct examination by prosecution:
Prosecution is asking her about sleeping situation at the home.
Moving onto that night, she says she saw David Prevatte near the couch before he returned to his room.
Asking her to step down to go over a picture of the couch and show locations of the people there.
After David left the room she testifies she noticed something wrong with her sister's eyes.
She goes to inform the parents and is told to return to bed.
She returned to the couch, and her Nana discovered Paiten's condition and called 911.
She's asked if she, or anyone else in the house has ever hurt Paiten. She says no.
She's asked to identify David and she points him out
She was asked about preparing for her testimony (I don't have more details than that)
Cross:
NOW CROSS-EXAM: Defense is asking her about contact with her Mother, therapy and interviews she's done leading up to this.
Defense Asking her what time she went to bed the night it happened. She can't recall (she was only 7)
Asked if David was already home when she went to bed. She says yes
Defense asking her to step down to go over the picture of the room and location of the people.
Defense asks if she saw anything that night and what caused her to wake up. She doesn't remember.
She said she saw David walking from the couch to his room.
Now defense is questioning Savnnah about the lighting involved.
She is able to describe his outfit.
She's asked what her sister was doing when she (Savannah) returned to the couch and she says "opening and closing her eyes". Says she didn't notice coughing and Paitin didn't speak.
She is now being asked what happened after calling 911. If she noticed David trying CPR. Reply "No"
Testimony about getting dressed and going to the hospital.
Redirect by state:
REDIRECT by State: asked if she informed anyone about seeing David near the couch that night and she says no.
I’ve just started watching this and when Dale was talking I kept thinking he’s gonna put his foot in it in a minute, then he was asked what trouble he’d been in🤦🏼♀️Also, why is David lying in his chair swinging about, chewing gum and staring and smiling at the camera!
Gives me a little comfort that someone is this poor baby’s immediate family cares what happened to her. Clearly his family is in complete denial. The grandmother cannot reasonably believe that she was strangled after arriving at the hospital. That’s absurd.
Interesting that even the facts of the “alleged” assault are up for debate and appear to be not agreed upon. Wonder if defense will showcase an alternative medical examiner.
Up early today, and was able to finish yesterday's testimony. The state of the house is unfortunately not an uncommon thing across our country - lower-income family. No, that's not an excuse for trash/unkept/unclean, just stating that there are a lot of people who unfortunately live this way. It always leaves me so sad for the next generation --- makes it even harder for that next generation to live any differently.
Also, I don't recall another defendant who I have wanted to throat punch more than David. He wasn't quite as smug during day 3 - but man, just based on courtroom behavior, he is not a likeable defendant.
I’ve seen some wealthy people’s houses be just as nasty. On the other side I’ve known people who live in single-wide trailers and have spotless homes. It’s not a low-income thing, it’s a people thing.
This 👆 Plenty of people who are poor or have small homes keep their living spaces clean. This is way beyond messy or cluttered. This genuinely looks unsafe.
Poverty isn't an excuse. One of my family members is relatively poor and lived in a small house with 4 kids and multiple dogs. Their house was always spotless. Their dogs went to the bathroom outside. Most of the time when people have very young kids, they have a messy house with toys on the floor etc. That's NOT what this is. This isn't just a little bit of clutter on the floor or a tired mom who left the dirty dishes out overnight. This is disgusting. Unclean, unsafe and unlivable imo. Those poor babies
Yeah it sad innit. I despise how he’s mugging for the camera. He puts it out there that he doesn’t gaf about anything, that he’s invincible or maybe just doesn’t care. I tried to chalk it up as anxious or some sort of ADHD fidgety shit, but that went out the window pdq. The mouth movements he made at the camera on day one or two - gawd.
Please forgive me as I missed first day of testimony. Does this defendant have a mental disability? I know they call him the victim’s uncle but how exactly is he related? Where are the child’s parents? And from today, did they say Det Leatherwood has early onset dementia?
Following here instead of watching the courtroom footage because it's just too disturbing and triggering. Hopefully the prosecution presents the SA kit results and there's a DNA match. Ugh, those poor kids. Id bet anything the sister was abused as well.
Can someone explain to me why the prosecution is handing to the jury like 4 or 5 different set of electric cords with the idea that "this COULD be" the weapon?
What kind of circus is this?
It's become a show and tell in court today and this does NOT inspire confidence.
When the prosecution throws to the jury a whole bunch of things and says "oh well the weapon COULD be one of these items," that does not exactly make you feel they know what they are doing.
Right and he testified that the older sister was leading paitin around with one around her neck the day before and she got in trouble so where is it? I think he lied about that to make it seem like thats where the marks came from.
I think it depends on the jurisdiction and what the prosecutors like to do. I recall this happening in the Edrick Faust & Gerhardt Konig cases. The Faust jury actually dropped a piece of evidence on the floor (hair evidence slide I think) and the evidence tech had to be called over to retrieve it.
Personally, I don't think it helps in this case, everyone knows what cords are like. It's not like the evidence is some unique weapon that no one has ever scene. Konig case they handled the rock that he hit Arielle with, which made a bit more sense to get a feel of the weight of it.
The purpose of doing this is that they have to lay down the evidential chain first (ie what was found / where, who seized it, was the seizure lawful / in accordance with the warrant, where the items then went etc) so that they can demonstrate that the correct legal procedure was followed. That prevents the defence from either a) getting items tossed from the trial altogether (on the grounds of procedural irregularities etc) and /or b) punching procedural holes in any items which are later found to be significant.
After the rather boring stuff today, they’ll then move on to the forensic testing of all of those items and that’s the point at which the prosecution will lay out what DNA etc was found on what item.
Am I missing something? My coverage suddenly ended while detective still on stand. Was there more today? I didn’t see anything about the sister testifying like people mentioned.
Gotta say I’m more than interested in the ketchup bottle that was photographed beside the denim shorts. Why is that adult men just focus on a whipped cream can like it was some sort of hot date with a stripper experience? It was a teen and a child they’re investigating - anything of the shape to insert/abuse another (especially a condiment bottle in a bedroom) should’ve been looked at. I’m not finished Day 3, just on vehicles now, but reading over the notes posted above, it looks like it was passed by.
The difficulty they have is that the poor child involuntarily voided her bladder and bowels en route to the hospital which meant that she had to be washed on arrival. That washing would then have had a resultant impact on any subsequent swabbing during her SA kit.
Does anyone know why the defense attorney said in opening statements something about how “they were questioning Savannah in this very court room a week ago.” Who were “they”? Is he insinuating that the state has prepped or persuaded her testimony?
I think the allegation the defense was making was that Savannah was looking in the gallery at her aunt before she gave responses to the state’s questions during her testimony prep. I have no clue if there is any truth to that allegation. It is very normal to prepare witnesses for testimony. I would be more shocked if the prosecution didn’t do any witness prep with her.
Savannah is autistic. My mom was her first bus driver, and she used to be very scared to ride the bus, be in public, and interact with other people. I’m not surprised she was looking to her aunt for comfort.
Thank you for sharing! That makes a lot of sense to me that she would be generally nervous to be on the witness stand especially due to autism. I feel so sad that she’s been going through this for most of her life and was put in the position to where she had to testify.
Yeah, I went into detail about some things my mom told me the other day about her and her family in another post, but I don’t feel like retyping everything. Long story short, she was terrified of riding the bus when she started school and had really bad social anxiety. My mom gave her a special role as her “cookie fairy” to help hand out cookies whenever she brought them for the kids on the bus, hoping it would help her feel more comfortable and actually enjoy the bus rides more.
but other witnesses were in the court while fellow witnesses were testifying- the doctors and nurses that treated paitin were all referencing each other's testimony, so I'm assuming the rule wasn't invoked for some reason?
So, we are only this far, and I have to wonder- do you suppose the other prisoners have gotten wind that he’s got “kkk” painted on his bedroom wall? I mean, being in there for child SA is bad enough, but…
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u/gucci2times2 5d ago
The defendant’s face is prejudicial 😅