Darrell Brooks trial: Who testified for the state?

WAUKESHA, Wis. - Witnesses for the prosecution in the Darrell Brooks trial included police and first responders, people acquainted with Darrell Brooks and victims of the Waukesha Christmas parade attack.

The state began laying out its case-in-chief Thursday, Oct. 6, calling Waukesha Police Sgt. David Wanner and Kori Runkel, the roommate of Brooks' ex-girlfriend. The state rested two weeks later, on Thursday, Oct. 20, after calling 57 witnesses.

Prosecutors are trying to prove that Darrell Brooks was behind the wheel of the red Ford Escape that drove through the Waukesha Christmas Parade route on Nov. 21, 2021, killing six and injuring more than 60. Brooks faces 76 counts in the case, including six counts of first-degree intentional homicide. One homicide conviction would put him behind bars for life. 

The state tried to lay out that Brooks, in rage after a fight with Erika Patterson, his ex, near Frame Park, barreled through the parade in his red SUV, hitting people and not stopping. 

Brooks was arrested shortly after the attack. Prosecutors say he showed up at a nearby home, banging on the door, asking for a ride. The SUV was parked nearby. 

Below is a list of those who testified for the state in the Darrell Brooks trial, in the order they were called:

1.       Sgt. David Wanner, Waukesha Police Department – First witness called by the state. Stationed at White Rock Avenue and Main Street. Waived his hands in the air attempting to stop the red SUV from entering the parade route.

2.       Kori Runkel, temporary resident of Waukesha women’s shelter – Runkel testified she was with Erika Patterson when Brooks punched her during a domestic violence incident at Frame Park prior to the parade incident.

3.       Erika Patterson, defendant’s ex-girlfriend and mother of his child – Patterson testified that Brooks drove her around, fought with her and eventually punched her prior to the parade incident, then fled in the direction of the parade route when a witness called police.

4.       Detective Steven Guth, Waukesha Police Department – Detective Guth took Patterson along the route she said Brooks took her the day of the parade.

5.       Office Jeremy Philipps, Waukesha Police Department – Officer Philipps described "mass chaos" and "carnage everywhere" after the SUV passed him and began striking participants and spectators.

6.       Kyle Edwards, attended the parade with his wife and two children – Prior to the parade, Edwards encountered a red SUV "hood to hood," attempting to go the wrong way on a one-way street. He identified Brooks as the driver. Edwards said he saw the same SUV driving through the parade route.

7.       Holly Berg, attended the parade with her boyfriend and boyfriend’s daughter – Berg also encountered a red SUV attempting to go the wrong way on a one-way street prior to the parade. During the parade, she testified that she saw the same SUV driving over people and causing "chaos in the streets."

8.       Detective Thomas Casey, Waukesha Police Department – Detective Casey walked the jury through videos of the parade incident.

9.       Office Bryce Butryn, Waukesha Police Department – Officer Butryn was stationed at Main Street and North East Avenue near the parade entrance. He testified he heard a vehicle honking and headed toward him. He raised his hand to direct the vehicle to stop but says it went around him "going 30 to 35 miles per hour."

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10.   Officer Sonia Schneider, Waukesha Police Department – Testified she heard radio traffic about a vehicle going through barricades. She said she stepped directly into the path of the SUV and tried to direct the driver to exit at Buckley Street but had to jump out of the way.

11.   Battalion Chief Jim Haakenson, Waukesha Fire Department – Testified he heard a call about a man with a knife in Frame Park at the start of the parade but could not respond in time because they were scattered throughout the parade. Chief Baakenson also said they sounded a MABAS box alarm for assistance with parade victims.

12.   Nicole White, walked in the parade with RE/MAX – White testified she was struck from behind by the SUV, which rolled over her legs. White was the first parade victim cross-examined by Brooks. At times, she appeared to be nervously shaking.

13.   Sarah Wehmeier-Aparicio, then Waukesha South High School’s band director – Wehmeier Aparicio said she witnessed the SUV running over band members after it passed "within two feet" of her, personally. She thought at first it was an accident, but then saw the driver "staring straight ahead" as he continued past the band.

14.   Kyle Jewell, attended the parade with his family – Jewell described the SUV going over what appeared to be "speed bumps" but realized they were human bodies. Jewell said he ran after the SUV for "a good distance" attempt to stop it but was unable to catch up.

15.   Thomas Greene, attended the parade with his wife and three children – Greene testified that he watched the SUV run over members of the Waukesha South marching band before veering toward him and striking two of his children. Greene said the driver veered back into the parade route and kept going.

16.   Kelly Grabow, attended the parade with her daughter – Grabow was walking with Burris Logistics, just behind the Waukesha Blazers baseball team. She said the SUV knocked her to the ground. She then saw her daughter in the street and her daughter’s shoes "down the road."

17.   Jeffrey Rogers, president of Waukesha Blazers Baseball – Rogers said when he saw the SUV, he grabbed his daughter and then lost her. He found 8-year-old Jackson Sparks lying on the ground motionless. Sparks died from his injuries. Two of Rogers’ children were hurt.

18.    Joshua Kraner, head coach of Slammers, walking with Waukesha Blazers – Kramer was struck and hospitalized. His son was not injured.

19.    Alyssa Gajewski, Waukesha Xtreme Dance Team coach -- Gajewski delivered emotional testimony, breaking down into tears as she described "a car that drove through" the parade, hitting fifteen girls in her group. She talked about how she found them after they were hit and their conditions in the "overflowing" hospital.

20.   Jaimie Sutton, another Waukesha Xtreme Dance Team coach -- Sutton testified that by the time she looked in the direction of the red SUV, "it was already hitting our girls." She said she then heard there was an active shooter, so she and the girls she was able to gather went inside Chef Pam's Kitchen.

21.   Michael Carpenter, Waukesha Police Department -- Carpenter testified on his speed analysis, using video and 3D technology to determine how fast the SUV was going. He said it was between 33-34 MPH based on distance measurments. It was his first time doing this for a live investigation. 

22.    Debora Ramirez, Waukesha Christmas Parade attendee -- Ramirez testified that she was at the parade with her boyfriend, their four kids and her dad. Ramirez and her son, Isaac, 12, were hit by the red SUV. 

23.     Stefanie Bonesteel -- Walked in the Waukesha Christmas Parade with co-workers with Citizens Bank and her two kids, who were passing out candy. Her husband drove their float truck. Stefanie Bonesteel testified about the death of Jane Kulich, who was part of her group.

24.     Adam Bonesteel -- Drove parade float for Citizens Bank. Adam Bonesteel continued the testimony about the death of Jane Kulich, testifying that he "watched the body fly up onto the hood, her body snap back and I thought I could have reached out and grabbed her." He estimated the SUV's speed at roughly 30 mph. 

25.     Matthew Harris -- Attended the Waukesha Christmas Parade with a group, including his two daughters, ages 7 and 3. His daughter was injured. Another girl with their group was sideswiped. Harris described the scene as "mass chaos," noting he's a combat veteran and "had never seen anything like this."

26.    Heather Ricciotti -- Attended the Waukesha Christmas Parade with her three kids, ages 7, 5 and 2. Her son, 5 at the time, was hit. She told the court that she "did not expect my kid to get hit at a parade." 

27.    Daniel Knapp -- Attended the Waukesha Christmas Parade with his wife and three kids, including a daughter who was hit. He explained how his daughter flew 15 feet and suffered an injury to her spleen and required facial surgery. He said he "locked eyes" with the driver. He described him as a Black male whose eyes were wide open.

28.    Laura Thein, Milwaukee Dancing Grannies member -- Thein talked about the four members of her group that were killed: Virginia Sorenson, Bill Hospel, Tamara Durand, and Lee Owen. Durand was marching in her first and last parade. Thein was walking with the group during the parade, and described the Dancing Grannies as a "sisterhood." 

29.   Hope Evans-Jansen, Waukesha Christmas Parade attendee -- Evans-Jansen said her daughter recorded video of the parade on her iPhone. She testified briefly about a video associated with the parade that she shared only with law enforcement and said not even family and friends had seen it.

30.    Michael Smith, Wisconsin State Patrol accident reconstructionist – Smith testified about the process he used in performing a speed analysis on the SUV. He testified that he calculated the average speed from "Point A" to "Point B" to be 32 miles per hour. That was his calculation of the speed of the red SUV on Main Street past Clinton, which he noted was an "average."

31.    Dr. Amy Sheil, Waukesha County associate medical examiner -- Sheil testified as to the autopsies of Lee Owen and Virginia Sorenson (Milwaukee Dancing Grannies member), and Jackson Sparks, 8, who was marching with the Waukesha Blazers. He died at the hospital. Sheil became choked up while testifying regarding Jackson's cause of death. Diagrams were shown, and the injuries were discussed in detail. 

32.   Dr. Lynda Biedrzycki, Waukesha County medical examiner – Biedrzycki testified as to the autopsies of Tamra Durand (Milwaukee Dancing Grannies member), Jane Kulich (marching with Citizens Bank) and Bill Hospel (Milwaukee Dancing Grannies volunteer). Diagrams were shown, and the injuries were discussed in detail. 

33.   Matthew Widder, Catholic Community of Waukesha priest – Widder testified he was walking in the parade with the group and saw three members of his group injured after the SUV came through. He said he did not see the driver because "the vehicle was going very fast."

34.   Lukas Hallmark, Waukesha police detective – Hallmark, while a police detective, was at the parade as a citizen with his wife and three children; two were hurt. He testified about how, when he saw the SUV coming toward them, he threw his children toward the curb. He said, "Then as I looked back at all the kind of carnage behind us, my thought was that we were involved in some sort of terrorist attack." He also talked about the scene at the hospital with all the injured individuals, saying that, even being a police detective, "I’ve never seen anything like this in my entire life."

35.   Craig Liermann, Franklin assistant police chief – Liermann testified that he attended the Waukesha Christmas Parade with his family – as a civilian. He said he saw the red SUV barrel through the parade and that its engine was revving higher than normal. He also talked about how the SUV drove through the Catholic Community of Waukesha group.

36.   Ralph Salyers, Wauwatosa police officer – Salyers said his daughters were walking in the Waukesha Christmas parade with their dance team and he attended as a civilian. He testified that he saw an SUV driving in an alley by Maple Road and heard a crash. He then observed the damaged SUV. 

37.   Bryce Scholten, Waukesha police officer – Scholten told the court he was working on the parade route when he heard over his radio the call for service for a domestic disturbance in Frame Park. As he approached the parade route, he said he saw a red blur come past the Wisconsin House. 

38.   Christopher Moss, Waukesha police officer – Moss said he marched the entire parade – leading it as a member of the Honor Guard/Color Guard unit. He later responded to the attack and was flagged down by a man who allegedly showed him to the red SUV parked in a driveway on Maple Road.

39.   Carlos Arechiga Nolasco, Waukesha resident – Arechiga Nolasco testified he saw the red SUV park outside his home and saw someone get out and leave the area. He described damage to the vehicle and people running, apparently scared.

40.   Sean Backler, came upon Darrell Brooks in his yard after the parade attack -- Backler testified that he found Brooks "trespassing" in his yard, and he said something was "off" about Brooks. He said Brooks asked him to call him an Uber. He did not, and told Brooks to leave, later calling police. He said he later pulled up the mug shot for the parade attack suspect and said that person was the same person he saw in his yard.

41.   Domanic Caproon, came upon Darrell Brooks in his yard after the parade attack -- Caproon testified that Brooks came up his driveway, lifted his shirt and said he did not have any weapons and needed a phone to call an Uber. Caproon said he gave Brooks his phone and believed Brooks was calling an Uber. He said he later got a call back from a lady who was not "an Uber." 

42.   Erin Cordes, came upon Darrell Brooks on Elizabeth Street after the parade attack -- Cordes testified that after she saw a police officer fire three rounds at the red SUV driving through the parade, she ran into Darrell Brooks on Elizabeth Street. She said he came out of the bushes from behind two houses. She said he asked to use a phone and then appeared to be calling his mother to call him an Uber. Cordes noted "a sense of urgency." She said later pointed Brooks toward the lobby of the nearby Aires Industries, where he could warm up. Surveillance was shown of Brooks walking up to the Aires lobby doors.

43.   Anthony Winters, Lyft driver -- Winters testified he responded to the Aires Industries building as a Lyft driver for someone requesting a ride. He said, "The fare came in for Dawn," which is Brooks' mother's first name. He said he found no one in the parking lot at Aires, so he canceled the call after waiting almost 10 minutes.

44.   Daniel Rider, Darrell Brooks showed up on his front porch after the parade attack -- Rider testified that Brooks was captured by his Ring doorbell camera on his front porch after the parade attack. Rider said Brooks told him he was homeless and cold and needed a phone. Rider invited him in and made him a sandwich. He testified Brooks was on the phone with his mom. He said she later called back and left Rider a voicemail on his phone. On cross, Rider said he was paid for his Ring doorbell footage.

45.   Rebecca Carpenter, involved in Brooks' detention after the parade attack -- Carpenter's body camera video showed the detention of Darrell Brooks after the parade attack. She said she responded to Elizabeth Street for a report of a man going door-to-door, asking to use people's phones to call an Uber. She said the man she arrested identified himself as "Darrell Brooks" in the video. 

46.   Garrett Luling, Waukesha police officer, responded to Elizabeth Street after the parade attack -- Luling continued the testimony about Brooks' detention on Elizabeth Street, noting that he did not see Brooks slammed to the ground during his detention or any use of force. He said he found a "black Ford key" when he search Darrell Brooks after he was detained. Luling was not wearing a body camera, but other officers on scene were. 

47.   Draelon Leija, Waukesha police officer, drove Brooks to Muskego PD after his detention -- Leija testified that he transported Brooks to the Muskego Police Department after his detention so that he could be interviewed by a detective. He said he first met Brooks at the hospital in a "police hold." As they drove, Leija said Brooks, noticing the police presence due to the parade response, said, "Damn, it looks like they’re dealing with something heavy." Leija then testified about his interactions with Brooks while he was held at Muskego PD. 

48.   Detective Jay Carpenter, Waukesha Police Department, questioned Brooks after his detention -- Carpenter testified that he questioned Brooks at a police substation after he was detained. He identified the defendant as "Darrell Brooks" but noted he had long, braided hair and a longer beard at the time of the Christmas parade attack. He said he received items on Brooks' person at the time of his arrest, including a Ford key. He said Brooks claimed injuries to his knee and shoulder, but Carpenter said he reviewed body camera video of Brooks' arrest and there was no use of force. He noted that Brooks was taken to the same hospital parade victims were being treated at after complaining of these injuries.

49.    Steven Schlomann, Waukesha School District IT director – Schlomann testified he was contacted by Waukesha police in regards to cameras on school district property on Maple Avenue. He said he found video that might be helpful to police and turned it over to them.

50.   Robert Stone II, homeowner on Dunbar Avenue -- Stone has security cameras and testified he retrieved footage from those cameras after the Waukesha Christmas parade attack and turned it over to police. On cross-examination by Brooks, Stone was asked if he saw anything unusual in the footage. "I guess not, no," he said.

51.   Andrew Amerson, homeowner on Dunbar Avenue -- Amerson testified that his security cameras "are evident from the street" and "police wanted to look at them."

52.   Leonard Miller, homeowner on Central Avenue -- Miller said he was looking through his security camera footage and saw someone running up his driveway. He said he did not recognize the person.

53.   Kyle Becker, Waukesha police officer -- Becker testified he was part of the search team canvassing Maple Avenue after the Christmas parade attack. He testified about the items found at a home on Maple, including a blue sandal and a gray sweatshirt. The other sandal was in close proximity.

54.   Justin Rowe, Waukesha police detective -- Rowe testified about the search on Maple Avenue for items discarded by Darrell Brooks, including two sandals and a gray sweatshirt. He said he reviewed surveillance from the Waukesha School District and noted a "red blur" in that video was "Darrell Brooks."

55.   Ryan Schultz, Wisconsin State Patrol -- Schultz, a mechanical inspector, testified about his analysis of the SUV, noting the brakes and gas pedal were working, along with the power steering system. He said there were no diagnostic codes that came up when he ran the ignition and no recalls on the vehicle. He noted "more than one" bullet hole on the vehicle. He did say one tire was larger than the other, and there was a coolant leak. He also said the "high-mount" lamp on the hatch of the SUV was not working. 

56.   Chris Johnson, Wisconsin State Crime Lab -- Johnson testified about processing the red SUV, first on Maple Street and then at the Waukesha County Sheriff's Department's secure facility. He noted gloves and a winter hat, along with a headband around the driver mirror of the SUV among the "fragile" items recovered on Maple Street. He said the inside and outside of the vehicle were inspected, looking for things that might contain DNA evidence.

57.   Trevor Naleid, Wisconsin State Crime Lab -- Naleid, a senior forensic analyst, testified about the DNA analysis of items found in the SUV and surfaces such as the steering wheel and gear shift. He used the names Darrell Brooks and Erika Patterson when discussing probable DNA matches.