DNA evidence was front and center at a preliminary hearing in Provo, Utah, where prosecutors told a judge that forensic testing found genetic material on a towel and a screwdriver consistent with Tyler Robinson and Lance Twiggs. The testimony, presented during testimony this week, is being offered to meet the limited legal question at a preliminary hearing: whether there is probable cause to advance aggravated murder and related charges.
Prosecutors told the court that FBI forensic analysis returned mixed DNA profiles from both a dark towel recovered wrapped around a suspected Mauser 98 bolt-action rifle and a screwdriver recovered on the Losee Center rooftop. FBI analyst Amanda Bakker testified that the mixed samples identify Tyler Robinson as the likely majority contributor and Lance Twiggs as a minority contributor on both items, according to court testimony reported by Fox News.
DNA evidence presented by prosecutors
Prosecutors described the towel as having been used to wrap the rifle found in nearby woods and said the screwdriver was recovered from what investigators described as a possible sniper perch on the Losee Center rooftop. The government presented laboratory graphs and statistical interpretations of mixed DNA samples during Bakker’s testimony, and prosecutors emphasized that both suspects provided buccal swabs for comparison.
Investigators contend the rifle had been modified to fire .30-06 rounds, a caliber the state says matches bullet fragments recovered during Charlie Kirk’s autopsy. Prosecutors argued in court that the physical link between a wrapped weapon and items with DNA consistent with Robinson and Twiggs supports their theory about how and where the weapon was stored and used. These claims were presented in testimony and investigative reports; they remain allegations at this stage of proceedings, according to court testimony and media coverage.
Key courtroom testimony and disputes
The preliminary hearing featured testimony from multiple witnesses, including Sgt. Jennifer Faumuina, who led the evidence response team, FBI analyst Amanda Bakker and David Hull of the Utah Department of Public Safety, who discussed surveillance footage. Defense attorney Michael Burt repeatedly challenged the probative value of mixed DNA interpretation and cross-examined the analyst on statistical conclusions.
Prosecutor Ryan McBride objected multiple times during defense questioning, arguing some lines of inquiry went “beyond the scope of determining probable cause,” a point the judge, Tony Graf Jr., permitted him to enforce at several junctures. The court record shows the judge interceding to keep the hearing focused on the probable-cause standard rather than issues reserved for trial.
Observers in the courtroom included family members and others closely watching as technical testimony about DNA mixtures, likelihood ratios and contributor interpretation was presented. Prosecutors stressed that the DNA findings are one piece of an evidentiary picture that also includes physical evidence and surveillance — a narrative the defense sought to undercut by highlighting limits in mixed-sample interpretation.
Other physical and surveillance evidence
Beyond DNA, investigators recovered a Mauser 98 bolt-action rifle in nearby woods. Prosecutors told the court the rifle had been retrofitted to fire .30-06 ammunition, which they say aligns with autopsy fragments found in Charlie Kirk. Those statements were presented through testimony and investigative exhibits; they are part of the prosecution’s probable-cause showing and remain subject to challenge.
Surveillance video entered at the hearing was described by David Hull as showing Robinson on campus around the time of the shooting and entering and exiting a Dodge Challenger. Prosecutors used vehicle reports and other video evidence to place a suspect near the Losee Center area. Defense counsel questioned how conclusively the footage ties a particular person to the rooftop or to the weapon recovery site.
The screwdriver’s recovery from the rooftop and the towel wrapped around the rifle are central to the prosecution’s narrative connecting where the weapon was stored and where it might have been used. Prosecutors told the court that finding mixed DNA consistent with the two named men on both items strengthens their inference; defense attorneys repeatedly cautioned against treating mixed-DNA interpretation as definitive proof, citing limitations and alternative explanations.
Why the DNA findings matter for probable cause
This hearing is not a trial on the charges. Its narrow legal purpose is to determine whether the prosecution has presented enough evidence to show probable cause that a crime occurred and that the accused committed it. Prosecutors told the judge that the combination of the Mauser 98, surveillance footage, the towel and the screwdriver — with DNA evidence they say is consistent with Tyler Robinson and Lance Twiggs — meets that threshold.
Defense attorneys argued the mixed DNA results and statistical interpretations should be viewed cautiously and said questions about how those mixtures are parsed are better addressed at trial. Legal observers quoted in court coverage said the hearing’s limited scope typically favors a finding of probable cause when multiple investigative threads point in the same direction, but they warned that factual disputes remain for later proceedings.
What comes next
The preliminary hearing is expected to continue through the week as more witnesses are called and additional evidence is introduced. If Judge Graf finds probable cause, the prosecution can move forward toward trial preparation and Robinson may be ordered to enter a plea. According to reporting from Fox News and testimony in court, Lance Twiggs has been described as cooperating with investigators and had not been charged at the time of the hearing.
All claims presented at the hearing are based on testimony and investigative work introduced before the judge; none of the allegations constitute a conviction. The materials and testimony are part of ongoing proceedings and remain subject to evidentiary rulings, further testing and defense challenges.
FAQ
What did DNA testing reportedly show?
Court testimony said mixed DNA samples on a towel and a screwdriver were consistent with Tyler Robinson and Lance Twiggs. An FBI analyst testified that Robinson is likely the majority donor and Twiggs the minority contributor on those samples, according to court testimony and Fox News reporting.
Has Lance Twiggs been charged?
According to coverage of the hearing, Twiggs is cooperating with investigators and had not been charged at the time of the testimony. That status was described during court proceedings and in media reports; charging decisions can change as investigations continue.
What will the preliminary hearing decide?
The judge will decide whether the prosecution has shown probable cause to proceed on aggravated murder and related charges. A finding of probable cause would allow the case to move closer to trial; a finding against probable cause would limit or halt the prosecution on those charges at this stage.
Source: Fox News — https://www.foxnews.com/us/tyler-robinson-lance-twiggs-dna-allegedly-found-key-evidence-charlie-kirks-assassination. All factual claims above reflect testimony and reporting at the preliminary hearing and are not determinations of guilt.
