Jurors in the murder trial of a Cedar Lake man accused of a 2016 triple homicide in Sumava Resorts had their first look of the crime scene Tuesday as testimony that is expected to last more than a week began.
Family members of victim Justin Babbs, who filled the gallery behind the prosecutor’s desk, dabbed away tears as a photo of Babbs as he was discovered in the home was entered into evidence by Newton County Prosecutor Jeffrey Drinski and posted on a large television screen for jurors to see.
Derrick Cardosi, 25, sat quietly, occasionally conferring with his attorney as the first four witnesses, the teen who called 911 that day and his friend, the 911 dispatcher, and an off-duty EMT, testified about what they saw and did Aug. 28, 2016, as the scene unfolded.
Cardosi is on trial in Newton County Superior Court for the murders of Babbs, 20, Robert Thomas, 23, and Kimberly A. Spears, 39, who were found fatally stabbed that day in a Sumava Resorts residence.
Sebastian Wedding, 26, of Cedar Lake, a co-defendant in the case, was sentenced Oct. 23 to 55 years in prison for his role in the deaths after striking a plea agreement. Cardosi faces nine counts including charges of murder, auto theft, theft and assisting a criminal.
One of the teens, who was 16 at the time of the crime, said he and his friend were walking in the neighborhood when they saw an elderly woman standing in the doorway at 11000 block of North 250 West calling for help.
The teen said when he entered the home, he went down a short hallway and looked behind a curtain into the living room to see Babbs on the floor.
“There was blood all over,” the teen said. He immediately left the room and called 911 to report what he tought was a possible suicide. While he was on the phone with 911, the other teen called his brother-in-law, an EMT, who was about a block away.
Trask Darabaris, an EMT with the Morocco Fire Department, said when the teen called, he drove to the site in his car because he thought he might be able to stop the bleeding, advise responders on the scene and “possibly save someone’s life.”
When he arrived, Dabararis said he was able to tell Babbs had multiple lacerations including a cut along his neck. He said he checked for a pulse and determined Babbs was already dead.
Testimony is scheduled to continue through next week.
Carrie Napoleon is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
