The former girlfriend of the man accused of killingSamantha Josephsontestified she saw blood inside the suspect’s car hours after the victim vanished — and also saw her boyfriend cleaning a hunting knife.
Howard told the court on Wednesday that, hours after Josephson vanished, she questioned Rowland, 27, about the blood she noticed in the back seat and on the dashboard of his car. She recalled a sheet had been draped over the seat, according toThe Post and Courier.
Josephson, 21,was last seen at a barin Columbia, South Carolina, in the early morning hours of March 29, 2019.
Samantha Josephson.Facebook
From the witness stand, Howard later testified that she borrowed Rowland’s car to take her daughter to the doctor, and blood ended up on her child’s shoes.
She said she jokingly asked Rowland if he’d hit a dog with his car and then put the dying animal in the back seat.
During her testimony, Howard also testified that she saw Rowland using bleach to clean the car, and later, saw him cleaning a knife.
Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up forPEOPLE’s free True Crime newsletterfor breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.
She said that she asked him why he was cleaning the car, and Rowland told her it was none of her business.
Josephsonwas weeks away from graduating with a degree in political science when she was killed. She had planned to go to the Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law in Philadelphia upon her graduation.
Her death has inspired action from state lawmakers, who filed legislation soon after her killing requiring all ride-share vehicles to display an illuminated sign featuring their company’s name.
The ride-share industry has also implemented changes, like clearer displays of driver license plates, following Josephson’s death.
Rowland has pleaded not guilty.
Testimony is expected to resume in his trial today.
source: people.com
