Jury hears Proffitt confession, forensic testimony in Hemmann murder trial

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — Jurors in the murder trial of David Proffitt heard a recorded confession and forensic testimony Wednesday as prosecutors detailed the death of Alexandra Hemmann and the events that followed in the days after she was killed.

Proffitt is charged with murder, first-degree strangulation, theft by unlawful taking, forgery, and abuse of a corpse in connection with Hemmann’s death in August 2023.

The second day of testimony focused on cause of death, crime scene evidence, digital records, and Proffitt’s own statements to investigators after he was arrested in Indiana.

Dr. Amy Burrows-Beckham, a retired Kentucky medical examiner, testified Hemmann died from asphyxia caused by strangulation. She told jurors the injuries were consistent with mechanical compression of the airway, including findings she described as a sleeper-hold type restraint.

Burrows-Beckham said Hemmann’s body showed moderate decomposition when it was recovered, including discoloration, bloating and fluid release consistent with several days passing between death and discovery. She estimated the time of death being Aug. 4, 2023, about eight days before Hemmann was found during a welfare check at her Bowling Green apartment.

Jurors were shown autopsy photographs during her testimony as she described the condition of the body at the time of examination.

Bowling Green Police Detective Jennifer Owen testified she processed the crime scene inside Hemmann’s apartment. She told jurors the thermostat was set to 65 degrees and investigators noted a faint odor inside the residence.

Owen testified baby wipes containing fecal matter were observed in the guest bedroom along with cleaning supplies, including Lysol on a downstairs tv stand, and other items investigators said were consistent with an attempted cleanup.

Jurors also saw photographs of Hemmann’s personal belongings, including her checkbook and vehicle registration, as well as images of bedding and other items recovered inside the apartment.

Owen said Hemmann was found inside a locked bedroom after officers forced entry into the room.

She also testified that FLOCK camera data showed Hemmann’s vehicle traveling through multiple locations in Indiana between Aug. 4 and Aug. 12.

Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officer Jonathan Schultz testified Proffitt was later located and arrested at a Topgolf in Indiana after investigators tracked the vehicle. Prosecutors said Proffitt had been staying in a Greenwood, Indiana hotel at the time of his arrest, where Hemmann’s phone and bank cards were later recovered.

Bowling Green Police Detective David Grimsley testified investigators continued receiving messages from Hemmann’s phone after her death, including communications sent to friends, family members, coworkers and her landlord.

Those messages included claims that Proffitt was sick, hospitalized, or receiving treatment, including references to seizures, pneumonia and a brain tumor, and statements that he was being treated at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. The hospital had no record of Proffitt.

Friends of Hemmann testified the messages became increasingly suspicious as days passed without direct contact.

Jurors also heard that friends used Life360 location data and later discovered Hemmann’s location appeared to show Greenwood, Indiana, after it had previously been inactive.

The most significant evidence of the day came from Proffitt’s recorded interview with detectives following his arrest.

In the interview, jurors heard Proffitt describe the couple’s relationship, saying they met through Tinder and had lived together in Bowling Green since June 2023.

He said the couple spent the night of Aug. 3 celebrating Hemmann’s successful work inventory audit at Lowe’s before going to Double Dogs and later Hilligans in downtown Bowling Green.

Proffitt told investigators the couple began arguing after drinking, and the situation escalated once they returned home.

During the interview, Proffitt gave multiple accounts of what happened inside the apartment. At one point, he said he placed his hands around Hemmann’s neck during a physical struggle. In another portion, he said she attempted to leave before he placed her in a chokehold again.

Jurors heard Proffitt describe Hemmann’s final words as: “I love you. Please stop. I can’t breathe.” Begging him to quit.

Proffitt told investigators he did not call 911. Instead, he said he left the apartment and later traveled to Indiana in Hemmann’s vehicle.

He admitted using Hemmann’s phone, bank cards and checks after her death, and sending messages to her contacts in an attempt to make it appear she was still alive.

In his recorded statement, Proffitt also admitted to engaging in sexual acts with Hemmann’s body after her death. He is separately charged with abuse of a corpse in connection with those allegations.

Retired Judge, now public defender Steve Wilson, argued the case should be considered manslaughter rather than murder, saying intoxication and the circumstances of the altercation should be weighed by the jury.

Wilson told jurors the evidence supports a lesser charge and questioned whether Proffitt acted with intent.

Prosecutors countered that the evidence shows Proffitt strangled Hemmann more than once and then spent days using her identity, phone, and financial accounts to conceal her death.

The trial is expected to continue Thursday in Warren Circuit Court.