Former Indiana Trooper David Camm Found Not Guilty After 3rd Trial in Family's Slaying

Oct. 25, 2013— -- A former Indiana State Trooper has been found not guilty in the slaying of his wife and two kids after being tried for the third time.

After about 10 hours of deliberations over three days, jurors cleared David Camm, 49, of murder as he shed tears moments after the verdict was read Thursday in Lebanon, Ind.

Camm has repeatedly denied allegations that he shot his 35-year-old wife Kimberly Camm, their 7-year-old son Brad and 5-year-old daughter Jill in their car in Georgetown, Ind., in 2000.

"This is a man who couldn't even attend his family's funeral because the prosecution at the time was in such a rush to have a press conference that they had to arrest him," defense attorney Richard Kammen said after the verdict was read. "So, of course he was emotional. This was complete vindication after 13 horrific years [in prison]."

Camm was convicted twice, in 2002 and 2006. He appealed both times, and the convictions were overturned on the grounds that the court allowed inadmissible evidence about Camm's alleged affairs, along with accusations that he molested his daughter.

Prosecutors say even if they could appeal this verdict, they won't. The three trials have cost Floyd County, where the slayings occurred, more than $4 million and have forced officials to eliminate raises for most county employees and repair bridges and roads only in emergencies, according to The Associated Press.

Much of the testimony during the trial focused on blood spatter evidence and Camm's whereabouts at the time of the slayings. Camm has said all along that he was playing basketball at the time of the triple murder.

DNA on a sweatshirt found at the crime scene was tied to convicted burglar Charles Boney, who was later convicted on three counts of murder and sentenced to 225 years for the deaths. But during Camm's most recent trial, prosecutors argued that Boney and Camm were connected.

Boney testified that he visited Camm's home on the day of the shootings and sold him the gun that was used. He testified he was outside when the shootings occurred and that Camm also tried to shoot him but the gun misfired.

Prosecutors argued that Camm was also linked to the slayings by tiny droplets of his wife's blood on his shirt, a fine mist they say could only be spatter from a gunshot.

The defense argued that the blood was transferred onto Camm's clothing when he pulled his son out of the car to resuscitate him.

But after eight weeks and 88 witnesses, the jury wasn't convinced and Camm was released from custody in Lebanon about an hour after the verdicts were read.

"I don't have the words to tell you what I feel," Camm's father, Donald, said describing his elation after Thursday's verdict. "I never had this feeling before in my life."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.