Graphic testimony in hearing for man accused of killing Chelsea Bruck

MONROE COUNTY, MIch. (WJBK) - Daniel Clay is facing open murder charges after a medical examiner found that 22-year-old Chelsea Bruck died from blunt force trauma to the head in October of 2014.

Graphic testimony was heard in a Monroe County courtroom Wednesday.

Prosecutor: "Did you also find damage to a tooth?"

"Yes. two teeth - the left (upper)  tooth and lateral incisor tooth was chipped," the medical examiner said.  "There was damage to two teeth."

Prosecutor: "Does that play a factor in your belief that this was multiple blows to the face?"

"The broken teeth would be a part of a blows to the central portion of the jaw," the examiner said.

Bruck went missing after attending a Halloween party in Frenchtown Township.

"She was Poison Ivy from Batman," said Rebecca Brinson.

Brinson, Bruck’s friend and co-worker, describes the last time she saw her.

"It kind of all happened at once," Brinson said. "Chelsea hit her nose, we laughed about it. I went to Laura to get the phone.  Chelsea went one way, I went the other. And when I came back, I couldn't find her."

Countless searches turned up nothing until investigators found fabric from Bruck’s homemade costume, and that evidence was discussed in court.

Prosecutor: "When you got this costume was it intact or had it been damaged?"

"It appears the shoulder straps as well as the crouch panel had been cut out or torn," said Sarah Barr, Michigan State Police lab expert.

Those areas did not test positive for semen or blood, she said.

In April of 2015, Bruck's decomposed body was founded in a wooded area. The Monroe County Sheriff's Department said when they arrested Daniel Clay, he knew details only the killer would know.

Prosecutor: "Immediately following his realization that she was dead, what did he tell you?"

"He said he panicked," said Michael Preadmore, Monroe County Sheriff's Office. "He drove around not certain, he didn't know what to do."

Clay told investigators that Bruck died accidentally when the two were having rough sex.

Attorney: "Did you indicate that Ms. Bruck was very promiscuous to Det. Smith?"

"Yes," Brinson said.

Attorney: "What is your definition of very promiscuous?"

"Sleeping with a few men," Brinson said.

Attorney: "Do you recall telling Det. Smith that Ms. Bruck liked to be choked?"

"No," Brinson said.

Daniel Clay was arrested in July of this year after blood evidence connected him to the crime.