Investigator discusses evidence in Silver Comet murder

<p>Prosecutors discussed evidence in the Silver Comet Trail murder case at a probable cause hearing for the convicted rapist who's accused of killing a mother of three on the popular trail outside Atlanta.</p><p>A special agent with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation testified Friday that investigators found Michael William Ledford's blood on the bicycle that Jennifer Ewing was riding before she was killed July 25.</p><p>Ledford's fingerprints were found on Ewing's sunglasses, Agent John Farmer said. Farmer also said Ledford's shoes left prints consistent with some found on Ewing's body, and the shoes had blood that was connected to both Ledford and Ewing.</p><p>Farmer said there's evidence Ewing was sexually assaulted. Her bike shorts and shoes were removed and her bike top was around her neck.</p><p>The autopsy showed she had been struck with hands and fists to her face, head and ribs, Farmer said.</p><p>Chief Magistrate Judge Martin Valbuena sent the case to Superior Court for trial.</p><p>Ledford's attorney Thomas West said finding Ledford's blood at the scene was enough to grant probable cause, but he said he was not conceding guilt.</p><p>Ledford, 43, is charged with felony murder in the death of Ewing, 54, from Sandy Springs.</p><p>Ewing often took 50-mile rides on the Silver Comet Trail, which begins about 13 miles northwest of Atlanta and runs along an abandoned freight rail corridor winding through Cobb, Paulding and Polk counties.</p><p>Her family called police when she failed to return home after her ride on July 25 and her body was found a day later.</p><p>Ledford, a convicted rapist, was on probation at the time of his arrest last month.</p><p>Authorities have said Ewing fought back against her attacker. Multiple news organization have reported that police focused on Ledford after he suffered wounds below his waist the day of Ewing's attack and then changed his story about how he was injured.</p><p>___</p><p>HASH(0x1cdbbf0)</p>