SAN DIEGO -- The preliminary hearing for the transient accused of the 1998 stabbing murder of 12-year-old Stephanie Crowe continued Monday.

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Lead Investigator Testifies

Richard Tuite, 33, was seen in the area of the Crowe residence the night of Jan. 20, 1998. Her body was found in her bedroom by family members the next morning.

Tuite was questioned at Escondido police headquarters later on Jan. 21, 1998. His clothes were taken and he was allowed to leave.

A DNA expert testified Friday that blood found on Tuite's shirt almost certainly belongs to the victim.

Jennifer Mihalovich testified that, in late 1998, while working at Forensic Science Associates, she tested a filthy red shirt belonging to Tuite for the possible presence of blood, and blood stains were found near the right elbow.

The chances of the blood belonging to any Caucasian other than the victim was one in 700 billion, Mihalovich testified.

She also testified that the blood stains were "splatter-type" stains, not smears.

Three teens -- Joshua Treadway, Aaron Houser and the victim's brother, Michael -- were arrested and charged shortly after the murder.

Treadway and Michael Crowe gave police detailed confessions about the trio's plot to kill the girl, but a judge ruled they were coerced and inadmissible at trial.

The case was transferred to the San Diego County Sheriff's Department and the Attorney General's Office.

When Tuite's shirt was retested by Mihalovich and came back positive for the victim's blood, charges against the three teenagers were dismissed.

Defense attorney William Fletcher told Judge Gale Kaneshiro last week that his client's shirt could have been contaminated by a tripod that authorities had at the crime scene and that was later at the lab where the shirt was tested.

The preliminary hearing -- to determine if there is enough evidence for Tuite to stand trial -- is expected to last through the week.

The defendant -- who has a history of drug abuse and mostly nonviolent crimes -- faces 27 years to life in prison if convicted.