The most essential witness called upon by the prosecutors before they rested their case on August 17, was Paula Sauer, a micro analyst with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.  Sauer testified that she had found 15 types of fibers taken from Conahan’s home, his father’s 1984 Mercury Capri (which he sometimes drove), and his Plymouth station wagon.

Sauer told the court that a 16th type fiber found on Conahan’s property matched fibers on a rope police alleged was used in the attempted strangulation of Stanley Burden.  Sauer used a film screen to explain her findings to the court.  According to Sauer, an ‘uncommon pink fiber’ called polypropylene was lifted from Montgomery’s body that in turn matched a length of rope found in Conahan’s father's Mercury Capri.

Janice Taylor, a senior crime lab analyst also with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, enforced Sauer's testimony. Taylor testified that a paint chip in Montgomery’s pubic hair matched a paint chip sample that had been taken from the Capri.

"These two paint chips were indistinguishable from each other," Taylor said.

On August 16, 1999, the sexual battery charge against Conahan was dismissed after a medical examiner testified there were no signs of semen on Montgomery or trauma to his anus.