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Last updated on Thursday, February 15, 2018
(BLOOMFIELD) - Day two of witness testimonies in the case against a Bloomfield man accused of murdering 21-year-old Chase Aliano continues today in Greene County Circuit Court.
Judge Erik Allen is presiding over the trial.
On Wednesday the jury heard testimony about the details leading to the discovery of Aliano's body.
William Levi Abel is facing charges of murder, obstruction of justice and theft of a firearm.
Abel's defense attorney is James Riester from Bloomfield. Jarrod Holtsclaw is the Greene County prosecutor.
Abel is accused of shooting and killing Aliano and covered up the crime by hiding Aliano's vehicle, burning Aliano's and his clothes and burying Alian's body.
The investigation started on February 3, 2017 when Steve Aliano, Chase's father, reported his son missing to the Lawrence County Sheriff's Department. Chase had last been seen on January 31, 2016 at Abel's farm in Bloomfield. His family says Chase was there to sell Abel a firearm.
Lawrence County Sheriff's Department Captain Andrew Phillips and Detective Tyler Phillips and Greene County Sheriff's Department Deputy Anthony Pope all provided detailed testimony on the audio and video evidence they collected during interviews with Abel.
On Saturday, Feb. 4 police located Aliano's red Chevrolet Tracker on the property in a sinkhole near the woods, about 540 feet from the home. There was a mattress, wooden pallet and debris propped against it. The license plate had been removed.
When asked about the debris against the Tracker, Abel told police he put it there to hide the vehicle.
During an interview with Greene County Detective Sgt. James O'Malley and LCPD Detective Tyler Phillips, Abel admitted to killing Aliano, but in self-defense.
"I'm freaked out, guys," Abel could be heard telling the officers. "For absolutely no reason at all, Chase pulled his gun on me and shot at me."
Abel told the detectives Aliano fired at him, but missed. Abel, who was armed with a .44 magnum, told police he returned fire, ultimately shooting and killing Aliano.
"I bolted...I was hiding behind the Tracker. ... I shot him. ... There wasn't a word between either one of us," he said. "I don't know why he made me do that."
Abel then took police to where the shooting had happened, showed them where he had burned his own and Aliano's clothes, then finally where Aliano was buried in a shallow creek bed.
Phillips described Abel's demeanor as "relaxed, matter of fact, nonchalant and cooperative."
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