The SUV allegedly used by Ryan Routh, who is on trial for the attempted assassination of President Donald Trump, was filled with personal items, multiple cell phones, and notes suggesting international travel plans, an FBI evidence specialist testified Monday. FBI Special Agent Cindy Barrois, an Evidence Response Team leader, described the black Nissan Xterra as appearing "lived in" when she searched it the day after Routh’s arrest in September 2024.
Barrois testified that the vehicle’s back seats were folded down with a mattress, and the car contained clothing, tools, and handwritten notes. Among the items displayed to jurors were six cell phones, an expired Hawaii driver's license, a valid U.S. passport, and a note listing items such as "pipe," "C-clamp," "blanket," "pillow," and "tape." Another note contained flight options to Mexico and Colombia under the name "Bryan Wilson." A document from the Bank of Hawaii read, "Make tourniquet."
Routh is representing himself in federal court in Fort Pierce, Florida, on charges stemming from an alleged attempt on Trump’s life at his West Palm Beach golf club on Sept. 15, 2024. The prosecution is presenting its case on the sixth day of the trial.
Photos shown in court depicted the SUV's interior, including the passport found in the driver's area, various phones, and a .45-caliber cartridge casing in the glove box. Barrois noted that the vehicle was "not organized" and contained food, tools, gloves, a disposable tablecloth, and the .45-caliber casing. The defense questioned whether some items could have been in the vehicle for years and why the casing appeared in some photographs but not others.
Prosecutors also presented receipts indicating Routh’s presence in Palm Beach County, Florida, for several weeks prior to his arrest. These included cash overnight parking slips from a Marathon gas station in South Bay, dated Aug. 14 through Sept. 12, along with local store receipts from Dollar Tree, Family Dollar, and McDonald's. Unopened cans of Vienna sausages and a large bottle of SunnyD were also found in the car.
Evidence recovered from the SUV included a red flashlight, camera battery, a metal rod, multiple pairs of work gloves, a black mask, poncho, zip tie, and a large quantity of orange earplugs. North Carolina and Ohio license plates were found under the driver's seat, with a North Carolina registration in the glove box listing Routh's daughter. Spray paint marks were visible on alleged stickers on the Xterra, appearing to have been blacked out.
FBI Evidence Analysis Request Coordinator Erin Farais also testified about items removed from an SKS rifle. She stated a fingerprint was found on tape from the gun, but did not identify the print. When questioned about whether removing the tape affected scope accuracy testing, Judge Aileen Cannon instructed the jury that the case was not about the gun's accuracy.
The trial is expected to continue with additional FBI forensic witnesses, including a firearms/toolmark examiner. Routh has indicated he has not yet decided whether to call his son, Oran, to the witness stand.