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Mattress, bullet casing, flight notes: FBI lays out evidence in Ryan Routh trial

Routh attempts to cast doubt on FBI investigation

Lothar Speer

This courtroom sketch shows a pair of striped camouflage pants allegedly worn by Ryan Routh when he was booked are held up during the trial of Ryan Routh, who is charged with attempting to assassinate Donald Trump last year at a golf course near West Palm Beach, Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025, in Fort Pierce, Fla.

By: Kate Hussey , Associated Press

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FORT PIERCE, Fla. — Ryan Routh, the man accused of trying to kill Donald Trump at the president's golf course near West Palm Beach last year, was back in a federal courtroom Monday as testimony continues in his trial.

Prosecutors on Monday called critical FBI witnesses, laying out new evidence recovered in the case.

WATCH BELOW: FBI lays out evidence in Routh trial, including items found in his SUV

Bullet casing, flight notes: FBI lays out evidence in Routh trial

Routh, who is representing himself, was arrested along Interstate 95 in Martin County after investigators said he attempted to kill Trump on Sept. 15, 2024.

Routh was driving a black Nissan Xterra at the time he was pulled over and arrested along I-95.

Miami FBI special agent Cindy Barrois testified Monday that the SUV was packed with items that showed evidence someone had been living inside the vehicle.

According to Barrois, among the items found inside the SUV were food, clothes, toiletries and a mattress. Agents also discovered multiple license plates, six cellphones, a bullet casing in the glove box and handwritten notes listing flights to Mexico and Colombia.

Investigators said receipts recovered inside the Xterra showed purchases at multiple South Florida stores and gas stations that occurred just weeks before the alleged assassination attempt.

Next on the stand Monday was FBI evidence analyst Erin Farris, who testified that a scope and tape were removed from an SKS rifle found outside the golf course.

Routh tried to cast doubt on the FBI's investigation, questioning everything from the clothes found inside the SUV to the government's weapons testing.

After the court broke for lunch, prosecutors called Erich Smith, a senior firearms examiner at the FBI lab in Quantico, Virginia.

Friday testimony in Ryan Routh trial focuses on location rifle found

Smith testified that the rifle recovered in the case had its serial number obliterated. He said he attempted to restore the number but was unable to.

Despite that, Smith confirmed the weapon was still operational and described it as a Russian-made, military-grade semiautomatic rifle. He added there was "no lawful reason" he could think of for concealing the gun's identifying information.

On cross-examination, Routh pressed Smith on whether the testing had been videotaped.

When Smith said it had not, Routh replied, "So we just have to take your word for it?"

"That's what happened," Smith answered.

The government's next witness, FBI forensic examiner Stephanie Stewart, told jurors she tested the rifle for fingerprints.

Stewart said she found a fingerprint on the tape of the scope that matched Routh's left middle finger. During cross-examination, Routh asked only one question— whether she was sure the scope had been removed during processing. Stewart said yes.

Witnesses take the stand in Ryan Routh trial

The final witness of the day was Curtis Gaul, a biologist with the FBI's DNA case unit. Gaul testified he tested items recovered with the rifle — including zip ties, a backpack, a bungee cord and a plastic bag — for blood and other DNA. He said he found no blood and did not identify any DNA evidence on those items.

During Gaul's testimony, U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon interrupted to scold prosecutors for "continually asking leading questions" and ordered a 10-minute break.

On cross-examination, Routh questioned Gaul about whether other items had been tested, including a flashlight, a Colt .45 handgun and a glove. Gaul said he either did not recall or that the items had not yet been entered into evidence. Routh responded, "Interesting," before ending his questioning.

Before the jury entered the courtroom, Routh told Cannon that he may have to block his own son from testifying, despite previously calling him as a witness.

Cannon pressed him to decide, warning that taxpayer money is already being spent to transfer his son for testimony.

Another notable moment came when prosecutors asked to enter exhibits into evidence. When Cannon asked Routh if he objected, he initially said he did not know which exhibits they were. Cannon reminded him he had an evidence sheet. Routh then said he had no objection.

Prosecutors are expected to call at least four more witnesses on Tuesday, including Kara Gregor, another FBI specialist.

Routh's federal charges include:

Attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate
Possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence
Assaulting a federal officer
Felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition
Possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number

The trial is expected to run for two or three weeks.

Routh was a North Carolina construction worker who in recent years had moved to Hawaii. A self-styled mercenary leader, Routh spoke out to anyone who would listen about his dangerous, sometimes violent plans to insert himself into conflicts around the world, witnesses have told The Associated Press.

In the early days of the war in Ukraine, Routh tried to recruit soldiers from Afghanistan, Moldova and Taiwan to fight the Russians. In his native Greensboro, North Carolina, he was arrested in 2002 for eluding a traffic stop and barricading himself from officers with a fully automatic machine gun and a "weapon of mass destruction," which turned out to be an explosive with a 10-inch fuse.

More of WPTV's coverage of Trump assassination attempt below: