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Dzhokhar Tsarnaev— Case Archive
personpersonChristopher DerksChristopher DerksFBI special agent and Evidence Response Team leader in the Washington field office.← All People
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Christopher Derks

FBI special agent and Evidence Response Team leader in the Washington field office.

Appeared2015 Federal Trial
356 lines·7 proceedings·3 mentions

About

Christopher Derks testified for the prosecution on Day 39 about the April 19, 2013 search of the third-floor apartment at 410 Norfolk Street. As the FBI seizing agent, he observed items where they were found and signed their packaging. He authenticated recovered tools, tapes, wire, a hobby fuse, a desktop computer, BB-gun materials, and personal documents.

Derks placed wire strippers, fuse, wire, tape, and a gasket later identified to him as belonging to a pressure cooker in the same drawer. He explained that tools were collected for possible laboratory comparison, but supplied no laboratory finding that these items had been used to make a bomb. The Court admitted the computer as a physical object, not its data, and instructed jurors that the residence caption on Exhibit 620 was not evidence that Dzhokhar Tsarnaev lived there.

On cross-examination by Miriam Conrad, Derks acknowledged that he did not personally know whether anyone was present when officers first arrived. He explained that objects could be moved for photographs and qualified his recollection of their original placement. He confirmed that Room H contained computers, storage items, and two beds. The Court admitted notebooks only as evidence of their existence, not the truth of their contents. Conrad offered the Sovereign publication as context for Tamerlan Tsarnaev's radicalization, but the Court excluded it without a more direct connection to the defendant; a travel receipt bearing Tamerlan's name was admitted.

On redirect, Derks confirmed evidence of multiple occupants and documents identifying Dzhokhar in several rooms, including his naturalization certificate in Room H. He declined a handwriting comparison because he was not an expert. On recross, he confirmed documents and objects associated with Tamerlan and Katherine Tsarnaev. He believed a little girl stayed there but did not recall her name, explaining that investigators' knowledge during the search was limited. The Court sustained an objection to a fingerprint question before he answered.

Trial Record (7)

2015 Trial2015 Federal TrialJan 5, 2015 – Jun 24, 2015Called by prosecution

Christopher Derks authenticated evidence recovered during the FBI search of the Norfolk Street apartment, including tools, possible device components, and personal documents. His testimony addressed where items were found, while questioning clarified limits on his knowledge of occupancy, photographic placement, laboratory results, and handwriting.

Day 34

Day 39

DirectChristopher Derks — DirectChristopher DerksAloke Chakravarty2highlightsMentioned231lines spoken

Summary

Derks authenticated Norfolk Street search evidence. The Court limited the residence caption and computer admission, excluded a government pleading, and ordered an exhibit-number audit.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

Highlights (2)

Quote“My role in the search, aside from being a generalist searching agent, I was what we call the seizing agent, where I saw every item that was seized. I saw it in place and would witness it in place, and then I would sign the packaging for every item before we left the scene.”— Christopher DerksExplains the firsthand basis for Derks's authentication of the seized items.Open in transcript →
evidence eventA gasket was remarked from 1095 to 1192. Derks testified that he had learned the previous week that it was a pressure-cooker gasket, and the Court admitted it.Open in transcript →
CrossChristopher Derks — Cross (resumed appearance)Christopher DerksMiriam Conrad2highlightsMentioned115lines spoken

Summary

Derks qualified his search knowledge and photograph recollections. The Court limited notebook evidence, excluded the Sovereign publication, and admitted Tamerlan's travel receipt.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

Highlights (2)

testimony highlightDerks explained that items may be moved for dedicated photographs, while qualifying his recollection of where the particular photographed items had been found.Open in transcript →
Quote“Sure. Things will be moved to be photographed out of the context from which they were found, sometimes with the scale, sometimes without, just to have its own dedicated photo.”— Christopher DerksExplains why an evidence photograph may not show an item's original placement.Open in transcript →
RedirectChristopher Derks — RedirectChristopher DerksAloke Chakravarty2highlights6lines spoken

Summary

Derks confirmed identifying documents in Room H but declined a handwriting comparison. The Court overruled a scope objection, and two exhibit numbers were corrected.

Highlights (2)

testimony highlightDerks confirmed that documents identifying Dzhokhar Tsarnaev were found in several rooms, including Room H, where his naturalization certificate was found.Open in transcript →
Quote“I'm not a handwriting expert so I cannot comment on if it's a different pen or not.”— Christopher DerksDerks declined the requested handwriting comparison and expressly limited his expertise.Open in transcript →
RecrossChristopher Derks — RecrossChristopher DerksMiriam Conrad1highlight4lines spoken

Summary

Derks confirmed household materials associated with Tamerlan and Katherine Tsarnaev. A fingerprint question was excluded, and an identification exhibit was renumbered.

Highlights (1)

testimony highlightDerks confirmed documents bearing Tamerlan Tsarnaev's name and documents and objects belonging to Katherine Tsarnaev. He believed a little girl stayed there but did not recall whether her name was Zahara, explaining that investigators' knowledge during the search was very limited.Open in transcript →