Prosecutors say Abaroa, 33, stabbed his pregnant wife Janet to death in their home on Ferrand Drive. The couple's 6-month-old son was in the house at the time, but was not harmed.
While prosecutors say Abaroa wanted out of the marriage and had a history of verbal abuse and mood swings, his defense has maintained detectives focused on the wrong person and ignored important evidence.
On the witness stand Tuesday, Detective Sole testified Abaroa slowly became the chief suspect thanks to statements he made and forensic evidence.
Sole said Abaroa initially claimed his laptop and knives were missing from his Durham home the night of the murder. But later, he'd claim he found a knife packed away in his belongings after he moved. In a phone call to police, he accused them of overlooking it.
"He actually said he thought it was a joke. He said 'I can't believe you're investigating my wife's murder and you guys leave a knife at the crime scene,'" said Sole.
But the detective said investigators did not overlook the knife and it was not packed up in belongings that were later returned to Abaroa. He said the incident made him suspicious.
He also said Abaroa made inconsistent statements in TV interviews that he found troubling.
Abaroa has maintained he had nothing to do with his wife's death and told police he was away at a soccer game when it happened. The trial adjourned early Tuesday. Testimony and closing arguments are expected to continue through next week.
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