Issiah Ross trial: Man accused of 2022 double homicide claims self-defense as case moves forward

After twelve jurors and three alternate jurors were selected, testimonies began on Wednesday in the murder trial involving two Orange County teens in 2022.

Issiah Ross is facing two counts of first-degree murder in connection with the deaths of Lyric Woods and Devin Clark. He has pleaded 'not guilty'.

The trial was off to an emotional start, with some of the victim's family members unable to sit through the opening statements in which the prosecution described how the bodies of Lyric and Devin were found in a wooded area off Buckhorn Road.

Lyric Woods' mother, Elizabeth Cannada, was the first family member to take the stand. She shared how her daughter said 'goodnight' to her around 11 p.m. on Sept. 16, 2022. She said Lyric wasn't in bed the next morning.

"It's not like her to worry me. That was the last thing she would want to do," Cannada said.

Dexter Clark, the father of Devin Clark, was also emotional on Wednesday. He said it's not unusual for Devin to leave with his friends, but when he tried calling his phone, it was going straight to voicemail.

"I didn't want to think nothing was wrong," Clark said.

Ross was arrested in October 2022 in Delaware.

Investigators talk evidence

After an afternoon recess, the trial continued with witnesses from the Orange County Sheriff's Office, including one of the lead investigators, Zachary Baldwin.

Baldwin described in detail some of the evidence, including explaining the crime scene to the jury. A car was also described as evidence, which they processed using "luminol."

"Inside the vehicle, there was a very large spot on the roof that was very bright blue," Baldwin said.

He also described some of what they saw outside the car, including a 'red streak'.

The trial continues tomorrow morning in Hillsborough.

Expert witnesses are also expected to testify, including an FBI special agent and a forensic scientist.

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At 11:38 a.m., Philip Susann, who is employed with the Orange County Sheriff's Office, took the stand.

He described his role as a deputy at the time of the incident, including speaking with Lyric's stepfather after she was reported missing.

Susann also discussed discovering the bodies at the scene off Buckhorn Road, noting the presence of flies and that Devin's body was found with his pants below his waist.

ABC11's Cindy Bae contributed.

Prosecution and defense both indicate Lyric Woods and Devin Clark had plans to meet on the night of September 16.

At 11:13 a.m., Woods' mother, Elizabeth Cannada, testified that she last saw her daughter around 11 p.m. that night and reported her missing the next day. "It's not like her to worry me," Cannada told the jury. She became emotional recounting the day her daughter's body was found.

Family members, including Devin's father, Dexter Clark, have also provided emotional testimony.

Dexter reported his son missing Sunday morning, noting it was unusual for Devin not to answer his phone and for calls to go straight to voicemail.

ABC11's Cindy Bae contributed.

Opening statements in the trial began at 10:22 a.m., where the court heard how Devin Clark and Lyric Woods were shot multiple times.

Clark's mother was seen crying and left the courtroom. The statements also noted that Clark and Woods had planned to meet up at night.

The first witness Joseph Kiser, one of the men who found the teens' bodies on a remote ATV path off Buckhorn Road, testified at 10:35 a.m. He was riding a four-wheeler with the second witness, Jordan Wilson.

At 10:40 a.m., Wilson took the stand. He stated they made a U-turn after finding the bodies and returned home to call 911.

ABC11's Cindy Bae contributed.