EFFINGHAM COUNTY, Ga. (WTOC) - Motion hearings continue in the death penalty cases surrounding the Crocker family.

This comes after two teens, Mary and Elwyn Crocker Junior, were both found dead and buried in their backyard in 2018.

Kim Wright, Mark Wright and Elwyn Crocker were all present Tuesday with their attorneys at the Effingham County Courthouse.

Below is an interactive map showing how the victims and defendants are connected, as well as the charges the defendants face:

The hearings are centering around what kinds of evidence and testimony should be admissible at trial.

Also at issue, whether the third Crocker child who was in the home can testify.

Defense attorneys are also trying to stop the use of photos found on electronic devices at the Crocker home as evidence, saying that it’s unclear who the devices belonged to.

They also argued that gruesome photos should not be used- to prevent overwhelming the jury.

The state argued admission of the photos is something that can be objected to at trial and not argued right now.

“The amount of trauma a jury goes through from seeing these photos is extensive. We will have to deal with that. Litigating this motion is important so we know what and how to deal with that,” said Jerilyn Bell the attorney for Elwyn Crocker.

“This case was indicted in 2019. We’ve had motion hearings for six years. I think this week is the week to get this case moving forward where it needs to be, we are at a point where we need to move forward,” said Prosecutor Mathew Breedon.

Ultimately, prosecutors say they’ll discuss the autopsy photos with the medical examiner to decide which ones are necessary to use at trial.

This is the second of three days’ worth of hearings in an attempt to get this case moving toward a trial.

We’re learning some disturbing new information about how Mary and Elwyn Crocker, Junior died. This came out of this morning’s hearing, about whether to admit two forensic scientists as expert witnesses at trial.

Dr. Edmond Donaghue took the stand Tuesday, he worked as a forensic pathologist for the GBI at the time of the Crocker children’s deaths, and performed their autopsies.

He discussed his report, stating that Elwyn Junior’s remains were just bones. He ruled Elwyn’s death a homicide, but he couldn’t say for sure how that happened due to the state of his remains.

As for Mary—he said she starved to death. He talked about the condition her body was in when it was found and said it was unlike any case he’s seen.

“Her body mass index was 8.6, which is drastically underweight. Her body length was under 2nd percentile. Her actual weight was below 1st percentile, I’ve never seen such a low number,” said Dr. Donaghue.

The defense has argued that the medical examiner should not be used as an expert witness during trial, saying he may have relied on outside information from investigators to make his determination of cause of death.

Meanwhile, the state argues that he is more than qualified to testify on the autopsy results, stating that he’s been an expert witness in hundreds of cases.

“He reached that conclusion not by any reliable methodology but by simply relying on hearsay statements from investigators, all of which could be weighed by a jury,” said Allan Sincox, Mark Wright’s attorney.

The state argues it’s not unusual for a medical examiner to speak with law enforcement.

No decision from the judge on any of that Tuesday.

The defense is also asking for a hearing to decide if the state can call the third, surviving Crocker child as a witness. He was a minor when the crimes occurred, but turns 18 soon.

“This is a critical witness we’re talking about here. It’s not just summary testimony, it is a main critical witness with material evidence. Competency for that purpose is critical,” said attorney for Elwyn Crocker, Jerilyn Bell.

The state argues that age isn’t enough basis to disqualify someone as a witness.

“This is a fishing expedition to say we want to have a court have a hearing to say that this person who is the surviving child of all of the abuse that happened in that home, can’t testify, solely because he is a child. With nothing else. That’s specifically what the court says we’re not going to do. That’s not a conditioned precedent to somebody testifying,” said prosecutor Matthew Breedon.

Judge Mattew Hube hasn’t announced decisions on either of these motions yet.

The judge says Wednesday‘s hearing will deal with more outstanding motions specific to Elwyn Crocker.

This case prompted lawmakers to create state legislation.

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp signed the Crocker Law in 2019.

The law was designed to create more oversight when students are taken out of the school system. Parents are supposed to notify the state’s Department of Education of the change within 30 days.

Under the new law, the department must tell the school it has received the paperwork.

If a school has not heard from the agency and the child hasn’t come back to school within 45 days, the Department of Family and Children Services will be notified to check on the child.

FOR MORE INFORMATION SEE: CROCKER CASE

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