CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Jurors heard about relationship dynamics and bullet trajectory findings as testimony continued in the trial of the Nashville-area paramedic charged with first-degree murder in the 2021 deaths of his wife and father-in-law.

Matthew David Konen, 36, has pleaded not guilty in the deaths of Rachel Konen, 30, and her father David Rodgers, 62. The defense began their own proof Thursday, after the state rested, and continued through Tuesday.

Here are four takeaways from days six through eight of testimony.

1. Relationship timeline and financial support

Morgan Konen, Konen’s new wife and an advanced EMT, testified that they became friends in 2019 while working on the same ambulance together. She said she knew he was married with four children but their friendship evolved into a relationship, and their physical affair began around May 2020. “I think it was definitely a mistake on his part – on both of our parts,” she said, adding that it was only a secret for “a short period of time” before Konen “offered the information” to Rachel.

When questioned about messages Rachel allegedly sent Morgan from Konen’s phone in June 2020, discovering the affair, Morgan said, “She did find out, yes. And when questioned about it, Matthew told her.” Morgan told jurors their relationship continued throughout the Konens’ marriage counseling that fall. She said they briefly separated for a few days in December 2020 and have been together ever since, adding they got married in October 2023.

When shown messages from Jan. 14, 2021, where Konen told her he was worried about money, she said she did not believe him to be in financial trouble at that time. Morgan said during the time in question, she was “financially independent.” She added they had planned to go to Disney World the day Rachel was supposed to get back from her ski trip, and that they had other trips planned later that spring. She described Konen as a “very smart man,” as well as “very kind” and a good father. “Aside from the affair, he is an honest man,” she said.

Morgan said based on their finances before Rachel passed, they believed they could make things work. “It’s been tragic for everyone involved,” she said of Rachel’s death. Morgan added that the financial impact of it has been devastating as well as hurtful to Konen’s career.

Janet Pardue, Morgan’s mother and retired commander of the Metro Nashville Police Department, testified that both her daughter and Konen knew prior to Rachel’s death that she would help them financially if needed. “I made it very clear to them that should they need assistance in getting on their feet or saving up some money … that they would be welcome at our house and that we would do everything that we could to take care of them,” she said.

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Pardue told jurors Konen and Morgan have lived with them since Rachel’s death. She said she knew he was a potential suspect but has gotten to know him well over the years. “I think he’s extremely honest and truthful,” she said.

2. Konen’s parents describe financial help

Kris Prior, Konen’s mother, testified that in 2020 she built a large home in Pleasant View with the potential for “multi-generational living.” Prior told jurors the Konen family stayed with her for approximately a month near the end of 2020 while closing on the Westwood Drive home.

She said she was only in town on the weekends and that the home was “there for whoever wanted to stay there at the time.” Prior said she helped support them financially in the past to allow Rachel to stay home with the kids and that Konen knew she would further support him if needed. “He knew there was generational money,” she said. “I’ve always been there to help out the family as my family as always been there to help me out.”

Prior said she knew Rodgers to be a “very talkative man” but that at a birthday party a few days before his death, she described him as “withdrawn.” She said when she saw him at the party, he appeared to be “thinner” and “physically sick.”

David Konen, Konen’s father, testified that he had also helped his son with bills in the past. David said that while his son was going through the divorce process, Konen knew he was available to financially support him. He added that he briefly worked with Rodgers in 2011 after moving to Tennessee. David said during that time, Rodgers could lift a piece of drywall on his own and described him as “strong.”

He said he had brief contact with Rodgers toward the end of his life but noted that Rodgers was quieter than usual. David also described Rodgers as “dazed” and said he believed his last interactions with him was around December 2020. He said knowledge of the affair had been out by that time. Jurors had previously heard testimony from Rachel’s divorce attorney that the Konens had filed for divorce in November 2020.

3. Firearms expert on bullet trajectory, GSR transfer

Owner of SEP Forensic Consultants Dr. Eric Warren, expert in crime scene reconstruction as well as firearms and ballistics, testified that Faro scanners are used to virtually recreate the crime scene. Jurors saw scans taken of the Westwood Drive home where Rodgers and Rachel died. They previously heard testimony from investigators that when Rachel was shot, the bullet went through the wall in the hallway and down into the basement. Warren said through the scans, he determined the height of the bullet hole in the wall was approximately 3.8 feet off the ground.

Warren told jurors he could not determine the height of the shooter. “I can’t speak to the height of the person,” he said, “but I can speak to the height of the firearm that created that trajectory.” Warren said someone who is about his own height, 6 feet tall, who was holding the firearm in “a normal manner” would be consistent with the defect in the wall. Warren noted this is dependent on how the gun and shooter’s body is positioned.

Rodgers’ ex-wife was previously presented with a medical document from May 2019 that said Rodgers was 5-foot-11. “He was never that tall,” she said in response. “Maybe somebody typed it wrong.” Additionally, the medical examiner previously testified that she measured Rodgers to be 5-foot-9. Konen’s mother confirmed during her testimony that Konen is about 6-foot-3.

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Warren said GSR (gunshot residue) is similar to “dust-like particles that come out of the gun” and rest on anything in the vicinity. He added that it can be “transferred very easily.” Warren noted that GSR alone does not indicate who fired the gun. “It only tells you who was in the vicinity of the gun when it was fired,” he said. “Now, that could include the shooter, but it could include anybody else that was there or came in contact with them after the fact.”

Jurors saw a video of Warren test firing a Glock 19, the same model as the murder weapon but a newer model. He demonstrated shooting the firearm with a loose grip and “limp wrist.” The first shot fired, the second clicked and he had to manually discharge the cartridge before firing again. This process was repeated five times. “When I did that,” he said, “I’m setting up an extreme example of what can happen if you aren’t providing the proper wrist strength and counter support to discharge that firearm.”

4. Review of Rodgers’ medical records

At one point, the courtroom was mostly silent for nearly an hour, as jurors flipped through their own individual copies of several of Rodgers’ medical records page by page. This included pharmacy records from 2019 through 2021 as well as some records from the Cleveland Behavioral Health Clinic. However, other than the judge and attorneys, only the jurors saw the content of the records.   

The defense rested its case, and the state has begun their rebuttal proof. Court recessed Tuesday afternoon and will resume Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. at the Montgomery County Courts Center.

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