ORLANDO, Fla. – Florida prosecutors turned to a blood stain analyst to start off their case to keep Tommy Zeigler on death row Thursday.

The hearing on new DNA evidence could lead to a retrial for Florida’s longest-serving death row inmate, who was convicted of the 1975 murders of four people at his Winter Garden furniture store: Zeigler’s wife, Eunice, her parents, Perry and Virginia Edwards, and Charlie Mays.

Zeigler has long maintained his innocence.

The first witness for the state’s case was Anna Cox, an independent blood spatter and stain analyst who forged her career while working in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties.

[WATCH: Modern DNA tests challenge key evidence in 1976 Zeigler murder conviction]

Cox said she analyzed evidence, including clothing from Zeigler and the vict

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