Three bloody footprints found at the murder scene of a Penn State student cannot be linked to the victim or the man accused of the murder, the defense attorney said yesterday.

Andrew A. Rogers, 28, of 224 Nimitz Ave., is charged with first- and third-degree murder for his alleged role in the Feb. 23 death of Penn State student Youngcheol Park, 24. Rogers has said another man -- known only as "Sweet" -- instigated a fight and forced Rogers to physically defend himself. Police have not been able to identify a third party in the crime, which occurred nearly a year ago.

The defense has been waiting for the crime lab analysis of the footprints since evidence was submitted to the lab Oct. 18, believing that the report would reveal that a third person was at the scene of the murder, defense attorney David Crowley said.

"It's the biggest [development in the case] so far," he said. "We're quite happy."

Centre County District Attorney Michael Madeira, who has denied the existence of "Sweet" in past public statements, said he does not believe the results of the lab report will change the case as it heads to trial.

"[Crowley] seems to believe that there was a third person present; I believe that there are other options," he said, declining to disclose the options to the public at this time.

Initially, the defense was hoping to have the one known footprint in question determined to be from an outside source. Crowley said the report of two additional footprints was exciting.

Crowley said the crime lab tracked down every shoe known to be worn by Rogers or in his possession, including Vans skateboarding shoes he was wearing when he turned himself into authorities in Uniontown and Skecher boots he was seen wearing shortly after the incident on a convenience store surveillance camera.

A picture of a discontinued brand of Skechers sneakers found at Rogers' residence was traced to the company plant in California and determined to be a different tread pattern, Crowley said.

Crowley said the lab report states that the tread type made by the three unclaimed footprints could not be identified and will be sent to Maryland for further evaluation.

Madeira said the lab report was issued Jan. 30. He said State College police became aware early last week that the report had been completed and obtained the report Thursday. Madeira said he was given the report the same day, and, following President's Day, he was able to provide the report to the defense late yesterday.

A request for the lab report was one of three motions Crowley filed last week seeking answers from the commonwealth, along with requests for additional evidence and the unsealing of warrants.

According to court documents, Rogers placed a garbage bag over Park's head and beat him to death with a bottle and a baseball bat at Rogers' residence on Nimitz Avenue.

In Rogers' statement to police, he said he was using cocaine with Park when "Sweet" tried to put a plastic bag over Rogers' head. Rogers told police he then grabbed a rolling pin from between the couch cushions in self-defense and a fight began between all three men, according to court documents.

According to court documents, Rogers turned himself into police Feb. 27 and told officers, "I think there may be a body in my kitchen."