I don't know if the cops botched it big time, certainly it wasn't the cleanest case on record.
Suppose they find inside the plastic bag and duct tape Moms fingerprints. Why would a judge toss that evidence?
Clearly if the bag was unopened the evidence would have not been tainted
Bones were apparently found scattered around the area, certainly, at least in part, by scavenging animals. I don't know if the skull was placed alone in a separate bag. If it was it would open a whole new chapter in this story.
The bag was open and bones were falling out.
The judge will throw it out because it was reported 3x, four months ago, and the cops never secured the crime scene.