DNA Resource.com
July 2010 Report
News and Legislative updates regarding the latest information on forensic DNA policy and practice
 
 
JULY
FEATURES
 
 
ARRESTEE DNA DATABASE 
North Carolina becomes 24th state to pass law  
  View Article  
 
 
 
TESTING ALL RAPE KITS:
Illinois passes law to mandate testing of all sex assault evidence 
View Article  
 
 
FAMILIAL SEARCHING:
Grim Sleeper serial killer identified in CA
 
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The summary for the July 2010 DNA Resource Report is listed below.  Details on these and other forensic DNA news items can be found in the full report which is posted at www.dnaresource.com.

LAW ENFORCEMENT:  Investigations and prosecutions aided by DNA evidence include:

 
DNA CASES OF NOTE:
Databases for cat fur and dog DNA may aid investigations 
DNA identified a burglar who forgot to flush (Georgia), and another who left his underwear behind (Washington). 
DNA sovles nearly 100 property crimes so far this year (Houston)
DNA on a toothbrush brings a rape conviction (Illinois)
Soda cans
solved burglaries in Illinois and Pennsylvania
DNA on a juice bottle identified the murderer of a retired cop (Florida)
A beer bottle identifies a New Hampshire burglar (Heineken)
Licked envelopes may prove voter fraud (New York) 
An Indiana prison is using touch DNA kits to determine ownership of recovered contraband.
Rapes linked to drug pipe recovered from suspect (Washington)
 

DNA EVIDENCE AND COLD HITS BRING:

● Alabama -- arrest in 2007 rape (match to B&E felon)
● California - suspect in 1980 murder case, charges in a 1974 and 1975 case, and in a 1989 rape case.
● Iowa -  a cigarette butt leads to a burglary arrest
● Kansas - conviction in a 1994 rape (on database for burglary)
● Louisiana - arrest in a rape against a 15 year old girl
● Maryalnd - arrest for 2003 rape (matched to arrestee)
●Massachusetts - arrests in home break-ins, and 2008 rape
● North Carolina - charges in a 1991 rape (match to rapist)
● New Jersey - juveniel arrest for a theft (prior theft convictions)
● Oregon - arrest in two rapes (match to convicted drug offender)
● Pennsylvania -arrest in a bank robbery (DNA from grocery bag)
●Texas - arrest in 2006 burglary case
●Washington - identified murder suspect (1977 case), charges in rape of two teens
● Wisconsin - suspect in burglary (match to domestic battery felon), and in an auto theft (cigarette butts

POLICY AND FUNDING ISSUES:

Expansion -  North Carolina, Utah and have passed arrestee DNA database legislation in 2010, and a bill is still under consideration in New Jersey.  Another local jurisdiction in Florida has started its own local DNA database. 
Backlog - California and Wisconsin state labs report DNA backlog reduction, but local Wisconsin police claim much evidence is never submitted.  Backlogs also made headines in Georgia, Houston (TX), and Oklahoma (missing persons).   Cleveland PD will be submitting all rape kits in the future
Funding - Federal grants were noted in assisting DNA analysis in Las Vegas.

OTHER FORENSIC DNA ISSUES:   

 

Legal Challenges - California defends its arrestee DNA statute in federal court 

Lab News- A California Coroner and Sheriff are getting new DNA labs.  New Mexico may move its offender program from Albuquerque PD to the Department of Public Safety lab.  The Detroit lab may reopen as a lab operated by the Michigan State Police.

Post Conviction - Alabama saw an increase in petitions for post conviction testing as a deadline looms.  A Florida re-sentencing case is delayed due to a DNA match to another offender.

Statute of Limitations - Nebraska prosecutors have filed a John Doe warrant based on a DNA profile from a gun store robbery.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS: 

China - a missing persons DNA database has united over 730 children with their families