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Category Archives: DNA

Source: DNA links cases of Va. women

Posted: Published on October 1st, 2014

By Mariano Castillo and Eliott C. McLaughlin, CNN updated 9:22 PM EDT, Wed October 1, 2014 STORY HIGHLIGHTS (CNN) -- DNA evidence links Jesse Matthew, a suspect in this month's disappearance of University of Virginia student Hannah Graham, to the death of Virginia Tech student Morgan Harrington, who disappeared in 2009, a law enforcement source told CNN Monday. And state authorities are checking other unsolved homicide and missing person cases for possible connections. Virginia State Police had said earlier that the two cases were connected by a "forensic link" but did not elaborate. Almost from the start, speculation was raised about the possibility of a connection between Graham's disappearance and Harrington's death. "Certainly the question has arisen. It's certainly a legitimate question," Charlottesville Police Chief Timothy Longo told reporters last week. In a statement, James L. Camblos III, Matthew's lawyer, said he met with his client for 2 hours Monday but declined further comment. "Because everything is under seal, I have not been provided with any evidence that links him to either of these cases," he said, referring to Graham and Harrington. Matthew will have a bond hearing on Thursday. In addition, authorities said they are studying other unsolved homicide … Continue reading →

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Senator vows to expand DNA testing in innocence claims

Posted: Published on October 1st, 2014

Arguing that the states highest criminal court watered down a law designed to free innocent people from prison, a state senator vowed Wednesday to introduce, and pass, legislation allowing for expanded DNA testing of crime-scene evidence. Sen. Rodney Ellis, D-Houston, said a February ruling by the Court of Criminal Appeals interpreted the 2011 law too narrowly, making it difficult for folks to secure DNA testing that can prove their innocence and identify actual perpetrators. This decision, respectfully, is out of touch with tremendous advances in science that weve made in regard to DNA testing, he said. In its February ruling, the appeals court unanimously denied DNA testing for death row inmate Larry Swearingen, ruling that his lawyers had not established that there was biological material on several items Swearingen wanted to test, including pantyhose used to strangle the victim, Conroe college student Melissa Trotter. The ruling leaves inmates in a catch-22 unable to get DNA testing unless they can prove the existence of biological material that cannot be revealed without testing, said Michael Morton, who was exonerated by DNA evidence in 2011 after 25 years in prison. It is an impossible bar to meet, said Morton, who joined Ellis at … Continue reading →

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