Research how DNA Fingerprinting has either acquitted people of crimes or helped solve crimes. Include enough details of the crime so your audience can understand the case and the ruling.
Background: On September 10, 1998, a young girl, Anna Palmer, who was age 10, was brutally murdered in Salt Lake City, Utah. She was stabbed with a knife five times in the throat (one of these severed the spinal cord) and she was badly beaten. This case was only able to be solved a few years ago in 2011 made possible through DNA testing. When the murder had first taken place, there were no; evident suspects, witnesses, or much evidence. Many rewards were set up for anyone who came through with evidence, but no one returned with information. [Sandra Yi, November 17, 2011]1
Night of the murder: Anna was playing with a friend, as she often does, but with consent from her mother. Around 5:00PM, Anna was given permission from her mother, who was at work at this time, to go play with her friend. This friend was named Loxane Konesavanh. Loxane says that she remembers the night of the murder. From what she was able to remember, there was a strange man following them and when the two went separate ways, and Anna told her to run. The next thing that Loxane remembered was she looked back and there was no one in sight. [Emily Morgan, Tuesday, June 14, 2011]2 Loxane was able to describe the man with wearing a white tank top, a baseball jersey and he was bald. As court records were looked back upon, it was found that this described the man responsible for murdering Anna Palmer. [Emily Morgan, Tuesday, June 14, 2011]2
Solving the case: When the case was finally solved in 2011, it was made only possible through DNA. Detectives sent evidence to the Sorenson Forensics lab, who inturn tested the evidence, including body swabs and clothing. When Anna Palmer was being murdered, she must of clawed the killer with her nails, because skin cells were able to be found under her fingernails. These skin cells were what pointed to the killer Matthew John Breck. [Sandra Yi, November 17, 2011]1 The DNA found in the skin cells were able to be matched to this man through using the FBI's CODIS system, a national database of DNA profiles. [Pat Reavy, Tuesday, January 5, 2010]3 If it was not for this, the killer may never have been caught. Today Matthew John Breck is serving a life sentence without the possible chance of parole. Anna Palmer’s family is also relieved that this crime has finally been put to rest.
Sources: 1. "Man in Custody after Alleged Assault, 'very Short' Car Chase." Local News. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Oct. 2013. . 2. "Anna Palmer Was 'little Socialite' before Stabbing Death." DeseretNews.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Oct. 2013. . 3. "S.L. Police File Murder Charges in 1998 Case." DeseretNews.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Oct. 2013. .
The famous case of OJ Simpson was one of the first big cases that used DNA fingerprinting. He was charged with the murders of his ex-wife and her friend [N/A, Oct 9, 2013]2. Investigators found blood on the door of OJ Simpson’s car. After preforming the tests, they found that the blood on his car matched the blood found on the crime scene [N/A, November 23,2012]1. The evidence that was concluded from the DNA fingerprinting technology was clear and framed OJ Simpson as a suspect, yet the information and evidence was presented to the attorneys in a flawed way giving OJ an innocent verdict [N/A, November 23,2012]1.
Vast amounts of evidence was collected; such as a bloody glove and abundant amounts of blood where the bodies were found. In each peace of evidence, OJ’s DNA appeared to be present. The DNA fingerprint screening was done by the police crime lab, but also, by two private labs. The evidence was so plentiful that his conviction seemed almost sure [N/A, Oct 9, 2013]2. One of the private companies chosen to test the evidence was, Orchid Cellmark. They were able to get more than 100 “blood stained” objects to screen. All but one, presented OJ Simpson’s DNA. This trial revolutionized the use of DNA in cases similar to this one. The information collected was so impressive and innovative, that the Smithsonian’s National Anthropological Archives, collected and stored it (first DNA-related material to be stored there).[N/A, October 10, 2013]3.
It all started June 12, 1994 when OJ Simpson, an American Football player and actor, was a suspect for the murder of Nicole Brown, his ex-wife, and Ronald Goldman. These two victims had been stabbed and killed. Ronald Goldman had gone to Nicole’s house to give her back a pair of glasses. Before the detectives arrived at OJ Simpson’s house he had left to Chicago. Simpson returned from Chicago with the news that his ex-wife had been murdered. The evidence that had been found in the crime scene was the two dead bodies and a left hand glove. Other than this, there was a speck of blood on OJ’s car and a right hand glove which was covered in blood found in his house. The police had found some of Simpson’s blood in the entrance of his house; OJ Simpson was now the prime subject of the crime. They had also found some black socks which at first seemed like they were cleaned but with further analysis they found out they also had blood, which had been proven to be Nicole’s blood. Matching the evidence of the left glove left at the crime scene, OJ Simpson’s finger on his left hand had a cut. Another of the evidence was at another crime scene, his car, which had blood from himself and the two victims. Even though most of the evidence had pointed out to OJ Simpson being the killer, there was other evidence that led to another suspect. It seems that Ronald had a fight with someone and he had bruises on his knuckles, therefore the killer would have been injured, also the evidence on Nicole’s nails blood which did not correspond to OJ. Nicole had blood on her back which appeared to have been blood that had been dripping, in other words this blood wasn’t her own, it could have been the killer’s blood yet no one collected this blood as evidence. The blood on the socks and also on the fence of Nicole’s house which had not been washed away (after the crime scene was washed away) both had a substance to help the blood clot faster. This substance is “EDTA” and it’s what scientists use in labs when analyzing a blood test. The blood found in OJ Simpson’s car was one of the most important evidences in this case; since multiple blood patterns were found belonging to Nicole, Ronald and OJ, yet the different blood patterns did not all contain the blood form the three people involved. Even though mostly all of the evidence found in the crime scene made OJ seem like the killer and only suspect, OJ Simpson was “not guilty”. This video contains the information about the case and also about another possible suspect, yet the case has been close. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVCOeL6bu_Y) (In my opinion…it just doesn’t make sense to me -_-)
On May 12, 1990, a four-year-old girl went missing at the parking lot of an arcade in the city Ashikaga, Japan. Her corpse and clothing covered with mud were found the next day in the riverbed of the Watarase River of the same city. From all of the clothing, sperm was found on her undershirt and the police were able to use that sperm to find out the suspect had blood type O, but they were not able to find anything further. The police knew that the suspect was a man from the numerous eyewitnesses and they also knew that the case was related to several young girl kidnappings that happened in the past (in the years 1979 and 1984). For them, this case was a big chance to elevate the image of the police in Japan and they did everything to capture the suspect. In spite of the situation, they were still not able to capture the suspect after half a year and they started to become eager. That was when the name Toshikazu Sugaya was brought up in their investigations. Sugaya was a kindergarten bus driver of in the city and some people in the city mentioned him. For example, the owner of the company he worked for said "Maybe Sugaya was looking at little girls in a creepy way". These were all rumors but this was enough for the police and after this, Sugaya was tailed by the police for over a year. One day the police took a sample of Sugaya's DNA from the garbage and used it to test DNA fingerprinting. DNA fingerprinting at this time was still advancing and even if the DNA belonged to a different person it matched by 1.2/1,000. It seems like a very low percentage and it actually is, but if the result is going to be used as the main evidence to accuse a suspect, it is high. Finally in 1991 December 2nd, Sugaya was arrested for kidnapping and killing the victim. Sugaya kept on claiming his innocence, but the interrogation was harsh and included violence (Sugaya later claimed that he was dragged around the room by his hair and was terrified of the interrogation which took 15hours continuously) and Sugaya was forced to admit the crime. While on trial, Sugaya started to claim his innocence again but it was too late and in 1993 he was sentenced life imprisonment. Time passed, and in 2002, Sugaya was able to request a DNA fingerprint test again to prove his innocence, but the courthouse refused it. Around this time, the media started to cover this case showing the contradiction. Six years later, in 2008, the courthouse finally approved the retest. In 2009, the result of the retest was announced. Sugaya's DNA and the DNA of the suspect did NOT match. After series of tests they got the result that there was another true suspect in this case, but by the time it was 17years after the first accusing so the statute of limitations ran out. It was legally impossible to find the real suspect after Sugaya's 17 and half years of suffering. In 2010 he was found innocent and finally got freedom and justice. In this case DNA fingerprinting destroyed Sugaya's life; his parents both died soon after he got arrested from shock and stress, but it also help him get released from the disgrace and win his honor back.
Background:
ReplyDeleteOn September 10, 1998, a young girl, Anna Palmer, who was age 10, was brutally murdered in Salt Lake City, Utah. She was stabbed with a knife five times in the throat (one of these severed the spinal cord) and she was badly beaten. This case was only able to be solved a few years ago in 2011 made possible through DNA testing. When the murder had first taken place, there were no; evident suspects, witnesses, or much evidence. Many rewards were set up for anyone who came through with evidence, but no one returned with information. [Sandra Yi, November 17, 2011]1
Night of the murder:
Anna was playing with a friend, as she often does, but with consent from her mother. Around 5:00PM, Anna was given permission from her mother, who was at work at this time, to go play with her friend. This friend was named Loxane Konesavanh. Loxane says that she remembers the night of the murder. From what she was able to remember, there was a strange man following them and when the two went separate ways, and Anna told her to run. The next thing that Loxane remembered was she looked back and there was no one in sight. [Emily Morgan, Tuesday, June 14, 2011]2
Loxane was able to describe the man with wearing a white tank top, a baseball jersey and he was bald. As court records were looked back upon, it was found that this described the man responsible for murdering Anna Palmer. [Emily Morgan, Tuesday, June 14, 2011]2
Solving the case:
When the case was finally solved in 2011, it was made only possible through DNA. Detectives sent evidence to the Sorenson Forensics lab, who inturn tested the evidence, including body swabs and clothing. When Anna Palmer was being murdered, she must of clawed the killer with her nails, because skin cells were able to be found under her fingernails. These skin cells were what pointed to the killer Matthew John Breck. [Sandra Yi, November 17, 2011]1 The DNA found in the skin cells were able to be matched to this man through using the FBI's CODIS system, a national database of DNA profiles. [Pat Reavy, Tuesday, January 5, 2010]3 If it was not for this, the killer may never have been caught.
Today Matthew John Breck is serving a life sentence without the possible chance of parole. Anna Palmer’s family is also relieved that this crime has finally been put to rest.
Sources:
1. "Man in Custody after Alleged Assault, 'very Short' Car Chase." Local News. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Oct. 2013. .
2. "Anna Palmer Was 'little Socialite' before Stabbing Death." DeseretNews.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Oct. 2013. .
3. "S.L. Police File Murder Charges in 1998 Case." DeseretNews.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Oct. 2013. .
The famous case of OJ Simpson was one of the first big cases that used DNA fingerprinting. He was charged with the murders of his ex-wife and her friend [N/A, Oct 9, 2013]2. Investigators found blood on the door of OJ Simpson’s car. After preforming the tests, they found that the blood on his car matched the blood found on the crime scene [N/A, November 23,2012]1. The evidence that was concluded from the DNA fingerprinting technology was clear and framed OJ Simpson as a suspect, yet the information and evidence was presented to the attorneys in a flawed way giving OJ an innocent verdict [N/A, November 23,2012]1.
ReplyDeleteVast amounts of evidence was collected; such as a bloody glove and abundant amounts of blood where the bodies were found. In each peace of evidence, OJ’s DNA appeared to be present. The DNA fingerprint screening was done by the police crime lab, but also, by two private labs. The evidence was so plentiful that his conviction seemed almost sure [N/A, Oct 9, 2013]2. One of the private companies chosen to test the evidence was, Orchid Cellmark. They were able to get more than 100 “blood stained” objects to screen. All but one, presented OJ Simpson’s DNA. This trial revolutionized the use of DNA in cases similar to this one. The information collected was so impressive and innovative, that the Smithsonian’s National Anthropological Archives, collected and stored it (first DNA-related material to be stored there).[N/A, October 10, 2013]3.
Source:
1. "Group 1o4." Group 1o4 RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Oct. 2013.
(http://blog.nus.edu.sg/oneohfour/2012/11/23/dna-fingerprinting/)]
2. "5 Real-life Cases Where DNA Profiling Changed Everything." Forensic Outreach. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Oct. 2013.
3. Orchid Cellmark | DNA Case Files | OJ Simpson." Orchid Cellmark | DNA Case Files | OJ Simpson. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Oct. 2013.
It all started June 12, 1994 when OJ Simpson, an American Football player and actor, was a suspect for the murder of Nicole Brown, his ex-wife, and Ronald Goldman. These two victims had been stabbed and killed. Ronald Goldman had gone to Nicole’s house to give her back a pair of glasses. Before the detectives arrived at OJ Simpson’s house he had left to Chicago. Simpson returned from Chicago with the news that his ex-wife had been murdered. The evidence that had been found in the crime scene was the two dead bodies and a left hand glove. Other than this, there was a speck of blood on OJ’s car and a right hand glove which was covered in blood found in his house. The police had found some of Simpson’s blood in the entrance of his house; OJ Simpson was now the prime subject of the crime. They had also found some black socks which at first seemed like they were cleaned but with further analysis they found out they also had blood, which had been proven to be Nicole’s blood. Matching the evidence of the left glove left at the crime scene, OJ Simpson’s finger on his left hand had a cut. Another of the evidence was at another crime scene, his car, which had blood from himself and the two victims. Even though most of the evidence had pointed out to OJ Simpson being the killer, there was other evidence that led to another suspect. It seems that Ronald had a fight with someone and he had bruises on his knuckles, therefore the killer would have been injured, also the evidence on Nicole’s nails blood which did not correspond to OJ. Nicole had blood on her back which appeared to have been blood that had been dripping, in other words this blood wasn’t her own, it could have been the killer’s blood yet no one collected this blood as evidence. The blood on the socks and also on the fence of Nicole’s house which had not been washed away (after the crime scene was washed away) both had a substance to help the blood clot faster. This substance is “EDTA” and it’s what scientists use in labs when analyzing a blood test. The blood found in OJ Simpson’s car was one of the most important evidences in this case; since multiple blood patterns were found belonging to Nicole, Ronald and OJ, yet the different blood patterns did not all contain the blood form the three people involved. Even though mostly all of the evidence found in the crime scene made OJ seem like the killer and only suspect, OJ Simpson was “not guilty”.
ReplyDeleteThis video contains the information about the case and also about another possible suspect, yet the case has been close. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVCOeL6bu_Y)
(In my opinion…it just doesn’t make sense to me -_-)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O._J._Simpson
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVCOeL6bu_Y
http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/simpson/simpsonaccount.htm
REAL ONE
ReplyDeleteOn May 12, 1990, a four-year-old girl went missing at the parking lot of an arcade in the city Ashikaga, Japan. Her corpse and clothing covered with mud were found the next day in the riverbed of the Watarase River of the same city. From all of the clothing, sperm was found on her undershirt and the police were able to use that sperm to find out the suspect had blood type O, but they were not able to find anything further. The police knew that the suspect was a man from the numerous eyewitnesses and they also knew that the case was related to several young girl kidnappings that happened in the past (in the years 1979 and 1984). For them, this case was a big chance to elevate the image of the police in Japan and they did everything to capture the suspect. In spite of the situation, they were still not able to capture the suspect after half a year and they started to become eager. That was when the name Toshikazu Sugaya was brought up in their investigations. Sugaya was a kindergarten bus driver of in the city and some people in the city mentioned him. For example, the owner of the company he worked for said "Maybe Sugaya was looking at little girls in a creepy way". These were all rumors but this was enough for the police and after this, Sugaya was tailed by the police for over a year. One day the police took a sample of Sugaya's DNA from the garbage and used it to test DNA fingerprinting. DNA fingerprinting at this time was still advancing and even if the DNA belonged to a different person it matched by 1.2/1,000. It seems like a very low percentage and it actually is, but if the result is going to be used as the main evidence to accuse a suspect, it is high. Finally in 1991 December 2nd, Sugaya was arrested for kidnapping and killing the victim. Sugaya kept on claiming his innocence, but the interrogation was harsh and included violence (Sugaya later claimed that he was dragged around the room by his hair and was terrified of the interrogation which took 15hours continuously) and Sugaya was forced to admit the crime. While on trial, Sugaya started to claim his innocence again but it was too late and in 1993 he was sentenced life imprisonment. Time passed, and in 2002, Sugaya was able to request a DNA fingerprint test again to prove his innocence, but the courthouse refused it. Around this time, the media started to cover this case showing the contradiction. Six years later, in 2008, the courthouse finally approved the retest. In 2009, the result of the retest was announced. Sugaya's DNA and the DNA of the suspect did NOT match. After series of tests they got the result that there was another true suspect in this case, but by the time it was 17years after the first accusing so the statute of limitations ran out. It was legally impossible to find the real suspect after Sugaya's 17 and half years of suffering. In 2010 he was found innocent and finally got freedom and justice. In this case DNA fingerprinting destroyed Sugaya's life; his parents both died soon after he got arrested from shock and stress, but it also help him get released from the disgrace and win his honor back.