DNA technology is evolving rapidly and many states are considering whether to expand DNA databases or invest in DNA casework investigations. In order to inform the discussion of these issues, NIJ commissioned an independent study to ascertain the size of and reasons for the nation's backlog of DNA evidence. The resulting report included the list of cases presented here. This list of cases is not exhaustive, does not identify the perpetrator or victim, and is not a reflection on the criminal justice agencies involved. These cases would remain unsolved if not for extraordinary detective work by dedicated criminal justice professionals in these agencies.
Case studies presented on this site are from an NIJ-funded independent study. Points of view or opinions in the resulting report are those of the authors and do not represent the official position or policies of the United States Department of Justice.
FOUR PREVENTABLE DEATHS
Between September of 2001 and March of 2003 five women were raped and murdered in the Baton Rouge area. All five crimes were linked to the same unidentified perpetrator through DNA testing. In May of 2003, a volunteered DNA sample collected from a mass sampling of potential suspects resulted in the identification of a suspect. Subsequent to this match, at least one additional murder has been tied through DNA to the suspect, and over 20 additional cases are being reviewed for possible connections to the suspect in question.
Preventable Crime: The suspect had a 1993 conviction on felony burglary charges arising from an attack on a 74 year-old man. If his DNA sample had been collected and entered into the database, at least four deaths could have been prevented. The suspect also had prior convictions for beating up his girlfriend in a bar and trying to run over a Sheriff's deputy at a roadblock.
ONE PREVENTABLE RAPE AND BURGLARY
In 1997 and unknown suspect committed attempted aggravated rape on a child in her home. A DNA sample was collected as evidence, but was not matched to an offender.
In December 1998, a woman was raped and her home burglarized by an unknown assailant. A suspect who was in close proximity to the crime scene and matching the victim's description was arrested. Subsequent DNA testing linked him to both the 1997 and 1998 crimes. The same perpetrator is suspected in the commission of two other similar crimes for which no DNA evidence was available. He has been sentenced to 50 years of imprisonment.
Preventable Crime: The offender's criminal history included a 1990 conviction on unauthorized entry of a place of business, and a 1996 felony theft conviction. If a DNA sample had been required for either of these crimes, the database could have matched the offender to the 1997, thereby preventing the 1998 rape and burglary.
NIJ Funded Study
The cases are from National Forensic DNA Study Report and were developed using basic assumptions. For a full discussion on the review methodology that led to the conclusions presented here, see Section VI. "Forensic DNA and Crime Prevention." The report and case studies were prepared by Smith Alling Lane in partnership with Washington State University through the support of a grant awarded by the National Institute of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice (Grant 2002-LT-BX-K 003). Points of view or opinions in this report are those of the authors and do not represent the official position or policies of the United States Department of Justice.
