Cold Case Investigations and the use of DNACODIS

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Cold Case Investigationsand the use of DNA/CODIS
Abby Schwaderer, Forensic Scientist
The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation- CODIS
Section
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Abby SchwadererCODIS Forensic Scientist
BCI I London DNA Laboratory
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Discussion

• DNA Technology and the History of CODIS
• CODIS Profile Categories
• CODIS Entry Guidelines for Cold Cases
• CODIS Searches
• CODIS Hit Information

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DNA Technology at BCI I
DOTS 1998
CODIS
Multiplex STR Analysis 1999
DOTS 6 locations
C
O
D
I
S
2002
1998
1999
2002
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DNA Technology and Backlogs

• NIJ grant funding for laboratories and law
  enforcement
  
• Outsourcing to private DNA labs
• Equipment
• Training on new technologies in DNA
• Additional laboratory staff
• Quickened laboratory procedures
• Combined amplification kits with increased
  sensitivity
  
• Multi-capillary injection genetic analyzers
• Liquid handler robots

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Lab Submissions

• BCI Policy Effective October 1, 2008
• -Limits items admitted on first lab
  submission
  
• -Limits Touch DNA processing to violent, last
  resort cases
  
• Communication with the Lab

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Laboratory Techniques at BCI

• Forensic Biology
• (detects biological fluids)
• DNA Analysis
• Organic Extraction
• (blood, saliva, skin cells, standards, etc)
• Differential Extraction
• (semen stains)
• CODIS Participation

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Lab Work Flow
Crime Scene Collection
Forensic Biology Screening
DNA Extraction and Profiling
CODIS Entry
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CODIS Entry ConsiderationsFor the Investigator

• Is the item relevant to the Crime?
• Is it likely that the profile is from the SUSPECT
  in the crime?
  
• Was the profile generated at an Accredited
  Laboratory?
  
• Was the profile reviewed by a CODIS Participating
  Laboratory?
  

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Forensic Specimen Entry Requirements

• Case Fact Evaluation
• There must be a crime committed.
• The evidence must be directly linked to the
  crime.
  
• The evidence profile must be from the
  perpetrator.
  
• No victim or elimination profiles are entered in
  CODIS
  

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EXAMPLE 1

• Case Type Homicide
• Details
• -Male victim stabbed inside house
• -T-shirt found in trash can
• (with 2-3 possible blood stains)
• Lab Finding
• Blood on shirt was not from victim
• Wearer of shirt was not the victim

Back
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Example 2

• Case Type Homicide
• Details
• Female victim raped and murdered, found in
  cemetery
  
• Evidence re-examined, swabbed test tube
• CODIS Hit to NC Offender

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EXAMPLE 3

• Case Type Homicide
• Details
• VictimUS Postmaster
• Body found weeks later, miles away from post
  office in a farmers field
  
• Butts found on grounds of the post office and
  inside the post office in the ashtray
  
• Lab Findings
• Multiple unknown males identified on butts none
  of which were the suspect

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Example 4

• Case Type(s) B E and Sexual Assault
• Details
• Case A B E, handgun stolen, pantyhose left
  behind
  
• several months later, in a neighboring county
• Case B Woman abducted at gunpoint and sexually
  assaulted at abandoned hotel. Victim escaped,
  nude, and was taken to hospital.
  
• Lab Findings
• Semen from Case B victims SAEC Kit matched the
  DNA from Case A pantyhose.
  
• Further investigation linked the handgun used in
  Case B as the same gun stolen from the victim in
  Case A.

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Database Entry and Searches

• CODIS COmbined DNA Index System
• Combines
• DNA technology
• Computer technology
• Communications between law enforcement agencies
• Hierarchy of databases
• Local DNA Index System (LDIS)
• State DNA Index System (SDIS)
• National DNA Index System (NDIS)

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10 Local Labs in Ohio (LDIS- Local DNA Index
System)

• Enter DNA profile data at their lab
• Forensic (Crime Scene Profiles)
• Suspect (DNA Standards)
• Unidentified Human Remains (Bones, etc.)
• Missing Person
• Can search local database
• Upload their data to BCI London (SDIS) weekly

Only nuclear DNA (STR data) is searched in Ohio
SDIS
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Crime Scene Sample Entries in CODIS
As of April 2009
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10 Ohio Local CODIS Labs
Cuyahoga County Coroners Office
Ohio BCI Bowling Green
Lake County Forensic Lab
Ohio BCI Richfield
Canton-Stark County Crime Lab
Ohio BCI London
Mansfield Police Department Crime Lab
Miami Valley Regional Crime Lab
Hamilton County Coroner's Office
Columbus Police Department Crime Lab
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Forensic Hit

• Two or more forensic profiles that match each
  other in CODIS
  
• All cases may be unsolved
• One or more of the cases may have a suspect
  linked
  
• Follow-Up Recommendations
• All involved investigating officers share/compare
  information
  

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State Labs (SDIS- State DNA Index System)

• Searches all state DNA profiles
• Forensic vs. Convicted Offenders
• Forensic vs. Forensic
• Repository for all Ohio Convicted Offender
  Samples and profiles
  
• Uploads data to FBI (NDIS)

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SDIS Hit Examples

• Forensic Hit across the state
• Largest to date 16 cases linked over 9 different
  Law Enforcement Agencies
  

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Convicted Offender Collections

• Legislation for Collection of Samples
• 1996 Persons convicted/adjudicated of violent
  crimes
  
• 2005 Persons convicted/adjudicated of a
  felony
  
• Thumbprint Collection
• Accessioning
• DNA Analysis
• Data Review Upload into SDIS
• Several misdemeanor sex crimes are also
  qualifying offenses
  

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Buccal Collections
DNA Analysis Review CODIS Entry
Archive
Assessioning 1)Ensure complete collection 2)Assi
gn Offender Number
Collection
Sample Sent..( 2 months).....Sample Entered in
CODIS
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Convicted Offender Sample Entries
All Felons Legislation
As of April 2009
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SDIS Offender Hit

• A forensic profile matches to a DNA profile from
  a convicted offender during a CODIS search.

• Follow-up Required
• A DNA standard from the newly determined suspect
  must be submitted to the lab to be compared to
  the evidence.

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Convicted Offender Verification

• Qualifying Conviction Verified through CCH
  records
  
• Thumbprint comparison to ten print cards on file
• Offender number labels correct
• DNA reanalysis performed at BCI London
• Hit Letter sent to investigating officer
• Suspect Standard submitted for comparisons

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Why is a Second Sample Needed?

• Ensure Identity of the newly found suspect
• Verification of the original offender collection

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National Lab (NDIS- National DNA Index System)

• Searches data from 50 states, FBI, US Army,
  Puerto Rico
  
• FBI Lab is repository for all Federal Convicted
  Offender Samples
  

Federal Bureau of Investigation Quantico, VA
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Convicted Offender Index

• Sample Verification Process

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NDIS Offender Hit

• A forensic profile matches to a DNA profile from
  another states convicted offender during a
  national CODIS search.

• Follow-up Required
• A DNA standard from the newly determined suspect
  must be submitted to the lab to be compared to
  the evidence.

• Note Each State has different Offender
  Collection Legislation

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NDIS Hit Example

• In 2005, two homicide cases were linked in CODIS
  (neighboring counties)
  
• Dec. 17, 2007, a Indiana Convicted Offender
  matched to both cases during NDIS search.
  
• Offender sample drawn after a DUI conviction
• Follow- Up
• September 2008, Convicted of 3 counts of Murder
  in two counties, currently serving 30 yrs to life

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5,000 Offender HitsWhat offense were they
collected for?
January 2009
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CHASE

• (CODIS Hit Arrest Support Exchange)
• Sexual Assaults, Homicides, Serial Burglaries
• CODIS Laboratory-Criminal Intelligence Unit
  Interaction
  
• dFACTS, OHLEG, CCH, Lexis-Nexis, BMV(RS, DS) etc.
  
  
• BCI Special Agents will offer services to LEA in
  an attempt to locate suspect(s) for hit
  verification.
  
• Contact BCI I Investigations [phone]

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Questions?

• Abby Schwaderer
• CODIS Forensic Scientist
• Ohio BCI I London Laboratory
• [phone]
• abby.schwaderer_at_ohioattorneygeneral.gov