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Author: Yujiemi Chisholm
FindLaw

State of Minnesota v. Michael Carbo (2024) Opinion – Supreme Court of Minnesota

Minnesota Supreme Court ruling held that the defendant in this 1986 homicide prosecution has no reasonable expectation of privacy in semen collected at the crime scene or items discarded in a communal trash bin. However, there are concurring and dissenting opinions to the majority ruling. An additional issue addressed in this ruling pertained to the trial court improperly excluding alternative perpetrator evidence whereby the conviction was reversed and remanded for that reason.
May 2024
FindLaw

State of Minnesota v. Jerry Westrom (2024) Opinion – Supreme Court of Minnesota

Minnesota Supreme Court ruling held that the defendant in this 1993 homicide prosecution has no reasonable expectation of privacy in a discarded napkin which was retrieved by police, tested for DNA, and led to the generation of a DNA profile that was found to match with a DNA profile recovered from the crime scene.
May 2024
Legal Document Repository

State of Idaho v. David Dalrymple – Case Documents

These case documents pertain to the 1982 Idaho homicide and sexual offense case, State of Idaho v. David Dalrymple, and collectively outline the parties’ competing positions regarding the admissibility of genetic evidence, the constitutional implications of Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP)-based genealogical searching, and the scope of discovery obligations related to Forensic Genetic Genealogy (FGG) investigative methods. The materials include: (1) an order denying the defense’s motion to suppress genetic information; (2) the prosecution’s response to the defense’s Fourth Amendment claim; (3) the defense’s brief supporting its motion to suppress genetic evidence; (4) the prosecution’s follow up motion to reopen regarding disclosure of the FGG process; (5) the prosecution’s memorandum in support of its motion in limine seeking non-disclosure of the FGG process and any leads it generated; and (6) the prosecution’s motion in limine requesting non-disclosure of the FGG process and investigative leads.
May 2024
Legal Document Repository

Court’s Ruling on Defense Motion to Suppress (State of Idaho v. David Dalrymple)

Order denying defense’s motion to suppress genetic information in an Idaho murder-sexual offense case that occurred in 1982. The trial court denied the defense’s motions to suppress citing no reasonable expectation of privacy in hair collected at the crime scene or use of publicly available DNA information contained in genealogic databases. Additionally, the trial court upheld that a DNA sample obtained from the defendant after arrest by means of a search warrant, was lawful, and that the Idaho Constitution does not limit what can be done to a DNA sample that is lawfully collected (e.g., for use in generating a Single Nucleotide Polymorphism [SNP] profile).
May 2024
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East Bay Times

Man accused in two 1979 Monterey County homicides cannot be charged due to mental illness

Jurn Norris, 69, formerly from Marina, has been identified as the perpetrator in the killings of Helga DeShon and Uicha Malgieri, both young military spouses slain in their apartments in 1979. According to the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office, they have not been able to file charges against Norris because he is incompetent to stand trial due to severe mental illness. In 2016, Marina Police Department conducted a review of unsolved homicides that had occurred in the city. Advancements in technology allowed detectives to submit evidence again and they had the opportunity to re-interview witnesses. The Monterey County District Attorney’s Office determined that sufficient evidence existed to establish Norris’s identity as the perpetrator of the murders and charges would be filed if he were mentally competent to stand trial. The Monterey County District Attorney’s Office Cold Case Task Force received a $535,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice back in January 2022. The grant, titled Prosecuting Cold Cases Using DNA, provides funding to support forensic testing and investigative cold cases where DNA from a suspect has been identified.
May 2024
Forensics TTA

Overview of Migrant Casework and Challenges​ at the Pima County Office of the Medical Examiner

This webinar featured a brief background on the history of the United States – Mexico border, the creation of migrant policies and enforcement, the increase of migrants deaths and the challenges associated with identification, the importance of partnerships and available resources, and actual case studies from one of America’s busiest medical examiner offices involved in the forefront of migrant deaths.
April 2024
Forensics TTA

FY2024 Solicitation Webinar – Competitive DNA Capacity Enhancement for Backlog Reduction (CEBR) Program

This webinar, presented by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), features an overview of the FY2024 Competitive DNA Capacity Enhancement for Backlog Reduction (CEBR) Program solicitation. As part of this presentation, BJA discusses various elements of the solicitation, changes that have been implemented from previous iterations of the program, eligibility requirements, and guidance for submitting an application.
April 2024