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The “Grim Sleeper”

Most people know that using DNA to find and capture a suspect has been a common practice by police for years in California. However, most people do not know that the police could use DNA of a person’s family member to link that person to a crime committed. This technique can lead to a person being guilty by association and is highly controversial.

The conventional method of using DNA to identify the perpetrator of a crime is to gather blood, semen, or other genetic material at the scene of the crime. The material is then put through a criminal database to see if it yields an exact match. This is not helpful if the alleged perpetrator’s DNA is not in the system.

With a familial DNA search, the police will gather the DNA at the scene of the crime and look for a “near match.” A near match refers to the DNA closely matching a relative’s DNA that is in the criminal database. If there is a familial match, the police will then zero in on family members who they feel may be a suspect.

This technique only works on male suspects because it focuses on the Y chromosome of a male. Tracing the X chromosome is not as reliable with current technology.

The Los Angeles Police Department recently used this technique to catch the alleged “Grim Sleeper” serial killer. The police used the alleged Grim Sleeper’s DNA taken from a slice of pizza to find a near match with the alleged serial killer’s father. From the father, the police were able to find the whereabouts of the alleged Grim Sleeper and arrest him at his home.

District Attorneys have been more aggressive in asking for a DNA sample in a plea bargain agreement from the defendant in a criminal case. It is important that you speak with an experienced Southern California criminal defense attorney if you are charged with a crime through a familial DNA search. At Wallin & Klarich, our attorneys have over 30 years of experience in defending the rights of the criminally charged. Our attorneys are constantly researching the law to be able to provide our clients with the most accurate information. This is one of the ways we provide the quality representation you deserve. Call us today at (888) 280-6839 or contact us through our website at www.wklaw.com. We will be there when you call.

This entry was posted on Monday, July 12th, 2010 at 3:38 pm and is filed under Violent Crime. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.