Texas Man Faces Capital Murder Charge 32 Years After Crime

October 10, 2012

Texas Man Faces Capital Murder Charge 32 Years After Crime

Recently, a 53-year-old man was arrested and placed in custody on a capital murder charge, which dates back to the 1980 death of a 73-year-old Williamson County, Texas, woman. The charges allege that the man raped and strangled the deceased woman.

Before he was charged, the case had taken another path. Originally, a different suspect was pinpointed for the crime. A convicted serial killer had confessed to the murder; however, his admission was discredited in the late 1980s.

Decades later, DNA connected the 53-year-old man to the case through the process of forensic analysis. Specifically, the defendant's DNA was catalogued in the federal DNA database and in June 2012, an administrator with a Texas crime lab matched DNA samples that linked the defendant to the 1980 crime scene.

In addition, further forensic testing determined a fingerprint found at the scene of the murder matched the defendant's.

Recent reports indicate that the suspect is being held in the Williamson County Jail on a $1 million bond.

DNA Analysis: Critical in Criminal Cases

The pending case demonstrates the importance of DNA testing in criminal cases. When this case opened, a person wrongfully admitted to the crime. Unfortunately, false admissions are commonplace. Therefore, it is imperative to have solid forensic testing, which affirms or dispels preconceived notions of criminal guilt. DNA testing is one way to do this.

Specifically, 0.1 percent of DNA differs from one person to the next. Scientists analyze different parts of each sample to develop a DNA profile of an individual. The profile is generated from samples of blood, hair, bone and other body tissues.

In criminal cases, DNA analysis involves collecting samples from the crime scene and any potential suspects. Then, forensic scientists analyze the DNA samples, looking for the presence of a specific set of DNA markers.

If the sample profiles from the crime scene do not match the DNA characteristics of the suspect, it is likely that the suspect did not contribute DNA to the crime. On the other hand, if the profiles from the scene match the DNA structure of the suspected individual, the person may have contributed the sample to the crime scene.

In this particular case, the DNA samples collected from the crime scene were matched against profiles that were stored in database. This created a DNA match, which potentially places the 53-year-old man at the crime scene.

DNA analysis is complex, and multiple types of DNA tests assist with forensic analysis.

If he is found guilty, the man will be subject to capital punishment. A capital case is a question of life and death, and Texas is home to the nation's most active execution chamber. Nevertheless, criminal investigations continually utilize DNA and other forensic testing in an effort to make convictions solid. This science serves as an important piece of the criminal justice system.

If you have been charged with or convicted of a serious crime, you should speak to a knowledgeable criminal law attorney. A lawyer can demand that your investigation is protected and supported by requisite science, or review the protocols that were used if your investigation was in the past.

Article provided by Patrick L. Hancock
Visit us at www.hancockcriminaldefense.com