The inquiry into the Willingham case will be held in his courtroom on Oct. 6-7, but Judge Baird said that it could be extended if necessary. Supporters of Cameron Todd Willingham hailed the Austin district judge’s decision last Monday to open a two-day court of inquiry next month. He will determine whether Willingham was wrongfully convicted and […]
Forensics
Guilty verdict in cold case of Jackie Johns
A St. Louis County jury convicted Gerald Carnahan of first-degree murder and forcible rape on Thursday afternoon for the death of Jackie Johns 25 years ago in Greene County, MO. Barring a successful appeal, the 52-year-old man will spend the rest of his life in prison. The murder conviction carries a mandatory sentence of the rest […]
Willeke Dost: no results yet
Dutch police have been digging behind the farm where they were hoping to find the remains of Willeke Dost. However, nothing has been found. The police indicated that they have not changed their minds on who the main suspects are. In 1992, the theory was that most likely Willeke had run away but now police think that […]
Carnahan’s fate in the hands of the jury
Jackie Johns was murdered by Gerald Carnahan and his fate is now in the hands of the people: he is facing 12 jurors. Closing arguments in his trial ended about 11:45 a.m. today. Carnahan is charged with killing Jackie Johns, 20, of Nixa in June 1985 in Springfield, MO. Before closing arguments, St. Louis County Circuit Judge […]
Arrest in 20 year old Potes Case
Capital murder charges were filed last Thursday in the 1990 Potes murders, investigators with the Harris County Sheriff’s Office said. Andre Sloan, the suspect, is currently serving a life sentence in prison for a 1992 triple murder in the Houston area. Investigators now believe he was also among a group of men who broke into a […]
Update Skinner
From the Texas Moratorium Network: On October 13, 2010 the U.S. Supreme Court will hear Skinner v. Switzer to determine whether Hank Skinner‘s request for DNA testing can be considered as a civil rights claim rather than as part of his death penalty appeal. Skinner has always maintained his innocence. Mr. Skinner has asked for […]
Jackie Johns trial update
Jackie Johns trial update: in 2007, investigators said that DNA analysis of blood in Jackie Johns’ abandoned car linked Gerald Carnahan to the crime scene, and he was charged with first-degree murder. He’s now on trial in St. Louis County Circuit Court, Missouri. Two former crime scene investigators took the stand. Both Dwight McNiel, a former […]
Henderson suspect gives handwriting sample
A state judge ordered Jason Lee McCormick yesterday to provide handwriting samples for investigators to compare with what was written on a murder victim’s body. Immediately after the judge handed down the order, a Honolulu Police Department document examiner was in the courtroom to retrieve the samples. McCormick, 36, is awaiting trial for second-degree murder […]
1988 murders of Hulon and Elaine Hughes solved
The 1988 Apple Valley Murders of Hulon and Elaine Hughes have been solved thanks to a federal DNA grant. Hulon and Elaine Hughes were found shot to death in their California Apple Valley home on Oct. 12, 1988. They operated two business on the property: Hughes Roofing and B&S Paving. They employed Harold David Toney as a mechanic […]
Elizabeth Heath: homicide confirmed
The Office of the Chief State Medical Examiner has officially confirmed what the Newtown and state police have been saying all along: Elizabeth Heath‘s death was a homicide. Heath’s death was caused by “blunt traumatic head injury by a forceful blow to the head” a spokeswoman for the office said Wednesday afternoon. She was unable to […]