Jury selection in Krystal Lynn Beslanowitch case

Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune

Jury selection has started in the 1995 Krystal Lynn Beslanowitch murder case. Krystal’s nude body was found lying face down on the rocky bank of the Provo River, Utah. She was just 17 years old.

Aside from fingernail scrapings, parts of the large, granite rocks were saved as evidence. How important was it to save those rocks? Crucial.

M-Vac Systems, a leader in DNA collection technology, was instrumental in helping solve this cold case. With their unique wet-vacuum approach, investigators collected enough touch DNA from a rock to generate a full profile.

“Joseph Michael Simpson is charged in Wasatch County’s 4th District Court with first-degree felony aggravated murder, accused of beating 17-year-old Krystal Lynn Beslanowitch to death on the banks of the Provo River in 1995.”

The M-Vac is a liquid based biological evidence collection system. Simply put, the wet vacuum sprays a sterile buffer while simultaneously vacuuming the liquid with any cellular material that was present from a variety of surfaces. You can see it in action here. It produces DNA profiles where traditional methods such as swabbing and cutting fail. It can be used even on rough and/or porous surfaces such as clothing, fabrics, rock, brick, or concrete.

We will be following this trial with great interest!