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Defrosting Cold Cases

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You are here: Home / Archives for DNA Database

DNA Database

M-Vac helps solve Beslanowitch case

September 25, 2013 By Alice

m-vac system

The M-Vac System made the difference in the Krystal Lynn Beslanowitch case. In 1995, Krystal’s nude body was found lying face down on the rocks, bloody and broken, on the banks of the Provo River, Utah. She was just 17 years old. Parts of the large, granite rocks were saved as evidence as well as scrapings from under Beslanowitch’s fingernails. […]

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Filed Under: Cold Case News, Forensics Tagged With: #crimechat, Autopsy, DNA Database, Forensics, Jared Bradley, Krystal Lynn Beslanowitch, M-Vac Systems, Rape kits

RTI International Webinar on backlogs in crime labs

May 21, 2013 By Alice

mindmap webinar crime lab backlogs

RTI International webinar on backlogs in crime labs and their impact on the justice system This morning I attended this webinar and learned more about the backlogs in crime labs, what causes them, whether all labs have a case acceptance policy, the costs involved and much more. The live discussion took place in Washington DC […]

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Filed Under: Unsolved Tagged With: analysts, backlog in crime labs, Cold Cases, Crime Labs, DNA, DNA Database, Evidence, mindmaps, RTI International

18 years for Jasper S

April 19, 2013 By Alice

18 years for Jasper S, that is what the judge handed down for the rape-murder of Marianne Vaatstra. The prosecution had asked for 20 years. The defense did not deny the rape but argued that the murder was not intentional hence a reduced sentence was in order. The court did not accept that defense strategy […]

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Filed Under: Cold Case News, Forensics Tagged With: Autopsy, DNA Database, Forensics, Jasper S., Knife Attack, Marianne vaatstra, Rape kits, the Netherlands

Verdict against Jasper S. expected April 19, 2013

March 29, 2013 By Alice

Verdict against Jasper S. expected April 19, 2013. Jasper S. is of course standing trial re the 1999 rape-murder of Marianne Vaatstra. The prosecution asked for 20 years however, his lawyer thinks that is too much and expects a sentence of 15 years. He does not consider Marianne’s murder proven beyond a reasonable doubt. He […]

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Filed Under: Cold Case News, Forensics Tagged With: DNA Database, Identification, Jasper S., knife, Marianne vaatstra, rape, Rape kits, the Netherlands

Jasper S. confessed rape-murder Marianne Vaatstra

December 6, 2012 By Alice

Today, Jasper S. confessed to the rape-murder of Marianne Vaatstra. During the night of May 1, 1999, Jasper saw Marianne Vaatstra on her bike. He stated that he did not know her. Jasper forced Marianne with a knife into the field where she was later found dead. More details will now be made public and we […]

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Filed Under: Cold Case News, Forensics Tagged With: DNA Database, Jasper S., Marianne vaatstra, Police, Rape kits, the Netherlands

Update Marianne Vaatstra

November 27, 2012 By Alice

Update in the case of Marianne Vaatstra: according to Marianne’s father, his daughter did not know the man, Jasper S., whose DNA matched the biological materials left on Marianne’s body. He doubted that they knew each other especially if you consider the age differences. Marianne’s father did know Jasper’s children as they went to school […]

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Filed Under: Cold Case News, Forensics Tagged With: DNA Database, Evidence, Forensics, Identification, Investigations Division, Marianne vaatstra, Police, the Netherlands

No longer cold: the 1999 murder of Marianne Vaatstra

November 20, 2012 By Alice

Marianne Vaatstra

The 1999 cold case of Marianne Vaatstra is defrosting in the Netherlands. Marianne was only sixteen years old when she was found murdered. Police arrested many people and even held a large scale DNA search but, the perpetrator was never found. On September 29, 2012, police began a “DNA relationship testing” in a 5 km […]

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Filed Under: Cold Case News, Forensics, Unsolved Tagged With: DNA Database, Evidence, Forensics, Identification, Marianne vaatstra, Rape kits, the Netherlands

Zeigler: his latest motion denied

November 14, 2012 By Alice

William Thomas Zeigler/Grid AdS

Zeigler’s latest motion to vacate judgment was denied.  On November 13, 2012. Judge Whitehead denied the motion to vacate judgment of conviction and sentence based on newly discovered evidence in the case of William Thomas Zeigler. Mr. Zeigler has been on death row for the 1975 quadruple murders that took place on Christmas Eve inside […]

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Filed Under: Miscarriages of Justice, Zeigler Tagged With: Brady violations, Capital Punishment, DNA Database, Florida, Miscarriage of Justice, Prosecutorial Misconduct, William Thomas Zeigler, withheld evidence

Recap #cclivechat August 17, 2012

August 17, 2012 By Alice

Karen Caughlin

Today’s #cclivechat was dedicated to the 1974 Canadian cold case of Karen Caughlin. I highlighted several things that concern me in her case. Of course, those concerns are just the top of the iceberg! I started with the evidence in her case, worried that it might not have been preserved properly for examination with modern […]

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Filed Under: Forensics, Unsolved Tagged With: Canada, DNA, DNA Database, Finger Printing, Karen Caughlin, OPP, Sarnia, Unsolved Homicide

Lapointe: DNA does not match

July 3, 2012 By Alice

Richard A. Lapointe

Who left his DNA behind: Richard A. Lapointe or Frederick Rodney Merrill? We have new developments that could shed a light on the case of Bernice Martin and could once and for all clear up who left his DNA. We already know it wasn’t Lapointe. The Connecticut State Board of Pardons and Paroles decided last week to grant […]

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Filed Under: Miscarriages of Justice, Unsolved Tagged With: Actual Innocence, Arson Detection, Bernice Martin, DNA Database, Frederick Rodney Merrill, Prosecutorial Misconduct, Richard A. Lapointe, Wrongful Convictions

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Author Notes

Since 2009, I write about unsolved cases that need renewed media attention. I only do research and leave active investigations to the authorities.

My posts cover homicides, missing and unidentified people, wrongful convictions, and forensics as related to unsolved cases.

On book reviews: I only review select works of true crime, crime fiction, and historical fiction/mysteries. The stories have to fit my website's theme, tone, and research. It is my prerogative to not review a book. Please check the FAQ page for more.

My databases are free to the public. Cases are sorted by the victim’s last name.

If you have any questions about my website please check the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page, the About page, and the tabs in both menu bars. If you cannot find the answers there, please contact me.

Thank you,

Alice de Sturler
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