Richard Lapointe (Oct. 18, 1945 – Aug. 4, 2020) died of corona virus complications. “He eventually tested negative for the virus, but could not outlive its complications.” Richard was born with Dandy Walker syndrome. This syndrome causes a malformation of the head. Fluids build up and place pressure on the brain. It is a hereditary […]
DNA
Nicky Verstappen: trial October 2020
Delays in trial proceedings due to Covid19 happened everywhere. So too in the case of Nicky Verstappen, the Netherlands. This week, it was decided that Jos Brech will be back in court on September 28 and 29 for trial preparations. Trial is now set for October 5, 7, 8, 12, and 16. In September, the […]
Detecting DNA
In the post I wrote about Gina Renee Hall, I mentioned that her sister Diane “was introduced to Dr. Arpad Vass, a forensic anthropologist who had invented an instrument to detect DNA buried beneath the surface. Since then, Gina’s remains have been discovered across eight locations throughout the New River Valley using that device.” Vass’ website states that […]
Barbara Ann Blatnik update
In the Barbara Ann Blatnik case, I just read that James Zastawnik posted bond. The amount was previously set at $100’000 but Summit County Common Pleas Judge Kelly McLaughlin granted the request from defense council to lower it to $35’000. There are conditions though: Zastawnik must wear an electronic monitoring device and must live with […]
Justice for Cheri Domingo and Greg Sanchez
Justice at last. On June 29, 2020 at 130pm EST, we heard Joseph James DeAngelo Jr., a.k.a. the Golden State Killer plead guilty to the murders of Cheri Domingo and Greg Sanchez. Today, DeAngelo Jr is pleading guilty to a string or murders, rapes, robberies, and other crimes that were committed from the mid-70s to […]
Is the use of genetic testing constitutional?
Genetic testing is what finally brought the case of Michelle Marie Martinko in court. Jerry Lynn Burns (66) was found guilty of Michelle’s 1979 murder based on genetic testing of DNA. He is awaiting his sentencing hearing. It will be the mandatory life sentence. In the meantime, his attorney, Leon Spies, is working on the […]
M-Vac, a cold case murder, and a true crime show
Please welcome back to DCC, guest blogger Jared Bradley. As you know, Jared is the President and CEO of M-Vac Systems, Inc. What you may not know is that he served 14 years with the US Army and Army Reserves, achieving the rank of Captain. Since leading M-Vac Systems into the forensic market, Jared had […]
Barbara Blatnik: finally an arrest!
Cuyahoga Falls Police announced the arrest of James Zastawnik (67) for the December 1987 murder of Barbara Ann Blatnik. Zastawnik has been charged with first degree murder. Falls Lt. Chris Norfolk will not say if Zastawnik was a suspect in the early stages of the investigation. He did say that Zastawnik was “arrested in Akron in […]
Guilty verdict in Martinko Trial
Today were the closing arguments for the prosecution and the defense in the 1979 murder case of Michelle Marie Martinko. The order was as follows: First Assistant Linn County Attorney Nick Maybanks gave his closing arguments. The defense attorney Leon Spies, gave his for his client Jerry Burns. After that, the state got the change […]
Michelle Martinko Trial Feb 20, 2020
The defense rests in the Michelle Martinko murder trial. I was stunned but here it is: “After just one witness, attorneys defending a man accused of killing a Cedar Rapids teen more than 40 years ago have finished presenting evidence. Burns said he will not testify during the trial.” The defense started and finished within […]