20-Apr-2017

Bringing DNA back into cases helps secure guilty pleas

Pittsburgh, PA

When DNA mixtures are not interpreted, the evidence is lost to criminal justice. Without a match statistic, scientific and investigative work is wasted – the DNA cannot be used in court. TrueAllele computer analysis restores the DNA. With DNA evidence, a prosecutor can secure a guilty plea.

The Allegheny County District Attorney's Office obtained guilty pleas in the 2014 Pittsburgh shooting death of Andre Roberts (23). DNA mixtures were retrieved from car door handles. The county crime laboratory found the mixture data too complex to interpret, and referred the case for independent computer analysis.

TrueAllele computing resolved the door handle mixtures, statistically placing both victim and defendant DNA in the car. Jamal Daniel pleaded guilty to third-degree murder, and was sentenced this month to 10 to 20 years in prison. Jameel Porter pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter, and will serve 7½ to 15 years in prison. Cybergenetics has done over fifty DNA mixture cases for Allegheny County.

Link

• Two sentenced for 2014 Hill District shooting death - Post Gazette