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State of New Hampshire v John Gates
TrueAllele excludes suspect from glove found at burglary
| Crime | On January 17, 2018, a suspect burglarized a New Hampshire market and subsequently set the strip mall building on fire using Molotov cocktails. John Gates was initially tried, convicted, and sentenced for this crime in 2019. His conviction was overturned on appeal, and the case was retried in 2022. |
| Evidence | A pair of gloves were submitted as evidence. |
| DNA | The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Forensic Science Laboratory developed DNA data from various areas of the gloves. |
| Match | The ATF laboratory concluded that the comparison of the glove swab data to Mr. Gates’ DNA profile was inconclusive. |
| TrueAllele | TrueAllele statistically excluded John Gates from the glove swabs with match statistics ranging from one in 3.32 thousand to one in 9.11 nonillion (a 1 followed by 30 zeros). |
| Cybergenetics | On May 19, 2022, Cybergenetics analyst William Allan testified before a New Hampshire jury about the TrueAllele DNA results. |
| Outcome | Following the 2022 retrial, the jury found Mr. Gates not guilty on all counts. He was released from jail the same day. |
Media
- Fire damages businesses at Kingston strip mall - WMUR 9 ABC
- Fire in Kingston considered extremely suspicious, investigators say - WMUR 9 ABC
- Arrest made in Kingston business complex fire - WMUR 9 ABC
- Man pleads not guilty in connection to Kingston fire - WMUR 9 ABC
- Kingston man sentenced to prison for burglary, arson - WMUR 9 ABC
- Kingston market arsonist gets at least 10 years in prison for blaze - New Hampshire Union Leader
- Court reverses arson conviction in privacy ruling - AP
- New Hampshire Supreme Court: Defendant Had Subjective and Objective Expectation of Privacy in Apartment Building’s Utility Closet in Common Areas, Evidence Suppressed - Criminal Legal News
- New Hampshire v. Gates - Justia US Law
- Accused Kingston arsonist to remain behind bars after conviction overturned - New Hampshire Union Leader