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State of South Carolina v Jerod Goodwin
TrueAllele analyzes minor DNA mixture component from fingernail evidence
| Crime | On August 15, 2021, sheriff’s deputies found Genesis Williams shot and lying in the road. Williams was transported to the hospital where he died from his injuries. Defendant Jerod Goodwin claimed the shooting was in self-defense. |
| Evidence | The decedent’s fingernail scrapings were collected as evidence. |
| DNA | A private DNA laboratory produced DNA data from the fingernail evidence at the request of the defense. |
| Match | The laboratory was unable to interpret the minor DNA mixture component due to insufficient data. |
| TrueAllele | On the same data, TrueAllele separated out the minor mixture contributors and calculated inclusionary match statistics to the defendant of 309 thousand and 429 quintillion (a 1 followed by 18 zeros). These match statistics supported the defense theory of the case. |
| Cybergenetics | On December 20, 2023, Cybergenetics analyst Jennifer Bracamontes testified before a Richland County jury about the TrueAllele DNA results. |
| Outcome | The jury found Mr. Goodwin guilty of murder, weapons possession and use of a vehicle without the owner’s consent. He was sentenced to 38 years in prison. |
Media
- Arrest made in killing of 28-year-old man in Richland County - WLTX News 19
- Columbia man arrested in connection to August fatal shooting - WIS 10
- RCSD: Man arrested for fatal shooting on Dominion Drive in August - ABC 25 Columbia
- Man sentenced to 30 years for Richland County murder - WIS 10
- SC man was on the run for over 100 days. Now he’s going to prison, prosecutor says - The State