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"Consent Defense" Serial Rapist Finally Convicted by DNA. TrueAllele® Provided Results Using All the DNA Data

Case summary

The crime lab developed mixtures from at least three people on a shirt and belt used to bind the victim’s hands. Their manual interpretation generated small inclusionary statistics in the thousands to suspect Nelson Clifford. On the same lab DNA data, TrueAllele separated out the DNA contributors, providing more DNA information. The jury convicted Clifford of third-degree sex offense and theft, and he was sentenced to more than 30 years in prison.

What the lab report said

  • The crime lab’s manual mixture analysis produced inclusion statistics in the thousands between the two evidence items and Nelson Clifford.

Why this mattered for the investigation

  • The defense claimed the encounter was consensual. For this scenario, it matters whether the mixture connects the victim and assailant to the same items used to bind the victim’s hands during the assault.

What was submitted

  • The lab’s electronic DNA data from a green shirt and a brown belt
  • Reference samples used for comparison

What changed after TrueAllele interpretation

  • TrueAllele separated the three-person mixtures into genetic components. Comparing these evidence components with reference samples, TrueAllele found the victim and boyfriend's DNA on the clothing. The computer also tied the evidence to Clifford, calculating inclusionary statistics to the third separated contributor.

Outcome

  • The jury convicted Clifford of third-degree sex offense and theft. In light of his prior conviction, he was sentenced to over 30 years in prison.

Case Takeaways

If your sexual assault case includes clothing or restraint evidence:

  1. Identify the most probative handled items first.
  2. Request the electronic DNA data files (.fsa or .hid) for the key items and reference profiles, including allelic ladder files.
  3. Request a Free TrueAllele Screening.
  4. If screening results are helpful, request a court-ready case report.

For more information on what to request from the lab, see the Sending Cases for TrueAllele Processing page.

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We don’t retest physical evidence items. We interpret the electronic DNA data a lab already generated.