In addition to spending more than two years in prison for his misdeeds, Kofoed was slapped with a lawsuit for playing God with Sampsons and Liverss lives. Dubbed "The Phantom of Heilbronn," the anonymous woman's genetic material was detected at the scene of more than forty crimes over a two-decade period. To read about times when forensics worked much better, check out Top 10 Murder Mysteries Finally Solved Using Forensics and 10 Notorious Historical Murders Solved Using Early Forensics. The BTK Killer You can't talk about criminal cases and digital forensics without mentioning the infamous BTK killer case. Erroneous convictions can have immeasurable consequences for exonerees, original crime victims, and families. Boneys history included attacking women. O.J. Both had been shot. Rachelle Jackson. The judge made some good points and some that made it obvious that they aren't tech savvy but still a good read. Other mistakes included overlooking stains, botched chemical tests, and improperly processed rape kits.[3]. With police performance measured in numbers of arrests, officers who failed to book enough criminals risked such penalties as being removed from undercover assignments. O.J. The dropped charges. Schmal had been raped seven times. Both Kercher and her American flatmate, Knox, were studying at the time at Perugia's University for Foreigners. This faith in Zains abilities sent untold numbers of innocent men behind bars, primarily for rape and murder charges. Simpson We'd be remiss if we started our list anywhere other than the case dubbed the " trial of the century. Not Guilty: Famous Successful Defense Cases By Diana Aizman Esq. Everyone from criminals to harmless grandmothers were targets of the 39th district, as feared figures like the infamous John Baird ran roughshod over mostly poor black citizens with virtual legal impunity for years. It is the defense attorney's job to speak for the defendant and to cast doubt on the prosecution's case. Additionally, a Dutch forensic expert found Boneys DNA under Kim Camms fingernails and her DNA on his sweatshirt, two pieces of evidence which sealed his conviction. She then compounded the problem by testifying about her findings during criminal trials. In a scandal that broke on the heels of extensive efforts to reform Philadelphias habitually corrupt police force, the officers of the 39th shocked the conscience of Philadelphia with tales of false arrests, evidence tampering, violence, and even theft. 4.2 Suzanne Johnson. An important bloody fingerprint located on the gateway at Nicole Browns house was not properly collected and entered into the chain of custody when it was first located. Lack of verifiable evidence; Failure to look for witnesses; Improper procedural process; If the investigation was mishandled, the case may never go to court or if it does, the judge may dismiss it from further court procedures. A push for cheaper public cloud services might make it easier for hackers to view, delete, or steal critical forensic data in the future. The Knox case. When his son failed to respond, he called 911. Joseph Sledge, for example, served 36 years for a crime in North Carolina, but he could have been out decades earlier if police hadnt misplaced evidence from his trial. The defense team stated that EDTA was found in the samples of blood that were collected at the crime scene. At the trial, James Grigsona psychiatrist known as Doctor Death for frequently recommending the death penalty for defendantswas called as an expert witness. Guede was given a 16-year sentence after a plea bargain. Eleanors tongue had been removed, a horrifying insult to her love of singing. Wrongfully convicted suspects, grieving family members, and the victims of violent criminals who should have been behind bars all suffer because of this ongoing forensic storage fail. With examples of misconduct extending into the 1980s, the Houston crime lab precipitated a lengthy reign of errors that has led to two mandatory shutdowns. This was particularly difficult to achieve in this case. Erdmann pleaded no contest to seven felonies regarding false evidence and botched autopsies. Simpson case can be found here. Then, 2014 brought yet another wave of criticism when another forensic analyst resigned after revelations that he eschewed lab protocols and falsified official records, casting an all-too-familiar doubt on roughly 180 criminal cases. Even more harrowing is when we find that acts of investigative dishonesty are deliberate and systematic, shrouding the high-profile convictions and acquittals that saturate our news feeds in a thick veil of suspicion and withering cynicism. She had been shot in the head . Furthermore, Johnny Webb, a jailhouse informant, testified against Willingham claiming he had confessed to the arson leading to the murders. OJ Simpson was found not guilty on October 3, 1995. An investigation revealed that Dookhan had been dry labbing many of her assignmentsreporting results without performing the actual tests! Three days later, Camm was arrested for the deaths of his family. Blood samples found inside of Simpsons Bronco, which was discovered outside Simpsons home the next day, were equally matched to Simpson and both victims. And, for those eight yearswhich is a long time to get away with any crimethose troopers helped decide thousands of felony cases across more than half a dozen counties across New York. One of the drug thieves, James Woodson, was hired despite allegations that he had stolen evidence from the New Castle Police Department in Delaware. On June 13, 1994, the bodies of Ron Goldman and the ex-wife of OJ Simpson, Nicole Brown, were found outside of Browns home. One piece of key evidence that was overlooked was Michael's navy blue shirt. Simpson trial. His parents were both charged and convicted of murdering Gabriel due to signs of abuse. He has remained in jail since the spring of 2013. Over a span of 13 years, prosecutors in two states sought out Zains ostensibly expert opinions, never questioning the fact that he managed to produce evidence with a certainty that other lab technicians couldnt approach. Somehow, these flashing signs of inability didnt prevent him from landing jobs as a police chemist for the state of West Virginia and chief of physical evidence in Bexar County, Texas. Camm was charged once againthis time as a co-conspirator with Boney. Conspiracy theorists helped spread the rumor that a racist cop had killed both Nicole and Ron to frame O.J. Gabriel Fernandez, an 8-year-old boy, was found dead with multiple trauma wounds on March 22, 2013. Defense attorneys were quick to argue that lax procedures by the forensics team could have led to the degradation or cross-contamination of blood evidence. It is reported that the DNA evidence showed that the chance that some of the blood found near the bodies came from anyone but Simpson was 1 in 170 million. Some believe that the positive EDTA results may have been due to contamination of the equipment used to run the tests. Because the police department did not have proper collection documents regarding Simpsons blood, it was argued that the police planted Simpsons missing blood on critical evidence and in critical areas of the murder scene. Miner was a clever and successful "Gentleman Bandit" who continually eluded police both in the United States and Canada. In the months that followed, investigators revealed a pattern of malfeasance and unprofessionalism that would tax and tarnish Delawares criminal proceedings. A state forensic analyst claimed that Camms t-shirt had been stained with the wifes blood in patterns suggesting he was the perpetrator. Other items of evidence were also never logged or entered into the chain of custody, which gave the impression that sloppy forensic collection had been carried out at the scene. The first point in every trial, is to establish the facts of the case; for he who fails in his proof, fails in everything. With a team of criminals and incompetents running the drug lab, unconscionable misconduct ensued. It wasnt until many years later that investigators would attribute his wounds to Willingham being in the fire before the flashover (i.e., when the entire room suddenly ignites in flames). B efore he became a true-crime celebrity, forensic scientist Henry Lee took the stand at a wildly bloody murder trial in Connecticut. On November 2, 2007, American college student Amanda Knox returned to her flat in Perugia, Italy. Separate pieces of evidence were bagged together instead of separately, causing cross-contamination. Two Rome University professors said there was no certainty that traces of DNA, found on a knife allegedly used in the murder, belonged to Kercher. Not only is there a huge volume of data collected for current investigations, but there is also a huge volume of digital forensics that must be stored indefinitely, in case of later appeals. In Fuhrmans book, he stated that at one point he was even accused of killing Nicole Brown and Ron Goldman himself. The jurors have to unanimously decide guilt or innocence. Doohkan worked for nine years at the Department of Public Health, processing more than 60,000 samples involving 34,000 defendants. His wife had been out Christmas shopping and despite her insistence that Willingham had never been abusive and had no motive for the crimes, he was arrested. 4 Wrongful Conviction Cases in California. Between 2010 and 2012, there were over 50 thefts from the state Medical Examiners Office. Podlecki also testified that both Williams and Adams tested positive for being type A secretors, an assertion later refuted by an independent forensic witness. The role of the jury is to listen to both sides of the case (prosecutor and defense). In total, those prisoners lost 17,690 years behind bars. had been cut on his left hand, and Nicoles fresh blood was found on his socks. Additionally, some jurors have since admitted that the verdict was retribution for the acquittal of white police officers in the beating of Rodney King in 1992. A civil court awarded the plaintiffs a total of $6.5 milliona gesture which is more symbolic than practical in light of Kofoeds inability to pay the fine. Research has shown that " analysis of forensic evidence was associated with [increased] case referrals to prosecutors, [and] charges filed ." Evidence from a medical forensic exam can be key in the prosecution of a sexual assault case. But, when an agent like Matthew Lowry is caught getting high on heroin that he stole from an FBI crime lab, that credence suffers greatly. California. When forensics fail, it isnt just the victims and their families who pay the price. Detective Fuhrman was discredited by the prosecution when he was alleged to be a racist and accused of planting evidence. He could not prove his whereabouts during this time. In 2004, the Indiana Court of Appeals overturned the conviction and ordered a new trial. A two-day appeal hearing which was due to take place next month has now been put. Harry Thaw in 1905. Janssen-Ortho Inc. vs. Novopharm Limited. In many cases, security for the labs consisted of nothing more than a few cameras and a wire fence. Witnesses may be unreliable, and memories might be foggy, but scientific evidence doesnt lie. Cameron Todd Willingham 1. 6 captivating court cases that had Americans glued to their screens 1. Independent experts have seriously disputed much of the scientific evidence relied on in the case. In hindsight, one might characterize the scandal as a logical offshoot of the very system which condemns its criminality. After the police refused, Romanellis friend broke through the door to uncover Kerchers bloody and partially naked body. It was spring of 1989 and the then-50-year-old Chinese . In addition to bearing the financial burden of revisiting tainted convictions, the government has agreed to award $1,000 for each hour of wrongful incarceration endured by an innocent person, leading to compensation for at least 25 people believed to have been booked on bad evidence. Every city has ignominious chapters in its history that it would rather forget. However, EDTA is also a chemical found naturally in human blood and chemicals such as paint. Mishandled Evidence Should Have Prompted a Mistrial. Over the course of a 14-year career, Baird was the target of nearly two dozen official complaints related to his propensity for police brutality, inflated criminal charges, robbing drug dealers, and the wholesale planting of narcotic evidence on innocent peoplean impressive list of evils to say the least. Still, Robert Lowery, vice president of the Missing Children's Division at the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, points to other high-profile missing children's cases as support for the belief that cases like . While the abundance of evidence certainly provided more than enough to do so, the doubts cast by the sloppy police work were enough of a window. Erdmann later admitted that he had thrown the head away. Michelle Theer (2000): On December 17 th, 2000, John Diamond shot and killed Air Force Captain Marty Theer. The investigation concluded that Deras "mishandled sensitive evidence" pertaining to 21-year-old Lauren McCluskey's case while he was employed with the university's police department. Still convinced of Knox and Sollecitos guilt, the prosecution spun a narrative claiming the couple had partnered with Guede in Kerchers murder. Prompted by Bienert, Robinson testified he had been trained to collect evidence that either the prosecution or the defense might want to review in the course of a case. Delayed evidence makes it more difficult to locate suspects, conduct interviews, or conclude casesa massive fail for everyone involved. Rapists and murderers who arent caught are likely to strike again. He fled on foot and attempted to fight an officer. One of the prints on the card belonged to Willie Stevens, brother-in-law of Edward Hall. But, for residents of Douglas County, Nebraska, those three letters could just as easily stand for Criminal Subterfuge in Investigations thanks to disgraced David Kofoed, whose tenure as chief of the local CSI division was marred by the willful manipulation of DNA evidence in a series of murder cases. But, despite even the presence of eyewitnesses who could attest to grotesque law enforcement misconduct, charges leveled against Baird and other officers were consistently dismissed as baseless until Philadelphia investigators and federal agents finally began pursuing the matter in 1991. But, after spending two and a half years of a 17- to 44-year sentence behind bars for burglary and arson, Shirley Kinge was released. In a shocking double fail, thieves in Kent, England, had very little trouble stealing a computer server from Forensics Telecommunications Services in 2007. "The international procedures for the inspection [of the scene of a crime] were not followed," Stefano Conti and Carla Vecciotti, both professors, said in their report. She could pass through borders with no apparent problems and was linked crimes in at least three countries. But, in at least one other instance, he failed to submit marijuana and guns seized during a crime, and there is some cause to believe that he may have been involved in the displacement of $130,000 confiscated during an FBI search. The whole situation was a bloody mess and a complete forensic fail. During Camms trial, the prosecution stated that Camm had dual motives: a $750,000 life insurance policy and alleged infidelity. The following are ten cases where shocking forensic fails bungled the case and allowed murderers to walk away from justiceor sent innocent people to prison. Shirley Kinges plight was one of at least 36 instances of evidence planting perpetrated by members of the New York State Troopers C Division and at least one member of Troop F. Between 1984 and 1992, members of New York State Troopers C Division, and at least one member of Troop F, systematically fabricated fingerprints and other evidence. A Question of Planted Evidence A suspects laptop and cell phone can show evidence of a crime, motivation, or premeditation. Frank Lee Smith, for example, died of cancer on death row, after serving 14 years for a rape and murder he did not commit. A press release given by the FBI in 2015 revealed one of the biggest fails in forensic science history. Testimony that hair . It was Romanelli who uncovered Kerchers two cell phones in a garden nearby and she requested that the police break into Kerchers room. And, from what is known, its clear that Zains dissembling reach was tremendous. One of the examiners most aggravating mistakes was the loss of an entire head, which contained a bullet from the killers gun. Photograph: Stefano Medici/AP. At trial, several issues became evident, including: Roughly 1.5 ml of Simpson's blood was mysteriously absent from a container; The blood was not immediately entered into the chain of custody; What happened in the trial of O.J. The issue is whether the Sixth Amendment right of confrontation is violated when statements from a child who is unavailable to testify at trial are . Individuals like 54-year-old Betty Patterson spent three years in prison on false charges of selling cocaine thanks to planted evidence. And in addition to his work in a Texas crime lab, Zain served as a forensics consultant to 10 other states, creating the possibility that he lied across thousands of primarily rape and murder trials. The case caught a break in 2005 when the DNA of career criminal, Charles Boney, was matched to a sweatshirt at the scene of the crime. But the evidence of his wrongdoing, along with the actions of other Brooklyn officers, was enough to throw out 400 different drug cases and secure the release of over two dozen people wrongfully arrested on drug charges. Ironically, the work of a man determined to secure criminal convictions, regardless of innocence, may allow an apparently guilty man to go free. Famous cases Bill Miner. But they said it could not have been the murder weapon as its profile was inconsistent with the slash wounds on Kercher's throat. A graduate of West Virginia State College, Zain had only managed to pass some of his chemistry courses by the skin of his teeth, while utterly failing in others. The son of a Sunday school teacher, a long-time law enforcement officer, and an honors graduate of the FBI Academy, Lowry was not exactly the spitting image of drug addiction. Before mitochondrial testing, the hair of a suspect was tested using microscopic analysis, which shows if the hair has a similar appearance to hair taken from the scene of a crime. Todd Spitzer has dropped or reduced charges in 67 criminal cases as a result of. The mistakes of a single unidentified lab technician forced the New York medical examiners office to review 843 rape cases for DNA evidence which could have been improperly processed. 10 Examples of Police Intimidation Cases: Wrapping Up. Sheriff had investigator probe into evidence mishandling even though he had mishandled evidence O.C. The two were . Simpson was accused of murdering his ex-wife, Nicole Brown-Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman on June 12, 1994, between approximately 9:40 p.m. and 10:55 p.m., in the front courtyard of her condominium on Bundy Drive, Brentwood. Although the jurists hold the law to be always fixed and certain, yet the discovery of the fact, they say, may From the Introduction. Rebuffing scientists who had presented evidence of false applications of DNA analysis, Attorney General Jeff Sessions stated, I dont think we should suggest that those proven scientific principles that weve been using for decades are somehow uncertain and leaving prosecutors having to fend off challenges on the most basic issues in a trial (Washington Post, April 2017). Fail for everyone involved the defense team stated that Camm had dual motives: $! Camm had dual motives: a $ 750,000 life insurance policy and alleged infidelity Lee took stand! To Planted evidence, American college student Amanda Knox returned to her flat in Perugia, Italy trial! Show evidence of a crime, motivation, or conclude casesa massive fail for involved! 'S throat key evidence that was overlooked was Michael & # x27 ; t talk about criminal cases and forensics! 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