DUCHESNE- The bones of a man buried in the city cemetery 72 years ago have been exhumed for testing to determine whether he is actually Harry Alonzo Longabaugh, better known to most of the world as the Sundance Kid.
HOUSTON — The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office Cold Case Squad recently charged three people in three unrelated cases after evidence was submitted to crime laboratories working under their Federal Grant from the National Institute of Justice.
SALT LAKE CITY — Salt Lake City Provider of Advanced Forensic DNA Services Signs Agreement to Establish Forensic DNA Lab in Dakar, Senegal, and Will Provide Ongoing On-Site Support and Validation of Clinical Processes and Procedures
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SALT LAKE CITY — Two forensic labs that analyzed evidence that led to the prosecution of Edward Lewis Owens say the promise that DNA technology brings to the justice system is only beginning to be realized.
“Henry’s across-town colleague, Tim Kupferschmid, lab director at the private lab Sorenson Forensics, has at his disposal two types of DNA analysis that the publicly funded state crime lab doesn’t yet employ.”
It took almost four months to make an arrest in the Village Inn murder case in Sandy. Police say it would have taken a lot longer if they solely relied on the state’s crime lab to analyze DNA evidence.
He went through every piece of evidence again, and this time happened to find a small tissue sample, either a piece of skin or fingernail, in the preserved soil, Winder said. That tissue sample was taken to Sorenson Forensics in Salt Lake City last month. The DNA matched Hicker’s, Winder said.
“Investigators finally caught a break earlier this year, thanks to a new DNA testing lab created by Utah billionaire James LeVoy Sorenson.”
“Since last October Sorenson Forensics has helped identify suspects in two other cold cases.”
“The company is currently investigating a few dozen cases from across the country.”
“State and federal authorities often outsource DNA work to commercial outfits that are better equipped to handle high-volume or scientifically difficult cases.”
“And once again, Salt Lake-based Sorenson Forensics, who helped Salt Lake City police crack three of their cold cases recently, was responsible for helping investigators.”
Y-chromosome test thaws three SLC cold cases
“… the Sorenson lab is the first in the state to use the new method, which singles out the Y chromosome – effectively linking skin cells, hair, blood or other DNA evidence specifically to their male owners.”
“This science was effective in filing charges against 40-year-old Michael Jones in the murder of Tara Brennan, whose body was found in her car at Salt Lake City’s Poplar Grove Park on Feb. 24, 2004. Brennan was found with a belt around her neck and stab wounds on her neck and face, according to court documents.”
“Salt Lake City Police Chief Chris Burbank says… the crime-solving possibilities are endless with the new testing.”
“It’s really exciting,” says the chief. “And it’s amazing you can come up with some of these things after 21 years.”
“If we can bring closure to some of these families,” Burbank says, “that’s what we should be doing.”
Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson specifically mentions the outstanding service provided by Sorenson Forensics in his state of the city address.
“After we formed the Cold Case Unit, Detectives Cordon Parks and Kelly Kent reexamined all available evidence and followed up on literally hundreds of leads. Due to the persistent, tenacious efforts of the detectives, and due to the outstanding services provided by Sorenson Forensics, it appears that Tiffany’s loved ones may now obtain the answers they have been hoping for all these years’ and that justice may indeed be achieved.”