Riverid, New York – When Moreen Brenard Barnes structures hidden in the side of the road were found near the Gilgo Beach in Long Island in the winter of 2010, there was no material evidence that might help investigators find its killer, except for one reckless hair.
But at the time, the extraction of DNA from deteriorating ropes was outside the capabilities of crime laboratories. Investigators have continued to search for other evidence that could help them determine a Suspected Those who spread the bodies of women along a coastal passage.
Then, about seven years ago, the investigators turned into the forensic medicine, a California laboratory that uses new techniques to analyze the degraded old DNA samples – including hair that is not root like one Discover the Brainard-Parnes body.
Now, the work of this laboratory is the focus of the central decision in the case that was closely monitored. The state judge weighs whether it is so Allow DNA It was generated by the ASTREA full genome sequence in the Rex Heuermann trial, accused of killing Brainard-Barnes, 25, and six other women.
If you allow this, that will be the first time that these technologies can be accepted in the New York Court, and one of these cases of these cases at the country, according to prosecutors, defense lawyers and experts.
Prosecutors say that the results of Astrea, in addition to other evidence, are greatly involved in Heuermann, 61, as a killer.
But the lawyers of the architect in Manhattan are arguing that the company’s accounts exaggerate the possibility of the hair that was recovered from the burial sites to its customers.
“You can imagine the pressure on this judge because it is likely that it would likely make a ruling that would pave the way for all the cases that come yet,” said April Stonehouse, a forensic expert in DNA at Arizona State University who does not participate in the case.
DNA analysis is no longer new, but the tests used by criminal laboratories throughout the country have restrictions.
Astrae is one of a small but increasing number of special laboratories that it says is able to take the very short DNA fragments present in the old bones and hair and use it to rebuild the entire genetic sequence of a person, or genome.
During the court certificate, the most prominent experts who summoned the Office of the Sofolk County Lawyer how scientists use similar technologies in a wide range of scientific and medical works, such as maps fee Neanderthal’s genome – An effort was awarded the Nobel Prize 2022 in medicine.
The co -founder of Astrea Forensics, Dr. Richard Green, described in the court how the results of the entire genome sequence were allowed as evidence in the trial of last year and condemnation David Allen Dalrembal In the cold killing of Darlin Johnson, 9 -year -old in Idaho.
Heuermann’s lawyers argue that Astrae’s DNA methods have not been sufficient yet, and they have warned that they need more evaluation because they have the ability to “significantly reshape” how forensic is used in criminal trials.
They interfered in the statistical analysis conducted by the Green Laboratory on the features of the DNA, which he gave birth to the hair recovered from the remains of the victims, saying that it is possible that it is possible that the appointed genome may be a matching with any specific person.
For its calculations, ASTREA forensic medicine uses reference data from an open source database that contains a full DNA sequence of about 2,500 people all over the world, called 1000 generations project.
Dr. Dan Crane, a professor at the State of Wilate State in Ohio, testified that Australian forensic methods were “harmful and unfair”.
Prosecutors reported that Karan’s criticism was “misleading” and revealed “a basic misunderstanding” of the laboratory methods.
William Thompson, an honorary professor of criminology at the University of California, Irvin, who did not participate in the case, agreed with the defense that the Australian forensic analysis was “inaccurate” and lacked broad acceptance in the scientific community.
He said: “This new technology may eventually prove that it amounts to the level of its promoters’ claims, but this has not yet happened.”
But Nathan Linz, a professor of biology at John Jae College of Criminal Justice in Manhattan, who also did not participate in the case, did not agree to this, indicating that the “sports neighborhood” did not justify the refusal of the evidence directly.
He said: “The bottom line is that there are real scientific concerns with the way in which statistics are calculated, but not with laboratory techniques.” “Fears are real, but probability rates still seem very fatal for defense, regardless of how they calculate.”
Prosecutors gathered other evidence against Hyurman, accused of killing women early in 1993.
In the court files, they say that contact information information and tracking data follow that Heermann has arranged meetings with some victims shortly before their disappearance.
Last year, public prosecutors revealed that they recovered from the computer files in Heuermann as they describe as a “plot” of killing, including a A series of review lists With reminders to reduce noise, clean bodies and destroy evidence.
They also have the second DNA analysis by a separate crime laboratory that has used more traditional traditional methods for a long time in the New York courts. They say these results, from the techniques of augmented style, connecting the hair convincingly to some victims, either Hermann or his family members.
Investigators say that when he got rid of his victims, Hurman used things from his home – including tape, belts, bags and surgical bends – he had traces of his hair and daughter.
In the case of Brainard-Parnes, though, the advanced DNA tests conducted by the ARTRAY match were identified, and found the hair with her remains belonging to Heuermann’s wife.
It is expected that the New York State Supreme Court judge, Timothy Mazy, will announce whether ASTREA DNA will allow the trial during a Wednesday session in Riverhead.
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