Daytona Beach Police Want To Use Familial DNA Testing

New Crime-Solving Technology Could Find Serial Killer

Daytona Beach Police Want To Use Familial DNA Testing

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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — A new DNA technology could help local law enforcement track down killers and rapists on the run.”The family will never get their loved one back so we owe it to them to explore this new science,” Daytona Beach Police Chief Michael Chitwood said Wednesday.Chitwood is working to bring a new crime-solving weapon to his department called familial DNA.

“If you get a match it’s very similar and would indicate a sibling or parent and that gives an investigative lead that law enforcement could follow up. Before we wouldn’t have that opportunity,” State Attorney R.J. Larizza said Wednesday.

Larizza said he wants the new DNA technology especially if it helps investigators track down a serial killer who killed four women, three of them known prostitutes in Daytona Beach.

Investigators found DNA at each of the crime scenes after four women were shot to death between 2005 and 2008. DNA is solid evidence, but police weren’t able to find a match in the database.

“Familial DNA can trace a father, brother or son and that’s what we’re hoping our serial killer has a relative who’s in that state database. It’s worth a shot,” Chitwood said.

The software is so new it’s only being used in three other states, but local law enforcement are hoping Florida is the next state to jump on board.

“This is not something that should just be done in one locality this would benefit law enforcement and state attorney’s and communities across Florida,” Larizza said.

Larizza said the attorney general’s office is reviewing software applications, and familial DNA could be used in Florida in the next few months.

2011

05/19

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psychowatcher

CATEGORY

True Crime

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