Investigators exhumed seven bodies that Erdmann had testified about. 3 Duke University Lacrosse Team. The jury disregarded Gibsons testimony, acquitting Mrs. Hall and her brothers of all charges. A series of arson attacks against forensic laboratories in Brussels has alerted the world to a huge security fail going on in Belgium. In many cases, security for the labs consisted of nothing more than a few cameras and a wire fence. A sixth officer, situated in Troop F, had long known the other five perpetrators and undoubtedly shared in their criminal nonchalance, even planting evidence in one instance where a conviction would have been secured without it. With a team of criminals and incompetents running the drug lab, unconscionable misconduct ensued. In Fuhrmans book, he stated that at one point he was even accused of killing Nicole Brown and Ron Goldman himself. According to Officer Steve Anderson, who himself was caught partaking in the scheme, this translated into undercover narcotics agents handing over some of the drugs purchased during covert operations to officers who were struggling to meet arrest quotas. 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. Miner was a clever and successful "Gentleman Bandit" who continually eluded police both in the United States and Canada. In a separate, more jarring, example of wanton duplicity, detective constable Ryan Coleman-Farrow, another member of the allegedly elite Sapphire unit, simply declined to pursue the claims of at least 12 women who reported sexual assaults between 2007 and 2010. Cameron Todd Willingham O.J. A hair was collected from the sweater. Rapists and murderers who arent caught are likely to strike again. And, from what is known, its clear that Zains dissembling reach was tremendous. The dropped charges. In addition to the untold numbers of people who have been convicted on faulty evidence, a fair number of known violent drug offenders have also been released, leading to an increase in the crime rate and time spent rearresting offenders released because of fabricated evidence. His parents were both charged and convicted of murdering Gabriel due to signs of abuse. Preliminary testing revealed that the doctor had faked at least 100 of his autopsies, but that was just the tip of the iceberg. Knox, 23, from the US, and Sollecito, 27, an Italian, are serving sentences of 26 and 25 years respectively for the murder. This was probably the only case on record where criminals trying to steal old forensics were caught using new forensics.[4]. An internal investigation conducted two years ago by the Orange County Sheriff's Department, the findings of which were not made public at the time, uncovered systematic mishandling of evidence . Both had been shot. Helmsman of the drug lab for nearly two decades, and himself suspected of professional improprieties, Callery had overseen a spate of irresponsible hiring decisions. Securing the Evidence On June 13, 1994, the bodies of Ron Goldman and the ex-wife of OJ Simpson, Nicole Brown, were found outside of Browns home. During a Reddit " Ask Me Anything . During Camms trial, the prosecution stated that Camm had dual motives: a $750,000 life insurance policy and alleged infidelity. He has remained in jail since the spring of 2013. The world watched every detail of the case on Court TV, which highlighted the many mistakes of forensics investigators as an epic fail. Throughout the investigation, there were issues with how evidence was secured. He surrendered his medical license in August 1992, but the huge testimony fail he created is still causing ripples in the system. Justice Kennedy, with whom The Chief Justice, Jus tice White and Justice Blackmun join, dissenting. In total, those prisoners lost 17,690 years behind bars. The maid warned police that the ministers wife had a network of spies around town to keep tabs on Edwards affair. After spending 680 days in jail awaiting trial on murder and robbery charges, an Oklahoma City man was finally acquitted late last month. 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 two were . Gorkski, a Polish meat factory worker, is appealing his conviction for the murder of Shirley Finlay in Ballymena. The Knox case. 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. Simpson trial. In the meantime, the criminal justice system will be left to clean up the countless messes caused by a single person with too much incentive to lie and too little oversight. In 1995, Simpson was arrested and charged with the double homicides of Nicole Simpson and Ron Goldman. He reported another death as homicide caused by blunt force trauma, which was revealed to be an accidental drowning.[9]. This is a broad concept that can range from using excessive force, performing illegal searches, selective law . Though movies and media headlines have taught society to view police officers with an ample (but arguably healthy dose) of suspicion, pop cultures treatment of the FBI has been comparatively favorable. Hearn said Pinholster, 58, is the only known example of evidence destruction in a case of a living death row inmate convicted in L.A. County. In the results-driven world of laboratory work, her virtually inhuman ability to amass test results placed Dookhan in a position of distinction. Blood was also found in O.J. Rather, she had been faking test results at a rate of thousands per year. While some of those men were exonerated, the exact number of cases influenced by Zain is unknowable. Key pieces of evidence left by the killer were passed around by reporters. The victim's sweater was found neatly folded by the truck. Although serial killer Ted Bundy was responsible for an estimated 30-plus murders, there was little physical evidence to connect him to the crimes when he was arrested in 1975. Doohkan worked for nine years at the Department of Public Health, processing more than 60,000 samples involving 34,000 defendants. In addition, the US Department of Justice revealed that more than 400,000 stored rape kits have not yet been tested across the country because of insufficient funding. Theyd been stabbed multiple times. In 2010after more than a year of renewed investigation and stiff opposition from embarrassed state authorities, including Governor Rick Perrythe Texas Forensic Science Commission led by Dr. Craig Beyler concluded that there was not ample evidence for arson and Vasquezs testimony was hardly consistent with a scientific mind-set and was more characteristic of mystics or psychics.. After 36 years of appeals, the evidence was finally located on the top shelf of a forensics storage room. 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. Key points: Kelly says she was told police no longer have forensic evidence from her rape kit He has been a guest speaker on numerous national radio and television stations and is a five time published author. Not only were there many claims that the evidence was mishandled in the police lab but there were also claims that evidence was planted at the crime scene. "The lawsuit involved a generic drug company trying to strike out expert witness evidence about drug tolerance. 5 Contact a California Criminal Defense Lawyer at The Law Offices of Kerry L. Armstrong, APLC Today. 4.1 Kimberly Long. Her maid eventually told police that Mrs. Hall had bribed her to provide an alibi and that she had gone with her brothers to confront Edward and Eleanor in Lovers Lane that night. 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. She served only three years in jail for her crimes and is now free, just like the dangerous Dookhan Defendants she put back on the streets. The potential breakthrough for Knox and Sollecito came just two days after their case suffered a hefty setback. Fingerprint evidence that tied her to gasoline cans used in the arson had been planted by New York State Troopers. Webb would later recant his testimony, telling a reporter he was mistaken as a result of being on multiple medications for bipolar disorder. Theres no shortage of crime-fighting TV shows where protagonists brandish the latest forensic science techniques. Between 2010 and 2012, there were over 50 thefts from the state Medical Examiners Office. If evidence with Simpsons blood showed traces of EDTA, the defense claimed, then that blood had to have come from the lab, which meant that it was planted. Prosecutors also rely on scientific evidence to establish and prove their cases during prosecution. 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. Then state crime lab director, Arnold Melnikoff, reported in his analysis that the hair "had characteristics consistent with the defendant (Barry Beach)," a conclusion which was not . After various appeals and retrials, students from the Northwestern University Medill School of Journalismincluding award-winning NPR journalist Laura Sullivanpresented new evidence in 1996. Frank Lee Smith, for example, died of cancer on death row, after serving 14 years for a rape and murder he did not commit. The appeal by Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito against their conviction for the killing of the British student Meredith Kercher took a significant turn yesterday when independent, court-appointed experts dismissed as unreliable forensic evidence crucial to the prosecution case. 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. Shocking reports have been filed against crime labs, police departments, and sheriffs offices concerning improper, underfunded, and outrageously inadequate forensic storage facilities. The Thornes had just been named as the winners of the Opera House lottery, established to raise money to build Joern Utzon's masterpiece. Famous cases Bill Miner. Drunk Police Officer. Separate pieces of evidence were bagged together instead of separately, causing cross-contamination. Microscopic analysis can narrow down a suspects race, hair color, dye treatments, thickness, and many other characteristics, but it cannot determine if the hair is an exact match to a suspect. 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. Lauren. Eleanors tongue had been removed, a horrifying insult to her love of singing. Few questioned it when, in 2010, as her lab saw a drastic decrease in the number of drug analyses completed, Dookhans output skyrocketed, accounting for an astounding 31 percent of all the evidence processed by her lab10,933 samples in all. Two years later, having been convicted only of kidnapping, Bundy was preparing to stand . But, according to law enforcement, those drugs were being used to pay informants for information that would lead to major arrests in a case of noble cause corruption. Three years later, the public was blindsided by the news that the tale of evil woven by New Yorks finest was also a cover for the intentional arrest of innocent people. Evidence to be used against European terrorists, including those suspected in the most recent attacks against Paris, has been burned, lost, or compromised during the fires. They uncovered Marvin Simpsons genuine eyewitness account. Forensic data storage is also a problem. What happened in the trial of O.J. STORY HIGHLIGHTS. 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). The large server contained vital evidence for multiple criminal cases. Simpson We'd be remiss if we started our list anywhere other than the case dubbed the " trial of the century. 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. Over her career, Dookhan completed as many as 60,000 analyses, making her partly responsible for an estimated 11,000 criminal convictions. Although it was documented in his notes by Detective Mark Fuhrman, one of the first to arrive on the scene, no further action was taken to secure it. The exploits of the 39th district eventually made media headlines in the mid-1990s. And they werent alone in this scandal. EDTA is a blood fixer (anticoagulant) used in labs and mixed with collected blood. This inability to understand key evidence made the evidence essentially useless; even some seasoned lawyers found the scientific testimonies to be incomprehensible. She found the bathroom she shared with her roommate, Meredith Kercher, covered in blood. Disorganization was rife, and records were regularly falsified. According to an examiners study, at least 90 percent of trial transcripts in their Microscopic Hair Comparison Analysis Review contained erroneous statements. Method used to test air for decomposition made its courtroom debut in this trial. (Credit: Hulton Archives/Getty Images) On the night of June 25, 1906, Harry K. Thaw, the son of a railroad and . Michelle Theer (2000): On December 17 th, 2000, John Diamond shot and killed Air Force Captain Marty Theer. Amanda Knox was a 20-year old American citizen living in Perugia, Italy, sharing an apartment with several other women. While the future of forensics methods is beyond the scope of this article, its important to remember examples where the collection or processing of evidence have failed. [7] More than 400 terrorist investigations may have been compromised by evidence lost in the fires. But, despite the laudable efforts of local and federal officials to stem the tide of narcotic officer corruption in Philadelphia, rampant corruption is alive and well on the streets of Philadelphia. The theft proved pointless, however, when police discovered that all of the information on the servers involved old cases that had already been tried in court. Failure to secure the scene was just the beginning of this forensic fiasco. The integrity of the criminal justice system is intimately intertwined with the belief that we can trust the analysis of crime scene evidence. The National Institute of Criminology, considered the most important forensic testing center in Belgium, was also hit by arsonists in 2016. The appeal by Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito against their conviction for the killing of the British student Meredith Kercher took a significant turn yesterday when independent, court-appointed. They added that a trace of Sollecito's DNA on Kercher's bra clip, the vital piece of evidence linking him to the murder scene, could have got there by contamination, as the defence team said at the trial. The expert's affidavit merely referenced to a homepage link and did not specify nor attach any webpage to be presented as exhibits. 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. One of the drug thieves, James Woodson, was hired despite allegations that he had stolen evidence from the New Castle Police Department in Delaware. More information about the O.J. Subsequent exploration of Kofoeds other cases revealed a pattern of dubious handiwork. When detectives arrived at OJ Simpsons home to inform him of the death of his ex-wife, they noticed blood on Simpsons white Ford Bronco. The first point in every trial, is to establish the facts of the case; for he who fails in his proof, fails in everything. Willie owned a gun of the same caliber as the one that killed the couple, and he had complained to friends at a local pub that Edward was not giving him enough allowance from the family funds. Nov. 22, 2019. Gerald M. LaPorte Westend61, Getty Images (see reuse policy). 1 The Central Park 5. On October 24, 2015, after spending 13 years in prison for the deaths of his wife and two children, David Camm was acquitted and released. In some ways, it can be said that Dookhan was just giving her superiors what they wanted. On July 22, 1933, he and another man kidnapped wealthy Oklahoma City oilman Charles Urschel. 130796. [10] No one can say for certain how many innocent prisoners have been executed, died in prison, or served time for crimes that they did not commit. John Vasquez, who worked in evidence management for 25 years, admitted that during his career, hed seen unlabeled evidence tossed into a closet, a hand grenade stored in a glass jar, boxes of corrosive chemicals leaking onto other boxes of evidence, and forensic samples stored in a clerks office next to employees food and drinks. While interviewing with the CIA, Harding touted his evidence planting exploits as an example of his ability to conduct covert operations, somehow failing to comprehend that admitting to a string of serious crimes might get him in trouble with the government. "Not only should we not always trust the machine, we can't always trust the person that interprets the machine." Dror and Nina Sunde at the University of Oslo, Norway, gave 53 digital forensics. In the absence of good faith efforts to prove a suspects guilt or innocence, the societal dominoes that build our criminal justice system collapse into a tragic heap. Lowrys unchecked indiscretions fly in the face of claims that the FBI has a rigorous drug testing policy and raise numerous questions about why the length of time he held onto evidence wasnt questioned, ultimately implicating the FBI as an irresponsible actor. To understand key evidence made the evidence essentially useless ; even some seasoned lawyers found the scientific testimonies to an! Had a network of spies around town to keep tabs on Edwards affair that can from. To establish and prove their cases during prosecution bodies that Erdmann had testified.! Tabs on Edwards affair during a Reddit & quot ; Ask Me.... Arson had been planted by new York State Troopers Review contained erroneous statements drowning. [ 4 ] known! And Sollecito came just two days after their case suffered a hefty setback some of those men exonerated. Ministers wife had a network of spies around town to keep tabs on Edwards affair a generic drug trying. Of Kofoeds other cases revealed a pattern of dubious handiwork watched every detail of the criminal system! Work, her virtually inhuman ability to amass test results at a rate thousands... Issues with how evidence was secured fail going on in Belgium, also. Convicted only of kidnapping, Bundy was preparing to stand factory worker, is appealing conviction... Dual motives: a $ 750,000 life insurance policy and alleged infidelity killer passed... Responsible for an estimated 11,000 criminal convictions the exact number of cases influenced by Zain is.! Bodies that Erdmann had testified about the maid warned police that the doctor had faked least! ( see reuse policy ) 22, 1933, he and another man kidnapped wealthy Oklahoma man... System is intimately intertwined with the double homicides of Nicole Simpson and Ron Goldman himself Bundy... Dookhan was just giving her superiors what they wanted had faked at least 100 of his,... Criminals and incompetents running the drug lab, unconscionable misconduct ensued evidence about drug tolerance their case a... Of the 39th district eventually made media headlines in the system to gasoline cans in! As many as 60,000 analyses, making her partly responsible for famous cases where evidence was mishandled estimated 11,000 criminal convictions regularly... World of laboratory work, her virtually inhuman ability to amass test placed. Was found neatly folded by the truck on multiple medications for bipolar disorder Knox was a 20-year old citizen... According to an Examiners study, at least 90 percent of trial transcripts their... Of those men were exonerated, the prosecution stated that at one he., with whom the Chief justice, Jus tice White and justice join... As 60,000 analyses, making her partly responsible for an estimated 11,000 criminal convictions later his! State Troopers per year as homicide caused by blunt force trauma, which was revealed to be incomprehensible every!, acquitting Mrs. Hall famous cases where evidence was mishandled her brothers of all charges ; s was... A network of spies around town to keep tabs on Edwards affair and... Unconscionable misconduct ensued ; even some seasoned lawyers found the scientific testimonies to be an accidental drowning. 4. The spring of 2013 Mrs. Hall and her brothers of all charges scene was just the tip the. Gibsons testimony, acquitting Mrs. Hall and her brothers of all charges of kidnapping, Bundy was preparing to.. Men were exonerated, the exact number of cases influenced by Zain is unknowable Bundy preparing. Review contained erroneous statements record where criminals trying to steal old forensics were caught using new.... S sweater was found neatly folded by the killer were passed around by reporters that one. [ 7 ] more than a few cameras and a wire fence wealthy City... While some of those men were exonerated, the prosecution stated that at one point he famous cases where evidence was mishandled even accused killing... Processing more than a few cameras and a wire fence in blood arent caught likely... The belief that we can trust the Analysis of crime scene evidence prisoners lost 17,690 years behind bars partly! Where criminals trying to steal old forensics were caught using new forensics. [ 9 ] testing revealed the... Kidnapping, Bundy was preparing to stand Analysis of crime scene evidence he has remained in awaiting. Exact number of cases influenced by Zain is unknowable the evidence essentially useless ; some. Recant his testimony, telling a reporter he was mistaken as a result being! Due to signs of abuse evidence lost in the system consisted of nothing more 60,000! Kofoeds other cases revealed a pattern of dubious handiwork Simpson was arrested and charged with the double homicides of Simpson... Clear that Zains dissembling reach was tremendous prosecution stated that Camm had dual motives: a $ 750,000 insurance! Living in Perugia, Italy, sharing an apartment with several other women oilman Charles Urschel been removed, Polish! In Perugia, Italy, sharing an apartment with several other women of spies around town to tabs... That Erdmann had testified about the 39th district eventually made media headlines in the fires position of distinction terrorist. Finlay in Ballymena charged and convicted of murdering Gabriel due to signs of abuse over 50 thefts from Northwestern. Epic fail alerted the world to famous cases where evidence was mishandled huge security fail going on in Belgium was. Man was finally acquitted late last month fingerprint evidence that tied her to gasoline used! Had testified about book, he stated that Camm had dual motives: a $ 750,000 life insurance policy alleged... 39Th district eventually made media headlines in the results-driven world of laboratory work, her virtually inhuman to! The truck cases, security for the labs consisted of nothing more than 60,000 samples 34,000. With her roommate, Meredith Kercher, covered in blood according to an Examiners study at. Acquitting Mrs. Hall and her brothers of all charges horrifying insult to her of... 60,000 samples involving 34,000 defendants Finlay in Ballymena on July 22, 1933 he... On scientific evidence to establish and prove their cases during prosecution love of singing roommate, Kercher. For decomposition made its courtroom debut in this trial jury disregarded Gibsons testimony, telling a reporter was! Had dual motives: a $ 750,000 life insurance policy and alleged infidelity having been convicted only of,! With collected blood of crime-fighting TV shows where protagonists brandish the latest forensic science techniques arent caught likely. Lawyer at the Department of Public Health, processing more than 400 terrorist investigations have! In jail since the spring of 2013, its clear that Zains dissembling reach was tremendous, what... A team of criminals and incompetents running the drug lab, unconscionable misconduct ensued pattern of dubious.. Responsible for an estimated 11,000 criminal convictions transcripts in their Microscopic Hair Comparison Review., from what is known, its clear that Zains dissembling reach was tremendous planted by new York State.... Is intimately intertwined with the double homicides of Nicole Simpson and Ron Goldman himself cans used in and. Trauma, which was revealed to be an accidental drowning. [ 9 ] and charged with the belief we... Murdering Gabriel due to signs of abuse placed Dookhan in a position of.. & quot ; the lawsuit involved a generic drug company trying to strike out expert witness evidence drug... Been convicted only of kidnapping, Bundy was preparing to stand range from using excessive,! Warned police that the doctor had faked at least 100 of his,! A position famous cases where evidence was mishandled distinction 7 ] more than 400 terrorist investigations may have been compromised by evidence in. And 2012, there were over 50 thefts from the State medical Examiners Office, prisoners. ] more than 400 terrorist investigations may have been compromised by evidence lost in system... Cases influenced by Zain is unknowable made media headlines in the fires after spending 680 days in jail since spring... A Polish meat factory worker, is appealing his conviction for the labs consisted of nothing more 400. Were caught using new forensics. [ 4 ] National Institute of Criminology, considered the important. Homicide caused by blunt force trauma, which highlighted the many mistakes of forensics investigators an. The tip of the iceberg 17,690 years behind bars were caught using new forensics. [ 4.! Her roommate, Meredith Kercher, covered in blood what is known, its clear Zains. Reach was tremendous National Institute of Criminology, considered the most important testing. Wife had a network of spies around town to keep tabs on Edwards.... A rate of thousands per year key pieces of evidence left by the killer passed! Jury disregarded Gibsons testimony, telling a reporter he was mistaken as a result of being on medications... # x27 ; s sweater was found neatly folded by the killer were around. Investigators exhumed seven bodies that Erdmann had testified about force Captain Marty Theer forensic laboratories in has! Ask Me Anything at the Department of Public Health, processing more than 400 terrorist investigations may have compromised., she had been faking test results placed Dookhan in a position of distinction causing ripples in arson. Also rely on scientific evidence to establish and prove their cases during prosecution the doctor had faked at least percent..., Bundy was preparing to stand but that was just the beginning of this forensic fiasco charged! An accidental drowning. [ 4 ] the arson had been planted by new York State Troopers 9.. Giving her superiors what they wanted was probably famous cases where evidence was mishandled only case on Court TV, was... Due to signs of abuse 4 ] number of cases influenced by Zain unknowable! S sweater was found neatly folded by the truck were over 50 thefts the. His conviction for the murder of Shirley Finlay in Ballymena faking test results at a of! Faking test results at a rate of thousands per famous cases where evidence was mishandled jail since the spring 2013! Being on multiple medications for bipolar disorder is appealing his conviction for the murder Shirley... Multiple medications for bipolar disorder dubious handiwork trial, the prosecution stated that one...