• Home
  • News
    • Business
    • Crime / Courts
    • Health / Medicine
    • Legislature
    • Politics / Govt
  • Sports
    • High School Sports
    • The Bill Pollock Show
  • Contact Us
    • Reporters
  • Affiliates
    • Affiliate Support

Missourinet

Your source for Missouri News and Sports

You are here: Home / Archives for DNA Testing

House Dems Call for Expansion of DNA Database

January 22, 2007 By admin Leave a Comment

House Democrats have unveiled a series of legislative proposals aimed at protecting children and families. Topping the list is one to expand Missouri’s DNA database to include people charged, but not yet convicted, of felonies. A second component of that proposal would allow for DNA to be collected from juveniles who commit crimes that would be considered felonies if adjudicated in the adult criminal justice system. Representative John Burnett of Kansas City, the sponsor, insists this would hold up under any and all constitutional challenges. Burnett points to a 1966 U.S. Supreme Court ruling – Schmerber v. California – in which the High Court upheld the constitutionality of a blood test involuntarily administered to a man who had been drinking and driving. The Court rejected arguments the test violated the man’s Fifth Amendment right against providing self-incriminating evidence as well as his Fourth and Fourteenth Amendment rights against unreasonable searches and seizures. Burnett says seven states currently collect DNA from felony arrestees, while thirty-five states collect DNA from juvenile offenders.

Related web sites:
Schmerber v. California (1966)

Filed Under: Politics / Govt Tagged With: DNA Testing

Major Break in Sex Torture Killings

June 2, 2006 By admin Leave a Comment

There has been a major break in the sadistic sexual torture and murder case in Independence, apparently coming from the couple suspected in two brutal deaths. Documents have been released that indicate Richard Davis and Dena Riley confessed to investigators that they kidnapped, sexually molested and killed two women; 41-year-old Marsha Spicer and 36-year-old Michelle Ricci. Investigators say they directed them to the body of Ricci, buried in a remote part of Clay County. Jackson County Prosecutor Mike Sanders says it appears there are no other victims, but that the investigation would continue. The Jackson County Circuit Court has released documents that include affidavits for search warrants, search-warrant returns, and statements from witnesses that supported obatining the search warrants. The documents set out a grisly tale that for more than a week made Davis and Riley the FBI’s most wanted couple. Authorities have not identified the body found in Clay County as that of Ricci. DNA tests are being conducted.

Filed Under: Crime / Courts Tagged With: DNA Testing, Kansas City

DNA Criminal Justice Panel Prepares for First Meeting

October 31, 2005 By admin Leave a Comment

The use of DNA in Missouri’s criminal justice system is getting a special look by a legislative committee. The committee is fueled by a mix of technology and popular culture. St. Louis Representative Connie Johnson, who heads the special committee, says crime-fighting television shows rely on technology to achieve justice. She says the general public expects real world crime investigators to do the same thing. She says various organizations have been exploring DNA’s role in the justice system and now it’s time for lawmakers to hear the accumulated expertise. The first committee meeting is next Monday in Columbia. A second hearing will be two days later in St. Louis. The committee cannot afford to have a hearing in Kansas City or anywhere else. Johnson says there might be some legislation discussed next year – a bill was filed in the last session about DNA evidence. But she says it will be only one step in addressing DNA in the justice system.

Filed Under: Politics / Govt Tagged With: DNA Testing

DNA Tests Yielding Results

June 8, 2005 By admin Leave a Comment

The new state law requiring all people in custody of the corrections department to give DNA samples is clearing up some cold cases in Missouri. Corrections Department Spokesman John Fougere says more than ten-thousand samples have been taken since the law went into effect January 1. DNA evidence has linked prisoners or people on probation and parole with ten rapes, four murders, 13 burglaries, two robberies, and other crimes. More links are expected as the testing goes along. The Department has about 90,000 people in some form of custody.

Filed Under: Crime / Courts Tagged With: DNA Testing, Prisons

DNA Test Ordered For Prisoner Facing Execution

March 8, 2005 By admin Leave a Comment

The way has been cleared for DNA tests that could clear a prison inmate facing execution – or confirm that he did beat his estranged wife to death more than 14 years ago. The State Supreme Court has ordered the DNA test. DNA was used to convict Brian Kinder, but his lawyer says two new generations of DNA tests have been develped since Kinder’s trial and the new system is far more defining. A judge in St. Louis has to order the tests within a month.

Filed Under: Crime / Courts Tagged With: Capitol Punishment, Death Penalty, death row, DNA Testing, Supreme Court

DNA Evidence Revives 20-Year-Old Case

August 18, 2004 By admin Leave a Comment

DNA evidence has led to charges in a Kansas City rape and murder case that happened 20 years ago. The prosecutor says DNA from semen at the crime scene has led to murder and armed criminal action charges agianst Blake McMilian, who was 24 then. He’s charged with murdering Shelley Rosted, who was 21 when she was left to die from a stab wound in 1984. McMilian’s DNA is in a state database because of previous convictions for sexual abuse, sexual misconduct, and three burglaries.

Filed Under: Crime / Courts Tagged With: DNA Testing, Kansas City, Sex Offenders

Lawmakers Approve DNA Testing Of All Prisoners

May 11, 2004 By admin Leave a Comment

Missouri would provide restitution for those released from prison when DNA testing proves their innocence under a bill approved by the Legislature and sent to the Governor. The bill mandates DNA testing of all incoming felons as well as those now incarcerated. Should DNA evidence free a prisoner, the state would give that prisoner $50 for each day wrongly spent in prison. The bill, which had been approved by the Senate, is now approved by the House and is on its way to the Governor.

Filed Under: Legislature Tagged With: DNA Testing

Lawmakers Move To Compensate People Wrongly Imprisoned

February 9, 2004 By admin Leave a Comment

Efforts are being made in the Legislature to see that people freed from prison because of DNA evidence get something for the time they’ve been wrongly imprisoned.Senator Matt Bartle of Lee’s Summit thinks the state should give those people some money to get their lives re-started. The Senate has voted to pay those people an amount equal to the federal poverty level, times the number of years they were wrongly imprisoned. The present federal poverty income level is about $8,999. If the House and Governor approve of the idea, a person wrongly imprisoned for, say, five years, would be given almost $45,000 by the state upon their release.

Filed Under: Legislature Tagged With: DNA Testing, Prisons

Lawmakers Consider Mandatory DNA Sampling Of Those In Custody

February 5, 2004 By admin Leave a Comment

The Legislature is being asked to make DNA samples a greater part of Missouri law enforcement. Senator Matt Bartle is pushing a bill requiring DNA samples from all people in custody of the corrections department, and from all people convicted of violent and sexual crimes. The DNA tests would be analyzed and put into a federal crimedatabase. He would pay for the program with increased court fees and with federal grants.

Filed Under: Legislature Tagged With: DNA Testing

Senate Considers Expanded Use Of DNA In Criminal Trials

April 8, 2003 By admin Leave a Comment

Members of a State Senate committee are considering a bill that would demand more use of DNA evidence in criminal trials. The bill is spurred by the exonerations of more than 100 people nationwide through DNA evidence. Nearly all ended up in prison, because of eyewitness accounts. University of Missouri law professor Rodney Uphoff says its a national problem. He says eyewitnesses can be wrong, even when completely convinced of the testimoney they give. He says Missouri would benefit greatly by expanding its DNA data base, because it would protect the state against wrongful imprisonment lawsuits and ensure Missourians the right people are behind bars.

Filed Under: Legislature Tagged With: DNA Testing, University of Missouri

Next Page »


Tweets by Missourinet

Sports

Tilmon becoming a force in his senior season at Mizzou (PODCAST)

Thanks for … [Read More...]

Tigers build on fast start in win over South Carolina

Behind a … [Read More...]

In the old days, Mahomes would have been back out there against the Browns (PODCAST)

Thanks for … [Read More...]

New U.S. women’s soccer captain Sauerbrunn says she got her toughness from her older brothers

Becky … [Read More...]

State reps want St. Louis Cardinals to erect a slavery monument near Busch Stadium

St. … [Read More...]

More Sports

Tweets by missourisports

Archives

Opinion/Editorials

TwitterFacebook

Copyright © 2021 · Learfield News & Ag, LLC