Forensic body fluid screening - Forensic DNA Testing in Northern CA | Serological

DNA exonerates man after 38 years of wrongful imprisonment

Elizabeth Ahrens — Sat, 29 Oct 2022 03:00:32 +0000

SERI DNA Analyst II, Mallory Pagenkopf, worked on this case brought to SERI by Mehul Anjaria from MBA DNA Consulting, LLC in collaboration with the Loyola Law School Project for the Innocent. Following testing by Ms. Pagenkopf, it was determined That Mr. Hastings was not a contributor to the DNA results obtained from the oral swabs. The DNA profile instead hit to another offender profile that had been uploaded into CODIS. Read about Mr. Hasting’s innocence here.

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Kristin Smart Murder Trial

Elizabeth Ahrens — Fri, 30 Sep 2022 02:40:00 +0000

SERI Senior DNA Analyst, Angela Butler, testified on her analysis of the soil samples dug up from Ruben Flores’ yard. In the end, Paul Flores was convicted of first degree murder of Kristin Smart. Read about Butler’s testimony here. If you are further interested in the case, there is a podcast that chronicles the investigation and the trial called “Your Own Backyard” where Butler is mentioned.

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Serial Sexual Assaulter Caught

Elizabeth Ahrens — Sat, 28 May 2022 00:00:04 +0000

News was abuzz in the SERI lab when results came back showing the perpetrator was indeed connected to the multiple sexual assault cases mentioned in this story. Read about it here.

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Rapist’s DNA Does Not Lie

Elizabeth Ahrens — Wed, 28 Jul 2021 19:00:17 +0000

SERI analyst, Erin Laurie, took the stand and testified to her findings of the evidence in this 2019 case. Read about the case here.

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Grant Funded Rape Kit Testing Leads to New Charges Against Inmate

Elizabeth Ahrens — Thu, 08 Jul 2021 19:00:23 +0000

Through a grant given by the California Department of Justice to the Berkeley Police Department, SERI analyzed evidence linking the DNA found to the serial rapist. Read about that story here.

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San Luis Obispo Sheriff’s Office thanks SERI for assisting with cold case.

Seri Admin — Tue, 13 Apr 2021 16:06:50 +0000

The Sheriff’s Office arrested Paul Flores for the 1996 murder of Kristin Smart. In its press release, the office thanked the Serological Research Institute for its assistance in the investigation. Read the full press release here.

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Ex-Teacher Sentenced to 46 Years to Life

Elizabeth Ahrens — Fri, 17 Mar 2017 21:35:52 +0000

SERI Senior DNA Analyst, Angela Butler, testified in this dramatic case. Read about it here.

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A Slew of Suspects But Only One is the Killer

Elizabeth Ahrens — Sun, 01 Oct 2006 19:00:06 +0000

Fifty-eight pieces of evidence and many suspects later, DNA evidence SERI analyzed links to an already deceased Folsom State Prison inmate.

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Akron Beacon Journal: Brian Wraxall’s prior analysis referenced again years later.

Seri Admin — Tue, 26 Oct 2004 17:46:13 +0000

“The finding that the stains were probably from perspiration was revealed in court in 1996 based on years-earlier independent testing by Brian Wraxall, chief forensic blood expert of the Serological Research Institute in Richmond, Calif.”

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South Florida Sun Sentinel: 20 Year Old Case Ends with an Arrest after DNA Testing

Elizabeth Ahrens — Tue, 02 May 2000 07:00:14 +0000

SERI analyzes key piece of evidence in a 20 year old unsolved case.

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