Forensic DNA analysis - Forensic DNA Testing in Northern CA | Serological

Second Cold Case Murder Arrest In Solano County In Months

Elizabeth Ahrens — Tue, 28 Feb 2023 06:30:19 +0000

The unknown male DNA found on evidence SERI analyzed was uploaded into CODIS. This unknown male DNA profile matched that of convicted murderer Herman Hobbs. Read about the 42-year-old cold case here.

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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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Advances in DNA Technology Help Solve Cold Case

Elizabeth Ahrens — Wed, 23 Mar 2022 02:00:31 +0000

DNA technology SERI was able to provide to the Alameda Police Department ultimately help put to rest a 45-year-old cold case. Watch the press coverage here.

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DNA Analysis 101

Elizabeth Ahrens — Wed, 01 Dec 2021 20:00:58 +0000

At trial, senior Forensic DNA Analyst, Angela Butler, breaks down the process of how to discern the likelihood ratios of people’s DNA on evidence. Read about it in her testimony here.

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SERI’s Mallory Pagenkopf testifies on DNA from the Carla Walker Case

Elizabeth Ahrens — Mon, 23 Aug 2021 16:00:36 +0000

SERI analyst, Mallory Pagenkopf, testifies in the Carla Walker case on Monday, August 23 . The very next day, Glen McCurley confesses to the 1974 cold case murder and pleads guilty. See his confession 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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Berkeley PD charges suspect with attempted rape

Ledia McVeigh — Wed, 23 Jun 2021 00:10:30 +0000

Berkeley police department charges suspect with attempted rape after he broke into the victim’s apartment and tried to sexually assault her in bed. SERI’s Chief Forensic DNA Analyst performed DNA analysis which contributed to the arrest of the suspect. Read the full article here.

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