DNA and Family Trees to Crack Five More Cold Cases


Police arrested a D.J. in Pennsylvania and a nurse in Washington State this week, the latest examples of the use of an open-source ancestry site since the break in the Golden State killer case. June 29, 2018 When the Golden State Killer case was cracked in April with the help of a genealogist and an open-source ancestry site, many wondered if this ...

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Crime lab chemist charged in federal court with stealing alprazolam


The crime lab gets federal money, so stealing evidence from the lab is a federal crime. June 25, 2018 A former chemist at the Allegheny County Crime Lab has been charged with stealing alprazolam, the active ingredient in Xanax, that had been seized as evidence in a federal drug investigation. Matthew Ieraci, 28, of Baldwin Borough, was federally ch...

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Ex-Smith Township police chief indicted in $10K theft

Investigators accuse John Siranovic of stealing about $10,000 from the police department's evidence room while he served as the chief. May 12, 2018 YOUNGSTOWN A former Smith Township police chief has found himself on the wrong side of the law. Investigators accuse John Siranovic of stealing about $10,000 from the police department's evidence room w...

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Police captain: Fired officer told son to delete evidence from phone

Cellphones issued by the police department are not allowed to be used by anyone other than the officers it is issued to, in accordance with policy, Bennick said. Enter Article DATE HERE SUNBURY — Sunbury Police Captain Steve Bennick testified on Monday that fired Cpl. Jamie Quinn told him that she instructed her son to deny viewing a sexually ...

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Former police officer charged after allegedly stealing from evidence locker

Enter Headline here March 22, 2018 LOWER SWATARA, Pa. — A former Lower Swatara Township Police Department officer is being charged by the Dauphin County District Attourney's Office for allegedly stealing drugs from an evidence locker at the Lower Swatara Township Police Department. Scott Flowers, 39, of Harrisburg, has been charged with four counts...

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Former Johnstown police officer sentenced to house arrest for overdose-related charges

Slisz was accused of obtaining an envelope containing 48 suspected stamp bags of heroin and six pills from a temporary evidence locker, where drugs were stored before being transferred by an evidence custodian to a secure evidence room at a later time, as outlined by the department's procedure. Enter Article DATE HERE EBENSBURG – Former Johnst...

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Ex-police corporal gets 3 months in prison for $22K theft

A former Harrisburg police official will serve three months in prison for stealing more than $22,000 from an evidence locker. Enter Article DATE HERE HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) – A former Harrisburg police official will serve three months in prison for stealing more than $22,000 from an evidence locker. Sean D. Cornick was sentenced Wednesday in f...

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Former drug court judge is disbarred for stealing cocaine from evidence locker

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court disbarred a former drug court judge who pleaded guilty to stealing cocaine from an evidence locker in his courtroom. January 20, 2018 The Pennsylvania Supreme Court disbarred a former drug court judge who pleaded guilty to stealing cocaine from an evidence locker in his courtroom. In an opinion issued Thursday, the co...

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Former city police officer enters guilty plea to overdose-related charges

Slisz was accused of obtaining an envelope containing 48 suspected stamp bags of heroin and six pills from a temporary evidence locker, where drugs were stored before being transferred by an evidence custodian January 15, 2018 EBENSBURG – A former Johnstown Police Department officer pleaded guilty Tuesday to two charges related to an incident in wh...

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Former Center Twp. officer sentenced to jail in evidence room theft

State police Sgt. Daniel Mosura, who led the audit of the evidence room, testified Stone had stolen all of the opioids and heroin in the evidence room, as well as crack cocaine and some marijuana. Stone also stole more than $22,000 in cash. November 29, 2017 BEAVER — A former Center Township police officer will serve up to two years in jail after h...

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Mom dies cleaning up following son’s fatal overdose

Plummer became short of breath after cleaning up her son's overdose and was taken to Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center, which is where her son was rushed just a day earlier. He died one day after his mother. November 15, 2017 A Pennsylvania coroner believes that a 69-year-old woman who died earlier this month likely came into contact with a deadly ...

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Former chief of Colebrookdale Police appeals firing

Viola failed to follow police procedures when destroying 80 marijuana plants that had been seized as evidence in two cases November 12, 2017 Colebrookdale Township, PA When former Colebrookdale Police Chief David Viola was fired in May, township officials declined to give a reason for the 16-year police veteran's termination. The reason has come to...

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Buckingham cops clear out evidence room by destroying old firearms


Drug paraphernalia, stolen items and firearms — some dating back to the 1980s — clogged the shelves. November 09, 2017 Buckingham police recently had 98 guns that were stored in the department's evidence room destroyed by a local company that salvages the parts. Empty space inside the Buckingham Police Department's evidence storage room was getting...

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Accused cop moves closer to trial

Police officer accused of stealing heroin from an evidence locker, and then overdosing while on the job November 1, 2017 Ebensburg, Cambria County Pa. - Today a former Johnstown police officer accused of stealing heroin from an evidence locker, and then overdosing while on the job, is one step closer to trial. Police say William Slisz started steal...

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Former police officer headed for court

Former Johnstown police officer accused of stealing heroin from an evidence locker October 3, 2017 Ebensburg, Cambria County Pa. - A former Johnstown police officer accused of stealing heroin from an evidence locker, and then overdosing while on the job will be in court today. William Slisz allegedly started stealing drugs in the fall of 2015. Then...

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Harrisburg police corporal to plead guilty to $22K theft

A former supervisor of the Harrisburg police vice unit plans to plead guilty to charges he stole more than $22,000 from an evidence locker September 15, 2017 HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) – A former supervisor of the Harrisburg police vice unit plans to plead guilty to charges he stole more than $22,000 from an evidence locker, according to court document...

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DNA link leads Delco investigators to N.Y. suspect 10 years later


"I think it is important to recognize how DNA plays in a case" September 7, 2017 Police found Gary Jenkins beaten, stabbed, and wrapped in a comforter inside his Sharon Hill home on May 7, 2007. Back then, no one brought up Izena Goudy as a possible suspect in the 45-year-old man's death, Delaware County District Attorney John J. Whelan said. But o...

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Ex-Police Officer Pleads In Drug Theft From Evidence Room

Prosecutors said he took a sealed envelope containing 133 stamp bags of suspected heroin valued at about $1,300 from a box in the patrol room. September 3, 2017 WASHINGTON, Pa. (AP) – A former part-time police officer has pleaded guilty to stealing suspected heroin after it was seized as evidence by a Pennsylvania police department. The (Washington...

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Foust retiring as Johnstown police chief; on leave following officer's overdose

At that time, it was revealed Chief Foust allegedly knew about a previous breach into the evidence room but did not take appropriate action December 30, 2016 Craig Foust will retire as chief of the Johnstown Police Department effective Saturday. The announcement was made during a regular City Council meeting on Thursday. Foust, who has been on paid...

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Editorial | No charges, but plenty of blame, for ex-city police leaders

But his crimes are the product of poor oversight of evidence at the city police department, and a failure by former department leaders to respond to repeated warnings that there were problems – including possible break-ins involving the evidence locker where drugs were stored. August 27, 2017 Former Johnstown police officer William Slisz will face ...

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Charges filed against former police officer

Slisz obtained an evidence envelope that contained stamp bags of suspected heroin from a temporary locker in the Johnstown Public Safety Building August 24, 2018 JOHNSTOWN, CAMBRIA COUNTY - The district attorney has announced charges against a former Johnstown police officer, 35-year-old William Slisz of Portage, PA. Slisz is facing two counts of b...

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Length of Slisz investigation "puzzling," legal expert says

Nearly 11 months after he was accused of breaking into the evidence locker and overdosing inside the police department he worked for, former Johnstown Police Officer William Slisz has not been charged with a crime, and there is no timeline of when the investigation might be completed. August 18, 2018 JOHNSTOWN — Nearly 11 months after he was accuse...

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18 SWAT officers hospitalized after possible exposure to fentanyl during raid

Eighteen SWAT officers were taken to UPMC Mercy Hospital after the exposure caused them to become dizzy and suffer numbness August 9, 2017 More than a dozen SWAT team officers were hospitalized Wednesday after agents raided a home in the West End, CBS Pittsburgh reports. Around 6 a.m., several agencies began executing federal search warrants at thr...

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Pa. shows significant progress in reducing backlog of untested sexual assault evidence

The issue came to light after a 2015 USA Today investigation estimated that more than 100,000 rape kits - evidence collected after reported sexual assaults - were untested nationwide. Enter Article DATE HERE A new state report shows a one-time embarrassment for Pennsylvania law enforcement agencies is getting significant correction. In li...

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County crime lab chemist charged with stealing, using drugs from evidence locker

A chemist with the Allegheny County crime lab has been charged with stealing and using drugs from an evidence locker in February. May 3, 2017 A chemist with the Allegheny County crime lab has been charged with stealing and using drugs from an evidence locker in February. Matthew Ieraci, 28, of Baldwin Borough was placed on leave from the lab Feb. 2...

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Allegheny County crime lab employee on leave amid probe


"Right now, we're concerned about the integrity of these approximately 600 cases to ensure these people got a fair trial," he said. "We have an ethical obligation to look at all of these and notify the [defense.] "Even if we don't think there's a problem, we still have to work the files." March 29, 2017 Allegheny County crime lab employee on leave ...

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Abington Police Destroy 185 Guns From 19-Year Cache In Evidence Locker: Cops


Abington Police Department disposed of 185 guns that had accumulated in their evidence locker since 1998. February 22, 2017 ABINGTON, PA -- In January, the Abington Police Department disposed of 185 guns that had accumulated in their evidence locker since 1998. The guns had been surrendered to police over the last 19 years and ultimately could not ...

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New guidelines for police department's evidence storage after theft


Drugs and cash missing from a police evidence room were taken by a police detective who has since passed away. March 2, 2017 UPPER DUBLIN, Pa. - Drugs and cash missing from a police evidence room were taken by a police detective who has since passed away. The Upper Dublin Police Department and Montgomery County District Attorney's office revealed T...

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DA: Upper Dublin detective killed himself after stealing drugs or cash from dozens of cases


Enter Headline here Enter Article DATE HERE He was a well-respected police detective, a marathoner, a youth sports coach, and a dedicated dad to four children. Colleagues knew him as someone they could depend on. But Michael W. Gommer, an 18-year veteran of the Upper Dublin Township Police Department, kept a secret for years: He was a drug add...

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Former Center Twp. police officer accused of evidence room theft held for trial


According to an initial state police report,Stone opened sealed packages of evidence for ongoing criminal cases to steal money and drugs that had been confiscated by the department. Police said he would "sometimes reseal or repackage" the evidence to conceal his theft. February 10, 2017 BEAVER -- More than 150 charges were held for trial against a ...

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Foust retiring as Johnstown police chief; on leave following officer's overdose


Earlier this year, Officer William Slisz, a police department veteran and Cambria County Drug Task Force member, allegedly overdosed in the Public Safety Building after reportedly getting drugs by using a hammer to smash into the evidence room. ​December 30, 2016 Craig Foust will retire as chief of the Johnstown Police Department effective Saturday...

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Lawyer: Donora cop's heroin use is 'American tragedy'


Investigators wrote in court paperwork that he admitted to the crime and said he took the drugs for his personal use. January 12, 2017 James B. Johnson V's arrest exemplifies what his attorney says is a modern "American tragedy" — an injury leads to painkiller addiction which, in turn, leads to heroin use. "Local kid gets injured, gets hooked on op...

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Former Donora officer charged with stealing heroin from patrol room


State police: Suspect stole 133 heroin stamp bags for personal consumption January 11, 2017 DONORA – A former part-time Donora police officer was arrested Tuesday on charges he stole 133 stamp bags of heroin from the patrol room while he worked there in August. The state police organized crime task force arrested James Bowman Johnson V, 29, of 2202...

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Jailed panhandler linked to 1991 Pennsylvania murder


DNA evidence linked him to a 25-year-old homicide. December 30, 2016 MANKATO — A man awaiting trial on charges he threatened people while panhandling outside Mankato businesses is wanted for murder in Pennsylvania. Extradition papers were filed Thursday for Charles Cook, 61, after DNA evidence linked him to a 25-year-old homicide. Cook, who is home...

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Johnstown Police Chief Retires


An officer was accused of breaking into an evidence locker and overdosing on drugs. December 29, 2016 Johnstown, Cambria County, Pa Longtime Johnstown Police Chief Craig Foust is retiring effective December 31. Foust has been on paid administrative leave since October after an officer was accused of breaking into an evidence locker and overdosing o...

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Johnstown Police Chief Retires

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I-Team: Evidence Missing


Prosecutors admit they did not give permission for the towing company to scrap the Saturn but argue that the car is not the only  evidence they will use against Scholl... 11-30-2016 WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) Questions about alleged missing evidence in a high profile attempted murder case. Lawyers for a Luzerne County mother accu...

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I-Team: Evidence Missing


Prosecutors admit they did not give permission for the towing company to scrap the Saturn but argue that the car is not the only  evidence they will use against Scholl. Enter Article DATE HERE WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) Questions about alleged missing evidence in a high profile attempted murder case. Lawyers for a Luzerne Co...

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Police officer arrested after being accused of stealing drug-related evidence


Stone resigned last month after he was confronted over missing narcotics in the police department's evidence room. A state police investigation confirmed that heroin, cocaine, fentanyl, prescription drugs, and cash had been stolen from the evidence room. Stone was the primary evidence room custodian. November 10, 2016 Criminal charges have been fil...

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Former Berks sheriff's deputy charged with stealing from evidence locker


A former Berks County sheriff's deputy was charged Thursday with stealing money from an evidence locker he believed was property seized in a drug investigation by Harrisburg police, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. October 30, 2016 A former Berks County sheriff's deputy was charged Thursday with steal...

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Videotape shows Harrisburg vice cop stealing $1,000 from evidence locker: U.S. attorney

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Fired deputy pleads guilty to theft, gets a year of probation


A longtime York County sheriff's deputy has pleaded guilty to stealing more than $700 in cash from the sheriff's evidence room. October 19, 2016 A longtime York County sheriff's deputy has pleaded guilty to stealing more than $700 in cash from the sheriff's evidence room. Troy Senft, 59, of East Manchester Township, was fired in May and crimin...

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Arrest made in woman's slaying 25 years ago in Indiana County


A cigarette butt left inside the vehicle led investigators to Cook but not until 2007 when DNA testing of the cigarette matched with Cook. Oct 21, 2016 District Attorney Patrick Dougherty said the suspect is 61-year-old Charles Cook from Magnolia, a tiny Minnesota town of roughly 200 people. VIDEO: Watch Ashlie Hardway's report Gunshots were fired ...

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Police Under Investigation After Cop Overdoses On Drugs Inside Station


At a City Council meeting Wednesday, resident John DeBartola asked Mayor Frank Janakovic what he planned to do about the apparent corruption within the police department. October 14, 2016 A Pennsylvania police department has come under review after one of its officers overdosed while on duty and now the local district attorney's office is calling t...

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DNA test solves 30-year-old cold case


Officials announced a 30-year-old cold case has been solved Wednesday when a DNA test identified human remains discovered by a fisherman decades ago. October 7, 2016 According to The Roanoke Times, authorities believe the boy drowned in May 1985 while fleeing a gas station in Covington that he or a friend may have firebombed. He was 17 years old at...

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Chief Placed On Leave After Officer’s In-Station Overdose


A western Pennsylvania police chief has been placed on paid leave in the wake of an officer's on-duty drug overdose in the police station. October 7, 2016 JOHNSTOWN, Pa. (AP) – A western Pennsylvania police chief has been placed on paid leave in the wake of an officer's on-duty drug overdose in the police station. Johnstown solicitor Carl Beard say...

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Johnstown police officer who overdosed is identified; had hammer laying next to him


"It appeared as if he was trying to hammer himself into the secure evidence room within the police department," Callihan said during an afternoon news conference. Enter Article DATE HERE JOHNSTOWN – The Johnstown police officer who overdosed on Sept. 18 inside the Public Safety Building on Washington Street was identified Friday as William Sli...

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Johnstown police chief placed on leave after officer's in-station overdose


Enter Headline here Oct. 7, 2016 Johnstown's police chief has been placed on paid leave in the wake of an officer's on-duty drug overdose in the police station. Johnstown solicitor Carl Beard says Friday that Chief Craig Foust's leave is a "precautionary measure for everybody's protection." The city planned a news conference later in the afternoon....

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DA identifies officer accused of overdosing, says chief knew of evidence room problem


Callihan identified the officer who allegedly overdosed as Officer William Slisz, a multi-year Johnstown Police Department veteran and a member of the Cambria County Drug Task Force. October 8, 2016 The initial investigation into a Johnstown police officer's alleged overdose has shown that Johnstown police Chief Craig Foust knew of a potential brea...

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Former Fayette County policeman pleads guilty to theft


Norman Leo Howard III, 44, of Uniontown entered the plea in Fayette County court to charges of theft, tampering with evidence and obstructing the administration of law. A sentencing hearing date has not been set. September er 22, 2016 A former Redstone Township police officer pleaded guilty this week to stealing money and a computer from a police e...

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