Arrest Made in 17-Year-Old Lubbock County Cold Case


A recent alert in CODIS — the Combined DNA Index System — led the Texas Rangers and the Lubbock County Sheriff's Office to focus their attention on Castillo September 8, 2020 CrimeLatest News Arrest Made in 17-Year-Old Lubbock County Cold Case September 8, 2020 After more than 17 years, a man is facing charges in the 2003 slaying of a 21-year-old L...

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Clifton PD returns U.S. Navy Captain's sword seized in 2008 as a result of an arrest


During the audit, numerous items of stored evidence were able to be disposed of or returned to the owner. September 1, 2020 CLIFTON, TX — An audit of the Clifton Police Department evidence room lead to the return of a sword that was seized in 2008 as a result of an arrest. The department says the audit was conducted recently. During the audit, nume...

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Former mayor of Achille headed to prison this week

Arrested for stealing guns, drugs and cash from the police department's evidence room. July 12, 2020 "Drugs will lead you to one of two places either the graveyard or prison, and my life is a definite testament to that," Northcutt said. Northcutt will head to a federal prison in Texarkana Thursday to begin his two year prison sentence. Back in Nove...

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Deaths caused by fake pills continue to climb in Oklahoma, with links to North Texas

The fake pills are nothing new to local, state, or federal authorities from California to Florida. June 25, 2020 Oklahoma authorities voiced concern Wednesday that overdoses and deaths linked to fake prescription pills continue to increase throughout the state. And, some investigations have led Oklahoma authorities into North Texas. As of May, six ...

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Cold-Case Team, FBI Agents Secure Arrest in 2001 Cold-Case Homicide

The Cold Case Team had a confirmation with a match from the victim's DNA and crime-scene evidence. March 17, 2020 CHINO HILLS – A long-ago mystery into the death of a pregnant female dumped onto the roadway in 2001 came to the fore during the collaboration of Homicide Cold Case Detectives and agents from the FBI Forensic Genetic Genealogy Team. Fir...

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Dallas Police Issue Reprimands, Suspensions for 23 Former Vice Officers

Detectives failed in 25 instances to place cash evidence or property into the property room by the end of their tour. January 29, 2020 Dallas Chief of Police U. Renee Hall disciplined nearly two dozen former vice officers Wednesday for mishandling department money used in gambling operations and for not delivering evidence in those cases to the pro...

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Dallas Police Issue Reprimands, Suspensions for 23 Former Vice Officers

Not delivering evidence in those cases to the property room. Enter Article DATE HERE Dallas Chief of Police U. Renee Hall disciplined nearly two dozen former vice officers Wednesday for mishandling department money used in gambling operations and for not delivering evidence in those cases to the property room. The investigation into suspected ...

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DNA Used to Solve Decades-Old Cold Case Murder of 11-Year-Old Julie Fuller

Victim, family were staying in an Arlington hotel after recently moving to North Texas from England December 14, 2019 Fort Worth police say they've solved the decades-old cold case murder of an 11-year-old girl using DNA phenotyping. On June 27, 1983, Julie Fuller was reported missing after she'd gone to take out the trash at the Kensington Motel i...

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Grand jury indicts 60-year-old man in 1988 cold case murder of woman

DNA evidence from Jacobs' clothing that could finally be processed using modern technology,  August 30, 2019 JEFFERSON COUNTY — DEVELOPING: The Jefferson County grand jury has indicted Daniel Andrew MacGinnis, 60, for the 1988 murder of Patricia Ann Jacobs. Her body was discovered in October, 1988 in the Neches River beneath the Rainbow Bridge...

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Women Are Suing Austin, Travis County For Failing To Prosecute Sexual Assault

A class action lawsuit alleges Central Texas authorities engage in gender discrimination by failing to adequately investigate and prosecute sexual assaults. June 11, 2019 Last year, three named plaintiffs launched a class action lawsuit against the City of Austin, Travis County and several local officials, for failing to adequately investigate and ...

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Police, DA’s office react to new law targeting rape kit backlog

At that time, we submitted about 724 SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners) kits," Breedlove told KRIS 6 News. "All but about two hundred of those kits have been analyzed by DPS." June 08, 2019 Thousands of rape kits across Texas, including some that have been sitting on shelves for years, remain untested. Thanks to a new law recently signed by Gove...

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Former Jasper ofc. indicted for burglarizing evidence room in Kirbyville, taking marijuana

The indictment states Brister is accused of stealing marijuana from the evidence storage room. Enter Article DATE HERE JASPER COUNTY — The Jasper County Grand Jury has indicted a former Jasper police officer who is accused of burglarizing the evidence storage room of the Kirbyville Police Department, where his father serves as police chief, ac...

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Pueblo West man arrested for 1994 cold case murder in Texas

More than 25 years after the crime, Pueblo County deputies arrested a suspect in a cold case murder from Texas on Thursday. March 25, 2019 PUEBLO WEST – More than 25 years after the crime, Pueblo County deputies arrested a suspect in a cold case murder from Texas on Thursday. Pueblo County Sheriff's deputies and U.S. Marshals arrested 73-year-old J...

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DNA results found in 900+ untested rape kits in Austin police backlog

Austin Police outsourced the DNA testing of the untested rape kits to labs in other states to help tackle the backlog February 22, 2019 AUSTIN, Texas (KXAN) - AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Austin Police Department could potentially reopen dozens of rape investigations after getting the results from its backlog of 2,665 untested rape kits. About 35 percent o...

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Ex-sergeant arrested in Alamo over glasses, again

Ray Bans that had been placed in the evidence property room. January 10, 2019 ALAMO — A former police sergeant here was arrested Tuesday over a pair of Ray Bans, marking the second occasion in four months that he was placed under arrest over the glasses. Rodney Guerra, 45, was arrested on a third-degree felony charge of tampering with evidence and ...

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Fired Merkel police chief arrested for Tampering with Evidence


Court documents state Chief Ortiz stole $867 seized during a drug investigation from the evidence vault. Enter Article DATE HERE MERKEL, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) - The Merkel Police Chief under investigation for mishandling money has been arrested. Chris Ortiz self-surrendered in Callahan County Thursday morning for a Tampering with Physical Evidence...

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Audit underway for BCSO property room


Salazar said the last time the property room had been thoroughly audited was in 1997. October 12, 2018 SAN ANTONIO - The results aren't in yet but changes are on the way. That's what Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar said about an audit of the property room at the Sheriff's Office that started last year and covers cases going back to 2014. The sc...

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Ex-Edcouch cop accused in elaborate drug heist gets 39 months


A former police lieutenant with the Edcouch Police Department accused of staging a drug seizure in order to steal cocaine from the agency's evidence room October 4, 2018 McALLEN — A former police lieutenant with the Edcouch Police Department accused of staging a drug seizure in order to steal cocaine from the agency's evidence room was sentenced Tu...

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80-year-old man charged in cold case murder from 1969


Investigators said Burton's body was found in a vacant field over 48 years ago August 20 2018 HOUSTON – An 80-year-old man has been charged in connection with cold case involving the fatal shooting of a woman in 1969. The Houston Police Department says Ralph Tyrone Cooper, 80, is charged with murder in the death of his common-law wife, Mary An...

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Hundreds of rape kits in Harris County could be compromised because of evidence collection problem


Records obtained by KHOU 11 Investigates confirms the cases that could be compromised date back to 2012 July 21, 2018 HOUSTON, Texas – Hundreds of rape kits in Harris County could have been compromised. This week, KHOU 11 investigates found out the Harris County District Attorney sent out letters saying there may be a problem with evidence collecte...

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Former Merkel PD Chief charged with tampering with evidence


Chief allegedly took $867 out of the evidence vault July 18, 2018 ABILENE, TX — More information about allegations against the former Merkel Chief of Police has been revealed in the latest court documents recently obtained by KXVA FOX15. The documents state that 40-year-old Christopher Ortiz, who has been the Merkel Chief of Police since 2014, know...

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HPD: Officer exposed to unknown narcotic while collecting evidence in hotel room


A Houston police officer was treated after officials say he was exposed to an unknown narcotic while collecting evidence during a disturbance at a hotel room Wednesday morning. July 12, 2018 HOUSTON – A Houston police officer was treated after officials say he was exposed to an unknown narcotic while collecting evidence during a disturbance at a ho...

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NO DRUGS: Lab testing confirms flyers were not tainted with Fentanyl


A specialized machine helped determine that Fentanyl was not on they flyers. June 30, 2018 After warning the public about flyers potentially tainted with the opioid Fentanyl, the Harris County Sheriff's Office now confirms lab tests showed no signs of the drug. The Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences tested 13 flyers and found all of them ...

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Fentanyl laced flyer: A Texas deputy touched a piece of paper and ended up in the hospital


The sergeant found a flyer on her windshield, removed it and soon began feeling light-headed June 26, 2018 A Texas deputy was treated at a hospital and then released on Tuesday after she touched a flyer suspected of being laced with fentanyl, a potent and potentially deadly opioid. The sergeant found a flyer on her windshield, removed it and soon b...

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DNA links man to 1979 cold-case murder: police

A Texas man has been indicted in the cold-case killing of a newlywed who was found dead in her bed after being sexually assaulted and strangled. Enter Article DATE HERE A Texas man has been indicted in the cold-case killing of a newlywed who was found dead in her bed after being sexually assaulted and strangled. Michael Anthony Galvan, 64, of ...

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Ex-Police Chief in Kaufman County Faces Charges

Ex-Police Chief in Kaufman County Faces Charges May 22, 2018 The former police chief of Crandall, in Kaufman County, was arrested this past weekend. Ex-chief Billy Wayne Kilgore is accused of stealing firearms and tampering with the evidence to link him to it. The firearms were reportedly stolen from the city police department's evidence locker and...

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Worker finds unsecured box of guns, evidence in trash at Harris County courthouse

"There's not an evidence room in this town that has not had problems holding onto their evidence," he said. "It happens probably more than we know." May 19, 2018 A worker stumbled across a box of guns and money sitting with the trash on Thursday at the Harris County courthouse, where a would-be thief apparently ditched the stash of decade-old evide...

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Former Crandall police chief arrested on charges for theft of firearm, tampering with evidence

A department owned AR-15 and department owned shotgun were recovered from him as well as 2 firearms that he was in possession of that had been taken out of the Department Evidence Room." May 19, 2018 CRANDALL, Texas — The former chief of police for the Crandall Police Department has been arrested and charged with theft of a firearm by a public serv...

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Former Jasper PD officer arrested in connection with burglary at KPD evidence room

Enter Headline here Enter Article DATE HERE JASPER COUNTY, TX (KTRE) - A former Jasper Police Department officer was arrested in connection with a burglary of the Kirbyville PD's evidence room. Samuel Paul Brister, 39, of Kirbyville, was arrested and charged with third-degree felony burglary of building-controlled substance present. His bond a...

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Police chief: Trinity dispatcher arrested for stealing meth out of evidence

Police dispatcher has been arrested following an investigation in connection with the theft of methamphetamine placed into evidence May 4, 2018 TRINITY, TX (KTRE) - A Trinity police dispatcher has been arrested following an investigation in connection with the theft of methamphetamine placed into evidence. Johnna Brown Thompson, 42, of Lufkin, is c...

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Police evidence room vital to solving cases


The strangest thing she's had in the evidence vault was a goat's head. Enter Article DATE HERE By Ruth Campbell Posted on Apr 1, 2018by Ruth Campbell In the nooks and crannies of the Odessa Police Department, evidence from the variety of cases they tackle is kept in storage. Anything can come in as evidence from beer cans an...

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Former Ellis County Deputy Sentenced For Stealing & Selling Guns From Evidence Room January 8, 2018 at 11:57 am

Ex-Ellis County sheriff's Lt. Philip Gary Slaughter, who supervised an evidence room, was sentenced to 15 months for possession or sale of stolen firearms. January 8, 2018 DALLAS (AP) – A former North Texas sheriff's deputy must serve more than a year in federal prison for stealing confiscated guns and pawning the weapons or selling them online. Ex...

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Gun used in SAPD officer's murder missing

No one from the San Antonio Police Department would say where it might be or if it will ever be recovered. November 4, 2017 AN ANTONIO - What happens to a gun used in a crime? You might assume police take it and lock it away as evidence, but as KENS 5 found out, that's not always the case. The shooting death of SAPD Detective Benjamin Marconi is a ...

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Houston faces class action lawsuit from sexual assault victims

The Houston Forensic Science Center took over the police department's forensic operations in 2014 and said it eliminated a backlog dating to the 1980s that it inherited from the police department. October 1, 2017 Current and former Houston officials are facing a class action lawsuit from sexual assault victims who said the delay in testing their ra...

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Evidence in several criminal cases destroyed by Harvey

That water also flooded the property room, which contained 15,000 pieces of evidence September 27, 207 HOUSTON (KTRK) -- We know the havoc Harvey wreaked on the court system here in Harris County, but it also did a number on evidence in a handful of criminal cases. The Courthouse Annex on Cypresswood in northwest Harris County flooded in Harvey's t...

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Skeletal remains found in septic tank ID'd as woman who vanished in 2004 (DNA)

The remains, which were found on July 26 in a tank in Weslaco, were positively identified as Johnson through DNA, according to the Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office. September 27, 2017 HIDALGO COUNTY, Texas -- Skeletal remains discovered in a southern Texas septic tank have been identified as a woman reported missing more than a decade ago, reports C...

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After lab closure, daunting questions on DNA-based convictions remain

Thousands of people — defense attorneys estimate 4,000 to 5,000, while prosecutors say fewer than 3,600 — were convicted using evidence processed by the Police Department's forensics lab between 2004 and 2016, Enter Article DATE HERE The shuttering of the Austin Police Department's forensics lab after an audit found unscientific protocols and ...

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Former Dickinson County lieutenant accused of theft

Swanson is accused of stealing between $1,500 and $25,000 in cash that was seized in evidence at the sheriff's office Enter Article DATE HERE ABILENE — Former Dickinson County Sheriff's Lt. Greg Swanson is scheduled to make a first appearance in Dickinson County District Court in October on felony charges of theft, official misconduct and crim...

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How software systems can help PDs manage evidence

Evidence software manufacturers are implementing systems that save time and improve operational efficiency for both police officers and evidence personnel July 31, 2017 When it comes to managing evidence and securing chain of custody, police departments are increasingly relying on software systems. Though there may be some type of paper trail retai...

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Slaughter enters guilty plea in federal court for gun theft at Ellis County Sheriff’s Office

Enter Headline here August 5, 2017 DALLAS — Former Ellis County Sheriff's Lt. Philip Slaughter entered a guilty plea for his role in a gun theft in the United States District Court in Dallas late last week. Slaughter, who entered the plea on July 28, took responsibly for stealing and selling firearms from the sheriff's office property room during h...

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City employees, officials testify about potential breach of evidence room

Six people with connections to the City of Meridian testified in a hearing regarding a potential breach of the police evidence room. July 24, 1017 MERIDIAN, TX (KXXV) - On Monday, six people with connections to the City of Meridian testified in a hearing regarding a potential breach of the police evidence room. The Bosque County District Attorney A...

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Newton County sheriff says evidence destroyed, Texas Rangers called in to investigate

Rowles said he also believes that the former sheriff mislead a district judge into signing an order to destroy the evidence, and he has called in the Texas Rangers to investigate May 17, 207 NEWTON COUNTY — Newton County Sheriff Billy Rowles announced on Monday that it has been discovered that evidence in active criminal cases was destroyed in Dece...

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2 former Ellis County deputies to appear in federal court on gun theft charges


Two former Ellis County Sheriff's Office deputies have admitted to stealing and selling guns they took from the sheriff's office property room. July 12, 2017 WAXAHACHIE – Two former Ellis County Sheriff's Office deputies have admitted to stealing and selling guns they took from the sheriff's office property room. Former ECSO Lt. Philip Gary Slaught...

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Former sheriff’s office deputies set to appear in federal court for gun theft

Lt. Philip Gary Slaughter II is set to enter a guilty plea for his role an alleged gun thef Enter Article DATE HERE WAXAHACHIE — Former Ellis County Sheriff's Office Lt. Philip Gary Slaughter II is set to enter a guilty plea for his role an alleged gun theft. He allegedly stole and sold firearms from the sheriff's office property room and has ...

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Mold found in containers of about 850 Austin police rape kits

An audit found that of 1,629 cases stored in the refrigerator, 849 showed some signs of mold on the outside. Enter Article DATE HERE Hundreds of sexual assault kits in Austin police storage have been determined to have mold growing on the outside of them, prompting officials to seek guidance from state and national experts about how to properl...

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New Texas Law Enables Comprehensive Rape Kit Reform

With the passage of a bill establishing a tracking system for evidence in sex assault cases, Texas has become the first state to implement comprehensive rape kit reforms. June 15, 2017 AUSTIN — With the passage of a bill establishing a tracking system for evidence in sex assault cases, Texas has become the first state to implement comprehensive rap...

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DNA leads to arrest in 1976 fatal stabbing of Houston man

The sheriff's statement says cold case investigators in 2014 began reviewing the death and linked DNA evidence to Edds, April 27, 2017 HOUSTON - Investigators say a review of DNA evidence in the 1976 fatal stabbing of a Houston man has led to an arrest nearly 41 years later. According to the Harris County Sheriff's Office, David Lee Edds, 61, was t...

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DNA leads to warrant in 1976 Houston cold case

Investigators say a review of DNA evidence in the 1976 fatal stabbing of a Houston man has led to a warrant issued for a convicted killer in a later case April 24, 2017 HOUSTON (AP) - Investigators say a review of DNA evidence in the 1976 fatal stabbing of a Houston man has led to a warrant issued for a convicted killer in a later case. The Harris ...

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Standardized rape kits good idea


Standardizing the rape kits would reduce the chance of contamination and make for a faster and more efficient process, she said. Enter Article DATE HERE All rape kits are not created equal. There are multiple vendors. Some law enforcement agencies buy them off the shelf. Some of the larger departments have manufacturers customize them for thei...

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Crime-scene investigator made errors in 65 cases, DA's office says


The review of 88 cases done by the officer determined that 65 had incomplete documentation, 32 had administrative errors and in eight cases, evidence had been misplaced. April 12, 2017 HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A Houston police officer working as a crime-scene investigator made errors in 65 cases dating back to October 2015, according to a scathing audit r...

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