California - International Association For Property & Evidence Inc. - IAPE News Blog

California

SEP

28

Deputy’s False Police Report Charge Came After Mountain of Testimony to Grand Jury

in California West

More than 30 deputies have been referred for possible charges in an evidence booking scandal that centers on alleged false police reports about evidence that was either booked late or never booked at all. September 24, 2020 A probe into false statements by Orange County sheriff's deputies escalated this summer, with a grand jury hearing testimony f...

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SEP

28

Deputy Accused of Stealing Debit Card From Suspect and Giving It to Son

in California West

She took the suspect's debit card -- which was never booked into evidence September 9, 2020 An Orange County sheriff's deputy is facing a felony charge for allegedly taking a debit card from a suspect and handing it to her son, who then used it, prosecutors said Wednesday. Angelina Cortez, 41, is charged with one felony count of filing a fals...

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SEP

28

OC sheriff’s deputies who lied on reports testify that they didn’t know it was illegal

in 1- IAPE Specific California West

Sheriff's Department has placed new protocols to ensure deputies understand they must book evidence in a timely fashion September 27, 2020 Two fired Orange County sheriff's deputies convicted of lying on their police reports testified recently before a grand jury that they didn't know it was illegal to falsify the documents, transcripts show. Josep...

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evidence West Coast

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SEP

25

LAPD officer rearrested on a new felony charge after allegedly stealing cash at pot grow

in California West

He is accused of stealing cash from the backpack of an employee at a cannabis grow facility September 25, 2020 A Los Angeles police officer on Thursday was arrested for a second time — this time on a felony count — in relation to a January incident in which he is accused of stealing cash from the backpack of an employee at a cannabis grow facility,...

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SEP

22

Lots of Drugs, Lax Oversight: Former SF Medical Examiner Staffers Say Lab Analyst's Meth Arrest 'Just the Tip of the Iceberg'

in California West

Mr. Volk is just the tip of the iceberg with respect to poor management and bad forensic policy," Enter Article DATE HERE A lab analyst for the San Francisco medical examiner's office had driven more than 700 miles east toting a sealed bag of drug evidence before he was pulled over for speeding in Washington County, Utah. During the Aug. 31 tr...

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West Coast mismanagement drug evidence

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SEP

19

Arrest made in 40-year-old cold case murder

in California West

Detectives got Nash's DNA from discarded items and it was a match to DNA found through Jones's autopsy. September 18, 2020 FONTANA, CA (KCA/KCBS) — Police on Monday announced the arrest of a Las Vegas man in the 1980 murder of a Fontana teen. According to police, enhanced technology to assess DNA evidence links 66-year-old Leonard Nash to the killi...

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AUG

26

Suspect Arraigned in 33-year-old Cold Case Homicide

in California West

DA was able to close the case involving the murder of 14-year-old Claire Hough, a Rhode Island native who was murdered in 1984 while on vacation in San Diego Enter Article DATE HERE A 57-year-old Poway man has been charged with murder and rape in connection with the 1987 murder of Julia Hernandez-Santiago, whose body was found on an ivy-covere...

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cold case murder West Coast

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AUG

09

How a Sacramento County investigator solved a 40-year-old cold case

in California West

Keep the faith that we are trying and we hope for the families, we can help them." April 25, 2020 SACRAMENTO COUNTY, Calif. — Sacramento County Sheriff's investigator Micki Links had been waiting to hear this news for years. "The lab criminalist from the DA's lab sent me a text. He sent me an email, he called my office line," Links said. Advertisem...

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AUG

08

15 more OC sheriff’s deputies considered for criminal charges in evidence scandal

in California West

Two deputies were convicted earlier of misdemeanor charges of falsifying reports, saying they had booked the evidence when they had not. AUGUST 8, 2020 An expanded internal audit has identified another 15 Orange County sheriff's deputies who mishandled evidence to the point of potentially warranting criminal charges, Sheriff Don Barnes announced Fr...

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EVIDENCE SCANDAL FALSIFYING RECORDS BOOKED EVIDENCE West Coast

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AUG

07

DNA evidence leads to arrest in 1996 rape, killing of woman in Covina assisted-living home

in California West

Detectives were able to match his DNA with a specimen collected from the body of victim Mary Lindgren August 6, 2020 The state's DNA database helped investigators arrest a suspect Thursday accused of raping and killing a 67-year-old woman in her Covina assisted-living home more than two decades ago, officials said. After 46-year-old David Adolph Be...

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AUG

07

Former deputies plead no contest to stealing seized drugs and selling them

in California West

In March of 2015, Logan August entered the property room under the false premise of removing that marijuana for burial and destruction and took 351 pounds of marijuana. August 6, 2020 BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KBAK/KBFX) — District Attorney Cynthia Zimmer announced a resolution in a significant plea in a case involving the two former Kern County Sheriff...

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deputy plead no contest property room drug for destruction West Coast

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AUG

05

DNA Evidence Leads to Arrest in 32-Year-Old Cold Case Homicide of San Francisco John Doe Baby

in California West

The infant's death remained a mystery until it was reopened last year and authorities used cutting edge DNA evidence to reach an arrest. August 4, 2020 A three-decade old California cold case, which involved the death of a John Doe baby, finally has an arrest thanks to DNA evidence. Lesa Lopez, 52, has been charged with killing her newborn baby boy...

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cold case dna cold case arrest West Coast

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JUL

27

Vallejo police union president placed on leave, under investigation for destroying evidence from controversial police shooting

in 1- IAPE Specific California West

His exact role in discarding the bullet-ridden windshield is not known Enter Article DATE HERE VALLEJO — The president of the Vallejo police union is one of two employees on suspension and under investigation for destruction of evidence in the police killing of Sean Monterrosa, multiple sources told this news organization. Lt. Michael Nichelin...

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JUL

27

California county’s oldest Jane Doe cold case murder solved after 52-year mystery

in California West

"After more than five decades, advances in investigative genetic genealogy did what old-fashioned police work could not: Give Jane Doe a name and identify her killer," he said. July 25, 2020 A California county's oldest Jane Doe murder has been solved through DNA and genetic genealogy. The crime-fighting technique helped identify the victim and fin...

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JUL

17

Evidence destroyed in fatal police shooting of man who was half-kneeling

in California West

The evidence was of the bullet-riddled windshield from the unmarked police truck from which the officer fired the fatal shots. July 17, 2020 Evidence was destroyed relating to a fatal officer-involved shooting in June that sparked protests for increased police accountability in Vallejo, California, the city confirmed Wednesday. The evidence was of ...

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JUL

09

28 Tons Of Illegal Fireworks Seized By San Bernardino Police, County Fire

in California West

The task force also issued 245 citations resulting in $306,250 in fines Enter Article DATE HERE SAN BERNARDINO (CBSLA) — More than 28 tons of illegal fireworks were seized by San Bernardino police and county fire officials in the weeks leading up to the Fourth of July. San Bernardino County Fire was also on high alert for illegal fireworks dur...

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West Coast

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JUL

01

‘Day of reckoning’ — Joseph DeAngelo admits guilt in Golden State Killer murders, rapes

in 1- IAPE Specific California West

DeAngelo, 74, admitted to a 12-year binge of murder, rapes, burglaries and other crimes from the Sacramento area to Orange County Enter Article DATE HERE Forty-five years after murdering his first victim, Joseph James DeAngelo admitted Monday he was the Golden State Killer: serial killer, serial rapist and author of one of the worst crime spre...

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JUL

01

OC sheriff’s investigators smuggled boxes of evidence in Golden State Killer case to book author, attorney says

in California West

The incident is described in Michelle McNamara's book and depicted in an HBO July 1, 2020 Orange County sheriff's investigators smuggled boxes of statewide evidence on the Golden State Killer to a true-crime author in 2016, foreshadowing an internal audit that showed the agency had systemic problems mishandling such evidence, court papers show. Det...

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JUN

18

OC deputies fired in evidence scandal get leniency while their victims go to jail, public defender claims

in California West

Attorney says there are 'two sets of laws in this county — one for those who wear a sheriff's uniform and one for those who don't. June 18, 2020 Orange County prosecutors coddled two ex-sheriff's deputies who pleaded guilty to mishandling evidence but failed to consult the victims of their misdeeds before agreeing to the deputies' no-jail plea deal...

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West Coast evidence scandal deputies fired mishandled evidence

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JUN

17

‘A Bit Scary’: DEA Worried That Drugs Stolen From Pharmacies By Looters Could End Up On Streets

in California West

77 pharmacies in Los Angeles and Riverside counties the DEA said looters targeted June 17, 2020 LONG BEACH (CBSLA) ⁠— Area drug enforcement agents said they're worried that the streets are about to be flooded with a wave of stolen prescription drugs taken by looters during recent protests against police brutality. And on Tuesday, the Drug Enforceme...

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looters oxy pharmacy thefts West Coast

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JUN

11

Ex-O.C. sheriff’s deputies plead guilty in evidence booking scandal

in California West

The charges stem from a broader scandal after an internal Sheriff's Department audit found that one-third of all evidence taken in by the agency over a two-year span, June 11, 2020 Two former Orange County sheriff's deputies have pleaded guilty to criminal charges in an evidence booking scandal that could imperil thousands of criminal cases, prosec...

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JUN

06

LAFD to inspect vape and smoke shops following downtown explosion that seriously injured several firefighters

in California West

The Los Angeles Fire Department will launch a citywide review of the way certain businesses store volatile materials after an explosion seriously injured several firefighters May 20, 2020 The Los Angeles Fire Department will launch a citywide review of the way certain businesses store volatile materials after an explosion seriously injured several ...

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MAY

26

SDPD Has the Most Untested Rape Kits in the State – by Far

in California West

A state audit published this week illuminates the extent to which SDPD has treated rape kits differently than its fellow law enforcement agencies across the state. May 20, 2020 he San Diego Police Department has more untested rape kits than any other law enforcement agency in the state. And unlike virtually every other agency in California, SDPD al...

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APR

26

Sacramento County officials announce arrest 40 years after Rosemont woman found killed in her home

in California West

They say DNA evidence led them to her alleged killer. April 25, 2020 SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KTXL) — A picture of Robin Brooks sits in the living room of retired Sacramento County Sheriff's Homicide Sgt. Micki Links. "That's one of the reasons I came back after retirement. I just had a passion to help the families," Sgt. Links told FOX40. Links was a s...

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West Coast cold case murder cold case arrest

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APR

26

Cold case: Nevada convict charged in 1981 rape, murder of 16-year-old Oakland girl

in California West

After the DNA match last year and more investigation, including the jail house interview, April 24, 2020 OAKLAND — A 57-year-old man serving a prison term in Nevada for sexual assault has been charged in the Dec. 23, 1981 fatal stabbing and rape of a 16-year-old high school honor student whose body was found in a West Oakland parking lot, according...

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West Coast cold case murder

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APR

24

DNA Breakthrough Identifies Suspect in Cold Case Murder of California Teen Unsolved for Nearly 40 Years

in California West

"Genetic genealogy has revolutionized law enforcement's ability to solve violent crime" April 24, 202 DNA technology has been used by cold case investigators in California to identify the sole suspect in the 1981 murder of a "developmentally disabled" teenager, police say. The process of "investigative genetic genealogy" recently flagged new leads ...

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cold case geneology West Coast

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APR

13

Ventura County sheriff's deputy arrested for destroying evidence, filing false report

in California West

Officials took Barrios into custody on April 10 for destroying evidence April 13, 2020 THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. (KABC) -- A Ventura County sheriff's deputy has been arrested for allegedly destroying evidence and filing a false report in connection to a drug arrest he made last year. Deputy Richard Barrios, 28, of Camarillo, was arrested in connection ...

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DEPUTY ARRESTED West Coast

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MAR

15

Editorial: Orange County Sheriff’s Department can’t be trusted to police itself

in California West

70% of Orange County's deputies hadn't booked evidence on time March 15, 2020 Once a law enforcement officer collects evidence of a crime, he or she faces a deadline to get the material back to the station to have it recorded, or "booked," and secured. The reason is simple: The longer a weapon, drugs, video or other evidence sits in a patrol car or...

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integrity of evidence deemed admissible collects evidence West Coast

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MAR

08

Mystery Photos Found at Accused Serial Killer’s Home

in California West

Detectives would like to identify women in pictures discovered after DNA led to charges in a pair of murders. March 5,2019 Police in Burbank said the women seen in a cache of photographs discovered during a search of an accused serial killer's home could be important clues in the man's upcoming murder trial."I don't know who they are," said Burbank...

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MAR

08

Sheriff Barnes: 3 more deputies under investigation amid audit of cases after evidence mishandling

in California West

After that review we have identified a few additional deputies who were not in compliance with our policy, Enter Article DATE HERE During a Friday briefing of various department topics such as jail reorganization and coronavirus monitoring, Sheriff Don Barnes updated reporters, saying the department was almost half way through reviewing more t...

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mishandle evidence West Coast deputy under investigation

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FEB

29

Deputies were ordered to delete Kobe Bryant crash photos to avoid discipline, sources say

in California West

a citizen complained that a deputy was showing the gruesome images at a Norwalk bar, February 28, 2020 In an attempt to keep the matter under wraps, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department quietly ordered deputies to delete any photos of the Kobe Bryant helicopter crash scene after a citizen complained that a deputy was showing the gruesome ima...

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digital policy tampered evidence West Coast

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FEB

10

Raped 45 years ago, woman returns to bring attacker to justice — for other woman's murder

in California West

Now 75, wheelchair-bound and in shackles, even after 45 years she recognized him, she told the court. February 7, 2020 Editor's note: This article contains graphic descriptions of crime that some readers may find disturbing. For more than four decades, "Diane Doe" has tried to bury memories of the rape she survived as a teenager in her parents' Pal...

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cold case murder cold case rape West Coast

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FEB

07

Secrecy Around Sheriff Evidence Misconduct Records Heads to Court Thursday

in California West

prosecutors have found 91 affected cases so far in their ongoing review of 22,000 cases Enter Article DATE HERE An ongoing crisis over widespread evidence problems at the Orange County Sheriff's Department is heading into court Thursday, as a judge decides whether to unseal records about a deputy who was found to have falsely stated in 74 diff...

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evidence not booked evidence problems Evidence misconduct West Coast

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FEB

05

22,000 Cases to be Reviewed in Evidence Scandal, OC Sheriff Announces

in California West

Sheriff's investigators referred 15 deputies to prosecutors to consider for criminal prosecution February 4, 2020 he Orange County Sheriff's Department will review about 22,000 cases associated with an evidence booking scandal involving missing items or evidence improperly booked, Sheriff Don Barnes announced Tuesday. Sheriff's deputies and invest...

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mishandled evidence West Coast

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JAN

31

Murder charge in cold case murder of California student

in California West

Enter Headline here January 29, 2020 FRESNO — Authorities in Fresno announced Wednesday that have filed a murder charge in the rape and killing of a college student 24 years ago. Fresno County District Attorney Lisa Smittcamp announced the charges against Nickey Duane Stane, 52, in the 1996 slaying of 22-year-old Debbie Dorian. Authorities said the...

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JAN

29

LAPD officer arrested on suspicion of stealing money from woman’s backpack

in California West

Officer was arrested Monday for allegedly stealing money from a woman's backpack while officers were conducting enforcement of an illegal cannabis grow facility Enter Article DATE HERE LOS ANGELES — A Los Angeles Police Department officer was arrested Monday for allegedly stealing money from a woman's backpack while officers were conducting e...

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JAN

28

At Least 91 Convictions Involved Missing Evidence, DA Says, Casting Doubt on Sheriff’s Statements

in California West

Internal Sheriff's Department audits – kept secret for two years by the former and current sheriff – had found hundreds of instances of late or missing evidence. January 29, 2020 An ongoing review of Sheriff's Department evidence problems has found 91 cases so far where someone was convicted of a crime but "evidence was either never booked or booke...

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JAN

28

UPDATED: Cold-case arrest made in baby’s 2007 death, four other infant homicides

in 1- IAPE Specific California West

"In my 40 years in law enforcement, I cannot think of a case more disturbing than this one January 26, 2020 WOODLAND — In a case they described as "chilling," "heartbreaking" and "senseless," authorities announced Monday the arrest of a man suspected of murdering his own five infant children, including a baby boy discovered in rural Yolo County slo...

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cold case arrest West Coast

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JAN

20

Emerging field of ‘forensic genealogy’ links DNA testing and family histories to solve cold cases

in California West

Packed with DNA, hair is quickly becoming a powerful source to help catch lawbreakers. January 18, 2020 SANTA CRUZ — When they're planning to rob a liquor store, most criminals think to wear gloves and cover their faces. But few of them commit to shaving their heads to avoid leaving behind even a single strand of hair. In the future, however, they ...

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JAN

08

SDPD Crime Lab Manager Is Officially Out Following Rape Kit Testing Scandal

in California West

After arguing for years that there was no value in testing the roughly 2,000 untested rape kits in its possession, SDPD eventually began testing certain kits due to pressure from elected decision-makers. January 7, 2020 The longtime manager of the San Diego Police Department's crime lab no longer works for the department. Her departure is the lates...

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rape kit back log West Coast

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JAN

01

New DNA Evidence Solved 36-Year-Old La Mesa Cold-Case Murder

in California West

Police closed the case in 1984 and it went unsolved until 2017, when the department reopened the case and conducted a full review of the evidence, December 16, 2019 New DNA evidence helped La Mesa police solved a nearly 36-year-old cold-case murder, officials announced Monday. La Mesa police said William Mambro was stabbed to death during a residen...

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West Coast cold case

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JAN

01

Did OC Sheriff Don Barnes sit on evidence audit to further his 2018 election campaign?

in California West

He calls the charge by an assistant public defender 'scandalous conjecture,' insisting he did not hide findings from the damaging audit December 30, 2019 An internal audit showing Orange County sheriff's deputies systemically mishandled evidence arrived in March 2018 while then Undersheriff Don Barnes was campaigning for the sheriff's job. As Barne...

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DEC

14

NJ-Based Aunt, Cops Help ID Remains of Child in Decades-Old Cold Case

in California West

The young girl's death was ruled a homicide. December 12, 2019 After nearly half a century, New Jersey State Police used newly gathered DNA evidence from a hopeful aunt to help investigators in San Francisco identify the remains of a murdered 14-year-old girl. It was Oct. 1, 1976, when a man walking his dog "discovered a hand protruding from the sa...

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West Coast Cold case murder

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DEC

01

Genealogical databases are a goldmine for police | Critics cite few rules, little transparency

in California West

Enter Headline here November 25, 2019 Orlando police detective Michael Fields was sure he had the break he needed right in front of him to close in on a serial rapist: a list of people whose DNA partially matched the man he hunted. Then the list disappeared. After a year of criticism from privacy advocates and genealogy experts, the owner of a popu...

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West Coast Genealogy datebase

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NOV

30

Dozens of Orange County sheriff’s deputies lied about booking evidence, second audit finds

in California West

DA concerned about possible unfair convictions in 57 cases where evidence was found to be missing November 29, 2019 More than 50 Orange County sheriff's deputies lied by reporting they had booked evidence in criminal cases when they had not, a second internal audit has found, creating fears that some defendants may have been convicted unfairly. Evi...

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NOV

30

CA Defender Cites ‘Disastrous’ Mishandling of Cases

in California West

The first audit looked at almost 99,000 police reports over two years November 29, 2019 A rapidly growing evidence scandal has swept the Orange County Sheriff's Department and threatens to alter the criminal justice landscape in one of California's largest counties, reports the Sacramento Bee. Guilty people could go free, and innocent suspects have...

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tainted evidence policy evidence locker West Coast

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NOV

20

4 OC Deputies Fired After Allegations of Systemic Problems With Booking Evidence

in California West

"The audits determined there were systemic problems with evidence being booked outside policy," November 18, 2019 A defense attorney behind allegations of abuses of a confidential informant program with Orange County's jails is now alleging systemic problems with the booking of evidence in cases, prompting a sheriff's spokeswoman to announce Monday...

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NOV

11

Dozens of Rape Kits From SDPD's Backlog Have Yielded DNA Database Hits

in California West

Between late 2017 and November 2018, the department screened 313 backlogged kits,... November 4, 2019 As San Diego Police Department crime lab analysts worked their way through backlogged sexual assault kits, dozens of the DNA profiles they entered into a federal database returned matches, giving investigators a potential lead. Those results appear...

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SEXUAL ASSAULT KITS RAPE KITS RAPE KIT BACKLOG West Coast

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OCT

16

Arrest Made In Anaheim Cold Case Murder

in California West

Rapid DNA led to finding a Houston man, suspected of killing a coworker in 2000. October 11, 2019 ANAHEIM, CA - A 47-year-old Houston man was behind bars Friday in Anaheim on a murder charge dating back 19 years. Leopoldo Vargas Serrano, who was taken into custody in Texas last month by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, is charged with gu...

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cold case murder West Coast rapid dna

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OCT

10

New California Law Says Rape Kits Have to Be Tested Within 120 Days

in 1- IAPE Specific California West

"There is absolutely no reason why a rape kit should ever sit untested for months or years when statistics tell us that testing rape kits helps to ensure justice by identifying perpetrators" October 9, 2019 Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill into law requiring law enforcement to test newly collected rape kits promptly in California. Bill SB 22, author...

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