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Commonwealth of Virginia v Bernard Duse, Jr.
Cybergenetics explains DNA transfer in Virginia CVS murder
| Crime | On July 26, 2017, CVS manager Rex Olsen was murdered in Warrenton, VA. He had been shot in the head and face. Assistant manager Bernard Duse, Jr. was a suspect. |
| Evidence | Cell tower records showed victim and suspect phones travelling together after the murder towards the suspect’s home. The victim kept his cellphone in his left pants pocket. The pocket was swabbed for DNA. |
| DNA | The Virginia Department of Forensic Science found the pocket had a DNA mixture. Their in-house TrueAllele technology showed a mix of 85% victim and 15% suspect. |
| Match | The lab’s computer linked the pocket to the suspect with a 40 quintillion match statistic. |
| TrueAllele | Cybergenetics replicated the lab’s match results. |
| Cybergenetics | Duse’s defense lawyer suggested innocent transfer put Duse’s DNA in Olsen’s pocket. Commonwealth’s Attorney James P. Fisher asked Cybergenetics to educate the jury about DNA transfer. On July 31, 2018, Dr. Mark Perlin testified at the trial. |
| Outcome | On August 3, 2018, the Warrenton jury found Bernard Duse, Jr. guilty of first-degree murder. |
Media
- Employee at Virginia CVS charged with killing manager NBC Washington
- Trial begins in murder of Warrenton CVS manager Fauquier Times
- Witness to CVS murder heard gunshots, saw man calmly walk away Fauquier Times
- Victim’s widow and cops testify about CVS murder Fauquier Now
- Prosecution rests in CVS murder case Fauquier Times
- Jury returns guilty verdict in CVS murder case Fauquier Now
- Jury recommends life in prison for CVS murder Fauquier Times
- DNA transfer in Fauquier county: The CVS murder Cybergenetics