TrueAllele solves 1963 Winnebago cold case using “inconclusive” DNA

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October 2016 Newsletter


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October 2016

All the DNA. All the time.

This year has been packed with convictions, acquittals, exonerations, and more. Cybergenetics TrueAllele® technology assisted by maximally interpreting DNA data for maximal information. We have helped police, prosecutors, defense lawyers, crime labs, and innocence groups achieve their goals.

Upcoming Event
Dr. Mark Perlin speaks at The Legal Aid Society of New York City

On October 27, Dr. Perlin will speak on "Fighting for DNA justice: genotyping software in the Hillary acquittal" at a Legal Aid forensics conference. This case study provides a successful path for suppressing subjective DNA evidence.  Read more.


Sisters Sarah _left_ and Susan _right_ Wolfe were killed in their Pittsburgh home.
Sarah and Susan Wolfe

Testimony by TrueAllele Expert Helps Resolve Double Homicide
Allen Wade convicted of killing sisters in Pittsburgh, PA

On February 6, 2014, Susan Wolfe (44) and her sister, Sarah Wolfe (38), were killed in their Pittsburgh home. Their bodies were found in the basement, with both women shot in the head. Convicted felon and next-door neighbor, Allen Wade (45), was arrested and charged with the double homicide.
 
On May 19, Wade was convicted and sentenced to life in prison without parole, thanks in part to TrueAllele testimony. The county crime laboratory was unable to fully interpret the DNA mixture evidence. Cybergenetics was asked to run TrueAllele on the lab's data. The TrueAllele computer separated the DNA mixture data into genotypes. Comparing genotypes with reference samples gave match statistics, showing the strength of association between the evidence and Wade.
 
"Cybergenetics completes what crime labs start," said Dr. Perlin. "Using crime lab data, TrueAllele can calculate accurate match statistics on complex DNA evidence." Some labs have their own TrueAllele computers, while others send their data to Cybergenetics for statistical processing. "Both prosecutors and defenders use TrueAllele to find the truth in DNA evidence," said Perlin.



Police Swab Handprints in the Morning Dew 
TrueAllele interprets a touch DNA mixture

On July 22, 2013, Joseph John (32) was shot in Ville Platte, LA.During the investigation of the scene, police saw handprints disturbing the dew on the fence post. A detective swabbed the fence post for DNA evidence and sent it to the crime laboratory.

The lab could not produce a match statistic on the touch DNA mixture, but recommended sending it to Cybergenetics. TrueAllele was able to interpret the data. The computer separated the mixture into genotypes and found DNA match statistics in the millions.  Read more.

Watch a presentation on this case. 



Congratulations to Acadiana
A Louisiana lab goes live with TrueAllele

The Acadiana Crime Laboratory in New Iberia, LA went online with their TrueAllele system on October 19. They are the sixth U.S. crime lab using TrueAllele in their DNA casework. Acadiana validated TrueAllele on mixtures containing DNA from up to five unknown people. TrueAllele's workflow eliminates subjective data decisions, freeing up DNA analyst time.  



DNA Interpretation for You

Cybergenetics is here to complement your hard work. Whether investigating, analyzing, prosecuting or defending, TrueAllele technology helps. The computer provides accurate results on previously unsolvable DNA evidence.

Contact us for a free screening or scientific consulting.

Becca Byers
Cybergenetics
Communication Specialist
412.683.6462

Twitter: @cybgen
LinkedIn: Cybergenetics