TrueAllele solves 1963 Winnebago cold case using “inconclusive” DNA

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State of Louisiana v Lanard Lavigne

TrueAllele connects suspects to handgun

Crime On March 14, 2018, a man was running for his life from suspects when fourteen bullets were fired at him, severing arteries, causing him to bleed to death.
Evidence A Glock handgun was collected as evidence from the location the suspect was last seen.
DNA The Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office Regional DNA Laboratory created DNA mixture data from the handgun.
Match Due to the complexity of the mixture, the lab was unable to interpret the data for inclusionary purposes.
TrueAllele The computer found that a match between the handgun and the defendant is 118 trillion times more probable than a coincidence, with an error rate of 1 in 110 quadrillion.
Cybergenetics    On October 20, 2021, DNA analyst Jennifer Bracamontes testified virtually before a Jefferson Parish jury about the TrueAllele results.
Outcome On October 21, 2021, the jury found Mr. Lavigne guilty as charged of second degree murder and aggravated criminal damage to property. He faces life in prison.
Media

  • Woman's Instagram lands her in jail, report says Fox 8
  • Woman posted Instagram pics with boyfriend, a wanted murder suspect: Kenner police NOLA.com
  • Kenner murder suspect wanted since March arrested in Houma Thursday NOLA.com
  • Kenner man arrested in Houma charged with second-degree murder in March shooting NOLA.com
  • Kenner man faces life in prison for 2018 murder Jefferson Parish District Attorney