TrueAllele helps resolve Texas double murder DNA case

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State of Ohio v Deshawn Dowdell

TrueAllele connects Mansfield man to homicide weapon

Crime In April 2018, Terrence Harris was fatally shot while riding in a car in Mansfield, Ohio.
Evidence A Glock pistol and Burberry dust bag were collected as evidence during a traffic stop of a separate car shortly after the homicide.
DNA The Mansfield Police Forensic Science Laboratory developed DNA mixture data from the Glock grips and frame, and the bag.
Match Due to data complexity and low levels of DNA, the lab was not able to fully interpret the mixtures.
TrueAllele The computer found a match between the Glock frame and grips and defendant Dowdell with statistics of 106 thousand and 41.5 million, respectively. An inclusionary match statistic between the dust bag and another defendant was also found.
Cybergenetics    On May 17, 2019, DNA analyst Jennifer Hornyak testified before a Richland County jury about the TrueAllele results.
Outcome On May 21, Mr. Dowdell was found guilty of murder and weapons charges. On May 29, 2019, he was sentenced to 26 years to life in prison.
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