Pennsylvania prosecutors use TrueAllele in homicide guilty plea

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Commonwealth of Pennsylvania v Gregory Scott Hopkins

Mr. Hopkins' invisible semen

Crime In 1979, 23-year old Catherine Walsh was found dead in her home. She was bound with rope and strangled by bandana.
Evidence The case went unsolved for 40 years. It was reopened when DNA evidence was found on Walsh’s bathrobe.
DNA A crime lab developed DNA mixture data from the bathrobe and other items found at the crime scene.
Match The manual methods used by the crime lab could not draw any conclusions from the evidence.
TrueAllele The computer separated the old DNA and helped explain the evidence.
Cybergenetics    In November of 2013, Dr. Mark Perlin testified about the DNA evidence and possible transfer in a Beaver county courtroom.
Outcome Hopkins was found guilty of third degree murder and sentenced to 8-16 years in prison.
Media

  • Gregory Scott Hopkins' First Wife Described a Troubled Marriage Beaver Countian
  • Pennsylvania Councilman Charged in Lover's 1979 Death ABC News
  • Republican politician to stand trial for 1979 murder of 23-year-old lover after DNA evidence found on victim's nightgown Daily Mail
  • Ex-councilman gets 8-16 years for 1979 Beaver Co. murder WPXI
  • Victim's family shares decades of devastation; Hopkins sentenced up to 16 years in prison Elwood City Ledger
  • Man convicted in Monaca cold-case homicide asks court for new trial The Times
  • Court upholds murder conviction of former Bridgewater councilman Trib Live
  • Janet's Secret CBS News
  • Justice denied: Mr. Hopkins invisible semen Cybergenetics Presentations
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