TrueAllele solves 1963 Winnebago cold case using “inconclusive” DNA

Back to Trials

United States Marine Corps v Sheldon Howard

Marine sergeant rapes Quantico woman

Crime In October 2011, Sheldon Howard was indicted of aggravated sexual assault, abusive sexual contact, wrongful sexual contact, and adultery.
Evidence A pair of underwear was found to have seminal fluid on them.
DNA Virginia's Department of Forensic Science developed DNA data from the evidence item
Match The lab's manual analysis could not produce a match statistic.
TrueAllele On the same data, the computer's statistic connecting the underwear with Sheldon Howard was 540 million.
Cybergenetics    On October 25, 2011 Dr. Mark Perlin testified at the court martial about the computer's DNA match statistic.
Outcome Sheldon Howard was found guilty and sentenced to 3 years in prison.
Media

  • Cybergenetics TrueAllele DNA mixture testimony in US Marine Corps court martial helps secure conviction Newsroom
  • Appeals court affirms Sheldon Howard sentence Appeals Decision

  • Article