DNA evidence powerful, but not always the full story

Still a thug

This is one lawsuit that will not just go away. Funny how DNA evidence has been used to convict in most cases but is not compelling enough to release innocent people sitting in prison for crimes they didn't commit. The innocence project has blown holes through the supposed end all DNA evidence. Too often when they have the DNA to prove guilty, any other evidence that proves innocence is ignored.

This situation could've been avoided if the investigators would've taken the mug shot associated with the DNA profile to the victim before they began their manhunt.

DNA is definitely a blessing and curse to the judicial system. CSI watchers (who end up as jurors) cannot grasp that no DNA does not equal innocence. Apparently law enforcement needs the lesson that DNA does not equal guilt either.

All the new technology -video, computer systems, DNA- is not to be a replacement for a good, thorough investigation.

funny how DNA has been used numerous times to free people on "death row" (often freed in a matter of weeks after confirmation),but NOBODY is ever executed in a matter of weeks (or months) after DNA confirmation of guilt.

I can't read this story because it brings up to many bad memories for what happened to me. I was charged with rape by Hennipen County, and the New Hope police department back in 2000. The victim recanted immediately when she found out that it was me that got arrested. She knew it wasn't me. I had to endure a barrage of finger printing, DNA testing. 14 or so days of jail time. put under probation then re-arrested when I called the judge drunk. It was a complete nightmare. And Amy Klobuchar was the one who charged me to begin with with no evidence. No apoligies. The case was expunged but it cost me my job, and my carreer.

The day that police detective put a gun to my head and made me lie down on the floor for no reason brings a flood of bad memories. What am I being arrested for officer? YOU KNOW!!!. Totally perplexed. He exclaims loudly RAPE!!!. Not to argue with a loaded pistol and men uniform. Keeping a rational mind I will just explain this all at headquarters.My interview is recorded, but this does not stop the police from abusing me. when I thought they were gonna let me go home, they offered me a paper jump suit and took me to the county jail. This is when my mind fractured. I am not a nice guy anymore.

J C F wrote:

I can't read this story because it brings up to many bad memories for what happened to me. I was charged with rape by Hennipen County, and the New Hope police department back in 2000. The victim recanted immediately when she found out that it was me that got arrested. She knew it wasn't me. I had to endure a barrage of finger printing, DNA testing. 14 or so days of jail time. put under probation then re-arrested when I called the judge drunk. It was a complete nightmare. And Amy Klobuchar was the one who charged me to begin with with no evidence. No apoligies. The case was expunged but it cost me my job, and my carreer.

And did the HUMAN FEMALE falsly accusing you get any kind of a reprimand?? DIDN'T THINK SO!!!

Best to keep your winkies in your pants, boys! If they can't get your DNA, they can't frame you.

No Human female she was a victim.Some guy entered her basement apartment bedroom window and hid wearing a holloween mask. He raped her. But the police showed her a photo line up of anyone she knew. Since I had a DWI in 1996, and lived in the apartment complex she simply said I know him. That led to a witch hunt, and the Minneapolis Tribune made a splash of a story titled Holloween rapist. They caught the guy that did it with his DNA when he tried to rape another woman on the campus of the college downtown. He got 26 years in prison. She personally apoligised to me, and her mother and father knew it wasn't me. But the police and the courts can go to hell. It wasn't her fault. She didn't accuse me, the police did.

J C F wrote:

No Human female she was a victim.Some guy entered her basement apartment bedroom window and hid wearing a holloween mask. He raped her. But the police showed her a photo line up of anyone she knew. Since I had a DWI in 1996, and lived in the apartment complex she simply said I know him. That led to a witch hunt, and the Minneapolis Tribune made a splash of a story titled Holloween rapist. They caught the guy that did it with his DNA when he tried to rape another woman on the campus of the college downtown. He got 26 years in prison. She personally apoligised to me, and her mother and father knew it wasn't me. But the police and the courts can go to hell. It wasn't her fault. She didn't accuse me, the police did.

What is so typical of this story is that the guy didn't get caught until he raped someone else. It's always creating more victims before they catch the real criminals. How many times have you heard the phrase "we'll catch him next time"? Too many! What happened to you was tragic but once again no apologies from the authorities. They never make mistakes in their own minds. Everyone is criminal until proven otherwise.

I'm wondering, did the police ever retrieve the phone the rapist asked to use, if they did, couldn't they have gotten fingerprints from it? Perhaps some other DNA of the rapist from the victim's body as well, hair, skin, what about semen? If not body fluid from the rapist, was he stalking this woman intending to rape her, did he use a condom?

Thank you Penny that is just exactly what happened to me. The police had a photo line up, and that gave them justice to bust into my apartment and yell at me to lay on the floor with a gun pointed at my head I was taken out of my apartment barefooted no shirt, socks, shoes, just a pair of jeans that they took from me. After Amy Klobuchar realised she messed up with charging me, it took the jail 14 hours more to release me with no clothes. They gave me some Somali pants and said walk home..!!!!!!!!

Penny wrote:

<quoted text>
What is so typical of this story is that the guy didn't get caught until he raped someone else. It's always creating more victims before they catch the real criminals. How many times have you heard the phrase "we'll catch him next time"? Too many! What happened to you was tragic but once again no apologies from the authorities. They never make mistakes in their own minds. Everyone is criminal until proven otherwise.

I'm not excusing the police or prosecutors in the story to which these posts are attached, however you've watched too much television. Perps are not always caught within hours or days of a crime. Things rarely work that way.

Mayor McSpendy wrote:

funny how DNA has been used numerous times to free people on "death row" (often freed in a matter of weeks after confirmation),but NOBODY is ever executed in a matter of weeks (or months) after DNA confirmation of guilt.

Mayor, I like how you think.

Cindy Stainker wrote:

I'm wondering, did the police ever retrieve the phone the rapist asked to use, if they did, couldn't they have gotten fingerprints from it? Perhaps some other DNA of the rapist from the victim's body as well, hair, skin, what about semen? If not body fluid from the rapist, was he stalking this woman intending to rape her, did he use a condom?

Maybe the rapist's DNA is not on file with the BCA.

McSpendy Fan wrote:

<quoted text>
Maybe the rapist's DNA is not on file with the BCA.

Good point! I guess it's also possible that he may have been from another state and had no prior record with St Paul. It just seems that at the age the victim described, that this may not have been the first time he has ever committed a crime, much less one as serious as rape. Anything's possible I guess.

Don't these people ever wash? The story claims the victim had sex with the falsely accused days before the rape. I'm assuming DNA evidence means semen, but even if it is something else... I don't know about ya'll, but I change my underwear every day. I generally wear shirts only once, and pants twice before they go in the laundy...and I shower almost every day, but definitely at least every OTHER day. Having trouble understanding how this falsely accused man's DNA was still in circulation...

Sorry, kept getting error message....

stackan wrote:

Don't these people ever wash? The story claims the victim had sex with the falsely accused days before the rape. I'm assuming DNA evidence means semen, but even if it is something else... I don't know about ya'll, but I change my underwear every day. I generally wear shirts only once, and pants twice before they go in the laundy...and I shower almost every day, but definitely at least every OTHER day. Having trouble understanding how this falsely accused man's DNA was still in circulation...

Semen can stay for several days. Its biology.

You said enough when you admitted to being drunk and calling a judge-Idiot

J C F wrote:

I can't read this story because it brings up to many bad memories for what happened to me. I was charged with rape by Hennipen County, and the New Hope police department back in 2000. The victim recanted immediately when she found out that it was me that got arrested. She knew it wasn't me. I had to endure a barrage of finger printing, DNA testing. 14 or so days of jail time. put under probation then re-arrested when I called the judge drunk. It was a complete nightmare. And Amy Klobuchar was the one who charged me to begin with with no evidence. No apoligies. The case was expunged but it cost me my job, and my carreer.