SARASOTA, Fla. -- Recent reports have suggested and recently DNAPrint Genomics, Inc. confirmed that one of its proprietary genome tests was instrumentally involved in the successful resolution of the Louisiana serial killer case.
The Louisiana Multi-Agency Homicide Task Force detectives used physical information about the subject obtained from the DNAPrint's DNAWitness test to hone in on high value leads that otherwise might have been prioritized differently. DNAPrint believes the investigative focus provided by the test helped enable a more rapid apprehension of the suspect.
DNAWitness is the world's first forensic test to measure BioGeographical Ancestry (BGA) admixture within individuals. BGA is the heritable component of genes and it is read from sites of the DNA called Ancestry Informative Markers (AIMs). DNAPrint is the first company to have mined the genome for the best Ancestry Informative Markers (AIMs). The development of DNAWitness was enabled by the recently completed human genome project and DNAWitness is the first commercial test of its kind ever developed.
The arrest of Derrick Todd Lee was achieved through detective work on the part of the task force. DNAPrint believes that its DNAWitness test was the driving force behind the reshaping of their investigations several months ago. The DNAWitness results were surprising to the investigators at the time; the task force spent almost a year looking for a Caucasian individual, guided by eyewitness accounts that the offender was a white male and driving a white pickup truck. In November, , this was re-enforced by an additional eye witness who provided information on a Caucasian male that led to a composite of a "person of interest" following the Trineisha Dene Colomb homicide in Lafayette, La.
Standard DNA testing provided a bar-code-like unique identifier from the crime scene DNA, but the crime scene DNA did not match any of the profiles in the FBI's CODIS database. The genetic heritage of an individual cannot be accurately inferred from standard DNA tests, but to their credit, task force detectives continued their quest to learn about the killer from his DNA. Throughout the investigation the task force consulted with other DNA experts nationwide until they were lead to DNAPrint genomics, Inc.
After contact with the task force in late February , DNAWitness testing was performed in early March, which corresponds with the earliest possible time that the test could have been used by the task force. The task force supplied 20 blind trial samples (derived from known individuals) along with the unknown offender's DNA. As has been the case with over 3,000 blind tests conducted to date, the results from the task force's blind trial were flawless in that they revealed the genetic heritage of the individuals tested and on average, consistent with third party interpretation of genetic heritage or heritage mix. The test revealed that the unknown offender's DNA corresponded to an individual of 85 percent sub-Saharan African and 15 percent Native American BGA.
These results dramatically changed the investigation for the task force, which had the courage to embrace the results from the new genomics-based technology. It appears that the results provided by DNAPrint's DNAWitness test allowed the task force to broaden their investigation and properly weigh the value of certain leads; which was evident from the fact that approximately two months after the testing was performed, a man whose genetic heritage is consistent with the test results provided by DNAPrint, Derrick Todd Lee, was linked to the crimes via STR (human identity) testing and arrested.
"By assisting with a rapid resolution of this case, the DNAWitness test might very well be responsible for saving lives. We are prepared to work with detectives anywhere in the world on cases that have gone cold or are at a standstill; we encourage law enforcement officers to contact us. If there is a crime scene sample of DNA, our test could help re-direct the investigation and conversely it can also eliminate those individuals that are suspects but are, in fact, innocent. We are proud that our patent-pending test helped turn this investigation around," said Richard Gabriel, CEO of DNAPrint, "We hope to help out many more task forces in the near future and bring many more criminals to justice, especially in these tragic rape and murder crimes. Removing criminals from our streets and cities is a noble effort and DNAP believes that our DNA Witness testing program can greatly assist many more investigations, such as this one."
"The Louisiana Task Force had the courage to employ cutting-edge technology to most effectively complete the public service they were entrusted to perform. They took steps that were criticized by some, because DNAWitness is a new dimension in DNA testing, but where there is risk, there is also the possibility of substantial reward, as was demonstrated in this case," said Tony Frudakis, CSO of DNAPrint. "As visionary and dedicated investigators, the Task Force represents a shining example to other agencies struggling with difficult or 'cold' capital murder and rape cases."
DNA is commonly left at crime scenes, but until DNAPrint developed DNAWitness, no physical information could be reliably read from that DNA. In contrast to standard DNA testing, DNAWitness is expected to allow investigators to "paint" a partial physical profile from crime scene DNA, which could assist with the investigative process much like a human eyewitness.
For example, DNAPrint scientists and collaborators have used various versions of the test to show correlation between European admixture and skin melanin content in African Americans (Shriver et al., Skin pigmentation, biogeographical ancestry and admixture mapping, Human Genetics () 112: 387-399). A precise inference of skin tone will require a specific genetic test, on which the company is working., Forensics customers now have the immediate ability to make inferences of physical characteristics from DNAWitness results, the company provides forensic customers with access to a database of several hundred digital photographs from individuals who have taken part in the Company's validation studies. The customer would query the database to retrieve photographs for every individual whose profile falls within a specified range, such as "80 percent European plus 20 percent sub-Saharan African +/- 10 percent", and through inspection, gauge variation in physical appearance associated with that range.
DNAPrint genomics Inc. was founded by a team of scientists with research and commercial experience in high-level mathematical modeling, programming and molecular genetics. The DNA Witness analysis is a direct result of focused research by the DNAP research and development team.
Source: DNAPrint genomics, Inc.
