DNAprint Genomics (DNAG)

[saf]

Here is the link and copy of the print version of the segment:
(I underlined the part about DNAP)
http://www1.wsvn.com/features/articles/investigations/DBM992/

DNA evidence has been used to link suspects to crimes for years. But could it soon be used to help describe suspects? Could our blood be used to tell police what we look like. Seven's Patrick Fraser takes a look into the future of crime solving in his special assignment report.

WSVN -- Samantha Steinberg has a rare talent...

Samantha Steinberg from Miami-Dade Police: "How would you describe his complexion?"

The Miami-Dade Police sketch artist can turn someone's memories of a criminal...Into an image.

Images that can help nab dangerous suspects.

Samantha Steinberg: "We had a serial rapist in Kendall back in 2000."

Samantha drew a sketch that was so realistic -- an officer spotted him while investigating a burglary.

Samantha Steinberg: "One of the responding officers from the Kendall district recognized him as being similar to the composite of the Kendall serial rapist."

Thanks to the sketch, Jose Antonio Castro was arrested and he's still awaiting trial. But sometimes it takes more than a sketch to catch a crook.

The parents of Carrie Lynn Yoder got the horrible news...she had been murdered.

Carrie's Mother Lynda Yoder: "The only thing he left behind was DNA there was no fingerprints."

Carrie was a victim of a serial killer stalking young women in Louisiana. FBI profilers concluded that police should look for a white man -- A witness even agreed.

Lynda Yoder: "There was an eyewitness to a white man in a white truck. And, they were focusing on a white person."

The police had the suspects DNA -- But no suspect.

Lynda Yoder: "I was extremely frustrated."

Then investigators sent the killer's DNA to this Florida company, A company called DNA Print Genomics which can use DNA in an incredible way.

Dr. Tony Frudakis DNA Print Genamics: "This gives you information. Scientific information about what a person might look like."

When the company got through with their test, it literally turned the manhunt around for Louisiana investigators. Instead of a white suspect, DNA markers pointed to an African American..

A month later, Eric Todd Lee was in custody.

Dr. Frudakis: "The Louisiana serial killer would still be walking around today we believe if it weren't for the millions of dollars we've invested in this research."

The conviction was a giant step forward for law enforcement, and for the founder of DNA Print Generics. A step that he suspects only a private company could have made.

"Most government funded institutions wouldn't dream of developing a test like this. Frankly, because it's politically incorrect."

Politically incorrect critics say because it will lead to more racial profiling.

Howard Simon from the ACLU: "We had a serial rapist in the city of Miami that was thought to be an Hispanic male."

Simon says the advanced DNA testing will convince police to target one race based on the test results, and he thinks that is dangerous.

Howard Simon: "You can't say gee, a white man committed this crime so now every white man is a suspect. You can't do that."

But backers of the test say what you can do is give police a better idea of who to look for...To help catch the criminal more quickly.

You'll have tests developed for features such as body mass index, hair color, whether the earlobes are connected for instance and gross facial morphology such as the width and length of the face which are largely determined by genetics.

And even the ACLU admits, if the science is used properly -- it can be a powerful police too.

"Advances in technology help law enforcement. That of course is a good thing."

In carries case it was a good thing. It got a murdered off the street.

Carrie's Mom: "He'd still be out there Killing."

A great advance in science, as long as the body of evidence helps police catch the right body, because when a killer is loose, anyone's daughter could be the next target.

And that body of evidence is enough to show any and all new technology should be here to stay.

A number of police agencies around the country have sought out the Tampa lab for DNA racial tests. But so far, no police agency here in South Florida has been using it.

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