DNA clears Texas man who spent 30 years in prison

[primroselane]

The 26-year-old woman picked both men out of a photo array, but her male companion did not identify either defendant in the same photo array.

There have been 21 DNA exonerations in Dallas since 2001, more than any other county in the nation. Only two states — Illinois and New York — have freed more of the wrongly convicted through DNA evidence than Dallas. Craig Watkins, the first black DA in Texas history, has also pointed to what he calls "a convict-at-all-costs mentality".

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/...l/7364545.html

When we send an innocent man to prison, we are keeping a dangerous man among us.

[Ken Scharabok]

Agree. One of the real benefits of state-of-the-art DNA. I suspect all states are now taking a new look at old cases in which DNA was the deciding factor. One of those situations where if you can't stand the answer, don't ask the question?

I do hope he is able to sue the state for unlawful conviction or such, with back wages.

Watched one TV crime stories program. There was a serial rapist in the area and several people said they saw a young white man in a pickup in the area at the time. One DNA researcher said he could identify race through DNA. Said it would be an Afro-American male with a small percentage of Native American Indian influence. When they finally caught the guy, DNA researcher was exactly right.

How much longer before DNA tests can say you are a tall, blond, blue-eyed male?

Had to go to the local hospital this AM to have a blood sample drawn. They have a sheet posted on where to get DNA tests done for paternity issues.

It is really amazing to me they can get DNA samples from a 'lick and stick' envelope sent out many years ago.

[Windy in Kansas]

Originally Posted by Ken Scharabok

It is really amazing to me they can get DNA samples from a 'lick and stick' envelope sent out many years ago.

Thank you, thank you, thank you Ken. I have been wishing for DNA from my maternal grandfather and you have given me a clue as to where I may be able to find some. I have old letters he sent to my grandmother in the 1880s while she was away visiting in Iowa.

[Ken Scharabok]

Keep in mind DNA can deteriorate over time. Yet, they have extracted it from the teeth of critters long gone.

I've read, through DNA analysis, all of the homo-sapients (sp?) today can be traced back to one woman in Africa something like 30-40K years ago. Why her? Maybe she was in a group who were extremely successful in survival, she may have had many children who survived into adulthood or perhaps she was the Mensian* of the group?

*Mensa: The High I-Q group. Not all that exclusive as about 1/50 people can qualify. Essentually you just have to be very good at taking multiple question tests.

[Trixie]

Our justice system needs to be fixed.

I'm happy they are working on these old cases and while no one can give this man back all those years, hope he can be monetarily compensated.

I just wish if there was any wrongdoing on the part of the police, DA, etc., they would be held responsible.

[primroselane]

Nearly all these men were convicted upon victims stating that they were sure the person was the perpetrator. Our justice system has victims creating victims.

[watcher]

Originally Posted by primroselane

Nearly all these men were convicted upon victims stating that they were sure the person was the perpetrator. Our justice system has victims creating victims.

We now know the worse evidence there is, is an eyewitness. But the best testimony was/is the victim sitting in the witness chair pointing to the accused and saying "He did it!"

[pcwerk]

This is why they should halt all executions until they go over every single
case! Unfortunately, they won't do that because states don't have the
budget to go over every case...

[TheMartianChick]

Originally Posted by Windy in Kansas

Thank you, thank you, thank you Ken. I have been wishing for DNA from my maternal grandfather and you have given me a clue as to where I may be able to find some. I have old letters he sent to my grandmother in the 1880s while she was away visiting in Iowa.

Mystery novelist, Patricia Cornwell used mitochondrial DNA from a stamp or an envelope to try to prove Jack the Ripper's identity. She chronicles it in the book Portrait of a Killer:Jack the RipperCase Closed. Unfortunately, some of her theories in the case may be flawed since she makes the assumption that the writer of the letters was actually the killer.

An interesting thing about the state of Texas is that they hold on to all of the old DNA evidence in cases, enabling it to be tested years later. While Texas seems to have had a convict at all costs mentality in the past, there is still the possibility of an exoneration because the evidence isn't discarded.

[Ken Scharabok]

I've read there is now a "CFI" effect on juries. If there isn't amply forensic proof, they will likely go with defense. Personally I think it has brought reasonable doubt back into balance.

I love the Dr. G. program. Interesting she had said sometimes with all of her experience and testing available she has to put down cause of death as unknown. Also Law & Order, but not the spin-offs.

[wy_white_wolf]

Originally Posted by Ken Scharabok

....I do hope he is able to sue the state for unlawful conviction or such, with back wages......

He's getting about 2.5 million in compensation from the state.

[Windy in Kansas]

Originally Posted by TheMartianChick

Unfortunately, some of her theories in the case may be flawed since she makes the assumption that the writer of the letters was actually the killer.

I, too, would have to make a few assumptions about the letters I mentioned, but the results would make no difference. 1. My grandfather licked and sealed the letters. 2. That he gave the duty to his son, a male, which would carry the same male line DNA. 3. That since great grandpa with also living with them he might have been the one given the letter sealing and mailing task. Again though he would be carrying the male line DNA. 4. the dog did the licking for them and I will be out of luck. Quite a few letters though so surely one might have some.

Ken the there have been further discoveries and some are given in The Seven Daughter of Eve. Even since that book there have been more breakdowns in locations. I think the last I read was 45.

What I would really like to find out, if possible, is what country my Barr line came from. England, Ireland, Scotland, or any of the others where I find Barrs having come from to America. France,Germany, Sweden, etc. Seems Barr was certainly not exclusive to one country. Pretty well European though.

[pancho]

Originally Posted by wy_white_wolf

He's getting about 2.5 million in compensation from the state.

The money will help but if it was me I would still hold a grudge.
Think how that must have felt. He knew he was not guilty but couldn't get anyone to believe him.

[Ken Scharabok]

That's a bit over $83K in current year dollars for each year he was in prison. Now I assume the federal government is going to take at least a third. Probably the state more. Give him the money and then take some back. He might have made only a fraction of that figure had he not been jailed.

Windy: Please keep us informed on how your DNA search goes. I've heard the cost for tests has gone down significantly and results come much sooner.

As I recall the Mormon Church has/had a program tracking DNA sources. You gave a sample but had to be able to identify at least three generations back. We can trace my father's family back to the mid-1500s. Mother's grandfather was adopted so the trail for her ends there. As near as we can tell in the mid-1700s the family in Slovakia was elevated to nobal status, perhaps as the result of preformance during some conflict. At that time the old name of Kolenovich was changed to S'arabok. In the native language the name roughly translates to round body, although there is a Sara River in the area. Maybe it indicated someone who was well to do as they could afford to be fat.

One problem we had in having genealogy research done was multiple usage of the same name, which was typically after a parent or grandparent. Child mortality was high, so they would keep naming a new child until it was at least a couple of years old.

European names often means something, for example Baker, Porter, Goldsmith. Stevenson - the son of Steven. Barr? You might research what the name would have translated to in the native language. For example, John the Barr was shortened to John Barr. Von or Van roughly translates to 'from'. Thus, might be an area, village or city. I have a friend in Dayton, OH with the last name of Kazinski. As near as she can tell it is Polish for 'from the area of apples'.

Apparently names ending in ...sky, ...ski, ...ske are from different countries, such as ...sky in Russia, ...ski in Poland and ...ske from Southern Eastern Europe. Penske would roughly translate to 'from the area of Pen'.

In Europe many women's name end in 'a', which indicates feminity, including continents or countries such as America (originally Amerigo), Russia, Africa.

Middle names often come from a godparent. My middle name is George, after my godfather Uncle George. Rest of sisters and brothers the same. Probably only a Catholic tradition.

Anyway, going off topic and rambling.