Serological - Case Studies

Judge Vacates Wrongful Rape Conviction

Marlon Pendleton was convicted of rape in 1992 based on victim identification. He maintained his innocence and worked independently for several years on his case until Northwestern University School of Law Center for Wrongful Convictions took him under their wing. Post-conviction DNA testing was conducted under court order at SERI. Chief Forensic Serologist Brian Wraxall found semen on the remaining traces of the original swab and obtained a DNA profile of the semen donor who was not Marlon Pendleton. After serving 12 years in prison, Mr. Pendleton was exonerated and released.

Article

Chicago Man's Life Begins Anew

Helena Greenwood Cold Case Solved

This was a 1985 "cold" case of the strangulation/murder of Dr. Helena Greenwood, a biotech DNA researcher. She had been scheduled to testify at a 1985 sexual assault trial. In 1999, evidence consisting of fingernail clippings/scrapings taken from the victim was submitted to SERI. Evidence was analyzed by Senior Serologist Gary C. Harmor for fifteen DNA genetic markers or loci. A very small loose piece of blood crust amongst the left fingernails was found to be from an unknown male. Subsequent DNA analysis of a blood sample from a suspected individual that had sexually assaulted the victim in 1985, David Paul Frediani, was analyzed and demonstrated a match to all fifteen DNA loci from the fingernails. In 2001, Frediani was convicted of murder with special circumstance and sentenced to life without parole. The defense unsuccessfully challenged the lab analysis and the manufacturers kit used in the testing.

Article

Helena’s Story

Facial Hair Links Suspect to Murder Scene

A single facial hair became the crucial piece of evidence in solving this 2004 murder case of a young Montana woman. A lone beard hair was recovered as trace evidence from the victim, Ms. Jessica Dooley. The hair fragment was sent to SERI for mitochondrial (MtDNA) testing, along with reference samples from three male parties of interest. Forensic Serologist Thomas Fedor conducted DNA analysis that excluded two of the males as possible contributors and linked the third suspect, Jared Rosling, whose reference sample differed only at one base position from the beard hair, as the likeliest contributor of the evidence. Rosling was found guilty of deliberate homicide.

Article

Crime Lab Links Hair at Murder Scene to Rosling

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Other Notable Cases

CA v. Peter Rose
CA v. Kevin Cooper
NJ v. Larry Peterson
CA v. Alejandro Avila
CA v. Richard Ramirez
OK v. Glen G. Gore
CA v. David Thomas Wright
CA v. Chris Morganti
IL v. Juan Rivera
OK v. Jeffrey Pierce
AZ v. Ray Krone
CA v. Kevin Fitch
WA v. Gary Ridgway
CA v. Juan Corona
CA v. Randy Kraft
CA v. David Frediani
CA v. Wayne Amundson
CA v. Mark Rathbun
CA v. James Noriega
CA v. Frederick Ray Brown
TN v. Oscar Lee Smith

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	Judge Vacates Wrongful Rape Conviction Marlon Pendleton was convicted of rape in 1992 based on victim identification. He maintained his innocence and worked independently for several years on his case until Northwestern University School of Law Center for Wrongful Convictions took him under their wing. Post-conviction DNA testing was conducted under court order at SERI. Chief Forensic Serologist Brian Wraxall found semen on the remaining traces of the original swab and obtained a DNA profile of the semen donor who was not Marlon Pendleton. After serving 12 years in prison, Mr. Pendleton was exonerated and released. Article Chicago Man's Life Begins Anew Helena Greenwood Cold Case Solved This was a 1985 "cold" case of the strangulation/murder of Dr. Helena Greenwood, a biotech DNA researcher. She had been scheduled to testify at a 1985 sexual assault trial. In 1999, evidence consisting of fingernail clippings/scrapings taken from the victim was submitted to SERI. Evidence was analyzed by Senior Serologist Gary C. Harmor for fifteen DNA genetic markers or loci. A very small loose piece of blood crust amongst the left fingernails was found to be from an unknown male. Subsequent DNA analysis of a blood sample from a suspected individual that had sexually assaulted the victim in 1985, David Paul Frediani, was analyzed and demonstrated a match to all fifteen DNA loci from the fingernails. In 2001, Frediani was convicted of murder with special circumstance and sentenced to life without parole. The defense unsuccessfully challenged the lab analysis and the manufacturers kit used in the testing. Article Helena’s Story Facial Hair Links Suspect to Murder Scene A single facial hair became the crucial piece of evidence in solving this 2004 murder case of a young Montana woman. A lone beard hair was recovered as trace evidence from the victim, Ms. Jessica Dooley. The hair fragment was sent to SERI for mitochondrial (MtDNA) testing, along with reference samples from three male parties of interest. Forensic Serologist Thomas Fedor conducted DNA analysis that excluded two of the males as possible contributors and linked the third suspect, Jared Rosling, whose reference sample differed only at one base position from the beard hair, as the likeliest contributor of the evidence. Rosling was found guilty of deliberate homicide. Article Crime Lab Links Hair at Murder Scene to Rosling <top> Other Notable Cases CA v. Peter Rose CA v. Kevin Cooper NJ v. Larry Peterson CA v. Alejandro Avila CA v. Richard Ramirez OK v. Glen G. Gore CA v. David Thomas Wright CA v. Chris Morganti IL v. Juan Rivera OK v. Jeffrey Pierce AZ v. Ray Krone CA v. Kevin Fitch WA v. Gary Ridgway CA v. Juan Corona CA v. Randy Kraft CA v. David Frediani CA v. Wayne Amundson CA v. Mark Rathbun CA v. James Noriega CA v. Frederick Ray Brown TN v. Oscar Lee Smith <top>