Double Jeopardy

The state of Texas jailed Cuban exile Carlos Lavernia for 16 years for a crime he did not commit. Now the INS might send him back to Cuba.

"...term in office, came forward with some startling news: DNA testing had borne out Lavernia's assertions that he was..."

Feb. 23, 2001 News Feature by Amy Smith

Rape Kit Backlog Cleared: Now What?

Advocates still uncertain of what’s being done with the results

"...kits dating as far back as the 1990s. Though testing is just the first step in a long and..."

Nov. 16, 2018 News Feature by Sarah Marloff

Death Watch: Madness and Forensics

Two capital cases raise psychological and evidentiary issues

"...ever to be executed in the state. The Swearingen DNA..."

Oct. 4, 2013 News Feature by Jordan Smith

To Your Health

Using DNA to provide customized vitamins based on genetic needs

"...I'm seeing advertisements for services that will test your DNA and provide customized vitamins based on your genetic needs...."

July 1, 2005 Column by James Heffley, Ph.D.

Judges: Move the Lab out of APD!

Court judiciary pens memo to Council, county commissioners

"...County rely upon an independent lab for all forensic testing,” read the memo, delivered to Mayor Steve Adler, City..."

Dec. 6, 2016 News Post by Sarah Marloff

Williamson County Injustice

Morton attorneys call for court of inquiry

"...Morton was cleared after DNA testing on a bloody blue bandana, found not far..."

Dec. 21, 2011 News Post by Jordan Smith

Criminally Innocent

How can you be exonerated of a crime that never happened?

"...sexual offenses they never committed with the help of DNA evidence, the Arena brothers faced no biological evidence to..."

Nov. 5, 2010 News Feature by Jordan Smith

APD Updates County on Moldy Rape Kits

Operations resume, new protocol for informing stakeholders to come

"...a 10% bleach solution originally recommended by Jody Koehler, DNA section manager at the DPS Capital Area Regional Lab,..."

July 6, 2017 News Post by Sarah Marloff

Sexual Assault Advocates Demand Answers for Rape Kit Negligence

Group pens letter to mayor, police chief, city manager

"...the Department of Public Safety would both store APD’s DNA evidence and test what wasn’t sent over to private..."

March 1, 2017 News Post by Sarah Marloff

A Stay for Skinner

Hank Skinner was scheduled to die this week

"...evidence from the crime scene in order to conduct DNA testing that could prove his innocence or guilt. The..."

Nov. 11, 2011 News Feature by Jordan Smith

Death Row Case Evidence May Never Be Tested

When technicalities take precedence over finding out who done it

"...the strength or coordination to incapacitate three adults. (Toxicology testing revealed a near fatal dose of drugs in Skinner's..."

March 12, 2010 News Feature by Jordan Smith

Who Killed Stacey Stites?

A re-examination of a Bastrop murder case leaves many unanswered questions.

"...a year later, based on a match of his DNA to semen found in Stites' body. On the basis..."

May 24, 2002 News Feature by Jordan Smith

New Evidence Points to Trouble for WilCo D.A.

After 25 years in prison, Michael Morton sees a glimmer of hope

"...The results of new DNA testing in an old murder case confirm that Michael..."

Aug. 26, 2011 News Feature by Jordan Smith

Naked City

Macy's to close its Highland store and Holly lawsuit dismissed

"...court] after a contract is signed." – Amy Smith DNA Prevails Again..."

Jan. 7, 2011 News Feature

State's Case Hung by a Hair

New DNA testing calls into question execution of Claude Jones

"...Notably, the hair was never subjected to DNA testing, and Jones proclaimed his innocence up until his..."

Nov. 12, 2010 News Post by Jordan Smith

Naked City

News briefs from Austin, the region, and beyond

"...to get access to evidence never before subjected to DNA testing. Skinner denies responsibility for the 1993 murders of..."

May 28, 2010 News Feature

Signs of Optimism at Troubled Crime Lab

Continued efforts aim to right past wrongdoings at the DNA lab

"...detected inside the 520 rape kits sent out for testing since the Austin Police Department discovered a mold-like substance..."

Sept. 15, 2017 News Feature by Sarah Marloff

Lege Lines

The Michael Morton Act, airport screening, business tax cuts, and more

"...for the 1986 murder of his wife Christine, which DNA testing ultimately proved he did not commit. At his..."

April 19, 2013 News Feature by Jordan Smith

Life in Prison for Hemp

José Peña brought some roadside weeds home from Kansas. Cops decided it was reefer, and a Texas court sentenced him to life in prison – without the evidence. It took a decade for Peña to get back some of the pieces of his life.

"...lab in Waco, where the plants were taken for testing, completely destroyed all of the case evidence – all..."

March 16, 2012 News Feature by Jordan Smith

Nuts About Needles

"...Defender Service lawyers it would release biological evidence for DNA testing that Kutzner had requested for nearly a year..."

Aug. 30, 2002 News Feature by Jordan Smith

Tightening the Noose on Defendants

Court rulings whittle away Sixth Amendment

"...Newton, who was sentenced to die for the 1999 kidnapping and murder of 20-year-old Jesus Mon­toya in Dallas in..."

Nov. 26, 2010 News Feature by Jordan Smith

The Never-Ending Timeline

A chronology of events in the yogurt shop murder case

"...1, 1999: Police collect hair and blood samples for DNA analysis from the four men charged with the crime...."

July 17, 2009 News Feature

Rodney Reed's Appeals: Key Players

Ignored witnesses, “irrelevant” evidence, and more from two decades of appeals

"...other evidence from the crime scene and swabbed for DNA. One of the swabs matched a DNA sample from..."

Nov. 15, 2019 News Feature by Brant Bingamon

APD Shuts Down Effort to Reopen Crime Lab

Interim Chief Manley: "We recognize the failure in our lab. We're taking responsibility, and pushing forward."

"...has officially ceased all operations geared toward reopening its DNA and Serology lab, Interim Police Chief Brian Manley announced..."

Dec. 23, 2016 News Feature by Sarah Marloff

Group Accuses Morton Prosecutors of Gross Misconduct

Group files grievances with State Bar

"...young son in Georgetown. Morton fought for years for DNA testing on what became a crucial piece of evidence,..."

Nov. 29, 2011 News Post by Jordan Smith

Broken Justice

Wrongly convicted exonerees come to the Texas Capitol

"...faulty eyewitness ID was implicated in 86% of Texas DNA exoneration cases. Two years ago, lawmakers tried to enact..."

March 11, 2011 News Feature by Jordan Smith

Class Action Lawsuit Seeks Justice for Sexual Assault Survivors

Plaintiffs cite longstanding malpractice by Austin, Travis County

"...“unwarranted state intrusion,” and by not timely or accurately testing rape kits...."

June 19, 2018 News Post by Sarah Marloff

Fairness, Consistency, Safety

Rosemary Lehmberg defends her record

"...three that were brought to us, and we did DNA testing, and two proved to be wrongful identifications and..."

Jan. 20, 2012 News Feature

Death Watch: 11 Face Execution in Coming Months

A quiet summer gives way to a deadly fall

"...execution date. The Montgomery County man, convicted of the kidnap, rape, and murder of Melissa Trotter in 2000, made..."

Aug. 16, 2019 News Feature by Sarah Marloff

Williams Receives Last-Minute Stay of Execution

Tyler native originally set to die Thursday evening

"...James Volberding note, “explained that these errors affected the DNA testing in Texas back to 1999.”..."

July 16, 2015 News Post by Chase Hoffberger

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