Post-Conviction DNA Testing
Bode Technology actively assists with post-conviction cases that could benefit from DNA testing. Scientists at Bode have performed DNA testing on challenging post-conviction cases throughout the country, and several have resulted in exonerations.
What Bode Can Offer
Assistance with identifying cases with biological evidence that could be suitable for DNA Testing.
A team of qualified experts to screen and process evidence from a wide array of sample types ranging from very old samples, samples containing minimal amounts of DNA, and degraded samples. Available technologies include
Specialized touch DNA sampling procedures, such as scraping and tape lifting, to increase the likelihood of obtaining a DNA profile from a sample that has been touched.
Post-Conviction Cases
Cases that Bode has worked on include:
- Donald Gates (District of Columbia):
Convicted in 1981 for the rape and murder of a Georgetown University Student and exonerated based on DNA results nearly 28 years later. Despite the age and condition of the sample, Bode was able to successfully use MiniSTRs to generate a DNA profile which excluded Donald Gates as the perpetrator.
- Willie Jackson (Louisiana):
He was wrongfully accused of attempted aggravated rape and robbery and sentenced to 40 years in prison in 1986. 14 years after his conviction a judge ordered DNA testing on his case; he was exonerated after spending 17 years in prison and 20 years after the crime was committed.
- Phillip Leon Thurman (Virginia):
He was wrongfully convicted of rape, abduction, and assualt in 1984 and exonerated in 2005 after DNA evidence revealed that he was innocent.
- Kevin Fox (Illinois):
He was arrested in 2004 following a 14-hour investigation in which investigators said he confessed to molesting and murdering his 3-year-old daughter. Kevin’s attorney convinced the prosecutor to send evidence to a private lab for testing, and the DNA test results excluded Kevin. Charges that could have led to his execution have been dropped.
- Willie Davidson (Virginia):
He was convicted of rape, sodomy, and robbery in 1981 and proven innocent with the help of DNA evidence in 2005
- “West Memphis 3″ (Arkansas):
This case involves 3 imprisoned men, one on death row, accused of murdering 3 boys who were 8-years-old. Bode has provided on going DNA testing since 2004.
- “Norfolk Four” (Virginia):
This case involved 4 veterans of the U.S. Navy who were wrongfully accused of rape and murder. They each served between 8 ½ and 11 years in prison for a crime that they did not commit.
Current Programs
Bode is providing DNA testing for the Virginia Department of Forensic Science for their post-conviction project, which has led to their review of over 2,000 cases that are up to 3 decades old, and has resulted in the exoneration of multiple innocent victims.
