First Cases Solved Using DNA Testing
Dr. Jeffrey’s discovery was first used on blood and saliva samples in 1986 to prove Collin Pitchfork guilty of multiple murders and to exonerate Richard Buckland of the crimes. In 1987, Tommie Lee Andrews was the first person in the US to be convicted based on DNA evidence. He spent 22 years in prison. Gary Ridgeway, also known as “Green River Killer”, was sentenced to 48 life sentences after proven guilty by genetic testing.
In 1992, Kirk Bloodsworth spent 9 years in a U.S. prison for a crime he did not commit. After reading about the case in England, he realized DNA fingerprinting might prove him innocent and he contacted Sir Alec Jeffreys for help. After DNA from the original crime scene was put through DNA database the real killer was identified and Bloodsworth was set free.
The images below are individuals exonerated through the use of DNA fingerprinting.
In 1992, Kirk Bloodsworth spent 9 years in a U.S. prison for a crime he did not commit. After reading about the case in England, he realized DNA fingerprinting might prove him innocent and he contacted Sir Alec Jeffreys for help. After DNA from the original crime scene was put through DNA database the real killer was identified and Bloodsworth was set free.
The images below are individuals exonerated through the use of DNA fingerprinting.