Posted on 03/26/2009 11:53:26 AM PDT by LibWhacker
Police in Germany hunted a sinister phantom killer for two years after finding the same DNA at 39 different crime scenes - only to discover that the source was a woman who made the cotton buds used to collect the sample!
The case was one of the most puzzling in recent times. Hundreds of detectives in six specialist committees were set to work hunting the ominous female serial killer.
But there was no progress, despite investigators finding her DNA at so many crime scenes.
The police were stumped. They eventually offered a 300,000 euro reward to find the killer.
It's no surprise the money was never claimed, however, because the so-called phantom killer was a complete myth!
Detectives had apparently been tracking the DNA of a factory worker who packaged cotton buds used by the police to collect samples, according to Stern.de.
Police linked the 'killer' to seven murders.
The most notorious case was in April 2007 in Heilbronn where a 22-year-old policewoman was shot dead and her colleague (25) seriously injured. On the back seat of the police car, detectives found what they thought was DNA from the mysterious killer.
As part of the investigation, 800 previously convicted women were questioned - but there was no match to the sample.
Her DNA was found over and over again: in bottles, tank lids, on bullets and once even on a biscuit!
Traces were found in southern Germany, Austria and France. Thousands of saliva tests were taken but there was still no answer.
In April 2008, detectives ran out of ideas, so an internal inquiry was launched.
And yesterday Bernd Meiners, a spokesman for the public prosecutor's office in Saarbrucken, revealed: There are considerable doubts about the existence of the phantom killer. The DNA has instead been linked to investigation materials.
An employee at the cotton bud manufacturer has apparently been pretty careless!
According to reports, the maker of the buds is a company in Hamburg, with branches in Baden-Wurttemberg and the Saarland as well as Austria and France.
The company has been supplying the police investigators with cotton buds since 2001.
This is why there is no “CSI: Europe”
This has the makings of a great murder drama-comedy. I want the movie rights.
You assume that the uses of DNA won’t ever be expanded in the future to do other things than identify murderers and rapists. Short sighted.
I thought that was because there is a God in Heaven.
Although, there is now a Law & Order: UK
What they have on me in the federal CODIS databank is the number of repeats I have for 13 different short terminal repeat sequences (diploid). So all they have are 26 numbers that form a unique designator that identifies me.
What exactly do you foresee people doing with my DNA repeat numbers other than for purposes of identification?
What exactly do you foresee people doing with my entire genome, assuming anybody went through the time and expense to amplify and sequence it?
How about if he's an "illegal" gun owner or "enemy of the State"?
Do “enemies of the state” usually leave behind their DNA on rape or murder victims? How does the state get the DNA from an unknown “enemy”, and how do they know he is an “enemy”?
“DNA crimes” are almost invariably rapes or murders; where someone commits a crime and leaves behind their DNA.
If we need to violently resist our government, them knowing my DNA is not going to help them- as I will make no secret of my identity or my general intent; I will however keep secret my location and my tactics.
However I also see the likelihood of a second armed American revolution within my lifetime as somewhere between slim and none.
We had our revolution; so far it is a success. The people get the government they vote for. If they vote for stupidity, on their own head be it, and hopefully a few years of socialist incompetence will teach them better.
Incorrect. Somebody can leave behind their DNA on a cigarette butt, a napkin, some fallen hairs. The reason why DNA analysis is connected with serious felonies is that it's mainly in serious felonies that authorities can justify the expense of going for DNA analysis.
From the Office of the Obama Nationalized (and only) Healthcare
Dear Mr. Allmendream: We've recently analyzed your DNA and have identified several troubling genetic deficiencies in your genome. Your genetic material indicates a higher instance of heart disease and diabetes can be expected from you.
Therefore we will no longer cover you for any health care expenses. Sorry, but better luck next time on the genetic lottery.
By the way, since these things tend to run in families, we've also dropped every single one of your family members as well. I'm sure you'll understand the need to cut costs, and I'm sure you'll do the patriotic thing and just have the good decency to go somewhere and die and remove yourself from the herd.
Signed,
Your loving and benevolent Messiah
B. Hussein Obama
a) they had the perp’s DNA (from a rape or murder IIRC)
b) they had a suspect who they thought might match the DNA
c) the cop followed the suspect and grabbed his littered cigarette butt
d) they matched the cigarette butt DNA to the crime scene DNA.
I guess if a bank robber smoked a cigarette and left the butt behind it might well be used as well; but it would only “work” if the guy's DNA was already in the system, otherwise all you have is DNA with no identity to match it to.
What scenario are you envisioning whereby a non violent criminal gets identified by DNA? They find his DNA where exactly? What type of crime scene?
Hardly an earth shattering scare mongering scenario.
Socialized medicine might decide to withhold care due to my DNA?
Socialized medicine is going to be a nightmare anyway, them knowing my particular DNA is not going to make in any worse or better; if they are going to sequence my entire genome they are going to demand EVERYONE’s genome data.
Genetic based or customized medicine is the future anyway. There is already a drug on the market that only works for people with a particular set of genetic alleles.
Yes, that is the goal. Or don't you see that??? There are now laws written or being written to require DNA be given if you are merely arrested, not charged, not prosecuted, not convicted. You stand up for your rights some day, some Barney Fife slaps the cuffs on you for "interfering with a police officer", the charge gets bounced, but they've got your DNA. Happens in the Merry UK all the time.
There won't be any insurance groups any more. Socialized medicine is happening. The State will be the insurer, and the State will determine if you get any care.
Or one of his family members, didn't we just go over this????
Not Anymore, I'd guess.
Yes, but as I stated, the original DNA sample was left at a crime scene that involved rape or murder.
If someone is leaving behind their DNA at rape and murder crime scenes I WANT them identified, even or ESPECIALLY if they are closely related to me.
Didn’t we just go over that?
If someone is leaving behind their DNA at rape and murder crime scenes I WANT them identified, even or ESPECIALLY if they are closely related to me.
Didnt we just go over that?"
No, you can now be forced to give a DNA sample for merely being arrested, even on a misdemeanor, even if you're never convicted. So no the DNA doesn't have to be found at a murder or rape crime scene originally to be in CODIS. I'm sure you know this though, but choose to gloss over it.
Run into the right JBT, and still cling to the notion that you have Constitutional rights, and bam, your DNA will be collected and put into your system.
To be used in the future for god knows what.
a) identify that any biological sample belongs to you (semen, skin under fingernails, saliva, hair, etc).
b) see if you have any genetic traits that cause disease or are correlated with disease.
c) tell who is related to you.
and potentially some time in the future....
d) tell what population group you belong to, your eye skin and hair color, some personality traits, likely height and IQ range, etc.
So far I have no objection to (a) as I don't leave biological samples at crime scenes, and generally want police to identify the people that do.
People knowing (b) (assuming they amplify my entire genome and not just the ID markers) could either save or cost someone money on insurance; or effect how they are treated by the hypothetical socialized medicine.
Paternity testing or identification of remains is the most common use of (c), and if the child is mine I would want to know.
And so far (d) isn't very likely within our lifetimes and doesn't yield much useful data, considering the expense.
So what exactly are YOU afraid of if your DNA was on file?
You certainly glossed over and minimized b). But then that’s expected as you worship dna at the altar of evolutionary beliefs.
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