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Alabama lab owner gets prison time for falsifying drug tests that cost parents custody of their kids
The Blaze ^ | November 20, 2020 | BRECK DUMAS

Posted on 11/22/2020 1:04:30 AM PST by gattaca

n one instance, a mother lost her 3-month-old because the convict forged a lab result

A previously-convicted felon who owned an Alabama laboratory has been handed a lengthy prison term, after being convicted of falsifying paternity and drug tests that resulted in several parents wrongly losing custody of their children.

Brandy Murrah, 37, was sentenced to 15 years hard time, after pleading guilty to falsifying test results in at least that many instances that falsely claimed samples came back positive for drugs, the Dothan Eagle reported.

Murrah previously owned A&J Lab Collections—a business that collected hair follicle and urine samples and the like—and was supposed to forward them on for analysis and then report the findings to the Alabama Department of Human Resources.

But Murrah was caught falsifying the results after a mother who was accused of using drugs—and knew she was clean—called the doctor who purportedly signed off on her results collected by A&J. The doctor said they never received any sample, and the parent pressed for an investigation that found Murrah had submitted several fake results.

The Eagle reported:

Jennifer Severs of Troy was in a custody battle with her ex-husband when Murrah collected hair follicle samples for drug screenings on the family as part of the custody case. The test showed Severs was positive for drugs even though Severs said she doesn't use any drugs. Additional tests were negative, but Severs said it still took months before she was finally reunited with her children because the Department of Human Resources used the original test results. It was Severs who actually contacted a doctor listed on Murrah's report only to learn that the doctor had never done the screening. She then contacted the Ozark Police Department.

Severs said the experience scarred both her and her children. "This is a daily battle for me on who I can trust," Severs said. "This is a daily battle for my children."

Murrah never provided a motive, but WTVY-TV reported that "it is believed Murrah owed for previous tests and the labs that tested samples she collected may have no longer been willing to extend her credit."

In another instance, a mother who was a former drug user lost her 3-month-old baby after A&J lab results showed that the mother tested positive for methamphetamine and that the baby's test indicated exposure. But both were false. "It was terrible," the woman told the court. "I felt like my heart was being ripped out of my chest because I knew I was doing right with this one. I knew I was doing right."

Subsequent testing showed that the mother was clean, but her baby was still out of her care for roughly three weeks. She added, "I don't understand why anybody would ever do that to any family, any children, for no reason."

According to Dale County District Attorney Kirke Adams, Murrah had been convicted of several felonies prior to the charges lodged against her involving her lab company. Murrah's defense attorney, David Harrison, pointed out that she could have faced up to 99 years in the slammer for her convictions under Alabama's sentencing guidelines.

An unknown number of parents lost custody of their children due to Murrah's bogus lab results. To them, she did offer an apology, the New York Post reported, telling the judge in the case, "I know I did wrong. I've done a lot of things wrongs in my life...I"m sorry for anyone I ever hurt. I really did not do this intentionally to ever hurt anyone."


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1 posted on 11/22/2020 1:04:30 AM PST by gattaca
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To: gattaca

Evil.

2 posted on 11/22/2020 1:24:59 AM PST by Ken H (Trump won.)
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To: gattaca

Not sure why a person with a felony record, would be allowed
to run a lab. Working in a lab might be okay, but to be
in charge of the lab, I’m not convinced that’s a good idea.


3 posted on 11/22/2020 1:30:30 AM PST by DoughtyOne (I'm calling for terrorist and criminal reform. Defund them now!)
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To: DoughtyOne

She would be a good candidate for the election board in some states.


4 posted on 11/22/2020 1:36:16 AM PST by gattaca ("Government's first duty is to protect the people, not run their lives." Ronald Reagan)
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To: Ken H

[was sentenced to 15 years hard time]

good


5 posted on 11/22/2020 2:17:35 AM PST by SaveFerris (Luke 17:28 ... as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold ......)
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To: gattaca

and I am certain that this is not the only lab in the country delivering garbage results. The mail off DNA labs are notorious for garbage results. Be aware people are not being convicted of crimes on DNA results from these online “services”.


6 posted on 11/22/2020 2:28:10 AM PST by mad_as_he$$
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To: Ken H

Evil is the right word. I don’t buy that she “really did not do this intentionally to ever hurt anyone” because she had to know she would cause severe injustices for those people.


7 posted on 11/22/2020 3:14:11 AM PST by KittyKares (Trump won the election)
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To: gattaca

If you are going to fake a drug report why make it positive?

A positive result will eventually lead to an investigation while a negative report would most likely not.


8 posted on 11/22/2020 3:18:35 AM PST by CIB-173RDABN (I am not an expert in anything, and my opinion is just that, an opinion. I may be wrong.)
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To: SaveFerris

At least SOMEBODY’s going to Prison....

Maybe Barr could learn something.


9 posted on 11/22/2020 3:53:23 AM PST by 4Liberty (How does a kids car-donation nonprofit pay for so MANY radio ads if it's a charity?)
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To: Ken H

looks like a true BLM activist... my guess, she has a black lover and is racist to her own race.


10 posted on 11/22/2020 3:58:07 AM PST by sit-rep ( )
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To: Ken H

37 years old?
she must also be falsifying her age
that is a hard 37


11 posted on 11/22/2020 5:02:14 AM PST by SisterK (its a spiritual war )
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To: gattaca
I really did not do this intentionally to ever hurt anyone."

Falsifying lab results IS an intentional act . . . .

12 posted on 11/22/2020 5:11:33 AM PST by Godzilla ( I just love the smell of COVFEFE in the morning . . . . )
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To: DoughtyOne

She didn’t run a lab, she was just a middle-man.


13 posted on 11/22/2020 5:15:26 AM PST by golux
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To: SaveFerris

“[was sentenced to 15 years hard time]
good”

I’m thinking...something a little more final would’ve better suited the situation. Especially since a 3-month old was separated from her mother.


14 posted on 11/22/2020 5:22:18 AM PST by moovova
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To: Ken H

Words fail me.

Smh....


15 posted on 11/22/2020 5:27:32 AM PST by TXBlair (We will not forget Benghazi.)
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To: gattaca

forget jail time. Let the parents who wrongfully lost children at her


16 posted on 11/22/2020 5:32:35 AM PST by Mom MD
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To: gattaca

I really did not do this intentionally to ever hurt anyone.”

Psychopathic bitch. What did she think he fake lab results were going to be used for?


17 posted on 11/22/2020 5:40:10 AM PST by Flick Lives (My work's illegal, but at least it's honest. - Capt. Malcolm Reynolds)
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To: gattaca

The medical community’s reputation is a tattered, beaten down mess.


18 posted on 11/22/2020 7:11:47 AM PST by subterfuge (RIP T.P.)
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To: SaveFerris

Not so good. In fact, rather pathetic and a total injustice to society and all the victims. She previously committed 5 felonies. Now add on 1 more felony and 16 misdemeanor counts of forgery for a grand total of 22 crimes committed. She will not serve anywhere close to the 15 years. Alabama awards inmates gain time of 75 days for every month served. Therefore, for every year she will get a credit of 365 days served plus 900 days of gain time which equals 1,265 per year. 15 years = 5,475 days. 5,475/1,265 = 4.3 years. Add onto this her totally absurd apology “I really did not do this intentionally to ever hurt anyone,” and justice requires this sub-human to be incarcerated for many, many years.


19 posted on 11/22/2020 7:26:50 AM PST by jhroberts
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To: Ken H

That’s a man, baby.


20 posted on 11/22/2020 8:36:18 AM PST by simpson96
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