DNA ties man to '87 slaying

Associated Press ^ | December 20, 2002 | Associated Press Staff

[MeekOneGOP]

DNA ties man to '87 slaying

12/20/2002

Associated Press

HOUSTON - Advances in DNA technology gave authorities the breakthrough they needed to arrest a Houston man in the stabbing death of his sister-in-law 15 years ago.

Harris County authorities arrested Gregory Glenn Markwardt, 50, on capital murder charges Wednesday at his home.

Mr. Markwardt is accused of killing Kathryn Louis Odom on March 3, 1987. Her battered body was discovered in her Spring home with her two young children.

Investigators describe the crime as a "lust murder," saying Mr. Markwardt made romantic advances to Ms. Odom, but she rejected him.

Mr. Markwardt is still married to Ms. Odom's sister, Shelley Markwardt, sheriff's officials said.

Authorities said in Thursday's editions of the Houston Chronicle that Mr. Markwardt has always said he had nothing to do with the crime and repeated his claim when arrested.

But well-preserved evidence and new technology involving more specific DNA processing pointed to Mr. Markwardt. Authorities declined to identify the DNA evidence.

"DNA is now more capable of capturing smaller pieces of evidence," said assistant district attorney Kelly Siegler, who will prosecute the case. "In 1987, no one had even heard of DNA. As time went on and technology got better, different evidence was submitted to different labs. A month ago, a final piece of evidence was submitted that linked this defendant to the crime."

Ms. Odom's nude body was found in her children's bedroom by a neighbor who was sent to check on Ms. Odom because her husband was unable to reach her by phone.

She had been stabbed 16 times and her throat cut. She also was sexually assaulted.

Her two children, then 4 years old and 2 months old, were left in the house with her body for as long as eight hours, authorities said.

The older child, who had been beaten and was found unconscious on a couch, has never been able to tell detectives much. The infant was found in a bedroom and hadn't been battered. Both were hospitalized with dehydration and non-life-threatening injuries.

Authorities said Mr. Markwardt's wife was at work when he was arrested. The newspaper could not reach her for comment Wednesday.

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Online at: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dallas/tsw/stories/122002dntexdna.c7bc8.html

[MeekOneGOP]

What an awful murder story. Hoorah for DNA breakthroughs since this heinous crime occurred.

This article mentions coverage by the Houston Chronicle, but I couldn't find that story. I'd like to see their version if anyone can post the story and/or the link to it. Thanks.....

[Vigilanteman]

If only he was a Clinton, this wouldn't have been pursued.

[RWG]

So the dna evidence in the oj fiasco can be re-examined.

[SwatTeam]

So the dna evidence in the oj fiasco can be re-examined.

It doesn't have to be re-examined. The DNA put him at the scene of the crime. The ignorant "jury of his peers" and incompetent D.A. prosecutors along with a publicity hungry judge made sure he was acquited. No matter what a re-examination of the DNA would show he can never be tried again. Too bad, huh?

[wideawake]

There's a larger problem. A significant percentage of any jury pool is too stupid to understand DNA evidence and how it works.

And it is in the interest of defense attorneys, all other factors being equal, to select the dumbest jurors.

[RWG]

But a re-test would remove all doubt and demonstrate that the jury members were indeed morons. Any arguing about the conclusions of a re-test would then have to also cast doubt on the prisoners set free.