UK Lets the Cat (DNA) Out of the Bag
In this case, it’s not as important to consider what the cat “dragged in”, but rather what the cat left behind. Besides being a furry household feline friend, cats are now proving very useful in forensic investigations. During a recent death scene investigation in the UK, law enforcement officials were able to use cat hair DNA to convict David Hilder on manslaughter. Among the evidence that convinced the jury of Hilder’s guilt was a cat hair found on the body. The hair, after being compared with 152 other local UK cats, proved to be a positive match to Hilder’s cat, Tinker. The UK has just begun to realize the forensic benefits of animal DNA. The US has been reaping these benefits for years largely through a database located in California. So, next time you’re thinking your four-legged friend is a nuisance, remember how important he could be.
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Source: forensicmag.com
Citation:
Satter, R. Forensic Magazine. Cat DNA Catches Convict Killer. Retrieved September 17, 2013 from http://www.forensicmag.com/news/2013/08/cat-dna-catches-convict-killer#.Ujo1E2TBK7O
[Abstract written by Alex Mitzel, ForensIQ Update Reporter]
