Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine has announced that scientists with the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) made their 10,000th DNA match, linking a suspected criminal to the scene of a crime. The DNA profile connected a suspect to a Columbus burglary case.
Experts at BCI have been adding DNA profiles to the national Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) since 2001. The computer database then compares the new profile to others already entered into the system.
“This 10,000th DNA match is a major milestone,” said Attorney General DeWine. “Our forensic scientists at BCI work on a daily basis to extract DNA from crime scene evidence and DNA swabs from criminal suspects. To be successful in not only finding and extracting that DNA, but matching it 10,000 times is something to be proud of. ”
The number of CODIS matches has increased significantly since the inception of Senate Bill 77, which allows law enforcement to take a DNA swab from suspects who have been arrested on felony charges. Prior laws only allowed officers to collect DNA after a suspect was convicted.
BCI scientists have processed more than 422,000 DNA samples from convicted offenders, more than 49,000 samples from felony arrestees, and more than 14,000 samples found on crime scene evidence. Samples remain in CODIS indefinitely.
“BCI’s scientists have helped local law enforcement identify serial criminals and cold case criminals, and even exonerate suspected criminals whose DNA did not match evidence found at a crime scene,” said Attorney General DeWine.
Every month, there are on average 140 CODIS “hits” linking DNA left at a crime scene to a known suspect in Ohio or another state.
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