Crime Scene Analysis Through DNA Testing of Canine Feces—A Case Report

Abstract

Forensic DNA testing can play a critical role in homicide investigations. Selecting the appropriate evidence on which to perform DNA testing requires foresight and reasoning based on experience and science. Although successful DNA testing can occur using many substrates, including blood, hair, and sweat/epithelial cells, positive results can also result from testing various unorthodox samples. The authors report on a triple-murder investigation where DNA testing of dog feces at the crime scene matched DNA testing of feces found on the shoe of a suspect resulting in successful prosecution of the case.

The Revolution of Animal Genomics in Forensic Sciences

“…Therefore mtDNA was analyzed, and its classification in one haplotype typical of only 9% of the world's canine population, including the victim's dog, was used as evidence to link Westerfield to the murder of the little girl and to obtain his conviction [21]. Additionally, there are other examples that could testify to the advantages of analyzing animal genomes to solve a crime [27,28]. However, forensic genetic analysis often also involves livestock farms with a large application on the establishment of a confident parentage and high traceability across the agri-food sector [29][30][31][32][33][34] and small mammals such as ferrets, hamsters, and rabbits which are becoming more popular as companion animals ( [35][36][37][38] as examples).…”