Project Tricia Griffith rebuttal: the truth about Tricia Griffin DNA

tricia griffith wrote:
Anti-K, this whole forum has example after example after example that an intruder did not commit this crime.

No one can show one scintilla of evidence of an intruder.

As owner, I do my best to stay out of actual discussions about a crime.

The JBR case is the one expection.

Websleuths is a leader in true crime information as well as discussion. People come here to get information. It is imperative we deal with the facts. Not fantasy.

All I ask for are facts and a logical connecting of the dots. Logic and facts.

When I get time I will be going through the forum to make sure the JonBenet Ramsey forum is being held up to the high standards just like all our other forums on Websleuths.

The days of allowing anyone to post anything because it's part of their "theory" are gone. Facts and logic. Very simple.

This is what Mary Lacy's letter said

As part of its investigation of the JonBenet Ramsey homicide, the Boulder Police identified genetic material with apparent evidentiary value. Over time, the police continued to investigate DNA, including taking advantage of advances in the science and methodology. One of the results of their efforts was that they identified genetic material and a DNA profile from drops of JonBenet’s blood located in the crotch of the underwear she was wearing at the time her body was discovered. That genetic profile belongs to a male and does not belong to anyone in the Ramsey family.

The police department diligently compared that profile to a very large number of people associated with the victim, with her family, and with the investigation, and has not identified the source, innocent or otherwise, of this DNA. The Boulder Police and prosecutors assigned to this investigation in the past also worked conscientiously with laboratory analysts to obtain better results through new approaches and additional tests as they became available. Those efforts ultimately led to the discovery of sufficient genetic markers from this male profile to enter it into the national DNA data bank.

In December of 2002, the Boulder District Attorney’s Office, under Mary T. Lacy, assumed responsibility for the investigation of the JonBenet Ramsey homicide. Since then, this office has worked with the Boulder Police Department to continue the investigation of this crime.

In early August of 2007, District Attorney Lacy attended a Continuing Education Program in West Virginia sponsored by the National Institute of Justice on Forensic Biology and DNA. The presenters discussed successful outcomes from a new methodology described as “touch DNA.” One method for sampling for touch DNA is the “scraping method.” In this process, forensic scientists scrape a surface where there is no observable stain or other indication of possible DNA in an effort to recover for analysis any genetic material that might nonetheless be present. This methodology was not well known in this country until recently and is still used infrequently.

In October of 2007, we decided to pursue the possibility of submitting additional items from the JonBenet Ramsey homicide to be examined using this methodology. We checked with a number of Colorado sources regarding which private laboratory to use for this work. Based upon multiple recommendations, including that of the Boulder Police Department, we contacted the Bode Technology Group located near Washington, D.C., and initiated discussions with the professionals at that laboratory. First Assistant District Attorney Peter Maguire and Investigator Andy Horita spent a full day with staff members at the Bode facility in early December of 2007.

The Bode Technology laboratory applied the “touch DNA” scraping method to both sides of the waist area of the long johns that JonBenet Ramsey was wearing over her underwear when her body was discovered. These sites were chosen because evidence supports the likelihood that the perpetrator removed and/or replaced the long johns, perhaps by handling them on the sides near the waist.

On March 24, 2008, Bode informed us that they had recovered and identified genetic material from both sides of the waist area of the long johns. The unknown male profile previously identified from the inside crotch area of the underwear matched the DNA recovered from the long johns at Bode.

We consulted with a DNA expert from a different laboratory, who recommended additional investigation into the remote possibility that the DNA might have come from sources at the autopsy when this clothing was removed. Additional samples were obtained and then analyzed by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation to assist us in this effort. We received those results on June 27th of this year and are, as a result, confidant that this DNA did not come from innocent sources at the autopsy. As mentioned above, extensive DNA testing had previously excluded people connected to the family and to the investigation as possible innocent sources.

I want to acknowledge my appreciation for the efforts of the Boulder Police Department, Bode Technology Group, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, and the Denver Police Department Forensic Laboratory for the great work and assistance they have contributed to this investigation.

The unexplained third party DNA on the clothing of the victim is very significant and powerful evidence. It is very unlikely that there would be an innocent explanation for DNA found at three different locations on two separate items of clothing worn by the victim at the time of her murder. This is particularly true in this case because the matching DNA profiles were found on genetic material from inside the crotch of the victim’s underwear and near the waist on both sides of her long johns, and because concerted efforts that might identify a source, and perhaps an innocent explanation, were unsuccessful.

• Yes, you can often tell where DNA comes from. In this case, it is small enough that it is difficult to tell. CBI thought it was either sweat or saliva."

• "The suspect is the donator of that unknown DNA, and until you can prove otherwise, I think that's the way you've got to look at it."

Host Tricia Griffith is a veteran radio disc jockey and owner of Websleuths.com and owner of Forums for Justice.org.

We consulted with a DNA expert

CONSULTING AND EDUCATION IN FORENSIC SCIENCE

Norah Rudin

View Norah's curriculum vitae.

Norah Rudin holds a B.A. from Pomona College and a Ph.D. from Brandeis University. She is a member of the California Association of Criminalists, the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, and a Diplomate of the American Board of Criminalistics. After completing a post-doctoral fellowship at Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, she served three years as a full-time consultant/technical leader for the California Department of Justice DNA Laboratory and has also served as consulting technical leader for the Idaho Department of Law Enforcement DNA Laboratory, the San Francisco Crime Laboratory DNA Section, and the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department DNA Laboratory. Dr. Rudin has co-authored An Introduction to DNA Forensic Analysis and Principles and Practice of Criminalistics: The Profession of Forensic Science. She is also the author of the Dictionary of Modern Biology. Dr. Rudin has taught a variety of general forensic and forensic DNA courses for the University of California at Berkeley extension and on-line. She is frequently invited to speak at various legal symposia and forensic conferences, and recently served a guberatorial appointment to the Virginia Department of Forensic Science Scientific Advisory Committee. She is currently co-chair of the Constitution Project Committee on DNA Collection. She remains active as an independent consultant and expert witness in forensic DNA.


Dr. Rudin and Mr. Inman have formed the non-profit company SCIEG (Scientific Collaboration, Innovation, and Education) for the purpose of developing Lab Retriever, a software tool to perform likelihood ratios with a probability of drop-out, and more generally to further forensic science education in general.

CURRICULUM VITAE
Name: MICHAEL LEONARD BAIRD
Address: DNA Diagnostics Center
One DDC Way
Fairfield, Ohio 45014
Education:
Ph.D. – Genetics The University of Chicago 1978
Chicago, Illinois 60637
M.A. - Biology State University of New York 1973
New Paltz, New York 12566
B.A. - Biology Drew University 1971
Madison, New Jersey 07940
Positions:
Laboratory Director DNA Diagnostics Center 2002 - present
Senior Director Orchid Diagnostics 2001 - 2002
Laboratory Operations
Vice President Lifecodes Corporation 1992 -2001
Laboratory Operations
Director Business Lifecodes Corporation 1990 - 1992
Development
Director of Forensics Lifecodes Corporation 1986 - 1990
and Paternity
Senior Scientist Lifecodes Corporation 1982 - 1986
Adjunct Assistant New York Medical College 1986 - 1992
Professor
Research Associate Columbia University 1979 - 1982
Postdoctoral Fellow University of Michigan 1978 - 1979

Societies:

The American Academy of Forensic Sciences American Association for the Advancement
of Science

American Association of Blood Banks American Society of Hematology American Society of Human Genetics Sigma Chi Society

International Society for Forensic Genetic American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors American Society of Histocompatibility and
Immunogenetics

Licenses:

1. New York State Department of Health Certificate of Qualification Number B 3447 Histocompatability (HLA typing with DNA probes) Paternity/Identity Analysis

2. State of Connecticut Department of Health Certificate of Qualification Number 381 Clinical Laboratory Director

3. Department of Health & Human Services Laboratory Registration Certificate CLIA ID # 07D0880801

4. American Society of Histocompatability
and Immunogenetics, Laboratory Directorof Histocompatbility Laboratory


Professional Society Positions Held:

American Association of Blood Banks, Chair Parentage Testing Accreditation Program Unit, Liaison to Parentage Testing Standards Committee, Member of Accreditation Program Committee, Assessor of Parentage Testing Laboratories for AABB
Human Identity Trade Association, President
American Society of Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics, Inspector

2

BIBLIOGRAPHY


1. Garber, E. D., M. L. Baird, and D. J. Chapman. 1975. Genetics of Ustilago violacea. I. Carotenoid mutants and carotenogenesis. Botanical Gazette. 136:341-346.

2. Garber, E. D., M. L. Baird, and L. M. Weiss. 1978. Genetics of Ustilago violacea. II. Polymorphisms of color and nutritional requirements of sporidia from natural populations. Botanical Gazette. 139:261-265.

3. Catrall, M. E., M. L. Baird, and E. D. Garber. 1978. Genetics of Ustilago violacea. III. Crossing over and nondisjunction. Botanical Gazette. 139:266-270.

4. Baird, M. L. and E. D. Garber. 1979. Genetics of Ustilago violacea. IV. An electrophoretic survey for urease variants in wild strains. Botanical Gazette. 140:84-88.

5. Baird, M. L. and E. D. Garber. 1979. Genetics of Ustilago violacea. V. Outcrossing and selfing in teliospore inocula. Botanical Gazette. 140:89-93.

6. Bank, A., J. G. Mears, F. Ramirez, M. Baird, and J. Feldenzer. 1979. Organization of normal and abnormal human globin genes by restriction enzyme analysis. In Sigler, P. B. (Ed.): Proceedings of the Symposium on the Molecular Basis of Mutant Hemoglobin Dysfunction. Illinois. Elsevier/North Holland.

7. Bank, A., J. G. Mears, F. Ramirez, A. L. Burns, S. Spense, J. Feldenzer, and M. Baird. 1980. The organization of the gamma-delta-beta gene complex in normal and thalassemia cells. In Huisman, T. H. J. (Ed.): Proceedings of the Seminar of Abnormal Human Hemoglobins and Red Cell Enzymes. New York.

8. Bank, A., J. G. Mears, F. Ramirez, A. L. Burns, S. Spence, J. Feldenzer, and M. Baird. 1980. The organization of the gamma-delta-beta gene complex in normal and thalassemia cells. Hemoglobin. 4:497-507.

9. Bank, A., A. L. Burns, M. Baird, and R. Pergolizzi. 1981. Globin gene pathology: Clues to gene function and hemoglobin switching. In Stamatoyannopoulos, G. and A. W. Nienhuis (Eds.): Organization and Expression of Globin Genes. Liss/New York.

10. Baird, M. L., C. Driscoll, H. Schreiner, G. V. Sciarratta, G. Sansone, G, Niazi, F. Ramirez, and A. Bank. 1981. A nucleotide change at a splice junction in the human beta globin gene is associated with beta zero thalassemia. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 78:4218-4221.

11. Baird, M., H. Schreiner, C. Driscoll, and A. Bank. 1981. Localization of the site of recombination in formation of the Lepore Boston globin gene. Journal of Clinical Investigation. 68:560-564.

12. Driscoll, C., M. Baird, and A. Bank. 1981. A new polymorphism in the human beta globin gene useful in antenatal diagnosis. Journal of Clinical Investigation. 68:915-919.

13. Burns, A. L., S. Spence. K. A. Kosche, F. Ramirez, J. G. Mears, H. Schreiner, C. Miller, M. Baird, D. Leibowitz, P. Giardina, A. Markenson, and A. Bank. 1981. Isolation and characterization of cloned DNA: The delta and beta globin genes in homozygous beta plus thalassemia. Blood. 57:140-146.

14. Bank, A., M. Baird, M. C. Driscoll, R. G. Pergolizzi, and S. Spence. 1982. Gene defects in the thalassemias: Recent advances in detection and treatment. In Cao, A., Carassi, U., and Rowley P. (Eds). Organization of Globin Genes. Liss/New York.

15. Bank, A., S. E. Spence, P. G. Pergolizzi, M. C. Driscoll, and M. Baird. 1983. Gene defects in beta thalassemia. In Goldwasser, E. (Ed.): Regulation of Hemoglobin Biosynthesis. Elsevier/Holland.

16. Baird, M., M. C. Driscoll, B. Ramot, Y. Ohta, F. Nakamura, A. Bloom, and A. Bank. 1983. Gene analysis in delta-beta and delta zero thalassemia. Journal of Biological Chemistry. 259:512-515.

17. Beldjord, C., C. Lapourmourlie, M. Baird, R. Girot, L. Adjrad, G. Lenoir, M. Benabadji, and D. Labie. 1983. Four new haplotypes observed in Algerian beta thalassemia patients. Human Genetics. 65:204-206.

18. Baird, M., E. Kanter, R. Schaler, and I, Balazs. 1986. Application of DNA polymorphisms to the forensic examination of dried blood stains. In Brinkmann, B. and Henningsen, K. (Eds): Advances in Forensic Haemogenetics. pp 351-355.


19. Baird, M., A. Giusti, I. Balazs, and J. Glassberg. 1986. Application of DNA polymorphisms to the forensic examination of semen. In Brinkmann, B. and Henningsen, K. (Eds.): Advances in Forensic Haemogenetics. pp 354-360.

20. Balazs, I., K. Wexler, L. Nicholas, L. Miyazaki, A. Giusti, M. Baird, P. Rubinstein, F. Allen, and L. Sussman. 1986. Application of DNA polymorphisms to the determination of paternity. In Brinkmann, B. and Henningsen, K. (Eds): Advances in Forensic Haemogenetics. pp 196-200.

21. Kanter, E., M. Baird, R. Shaler, and I. Balazs. 1986. Analysis of restriction fragment length polymorphisms in deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) recovered from dried bloodstains. Journal of Forensic Sciences. 31:403-408.

22. Giusti, A., M. Baird, S. Pasquale, I. Balazs, and J. Glassberg. 1986. Application of deoxyribonucleic (DNA) polymorphisms to the analysis of DNA recovered from sperm. Journal of Forensic Sciences. 31:409-417.

23. Baird, M., I. Balazs, A. Giusti, L. Miyazaki, L. Nicholas, K. Wexler, E. Kanter, J. Glassberg, F. Allen, P. Rubinstein, and L. Sussman. 1986. Allele frequency distribution of two highly polymorphic DNA sequences in three ethnic groups and its application to the determination of paternity. American Journal of Human Genetics. 39:489-501.

24. Benn, P., L. Soper, A. Eisenberg, T. Silver, M. Coleman, B. Caccapaglia, L. Bennett, M. Baird, M. Silverstein, C. Berger, and B. Bernhardt. 1987. Utility of molecular genetic analysis of BCR rearrangement in the diagnosis of chronic myeloid leukemia. Cancer Genetics and Cytogenetics. 29:1-7.

25. Soper, L., B. Bernhardt, A. Eisenberg, B. Caccapaglia, L. Bennett, M. Baird, and R. Silver. 1987. Clonal immunoglobulin gene rearrangements in chronic lymphocytic leukemia: A correlative study. American Journal of Hematology. 27:257-264.

26. Baird, M., M. Clyne, E. Meade, L. Ratzlaff, G. Smalls, K. Wexler, P. Benn, I. Balazs, and J. Glassberg. 1988. The application of DNA-Print for the estimation of paternity. Advances in Forensic Haemogenetics 2. pp 354-358.


27. Baird, M., A. Giusti, E. Meade, M. Clyne, R. Shaler, P. Benn, I. Balazs, and J. Glassberg. 1988. The application of DNA-Print for identification from forensic biological materials. Advances in Forensic Haemogenetics 2. pp 396-402.

28. Balazs, I., M. Baird, M. Clyne, and E. Meade. 1989. Human population genetic studies of five hypervariable DNA loci. American Journal of Human Genetics. 44:182-190.

29. McNally, L., R. Shaler, M. Baird, I. Balazs, P. DeForest, and L. Kobilinsky. 1989. Evaluation of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) isolated from human bloodstains exposed to ultraviolet light, heat, humidity, and soil contamination. Journal of Forensic Sciences. 34:1059-1069.

30. McNally, L., R. Shaler, M. Baird, I. Balazs, L. Kobilinsky, and P. DeForest. 1989. The effects of environment and substrata on deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA): The use of casework samples from New York City. Journal of Forensic Sciences. 34:1070-1077.

31. Baird, M. 1989. Quality Control and Quality Assurance. In DNA Technology and Forensic Science. Edited by Ballantyne, J., Sensabaugh, G., and Witkowski, J. Banbury Report 32. pp 175 - 190. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press.
New York.

32. McNally, L., M. Baird, K. McElfresh, A. Eisenberg, and I. Balazs. 1990. Increased migration rate observed in DNA from evidentiary material precludes the use of sample mixing to resolve forensic cases of identity. Applied and Theoretical Electrophoresis. 1:267-272.

33. Baird, M., K. McElfresh, L. McNally. L. Bennett, J. Coleman, D. Vining, J. Sgueglia, M. Keel, L. Galbreath, R. Cunningham, and I. Balazs. Analysis of Case work smaples by single locus VNTR polymorphisms. In Advances in Forensic Haemogenetics 3. Edited by Polesky, H. and Mayr, W. pp 88 - 91. Springer-Verlag, Berlin.

34. Balazs, I., M. Baird, K. McElfresh, and J. Udey. 1990. Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium analysis of DNA polymorphic loci that exhibit a continuous distribution of fragment sizes. In Advances in Forensic Haemogenetics 3. Edited by Polesky, H. and Mayr, W. pp 71 - 74.


35. Balazs, I., M. Baird, K. McElfresh, and R. Shaler. 1990. Experimental techniques for the isolation and analysis of DNA from forensic materials. In DNA Forensic Science Theory, Techniques and Applications. Edited by Robertson, J., Ross, A., and Burgoyne, L. pp 60 -73. Ellis Horwood. New York.

36. Baird, M., I. Balazs, and K. McElfresh. 1990. Examination of Forensic Biological Evidence by DNA Print Analysis. In DNA and Other Polymorphisms in Forensic Science. Edited by H. Lee and R. Gaensslen. pp 61 - 75. Year Book Medical Publishers, Inc. Chicago.

37. Baird, M. 1990. Analysis of Forensic DNA Samples by Single Locus VNTR Probes. In Forensic DNA Technology. Edited by M. Farley and J. Harrington. pp 39 -49. Lewis Publishers, Inc. Michigan.

38. Baird, M. 1991. The Search for Truth in DNA. Invited Editorial. The New Biologist. 3:527-529.

39. Baird, M. 1993. Quality Control in DNA Profiling Tests. in Molecular Biology and Pathology. Edited by D. Farcus. pp 201 - 215. Academic Press, Inc. New York.

40. Baird, M. 1996. Use of DNA Identification for Forensic and Paternity Analysis. Journal of Clinical Laboratory Analysis. Wiley-Liss, New York, in press.

41. Baird, M. 1997. DNA Profiling: Laboratory Methods. In Modern Scientific Evidence. D. Faigman, D. Kaye, M. Saks, and J. Sanders, Eds. West Publishing Company, St. Paul, MN.

42. Baird, M. 1998. Use of the AmpliType PM + HLA DQA1 Amplification and Typing Kits for Identity Testing. In Forensic DNA Profiling Protocols. P. Lincoln and J. Thomson, Eds. Humana Press. Totowa, New Jersey.

43. Reid, T., D. Ingala, C. Kraemer, W. Dage, C. Dieckhoner, J. Forman, D. Hodge, K. Johnson, C. Oatman, H. Schlotman, C. Schuh, and M. Baird. 2003. Distribution of HUMACTBP22 (SE33) Alleles in Three north American Population. Journal of Forensic Sciences. 48:1422-1423.

Host Tricia Griffith is a veteran radio disc jockey and owner of Websleuths.com and owner of Forums for Justice.org.

• "The suspect is the donator of that unknown DNA, and until you can prove otherwise, I think that's the way you've got to look at it.