Stop treating DNA evidence like it's some light switch that turns on the "guilty" bulb over the killer's head.

DNA evidence CAN be contested in court, is sometimes overturned, is notoriously difficult to use conclusively, and is by no means perfect.

It's just another tool used by detectives, same as any other.

Back it up.

They put those on Cold Case Files.

What some people don't seem to realize is that you can mess up DNA to make it look like it isn't someone it IS, but you can't mess it up to make it look like it IS someone it ISN'T.

DNA is not as open to being contested as other types of tools. You know, I'll bet you're all for DNA evidence when it's exculpatory, and proves that someone has been imprisoned falsely, but are one of the first to talk about how it isn't perfectly accurate when it's used to convict someone, aren't you?

Let me look up the "rule" that says that. It's one of the first things they teach you in Forensics. Since one is constantly shedding skin flakes and hair, one leaves "evidence" of one's presence everywhere they go.

Proof?

*sigh*

It's an accepted "rule," proven enough so that it's been in use for close to a century. It was discovered by a scientist and named after him.

If you don't shed skin and hair, you're the only person in the world that doesn't.

And apparantly, it seems that even if I find it, it won't make a difference. You'll just keep wanting more "proof." Why don't you find a forensics forum and ask someone with a PhD? Or would you consider them to not know what they're talking about as well?

Okay. So why can't you provide the information?

I'm not arguing that. I just think it's possible to be in a spot at a particular time and not leave anything.

I merely asked you to back up your statement, and I don't think you have. If you don't want people to challenge your opinions and/or statements, then don't make 'em.

The point being that it's not always available. You cannot "make it mandatory".

OK you leave something everywhere you go, but so does everyone that passes by. How do you sort out the perp from all the rest?;)

SIDHE: If you don't shed skin and hair, you're the only person in the world that doesn't.

SYCAMORE: I'm not arguing that. I just think it's possible to be in a spot at a particular time and not leave anything.

~~~~~~~~+~~~~~~~~

ME: It's also possible for you to leave something behind that isn't found.

Or the fact that it is left behind doesn't mean a slam dunk conviction. Bloody glove, anyone?

No doubt...I mentioned that earlier.

My coworker was decomposing for a month-month and a half before Norristown's finest thought to ask his live-in girlfriend

1. "Can we take a peek in the basement?"

2. "What's that smell?"

(Eau d'Deadguy is quite distinctive. The neighbors had been complaining for several weeks about the stench.)

From the first DAY that he didn't show up to work I was telling people "Sam's dead. She killed him. He's in the basement, wrapped in plastic."

Guess where and how they found him?

Man, that's horrible.

Truly horrifying.

Oh, and BAAhahahhahahahhaha

Wait a minute...was that the one that made the news a few years ago?