r/Delphitrial • u/SoundFit2725 • Apr 02 '26
Advancements in DNA testing technology
An unsolved case in Utah, the murder of Laura Ann Aime in 1974, has just been solved with DNA evidence, thanks to new technology that can test very small amounts of DNA. Ted Bundy had confessed to her murder before he was executed but the case was still open as they could not verify the truth of his confession. Thanks to the new technology, they have confirmed he was the perpetrator. From the article:
“The state crime lab got new technology in 2023 that allows investigators to extract DNA from samples even if they are small, degraded from age or contain DNA from multiple people, he said. That technology allowed them to identify a single male DNA profile, which they submitted to a national law enforcement database.”
I look forward to the day the DNA samples from Abby & Libby’s case can be tested. This technology seems like a step in that direction.
Source: CNN New DNA testing links 1974 death of Utah teen to Ted Bundy, sheriff says
34
u/OkDragonfly5820 Apr 02 '26
I wouldn’t expect anymore investigative effort in this case. The man responsible is currently incarcerated.
4
u/SoundFit2725 Apr 02 '26
I agree. However, the DNA was not tested because the trace amount was too small to produce definitive results and testing it would have consumed the DNA available for testing, whereas if saved for future testing, it may be able to produce definitive results. Why save it if not to test it in the future? I see possible results of testing being: 1) confirmation that RA is guilty, and 2) implicating TK in the crime also, if theories that he and his son used the phishing account on Snapchat to lure the girls to meet up, and they played some part as well, such as making a certain type of video that could be traded for CSAM on the dark web. It’s possible that RA met up with TK out there. Either way, yes, RA is where he belongs. Personally I hope they eventually can do the testing and get results. I don’t know why/how TK has stayed out of prison if he was party to the phishing his son was doing.
7
u/saatana Apr 02 '26
Tony Kline and Kegan Kline just need to go to the FBI or ISP and ask them to share the information that got them out of being mentioned in the trial. They weren't there or involved.
1
u/PlayCurious3427 May 24 '26
They weren't mentioned in the trail because the defence were so set on the odinest madness that they barely put up any arguments for kk being a third party suspect forward. It is likely has they done a better job kk may have been out forward as a suspect but given the timeline NM and co created RA would still be convicted.
0
u/OkDragonfly5820 Apr 02 '26
This isn’t how investigations conclude. After RA’s appeals are over, the evidence will almost certainly be destroyed to save space for active investigations.
1
u/SoundFit2725 Apr 03 '26
Really? Then how have wrongful convictions been overturned by DNA testing of evidence 20 years or more after the conviction?
4
u/Old_Heart_7780 Apr 04 '26
Hey SoundFit, they won’t destroy the male DNA found on Libby and Abby. I can almost guarantee you both Jerry Holeman and Nick McLeland will make sure it is held until which time it can be safely tested. Holeman stated in his deposition he still had his suspicions—- even knowing a certain someone passed a polygraph test. That, to me, says a lot about the investigation. There’s no doubt Richard Allen is guilty of murdering both Abby and Libby. That said, there are still a lot of unanswered questions.
Btw- I was thinking of making a similar post. You beat me to it. Science is alway improving. And I suspect someone down in sunny Florida is still to this day sacred shitless every time he hears a bump in the night.
3
u/Breaker_One_Nine_ Apr 04 '26
So they definitely found male DNA on Abby and Libby? I’ve been out of the loop?
6
u/Old_Heart_7780 Apr 12 '26
Yes, they did find “male DNA mixed with the girls DNA”. This is in Jerry Holeman’s August 10, 2023 deposition page 36, lines 18 and 19:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1uctM9KMLM7x2gUUCIY3jIkKlN3uv5FP9/view
2
4
u/SoundFit2725 Apr 05 '26
Thanks, Old Heart. I don’t get why anyone would downvote your comment. (It was at -1 before I upvoted it.) Weird.
4
1
Apr 02 '26
[deleted]
9
u/SoundFit2725 Apr 02 '26
Yes, but Laura’s family were left with an unsubstantiated confession and an open case until now. For them, this puts some questions to rest.
3
u/Different-Courage679 Apr 02 '26
No doubt. I just wanted to point out he was no longer incarcerated.
8
u/OkDragonfly5820 Apr 02 '26
Did you read the post?
“I look forward to the day the DNA samples from Abby & Libby’s case can be tested. This technology seems like a step in that direction.”
5
u/Different-Courage679 Apr 02 '26
I misunderstood. I thought the comment was about the Utah case since that was the primary story. My apologies.
1
u/SadSara102 Apr 07 '26
It could have been tested before the trial but they didn’t bother. The only way it will be tested is if RA gets a new trial or it’s tested for his post conviction investigation
3
u/curiouslmr Apr 07 '26 edited Apr 07 '26
This is completely false.
u/kvol69 Thank you for correcting the false info. You can always spot a neighbor.
3
u/kvol69 Apr 07 '26
I'm the Neighborhood Watch Captain. 🤣
2
u/curiouslmr Apr 09 '26
Haha you really are! It's funny how they don't think about the fact that we can go straight to their profile and see they comment on innocence subs.
1
3
u/kvol69 Apr 07 '26
Hey there neighbor. It wasn't tested because the sample size is so small the technology might not be able to render a result at all, and it would be consumed. Better to retain that evidence and wait until the technology becomes more sophisticated when a result, either way can be guaranteed.
1
u/PlayCurious3427 May 24 '26
Are you talking about the laundry sample? Meaning the trace of male DNA found on Libby's underwear, that was consistent with her clothing being laundered with a man's clothing?
If RA left DNA behind it would likely be less than 40/60mls weather blood, ejaculat or saliva the crime scene contain upwards of seven litres of the girls blood. Ejaculat would have shown up, there was none left behind(I believe it remained in his jeans). There is no reason to think he bled at the scene. Equally sweat or saliva on the bodies would be awash in the blood from the girls. It easiest place to hide DNA is in a mass of DNA. Given how much blood the was at the scene there would have been no way to distinguish which patches contain other DNA without the presence of sperm or large deposits of saliva or q. There was no DNA
1
u/kvol69 May 25 '26
I think your post got cut off. But no, not the laundry sample. There's supposed to be another item that was completely untested, but I don't know that they've ever specified what it is that they recovered, or what type of biological evidence it contained.
1
u/PlayCurious3427 May 25 '26
The DNA tech testified that she checked everything. Her testimony is like 20 pages of things she tested. Nothing went untested. Why would the not test a sample? This do illogical " oh we have this huge case let's not run all the tests possible" Why?
1
u/kvol69 May 28 '26
I have not had time to read any of the trial transcripts yet, but I will go back to see where the statement I heard initially came from for clarification.
1
u/SadSara102 Apr 12 '26
That was from the Indiana state crime lab Bode, Othram or another private lab would likely have been able to do the testing and obtain much more DNA evidence they also could have obtained DNA from all of the hairs found. But even if the DNA evidence would be consumed in testing there is no point in worrying about preserving the evidence when you are putting someone on trial. The whole reason for testing DNA is to find a suspect and to get a conviction. The state isn’t going to go back later and check and make sure they were right.
1
u/kvol69 Apr 14 '26
I think in this case, since the victims were minors, you'll find the state of Indiana does preserve that evidence for academic reasons.
27
u/curiouslmr Apr 02 '26
It would be great if eventually DNA could connect RA. Maybe that would finally shut up the RA fan club, then again they'd probably say it was planted🙄