SPRINGFIELD- The use of new technology, termed by some as "magical," is helping police and prosecutors solve a growing number of criminal cases. It stems from evidence left behind by criminals when they touch something at crime scenes. It goes far beyond fingerprints and is considered equally accurate and reliable.

Crime victim Tammy Gibbs of Springfield learned about it first-hand when her house was burglarized in January. Her home security system recorded an image of the burglar, but it was a palm print left on a door knob that led police to identify the suspect.

"At first I was really upset," said Gibbs, who eventually had to buy her stolen jewelry back from the shop where it had been pawned.

Even if prints are not available, criminals who touch doors, windows and other objects leave behind microscopic bits of skin that carry identifying information known as "touch DNA." Lt. Christopher Clark of the Clark County Sheriff's Office said traditional DNA relies on blood or saliva from a suspect. Touch DNA  has changed the way investigators approach crime scenes looking for evidence.

"Stolen vehicles, car break-ins. We do not just look for blood and bodily fluids anymore," Clark said.  

Databases Are Key

Palm prints and touch DNA evidence collected at crime scenes are compared to other samples from victims, suspects and persons of interest. The key, according to Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine, is collecting evidence and testing it in a reliable way to see if matches are found. According to DeWine, Ohio currently has four million fingerprints in its database and 550,000 palm prints. The state collects DNA samples from every person arrested and convicted, plus suspects in cases and from forensic evidence found at crime scenes. A total number of 529,589 DNA samples are in Ohio's database and the number is growing with each new case.

Solving Cases

The power of Touch DNA to unlock cases first made headlines in Ohio in July of 2009. It helped to solve a gruesome double-murder investigation in Akron.  Alan Grna and his mother, Julianna, were found beaten to death in their home.  Stacy Violi, Forensic Scientist at the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, said an alert investigator on the scene theorized that the killer may have washed blood from his hands in an upstairs bathroom and then used a roll of toilet paper to dry them. Violi said Touch DNA from a suspect was found inside the toilet paper tube, placing him at the scene of the crime. Since that case, the use of Touch DNA has spread to more cities. DeWine predicts it will help solve a local cold case that has remained a mystery for years.

"There will be a case in the Miami Valley in the not too distant future that we will solve because of touch DNA," DeWine said.

Future Expectations

       
The Bureau of Criminal Investigation handled 4,971 DNA cases in 2012 and DeWine is pushing to do more in the future. He has already reduced the turn-around time for DNA lab work at BCI. DeWine plans to "push the technology" to the limits. However, DeWine and others doubt that this new technology will force criminals to be more careful at crime scenes.  Investigators believe criminals are often in too much of a hurry to think about all the details to cover their tracks. DeWine's message to criminals?

"You may think you got away scott-free, but you have left something behind and we are going to come get you," DeWine said.