October 18, 2009
Ms. Casey Anthony,
As you are aware, since June 2008, the Boulder District Attorney's Office has been the agency responsible for the investigation of the homicide of your daughter, Caylee. I understand that the fact that we have not been able to identify the person who killed her is a great disappointment that is a continuing hardship for you and your family.
However, significant new evidence has recently been discovered through the application of relatively new methods of DNA analysis. This new scientific evidence convinces us that it is appropriate, given the circumstances of this case, to state that we do not consider you to be under any suspicion in the commission of this crime.
We became aware last summer that some private laboratories were conducting a new methodology described as "touch DNA."
The Bode Technology laboratory was able to develop a profile from DNA recovered from the duct tape.
Linda Kenney Baden, a kindred spirit, was heard on 48 Hours Mystery (October 17, 2009) commenting on this important new evidence:
KENNEY BADEN: The state had led you to believe that there’s duct tape around the mouth.
RODRIGUEZ: Oh, you’re saying there’s not?
KENNEY BADEN: All we can say is that’s going to be a disputed issue.
BAEZ: I think they botched this from the very beginning by arresting Casey Anthony without fully investigating the facts and circumstances surrounding this child’s disappearance.
KENNEY BADEN: It was ruined and spoiled in a lot of ways. For instance…the most important piece of evidence that the state thought they had, which is this demonizing duct tape, was contaminated by the FBI.
A lab technician's DNA was found on the duct tape. Along with DNA belonging to an unidentified person…
KENNEY BADEN: Another party that did not belong to the FBI, did not belong to law enforcement, did not belong to Casey or any of her family members that is on that duct tape.
MACALUSO: A stranger. It was a stranger involved.
KENNEY BADEN: Somebody else is the killer of this child.
(http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/10/15/48hours/main5386046.shtml)
Unexplained DNA on the victim of a crime is powerful evidence. There is no innocent explanation for its incriminating presence.
Solving this crime remains our goal, and its ultimate resolution will depend on more than just matching DNA. However, given the history of the publicity surrounding this case, I believe it is important and appropriate to provide you with our opinion that you are not responsible for this crime. Based on the DNA results and our serious consideration of all the other evidence, we are comfortable that the profile now in CODIS (the Combined DNA Index System) is the profile of the perpetrator of this murder.
To the extent that we may have contributed in any way to the public perception that you might have been involved in this crime, I am deeply sorry: No innocent person should have to endure such an extensive trial in the court of public opinion, especially when public officials have not had sufficient evidence to initiate a trial in a court of law. I have the greatest respect for the way you and your family have handled this adversity.
I am aware that there will be those who will choose to continue to differ with our conclusion. But DNA is very often the most reliable forensic evidence we can hope to find and we rely on it often to bring to justice those who have committed crimes. I am very comfortable that our conclusion that this evidence has vindicated you is based firmly on all of the evidence, including the reliable forensic DNA evidence that has been developed as a result of advances in that scientific field during this investigation.
We intend in the future to treat you as the victims of this crime, with the sympathy due you because of the horrific loss you suffered. Otherwise, we will continue to refrain from publicly discussing the evidence in this case.
We hope that we will one day obtain a DNA match from the CODIS data bank that will lead to further evidence and to the solution of this crime. With recent legislative changes throughout the country, the number of profiles available for comparison in the CODIS data bank is growing steadily. Law enforcement agencies are receiving increasing numbers of cold hits on DNA profiles that have been in the system for many years. We hope that one day soon we will get a match to this perpetrator. We will, of course, contact you immediately. Perhaps only then will we begin to understand the psychopathy or motivation for this brutal and senseless crime.
Lovingly,
Mary T. Lacy
District Attorney
xoxoxoxoxoxo
Ms. Casey Anthony,
As you are aware, since June 2008, the Boulder District Attorney's Office has been the agency responsible for the investigation of the homicide of your daughter, Caylee. I understand that the fact that we have not been able to identify the person who killed her is a great disappointment that is a continuing hardship for you and your family.
However, significant new evidence has recently been discovered through the application of relatively new methods of DNA analysis. This new scientific evidence convinces us that it is appropriate, given the circumstances of this case, to state that we do not consider you to be under any suspicion in the commission of this crime.
We became aware last summer that some private laboratories were conducting a new methodology described as "touch DNA."
The Bode Technology laboratory was able to develop a profile from DNA recovered from the duct tape.
Linda Kenney Baden, a kindred spirit, was heard on 48 Hours Mystery (October 17, 2009) commenting on this important new evidence:
KENNEY BADEN: The state had led you to believe that there’s duct tape around the mouth.
RODRIGUEZ: Oh, you’re saying there’s not?
KENNEY BADEN: All we can say is that’s going to be a disputed issue.
BAEZ: I think they botched this from the very beginning by arresting Casey Anthony without fully investigating the facts and circumstances surrounding this child’s disappearance.
KENNEY BADEN: It was ruined and spoiled in a lot of ways. For instance…the most important piece of evidence that the state thought they had, which is this demonizing duct tape, was contaminated by the FBI.
A lab technician's DNA was found on the duct tape. Along with DNA belonging to an unidentified person…
KENNEY BADEN: Another party that did not belong to the FBI, did not belong to law enforcement, did not belong to Casey or any of her family members that is on that duct tape.
MACALUSO: A stranger. It was a stranger involved.
KENNEY BADEN: Somebody else is the killer of this child.
(http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/10/15/48hours/main5386046.shtml)
Unexplained DNA on the victim of a crime is powerful evidence. There is no innocent explanation for its incriminating presence.
Solving this crime remains our goal, and its ultimate resolution will depend on more than just matching DNA. However, given the history of the publicity surrounding this case, I believe it is important and appropriate to provide you with our opinion that you are not responsible for this crime. Based on the DNA results and our serious consideration of all the other evidence, we are comfortable that the profile now in CODIS (the Combined DNA Index System) is the profile of the perpetrator of this murder.
To the extent that we may have contributed in any way to the public perception that you might have been involved in this crime, I am deeply sorry: No innocent person should have to endure such an extensive trial in the court of public opinion, especially when public officials have not had sufficient evidence to initiate a trial in a court of law. I have the greatest respect for the way you and your family have handled this adversity.
I am aware that there will be those who will choose to continue to differ with our conclusion. But DNA is very often the most reliable forensic evidence we can hope to find and we rely on it often to bring to justice those who have committed crimes. I am very comfortable that our conclusion that this evidence has vindicated you is based firmly on all of the evidence, including the reliable forensic DNA evidence that has been developed as a result of advances in that scientific field during this investigation.
We intend in the future to treat you as the victims of this crime, with the sympathy due you because of the horrific loss you suffered. Otherwise, we will continue to refrain from publicly discussing the evidence in this case.
We hope that we will one day obtain a DNA match from the CODIS data bank that will lead to further evidence and to the solution of this crime. With recent legislative changes throughout the country, the number of profiles available for comparison in the CODIS data bank is growing steadily. Law enforcement agencies are receiving increasing numbers of cold hits on DNA profiles that have been in the system for many years. We hope that one day soon we will get a match to this perpetrator. We will, of course, contact you immediately. Perhaps only then will we begin to understand the psychopathy or motivation for this brutal and senseless crime.
Lovingly,
Mary T. Lacy
District Attorney
xoxoxoxoxoxo