Rapid DNA System By IntegenX A Key Factor In The Arrest Of A Murder Suspect In South Carolina Case

PLEASANTON, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--IntegenX’s RapidHIT™ System assisted in the identification of a murder suspect in Richland County, South Carolina. On Saturday July 2^nd, 2016, Richland County Sheriff’s Department (RCSD) investigators responded to reports of a gun-related homicide. While no suspect could be immediately identified, investigators collected evidence at the crime scene containing biological material. The DNA from the biological material was analyzed at the RCSD Crime Lab to generate a DNA profile. However, the DNA profile that was generated did not produce a match in the state’s existing DNA database of convicted offenders and arrestees, yielding no immediate suspects.

“Before we had this capability, even a rush case using our manual DNA technology could take up to several days to generate a DNA profile, which might have given the suspect an opportunity to post bail, and further put the community at risk.”

On August 3^rd, 2016, a suspect in the murder case was identified through an eyewitness report, and subsequently brought in for questioning. The suspect provided a DNA sample from a cheek swab, which was processed by RCSD on the RapidHIT System, providing a full DNA profile in less than two hours, while the suspect was still in custody. Although the suspect had denied being at the scene of the murder, his rapid DNA profile linked him to the evidence discovered at the crime scene. The ability to rapidly and easily generate a DNA profile in less than two hours from a cheek swab sample provided the Sheriff’s Department with another tool in the identification of criminal suspects.

“With Rapid DNA, we were able to help detectives place the suspect at the scene of the murder, which turned out to be the missing link in the investigation,” said Dr. Gray Amick, Director of the RCSD Forensics Lab. “Before we had this capability, even a rush case using our manual DNA technology could take up to several days to generate a DNA profile, which might have given the suspect an opportunity to post bail, and further put the community at risk.”

Commenting on this most recent use of Rapid DNA, Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott said, “The Department has a history of bringing in advanced forensic technologies to help our investigators solve crimes more quickly. Rapid DNA saves time for our detectives, which translates to a cost savings while helping us stop potential repeat offenders, before they’re able to cause further harm.”

“We’re most grateful that our product could, once again, make a difference in the safety of a community,” stated Robert Schueren, President and CEO of IntegenX. “This case, as well as the numerous Rapid DNA samples from the RapidHIT System that have been uploaded into national databases highlight our continued commitment to Rapid DNA.”

IntegenX, headquartered in Pleasanton, California, is the market leader of Rapid human DNA identification technology. IntegenX technology platforms integrate advanced fluidics, optics, and biochemistry capabilities to produce sample-to-answer products for DNA-based human identity testing for forensics and law enforcement applications. For more information, please visit www.integenx.com. IntegenX, the IntegenX logo, and RapidHIT are the registered trademarks of IntegenX Inc.