DNA Evidence Used to Apprehend Roommate Charged With Murder

A West Palm Beach man is facing first-degree murder charges after DNA and fingerprint evidence linked him to the death of a former roommate. The man was facing unrelated burglary and robbery charges at the time of his apprehension and was in PBSO custody.

Police have DNA linking the suspect to a sledgehammer that was used to kill the roommate, according to an ME report. The tip of a knife blade was also found inside the victim. The official cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head aided by multiple stab injuries.

While DNA on the sledgehammer and knife may not be conclusive evidence, the lack of any other DNA on either weapon has left Palm Beach authorities without another suspect. A bloody handprint taken from the door appears to match the suspect’s fingerprints linking him directly to the deceased’s body. While he can still claim that he touched the body after he found his roommate dead, the lack of other DNA on either weapon is going to force the jury to conclude that no one else touched either weapon.

Analyzing defense strategies

While the DNA evidence, in this case, wouldn’t necessarily be enough since both men shared a single household together, the bloody handprint on the door with the victim’s blood and the suspect’s fingerprints is going to be hard to explain away. The suspect has already claimed that he had nothing to do with the death and was outside of the house for four days when the murder occurred. That means he likely never told police that he interacted with the body and hence, his story isn’t adding up. You add the false story to the bloody handprint and the lack of other DNA evidence found on either weapon, and you have a very strong case against the defendant.

Nonetheless, people will lie to avoid suspicion. If the man’s story is true and he did wander into the home at some point after his roommate was killed, touched the body, and then left with blood on his hands, the police would have immediately suspected him anyway. To avoid the immediate threat of suspicion one might lie in a fashion that makes them appear more suspicious. Thus far, the police don’t have a clear idea of why the murder occurred. In other words, they have no real motive for the slaying, which could hurt their case.

Analyzing prosecution strategies

The prosecution wants to simplify this case as much as they can. The DNA evidence shows that only the roommate and the suspect had DNA on the weapons. Since the victim did not bludgeon himself hard enough to crush his own skull, it could have only been the roommate who committed the slaying. The suspect then left a bloody handprint on the door in his roommate’s blood showing evidence of the suspect’s fingerprints. The defense must then complicate the case with a series of “what ifs”.

Talk to a West Palm Beach Criminal Defense Attorney

If you are facing serious charges, the West Palm Beach criminal lawyers at the Skier Law Firm, P.A. have the experience you need to fight them. Call today to discuss the matter in more detail and we can begin preparing your defense immediately.

Resource:

palmbeachpost.com/story/news/crime/2022/01/21/man-23-facing-murder-charge-roommates-death-west-palm-beach-home/6614114001/

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