Introduction

Furensics – Animal DNA in Criminal Investigations

Furensics – Animal DNA in Criminal Investigations

This webinar originally occurred on June 29, 2017
Duration: 1 hour

Overview

This webinar provides an overview of the Veterinary Genetics Laboratory Forensic Unit at UC Davis and the types of cases encountered in a non-human DNA laboratory. Also included will be the DNA analysis in dogs and sampling and submission of evidence.

While committing a sexual assault in a residential backyard, Rusfus Sito Nanez III rolled in some canine feces which later helped link him back to the victim’s home resulting in his conviction. The Veterinary Genetics Laboratory Forensic Unit at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine played a key role in the trial and conviction of this serial rapist. As the only crime laboratory in the country accredited for analysis of DNA from domestic animals, VGL-Forensics has been serving federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies as well as the general public for over a decade. The laboratory receives a wide variety of cases from all over the world, with sample types and species unlike those encountered by its human counterparts. Cases range from human-on-human crimes where dog or cat biological evidence links a suspect to the crime, to large-scale dog fighting, species identification, and animal cruelty cases. Recent case examples will be presented in addition to other high-profile and cold cases.

A certificate of completion is available for all who register and attend this webinar.

Presenter

  • Christina Lindquist, MSFS

Funding for this Forensic Technology Center of Excellence webinar has been provided by the National Institute of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice.

The opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this webinar are those of the presenter(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Department of Justice.

Contact us at ForensicCOE@rti.org with any questions and subscribe to our newsletter for notifications.


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