Category: Repositories

Order denying defense’s motion to suppress genetic information in an Idaho murder-sexual offense case that occurred in 1982. The trial court denied the defense’s motions to suppress citing no reasonable expectation of privacy in hair collected at the crime scene or use of publicly available DNA information contained in genealogic databases. Additionally, the trial court upheld that a DNA sample obtained from the defendant after arrest by means of a search warrant, was lawful, and that the Idaho Constitution does not limit what can be done to a DNA sample that is lawfully collected (e.g., for use in generating a Single Nucleotide Polymorphism [SNP] profile).

Prosecution’s response to the defense’s claim of Fourth Amendment violation in an Idaho murder-sexual offense case that occurred in 1982. The prosecution attached, as an exhibit, the Minnesota trial court’s ruling on this issue in State v. Westrom. See Minnesota Supreme Court’s opinion in the Westrom Case, which is consistent with the trial court’s ruling here.

Defense’s brief in support of the motion to suppress genetic evidence in an Idaho murder-sexual offense case that occurred in 1982. Defense claims that techniques used to generate a Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) profile from the defendant’s hair (located and collected from the crime scene) which was then subjected to genealogical search violates the defendant’s Fourth Amendment and the State of Idaho’s privacy rights of a suspect.

Prosecution’s follow-up motion to reopen regarding non-disclosure of the Forensic Genetic Genealogy process, and the potential leads it generates, in an Idaho murder-sexual offense case that occurred in 1982. The prosecution raises this motion in light of a subsequent appellate decision State v. Pendleton, 537 P.3d 66 (Idaho 2023) which addresses the issue of the prosecution’s discovery obligations under certain circumstances.