How Science cracked a 50 year-old Case
"How Science Cracked a 50-Year-Old Cold Case." Forensic Magazine. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Mar. 2016.
The appropriate tools are crucial to a crime scene when needed. In some situations, technology isn't developed until years later. Thanks to advanced technology, many cases are solved. With the help of modern DNA technology, the long unsolved death of a high school girl found by the side of the Garden State Parkway in the fall of 1965 was tracked back to New Jersey’s most infamous suspected serial killer. This information was found with the use of impeccably-preserved sample collected during the autopsy a half century ago. The tool that provided the breakthrough in the case was the applied biosystems AmpFISTR Identifiler amplification kit. This system can essentially take a minute sample, and multiply it by a huge magnitude through a process known as PCR, or polymerase chain reaction. The evidence from this case, had been stored by the state police and then the county prosecutor’s office, was still in storage waiting for the right tool. The biological evidence was taken from the Klinsky’s remains during the girl’s autopsy, and stored in a sealed container for 50 years. The sensitivity of the Applied Biosystems tool, in use since 2007 at the NJ State Police Laboratory , allowed the match to the killer. According to Marc LeMieux, first assistant Monmouth County prosecutor, “Anytime there is new technology we will take out older files- our cold cases, and we will look to see if there’s anything we can do”.
I think it’s a great thing that even if they don't find the appropriate tools when needed, they preserve the evidence in hope of being eligible to solving the crime in the future with advanced technology.
While this article was very detailed and informative, it would have been better if they talked more about the tools they used when they didn't have technology to aid them solve cases.
4 comments:
"How Science Cracked a 50-Year-Old Cold Case." Forensic Magazine. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Mar. 2016.
http://www.forensicmag.com/articles/2016/03/how-science-cracked-50-year-old-cold-case
I read the review of and the article “How Science Cracked a 50-Year-Old Cold Case” and learned many interesting new things. I learned about a new tool called the AmpFLSTR Identifiler Amplification kit and learned about its major impact on the world of criminal investigations today. I liked how the author of this review gave a background on the past criminal investigations and the techniques they used to solve them, and then introduced the main topic of the essay later. This helped the reader understand the background of this kit and its importance to forensic science and criminal investigations. Also, I like how Yusrah included an outside quote from a prosecutor working on this investigation, this made the review come to life and expanded upon its importance. Lastly, I like how the author related the discovery of this tool to an investigation studied fifty years ago and explained how truly amazing and smart this technology is that it concluded a case so long ago. Also, I loved the setup of this review, it made it easy and concise to understand logically leading up to the discovery and its impacts.
Although this review had strong points, it also had its negatives. First, I did not like how the author of the review did not mention specific technology that was used before the discovery of the AmpFLSTR and how it is different from that technology, this would have made more sense to include this. Also, I did not like how Yusrah only compared this discovery to one case studied fifty years ago. She should have talked about more recent and difficult cases and how this technology aided in solving. Even though this review had its negatives, it was very interesting and the author did a great job communicating the importance of this discovery.
I learned many things when reading this article. First, I learned what the AmpFLSTR was- I had no idea it existed and I learned how important it could be to criminal investigations and how efficient it could be. Also, I learned how this technology functioned and the history of technology used in criminal investigations- this technology could go a long way. This has changed my perception because it made me realize how significant the advancement of technology could be on investigations, it could conclude them faster and lock up criminals quicker. Overall, I really enjoyed reading this article and review and look forward to hearing more about this discovery in the future.
"How Science Cracked a 50-Year-Old Cold Case." Forensic Magazine. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Mar. 2016.
http://www.forensicmag.com/articles/2016/03/how-science-cracked-50-year-old-cold-case
Yusrah did an excellent job reviewing the article “How Science Cracked a 50-Year-Old Cold Case”. I learned a lot from it. Yusrah did a great job at explaining the background information pertaining to the case of a HS girl found dead on the side of the road. One thing I learned was about a tool named the AmpFISTR Identifiler amplification kit. This tool helped break the case by taking a sample and putting it through a process called PCR. Yusrah also included a quote which I thought helped improve her review. I would have loved to have learned more about the background of the case (how did they try to solve it ). Another thing I wondered was, was this the only case they used the AmpFISTR Identifiler amplification kit on or are there more? I learned a lot from the article including what this new device does and how it does it. This tool only helps provide more evidence that technology is advancing for the better and is helping science! Overall, I really enjoyed this review and thought it was done very well.
How Science cracked a 50 year-old Case
"How Science Cracked a 50-Year-Old Cold Case." Forensic Magazine. N.p., n.d. Web. 02
Mar. 2016.
The review explained very well how the biosystems AmpFISTR Identifiler amplification kit works by telling us that you can use the system quickly by a applying huge magnitude through a process known as PCR. Also the review described the case very well and the evidence that was used in the case to help solve it. Lastly the review gave a good explanation as to why the new technology is so great to have.
Overall I think the review was very well done. One suggestion I would make is to talk more about the case background. I would also suggest to give an example of other new technologies that helps solve cold cases like these.
I was impressed that new technology like the Applied Biosystems tool can solve cold cases by using 50 year old evidence from the case.
The review that Yusrah wrote on the article called, “How Science Cracked a 50-Year-Old Cold Case” was well written and insightful to the readers. I enjoyed that she emphasized the crucial importance of the advancement in modern technology and its connection to solving the cold case of the murder of a high school girl who was found by the side of the Garden State Parkway in the fall of 1965. Her description of the technology used in this particular case that aided in connecting DNA of the suspect to the body of the victim. This included the applied biosystems AmpFISTR identifiler amplification kit that has the capability to take minute samples and amplify them through the process of PCR (polymerase chain reaction). Also, Yusrah’s usage of the quote by Marc LeMieux, who is the first assistant Monmouth County prosecutor, made the review much stronger than if it was written without it. Overall, the review was relatively clear to read and discussed the importance of today’s modern technology is solving cases that occurred decades ago, as seen in this particular case.
However, there could have been names mentioned within the review, such as the name of the “most infamous suspected serial killer.” Also, as a reader, I would have appreciated more on the background of the girl’s death, so that I would have a basis of what the situation was before reading the rest of the review. Lastly, there was not much of a critique or opinion paragraph, which could have added another layer to the overall review.
Otherwise, the review and the description of the article was very impressive. I was amazed that a 50-year-old cold case could be reopened and solved thanks to the modern technology that now exists today. It will greatly benefit society in having the potential and tools to solve cases that may not have been possible when the crime had first been committed.
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