September 17, 2019
Forensics D-Odd
Current Event #2
Victor, Daniel. “'Daytona Beach Serial Killer' Suspect Is Arrested.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 17 Sept. 2019, https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/17/us/daytona-beach-serial-killer-arrested.html?rref=collection/timestopic/Forensic Science&action=click&contentCollection=timestopics®ion&module=stream_unit&version=latest&contentPlacement=1&pgtype=collection.
In this article, Daniel Victor discusses a man, Robert Hayes, who was just arrested on Sunday for murders that he committed in 2005, 2006, and 2016. Laquetta Gunther, Julie Green, and Iwana Patton were all prostitutes that were found shot in the head between 2005 and 2006 in Dayton Beach, Rachel Bey, also a prostitute was more recently found in 2016 strangled to death with a broken jaw in Palm Beach. Although Hayes was questioned during the 2005 and 2006 killings but was never charged for the murder of these women. These murders were finally linked back to Hayes through new advancements in genetic genealogy, "the technique of tying suspects to DNA using samples that have been voluntarily submitted to commercial genealogy sites by their relatives". The DNA taken from Bey's sexual battery kit was finally linked to him when investigators tested a used cigarette butt from him which matched to the DNA from the sexual battery kit. Although Hayes is only charged with the murder of Rachel Bey as of now, DNA found from the murders of the 3 women in 2005 and 2006 and Bey's kit have matched, which will hopefully prove Hayes guilty of all 4 murders.
Unfortunately, murders are sitting cold every year because of lack of evidence in a case which lets murderers live freely and possibly commit more terrible crimes. Although it is under terrible circumstances, it is also very exciting that more cold cases are beginning to get solved because of the new advancements in the genetic genealogy technology. While some people disagree with this new method because it is taking information from sites such as "23 and me" who have participates send in DNA to learn more about their background or family tree, it has overall seemed to be a big step in solving murders that previously did not have enough DNA or information.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading this piece and thought it was very well written, while the article was very concise, it still touched upon all the important facts about the case and explained the new types of genetic genealogy that is being used. If I could change one thing about the article I wish there was more information on how the new genetic testing was actually used in this case, like which of his relatives DNA was originally linked to this case through him.
4 comments:
Randy Ayala Valdez
Mr. Ippolito
Forensics
Victor, Daniel. “'Daytona Beach Serial Killer' Suspect Is Arrested.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 17 Sept. 2019, https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/17/us/daytona-beach-serial-killer-arrested.html?rref=collection/timestopic/Forensic Science&action=click&contentCollection=timestopics®ion&module=stream_unit&version=latest&contentPlacement=1&pgtype=collection.
Esther’s article explored a case in which a murderer was incarcerated for his crimes years after committing them due to new “genetic genealogy.” Esther described the case in detail, formulating an image for the reader to utilize. In doing this, she made it very easy for me to comprehend the content of the article and the significance of "the technique of tying suspects to DNA using samples that have been voluntarily submitted to commercial genealogy sites by their relatives.” In addition, Esther’s writing carried messages about how she felt towards the new concept without explicitly stating her opinions. One example of this is when she comments on the invasion of privacy in relation to DNA websites but inserting “a big step in solving murders that previously did not have enough DNA or information,” suggesting that she acknowledges success in this process. Esther also organized her piece in a fashion that was concise and easy to follow. The structure of her review seems ideal for this type of assignment, starting off with a description or overview of her article, connections to society, and critique of the article.
Esther failed to create a strong link between the article and “cold cases.” She briefly touched upon the excitement felt by catching the murderer and what it could possibly mean for future cases and how they match the culprit to the crime. She could have dove deeper into the statistics behind cold cases and made an inference on how online databases could affect the field of forensics and criminal cases. Esther could also work on wrapping up her review in a way that doesn’t seem rushed or like she simply rephrased her first paragraph. Genetic testing is an exciting new concept, how could you emphasize that through your last remarks on the article?
The review definitely changed my perspective on the level of privacy that should be provided with these online genetic databases. Before reading this, I would have seen flaws in taking information from sites like “23 and me” for criminal cases because they seem like a violation of our rights. In contrast, I now see the benefits of making use of this data and how some things are greater than a minor violation. Using this information helped solve this case and potentially other unsolved mysteries.
Olivia Martin
Mr. Ippolito D Even
10/17/19
Current 5
Victor, Daniel. “'Daytona Beach Serial Killer' Suspect Is Arrested.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 17 Sept. 2019,
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/17/us/daytona-beach-serial-killer-arrested.html?rref=collection/timestopic/ForensicScience&action=click&contentCollection=timestopics%C2%AEion&module=stream_unit&version=latest&contentPlacement=1&pgtype=collection.
Esther efficiently critiqued her current event about how a murder was proved guilty through genetic genealogy technology. Firstly, I think Esther did a good job of incorporating details. She includes many relevant details, but keeps her summary concise. Additionally, I think Esther did a good job of summarizing the case being investigated in the article. The case takes place in a span of over 10 years, and Esther transitions smoothly from major breaks in the case in her summary. Finally, I liked how Esther wrote about both the positive and negatives impacts of using genetic genealogy technology. She writes about both outlooks on the main topic of her current event, and subtly includes her opinion that she feels it is overall a positive thing.
Although Esther did a good job reviewing her article she could improve upon a few things. Firstly, I think Esther’s summary could have been a bit more clear if she had included how they obtained the cigarette butt from Robert Hayes, the murder, and what Rachel Bey’s, the victim, sexual battery kit was. Although these two things are not significant details overall, it would have been more informative for the forensics aspect of the current event. Also, it could improve Esther’s review if she included more details about genetic genealogy technology sites. She could possibly have included how it is an invasion of people’s privacy, as these sites are not supposed to share other’s genetic data, for forensic scientists to use this data in greater detail.
Overall, I thought Esther’s review was very informative and I thought her article was very interesting. The first few sentences of her review was very intriguing, which drew me to read the article and the rest of her review. After reading Esther’s review, I gained a greater understanding of genetic genealogy technology and how it can help forensic scientists when proving someone’s innocence or guilt.
Olivia Martin
Mr. Ippolito D Even
10/17/19
Current 5
Victor, Daniel. “'Daytona Beach Serial Killer' Suspect Is Arrested.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 17 Sept. 2019,
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/17/us/daytona-beach-serial-killer-arrested.html?rref=collection/timestopic/ForensicScience&action=click&contentCollection=timestopics%C2%AEion&module=stream_unit&version=latest&contentPlacement=1&pgtype=collection.
Esther efficiently critiqued her current event about how a murder was proved guilty through genetic genealogy technology. Firstly, I think Esther did a good job of incorporating details. She includes many relevant details, but keeps her summary concise. Additionally, I think Esther did a good job of summarizing the case being investigated in the article. The case takes place in a span of over 10 years, and Esther transitions smoothly from major breaks in the case in her summary. Finally, I liked how Esther wrote about both the positive and negatives impacts of using genetic genealogy technology. She writes about both outlooks on the main topic of her current event, and subtly includes her opinion that she feels it is overall a positive thing.
Although Esther did a good job reviewing her article she could improve upon a few things. Firstly, I think Esther’s summary could have been a bit more clear if she had included how they obtained the cigarette butt from Robert Hayes, the murder, and what Rachel Bey’s, the victim, sexual battery kit was. Although these two things are not significant details overall, it would have been more informative for the forensics aspect of the current event. Also, it could improve Esther’s review if she included more details about genetic genealogy technology sites. She could possibly have included how it is an invasion of people’s privacy, as these sites are not supposed to share other’s genetic data, for forensic scientists to use this data in greater detail.
Overall, I thought Esther’s review was very informative and I thought her article was very interesting. The first few sentences of her review was very intriguing, which drew me to read the article and the rest of her review. After reading Esther’s review, I gained a greater understanding of genetic genealogy technology and how it can help forensic scientists when proving someone’s innocence or guilt.
Sophia Prior
Current Event November 15th
Victor, Daniel. “'Daytona Beach Serial Killer' Suspect Is Arrested.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 17 Sept. 2019, https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/17/us/daytona-beach-serial-killer-arrested.html?rref=collection/timestopic/Forensic Science&action=click&contentCollection=timestopics®ion&module=stream_unit&version=latest&contentPlacement=1&pgtype=collection.
After reading Esther’s article which looked at the case where a murderer went to jail for his crimes that were committed years before. Esther explored the genetic genealogy technology, which she explained well in her summary in the first paragraph. In addition, to stating the facts she also included her own opinion into the piece. Esther did an amazing job making the article easy to understand. Something that I think Esther could have worked on would be including more details into the facts, instead of focusing on what she thought. Although, she did a good job in adding her opinion she could have added a few more statistics. In reading the review I gained new knowledge of the genetic databases and what information they have access to and how it is helpful in solving cases such as this one.
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