DA PROPOSES NEW COLD HIT DNA UNIT - CSI: RIVERSIDE COUNTY

RIVERSIDE, CALIFORNIA, May 25, 2007: District Attorney Rod Pacheco announced today that the Riverside County District Attorney's Office is proposing its own Crime Scene Investigation Unit - CSI: Riverside County - for the upcoming 2007/08 fiscal year budget.

"DNA has become a tremendous tool in helping to unlock the mystery of significant crimes," Pacheco said.

Just like the immensely popular TV series, Pacheco is requesting one deputy district attorney and one investigator to investigate and prosecute these unsolved cold cases. Pacheco is scheduled to address the Riverside County Board of Supervisors soon regarding this new crime fighting tool.

For the last 20 years, hundreds of homicides and thousands of sex crimes cases in Riverside County have gone unsolved. In many of these "cold cases," law enforcement collected crucial DNA evidence the perpetrator left behind. This evidence is now being used to solve these crimes through California's DNA Cold Hit Program.

From 2003 to 2006, the program resulted in more than 70 cold hit DNA matches in Riverside County. The numbers have grown annually, with 32 matches occurring in 2006. The 32 cases involved serious or violent felonies including 3 homicides, 6 robberies or burglaries, and 17 sex crimes.

Pacheco expects the numbers to increase and double in size in 2007 to more than 70. In January 2007 alone, there were 6 cold hit DNA cases in Riverside County including three unsolved homicides.

Recently, DNA was instrumental in solving a 1985 homicide case involving the killing of former Riverside Police Officer Fred Taylor during a bank robbery. Leslie Gene Parker is now facing murder charges after DNA evidence linked him to the crime.

"Justice has been delayed but can now finally be served on these once long forgotten cases," said Pacheco.