Opinion ID: 1390030
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Post-Conviction DNA Testing of the Hairs

Text: At the evidentiary hearing, Dr. Blake and Mr. Myers testified regarding work conducted during the post-conviction DNA testing and forensic examination of the hair evidence. ( See 6/03/04 HRT 135-178; 6/4/04 HRT 28-111.) In connection with the hearing, Dr. Blake submitted a report detailing the previous forensic hair examination for post-conviction DNA testing. (04-CV-656, Dr. Blake's Report detailing Previous Examination and Current Evaluation of the Hair Evidence dated 6/04/04, Doc. No. 161 (Dr. Blake's Report).) In post-conviction DNA testing in 2001, the hair was examined by highly qualified scientists for suitability for nuclear DNA testing at the Department of Justice DNA Laboratory in Richmond, California. (Dr. Blake's Report at 2-18; 6/3/04 HRT 134-165; 6/4/04 HRT 31-91; 2 State Evidentiary Hr'g Reporters' Tr. (SEHRT) [6] 253-54.) The selection and documentation of biological specimens suitable for DNA testing, including hair, was done by Petitioner's expert, Dr. Blake, DOJ Laboratory Director Gary Sims, and Mr. Myers. (Dr. Blake's Report at 2-18; Joint DNA Testing Agreement, ¶ 2.10.) Dr. Blake and Mr. Myers looked at approximately 1,000 hairs visually and microscopically. (Dr. Blake's Report at 6-7; 6/3/04 HRT 140-41; 6/4/04 HRT 33-34; 2 SEHRT 275, 280.) All of the hairs were examined using a stereomicroscope. Selected hairs were mounted in order to be viewed under a compound microscope, which provides a higher magnification. (Dr. Blake's Report at 6-7; 6/3/04 HRT 157; 6/4/04 HRT 33-37; 2 SEHRT 278, 300.) There were only three hairs possessing anagen roots that were identified by Dr. Blake and Mr. Myers for nuclear DNA testing. [7] (Dr. Blake's Report at 7-17; 6/3/04 RT 140-41; 6/4/04 RT 33-37; 2 SEHRT 281.) These hairs were two human hairs collected from Doug Ryen's right hand and a human hair collected from Chris Hughes' arm. (Dr. Blake's Report at 17; see also 2 SEHRT 281.) The results of the DNA testing of the there hairs were unsuccessful because no DNA was detected. (Dr. Blake's Report at 17; 6/3/04 RT 148, 156.) Dr. Blake confirmed that the focus of the examination of the hair in 2001 was to identify, if possible, hairs recovered from the hands of the Ryen/Hughes victims that possessed the properties of hair forcefully removed from the skin that would be expected to be successful in a PCR based DNA analysis of nuclear genes. (10 Resp. Evidentiary Hr'g Ex. VV at 6; see Dr. Blake's Report at 7; 6/4/04 HRT 33-37.) Dr. Blake and Mr. Myers spent six days examining the hairs removed from the hands of the victims in an effort to find hairs with anagen roots. (6/3/04 HRT 157-158.) As Dr. Blake explained, during this forensic examination of the hair, Dr. Blake and Mr. Myers were looking for pulled hairs from the hands of the victims and the arm of Christopher Hughes so that they could potentially identify the assailant: For the fairly obvious reason that we were looking for here are hairs that may have come from the bad guy or guys. So cut or broken hairs don't fall into that category. (6/4/04 HRT 38.) The examination of the hairs in 2001 by Dr. Blake and Mr. Myers revealed only three anagen hairs. (Dr. Blake's Report at 17; 6/3/04 HRT 140-41; 6/04/04 HRT 34-37; 2 SEHRT 281.) As Dr. Blake's report detailing the previous examination and evaluation of the hair evidence explains, there is no evidence to support the theory that hairs were pulled from the assailant during the murders: Hairs jerked from the scalp are expected to posses anagen root structures and also frequently possess root sheath material at the hair root end. . . . The vast majority of the hairs associated with the hands of the Ryen/Hughes victims of either broken or cut human hairs or animal hairs. . . . Since the vast majority of the hairs associated with the hands of the Ryen/Hughes are either cut or broken human hairs or animal hairs, there is no evidence to support the assertion that these hairs were pulled from the scalp of an assailant or assailants. (Dr. Blake's Report at 17-18.) From the previous forensic examination of the hairs by Dr. Blake and Mr. Myers, three hairs possessing anagen roots were found and were tested for DNA extraction and analysis. No human DNA was recovered from these hairs. (Dr. Blake's Report at 17.)