Charged with a Felony? Give us your DNA (Remember charged not convicted)
A New Mexico woman who came to Colorado four times this year to urge lawmakers to require DNA testing for felony suspects returned Wednesday with a smile on her face.
Jayann Sepich watched as “Katie’s Law” — named after her slain 22-year-old daughter — was signed by Gov. Bill Ritter.
“It’s such a joy, such an honor and a privilege to be here today,” Sepich said. “This is a happy day. This is a wonderful day.”
Colorado is the 19th state to adopt a form of Katie’s Law.
Colorado currently requires DNA testing upon conviction. Katie’s Law, when it goes into effect in September 2010, will require testing when an adult is charged with a felony. If the charges are dropped or the suspect is found not guilty, the DNA is to be removed from the system.
“In essence, DNA is a 21st-century fingerprint,” said Ritter, who used to be Denver’s district attorney.
“Katie’s Law has the ability to save lives in Colorado . . . and it will keep innocent people from being prosecuted for crimes they did not commit.”
Senate Bill 241 survived a perilous journey through the legislature, overcoming concerns about costs and fears that innocent Coloradans’ DNA would be put into a database.
Supporters repeatedly pointed to the case of Chester Turner of California, who was convicted in 2002 of rape after a series of arrests. His DNA matched 12 unsolved homicides dating back to 1987, two months after he was arrested on an assault charge and released.
“I think history will show that this one piece of legislation will clear more cold cases, more violent crime cases, than any other single piece of legislation,” said Rep. Steve King, R-Grand Junction, one of three sponsors of the bill.
The other sponsors were Sen. John Morse, D-Colorado Springs, and Rep. Scott Tipton, R-Cortez.
In 2003, Katie Sepich was raped and strangled and her body set on fire. Police told her parents that Katie had fought back and they had plenty of DNA.
Jayann Sepich figured it would be only a matter of time before her daughter’s killer was arrested. That’s when she learned New Mexico took DNA samples only upon conviction, not on arrest. She pushed for Katie’s Law, which went into effect in 2007.
The law probably would not have prevented Katie’s murder, but the case would have been solved within three months instead of three years.
Katie’s killer was arrested less than three months after her murder and convicted of burglary charges, but he disappeared. Police nabbed him in 2006, and he was sent to prison, where his DNA was tested.
Source: Denver Post
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