Houston News: links

Thursday, September 13, 2012

DNA links man to theft of three golf carts at Houston National Cemetery

Robert Torres, 32, is charged with theft.

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- DNA from blood left behind at the crime scene has linked a man to the theft of three golf carts at Houston National Cemetery.

According to court documents, the cemetery foreman told police that he closed the cemetery on the afternoon of Friday, December 16, 2011 and when he returned the following Monday, he discovered that three utility carts had been stolen. The foreman said a fourth golf cart had been tampered with and blood was left on the floor.

In addition, two wheels were stolen off a utility trailer and the foreman told police that a pickup truck and a Chevrolet Uplander were damaged in an attempt to steal them.

On January 31 of this year, the Texas Department of Public Safety Crime Lab confirmed a DNA match between the blood left in the cart and a genetic profile belonging to Robert Torres.

Court documents state the total loss was more than $36,000.

Torres, 32, is charged with theft.

local

View the original article here

Thursday, January 26, 2012

DNA links man to murder of woman found near cemetery

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- DNA evidence helped link a man to the murder of a woman killed nearly a year ago.

Jonathan Stephens, 26, is accused of beating and strangling 44-year-old Rachel Burrell. Her body was found in a ditch near a cemetery in the 600 block of Altic Street last March. Evidence from the scene was entered into a database and eventually linked Stephens to the crime.

Police say Stephens confessed and was arrested without incident.