There have been cases where the suspected perpetrator of a crime was either dead and in the ground or had been cremated, or has gone on the run and to verify that this was the suspect that was being sought, we have asked a bloodline family member, like a mom, dad, brother or sister, to give up their blood, so that it may be tested to find out if that particular person was our man or woman. This has been done on more than one occasion.
I know for a fact that when we have requested a family member to give up their blood, so that it may be tested for their DNA, no family member ever refused to do this. I can remember one case in particular where the suspect had died 2 or 3 years before we realized that he may have been our man and had asked the sister for her blood. She said that she was glad to do it because she wanted to know too and if it would clear her brother, that would have been great. As it turned out, we had a DNA match, so we were able to close the case. The man had died in a very violent auto accident when he decided to attempt to elude capture and his car went out of control and slammed into a bridge abutment. At the time of the accident, he was on parole and had violated his parole by ignoring a court order not to stalk or be within 300 yards of his former girlfriend. He decided to break into her condo and held her at knife point for a few hours until a neighbor came banging on the door and she screamed. He then let her go and she was able to call 9-1-1. He had gone on the run and was chased by the local police when the accident had occurred. We (State Police) took jurisdiction over the case, so that the local police department would also be investigated to make sure that procedures were done correctly.
