By Rob Hotakainen
Chattanooga Times Free Press
WASHINGTON — In 2001, King County Sheriff Dave Reichert relied on a DNA match to solve the case of Washington state’s Green River Killer, who murdered 49 women.
Now a Republican congressman, Reichert wants Congress to expand the use of DNA testing by getting more states to collect DNA samples, just as they do fingerprints, when suspected felons are arrested for state crimes.
Such testing already is allowed for anyone arrested by a U.S. law enforcement agency for a federal crime and in 24 states.
Critics, including the American Civil Liberties Union, say it’s an invasion of privacy and that DNA testing should be reserved for convicted felons. They note that hundreds of thousands of people are arrested each year but that many of them are never charged or convicted.
To promote his effort on Capitol Hill, Reichert has teamed up with Jayann and David Sepich, of Carlsbad, N.M., whose 22-year-old daughter, Katie, was murdered in 2003.
Jayann Sepich said a national DNA sample law could save hundreds of lives. She’s become an expert, testifying at statehouses across the country, and works full time on the issue.
“I know that there are other mothers out there that won’t go through what I’ve been through,” she said. “I know that sounds like a cliche, but I can’t tell you how important it is.”
Three months after Katie was killed, Gabriel Avilla was arrested on suspicion of aggravated burglary. No DNA sample was collected from him. He wasn’t linked to the Sepich slaying until he was apprehended, and later convicted, for another burglary in December 2006.
Reichert and the Sepiches say the case could have been solved three years earlier if a DNA sample had been taken at the time of the first arrest.
Reichert, who sponsored his bill with California Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff, wants to spend roughly $30 million over five years to provide incentives for 26 states to pass DNA laws. Similar legislation has been introduced in the Senate.
If more states participated, more crimes would be solved earlier, Reichert said, adding: “Not only that, there would be some innocent people in prison released.”
If Congress provided money, Reichert said, he suspects that most states would participate. But none would be forced to do so.
Copyright 2011 Chattanooga Publishing Company