H.R. Schneider
Hessisches Landeskriminalamt, DNA/Serology Unit, Postfarb 3152, 65021, Wiesbaden, Germany
In this unusual case, the victim, the two-year-old daughter of a U.S. Army sergeant stationed in Babenhausen (Germany), vanished from her family's apartment during the night of September 14th, 1993. Her brutally abused body was found shortly after dawn near a gravel quarry. The girl had been raped and battered to death. On the victims clothing a minute amount of semen mixed with large quantities of blood was found. By analyzing the stain with a total of eight PCR-based AMPFLP and STR-systems and the amelogenin gender test, we were able to determine the possible genotype of the semen. Given the nature of the abduction, the German police and the U.S. CID had been almost certain that the murderer was someone who knew the family. But the police failed to find a suspect. When compared to DNA extracted from blood samples donated by the victim's father, family acquaintances and several other likely suspects, no match was found. With no witnesses and virtually no clues despite a $20,000 reward we suggested a massive DNA screening of every male who had been near the crime scene. From approximately 1900 blood samples we were able to exclude all except one by using a new high-resolution, rapid vertical PAGE-system (Schneider and Rand 1995) in less than 3 months. So far it seems to be the biggest case in terms of people screened. The person, who could not be excluded, was charged in May 1994. On December 1994, he pleaded guilty in exchange for life imprisonment.
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