AZAFIS Newsletter - Stories of Interest
Apache Junction Newspaper August 14, 2006
Stacy Hubbard, Latent Print Examiner, Phoenix Police Department
"In September of 1983, the body of a woman was found in the dirt behind rooms 11 and 12 at the Budget Inn Motel on East Van Buren. It was noted at the time that a Michael Blackwell lived in Room 12. Numerous leads were followed and individuals interviewed at the time. No latent prints were obtained at this scene, but biological evidence was collected from the victim.
In September of 1984, the body a woman was found on the bathroom floor of Room #28 in the City Center Motel on West Van Buren. Leads were followed, but no additional information was developed. Latent prints and biological evidence were collected.
In 2001, the Cold Case Squad reviewed the cases. I was contacted by one of the detectives who wanted me to go back to the 1984 case and see if any of the latent prints met the criteria for AFIS entry. There were AFIS quality prints which I entered into the AFIS system. The AFIS system provided a potential candidate to compare to two of the latents. I identified a subject by the name of Michael Blackwell to the bathroom vanity and the west bathroom wall.
In April, 2003 the DNA profiles from the 1983 and the 1984 homicides were linked to the same subject utilizing CODIS, but the subject was still unknown.
In June, 2003, I was asked by the Cold Case detective to do a complete comparison of the remaining latent prints to subject Blackwell. I was able to identify four latent print cards to the west bathroom wall, bathroom vanity corner and the bathroom tile floor directly under the victim’s right arm.
Based on the latent print comparison on the 1984 case and the fact that the subject had lived at the site of the 1983 homicide, there was enough probable cause to get a court order for Buccal swabs on Blackwell. The DNA profile of Blackwell matched the profiles obtained from the 1983 and 1984 homicides.
Without AFIS assistance in providing a subject on the 1984 Homicide, we would have been left with two matching DNA profiles with the subject unknown. Michael Blackwell was convicted of two first degree murder charges, each carrying a sentence of twenty-five years to life."
Does your agency have a story of interest also? We'd be happy to post it as well. Send your copy to azafis@azdps.gov.
