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The Hill
17-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
Senate Democrat presses Noem on migrant DNA collections
Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) is seeking information from the Trump administration about what he called its 'chilling expansion' of efforts to collect DNA from migrants, including children, as it carries out its sweeping immigration crackdown. 'It appears the only basis for this DNA surveillance is to further the Trump administration's animus toward immigrants,' Wyden wrote in a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Attorney General Pam Bondi this week. 'I worry that such broad DNA surveillance led by your Departments may result in the over-policing of immigrant communities and deter them from seeking out essential services.' The Democratic senator's office released the letter Thursday. Wyden cited research from the Georgetown University School of Law released this month that found the number of DNA samples Customs and Border Protection (CBP) collected and sent to the federal Combined DNA Index System has swelled more than 5,000 percent in the past five years. More than a quarter of a million people were added to government DNA database by CBP in the first four months of this year, the researchers found. In the letter, Wyden asked the Trump administration to provide him information by Aug. 1 to explain the U.S.'s 'interest in collecting and retaining DNA from noncitizens in the course of immigration detention and enforcement,' which agencies are gathering DNA and how the biometric information is being used. 'What information are DOJ and DHS, respectively, able to extract from the DNA they retain?' he wrote. 'Is DNA accessed to determine any ethnographic or racial information about the individual?' Wyden claimed that DNA could ultimately fall into a system where it is 'used by law enforcement for every potential future investigation,' and noted that the Georgetown researchers found thousands of children had been the subject of DNA collections, including a 4-year-old. 'There are many unknowns and unanswered questions about the Trump administration's rule expanding DNA data collection,' Wyden wrote. The Democratic senator compared the collection effort to China, which the U.S. has condemned over its involuntary gathering of DNA. 'Governments exercising such broad discretion to involuntarily collect and retain DNA are repressive authoritarian regimes also engaging in gross human rights violations, such as genocide, ethnic cleansing, torture and more,' he wrote. A DHS spokesperson told The Hill in a statement that Customs and Border Protection (CBP) collects DNA samples of people who are arrested on federal criminal charges and from migrants detained 'who are subject to fingerprinting and not otherwise exempt from the collection requirement.' 'In order to secure our borders, CBP is devoting every resource available to identify who is entering our country,' DHS said. 'We are not letting terrorists, human smugglers, child sex traffickers, and other criminals enter American communities.' The Department of Justice (DOJ) did not immediately respond to The Hill's requests for comment on the letter. Democrats previously raised concerns about the use of DNA in immigration enforcement efforts during Trump's first administration and a pilot program that was carried out to collect biometric samples from migrants in custody. Former President Biden's administration rejected a proposal from Trump's first term to expand collection efforts.
Miami Herald
14-07-2025
- Miami Herald
DNA cracks 2011 cold case killing that involved sex for money, NJ officials say
More than a decade after a man was fatally stabbed inside an abandoned home, DNA has led to a break in his case, New Jersey prosecutors say. Kenyar Hill, 46, was charged with first-degree murder in the 2011 slaying of Brian Holden, 42, of Camden, the Camden County Prosecutor's Office said in a July 10 news release. An attorney representing Hill did not immediately respond to McClatchy News' request for comment on July 14. Camden City police responded to a report of a stabbing at an abandoned Camden home just before 10 p.m. on Oct. 11, 2011, prosecutors said. When first responders arrived, they found Holden 'lying in the front room' with multiple stab wounds, prosecutors said. He was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead, prosecutors said. While investigating his death, detectives spoke with Holden's girlfriend, according to prosecutors. She told detectives she met with a man earlier in the evening and 'agreed to have sexual intercourse with him for money,' prosecutors said. Afterward, she said they started arguing, 'and he took his money back,' prosecutors said. The girlfriend said she yelled for Holden, then he confronted the man, prosecutors said. An altercation ensued and Holden was stabbed multiple times, prosecutors said. The girlfriend underwent 'a sexual assault forensic examination' at a hospital and DNA evidence was collected, prosecutors said. Investigators submitted the evidence to the New Jersey State Police laboratory; however, at the time, there were no hits in the Combined DNA Index System, according to prosecutors. CODIS is 'a computer software program that operates local, state, and national databases of DNA profiles from convicted offenders, unsolved crime scene evidence, and missing persons,' according to federal prosecutors. Eleven years later, there was a 'high stringency match' in CODIS, identifying Hill as a potential suspect in the 2011 cold case, prosecutors said. To confirm the match, detectives collected a DNA swab from Hill and submitted it for testing, along with the original swabs from the sexual assault kit, prosecutors said. Hill's DNA matched that of the DNA profile from the sexual assault examination, according to prosecutors. 'After receiving the DNA results, detectives continued to follow up on the investigation, including locating witnesses from more than a decade ago,' prosecutors said. This led detectives to identify Hill as a suspect in Holden's death, prosecutors said, adding that he was arrested June 27. Camden is about a 5-mile drive east from Center City Philadelphia.
Newsweek
09-07-2025
- Newsweek
70-Year-Old Man Charged in 1999 Murder Case
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Washington, D.C., police arrested a 70-year-old man on Tuesday in connection with the fatal stabbing of a 24-year-old woman in 1999. The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced the arrest of George Mudd, who is charged with first-degree murder while armed (premeditated), in a news release on Wednesday. The Context Susan Cvengros was found suffering from stab wounds at a residence in Northeast Washington, D.C., on May 21, 1999. Police said she was pronounced dead after lifesaving efforts failed. Investigators determined that DNA found on the victim came from a single source and the profile developed from the samples matched Mudd in the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) database, according to an affidavit obtained by Newsweek. The breakthrough highlights how DNA testing can assist in cold-case investigations. The Metropolitan Police Department in Washington, D.C., announced an arrest in connection with the fatal stabbing of Susan Cvengros in 1999. The Metropolitan Police Department in Washington, D.C., announced an arrest in connection with the fatal stabbing of Susan Cvengros in 1999. Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia What To Know An autopsy report said that Cvengros' cause of death was incised and stab wounds of neck and torso, and the manner of death was a homicide. DNA samples from a sexual assault kit, the victim's nightgown, a comforter, fingernail clippings and multiple cigarette butts were sent to the FBI for forensic examination. In 2012, the FBI determined that the DNA on swabs from the sexual assault kit were consistent with Mudd. Multiple samples were sent to DNA analysis company Bode Technology for further testing in 2013 and 2014. In 2005, Mudd was convicted of assault with intent to commit kidnapping while armed, carrying a dangerous weapon and unlawful entry in an unrelated case. During an interview with detectives in 2012, Mudd said the victim in that case was lying and had stabbed herself while high on Ecstasy, according to the affidavit. Mudd was questioned about Cvengros' death by detectives in 2023. He said he did not recognize the victim or the house where she was killed. He denied ever committing murder or rape. Newsweek reached out to the Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia for comment. What People Are Saying MPD Detective Todd Williams, in an affidavit: "Based on the aforementioned facts and circumstances, your affiant submits that there is probable cause to believe that George Mudd committed the sexual assault and murder of Susan Cvengros." MPD Lieutenant Keith Batton, told WUSA9: "Our technology has grown so much from 1999 to now. It's really grown. So we're able to utilize some of the new technologies to get us to where we're at." What Happens Next A preliminary hearing in the case is scheduled for July 30. Mudd is being held without bond, according to court records. Do you have a story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have any questions about this story? Contact LiveNews@
Yahoo
28-06-2025
- Yahoo
Woman found dead in Florida 45 years ago was killed by husband who dumped son's body in lake: BCSO
The Brief The Bay County Sheriff's Office says it now knows the identity of a woman whose body was found in a shallow grave in 1980 and who likely killed her. Investigators believe the remains are of Carol Skidmore, who disappeared in 1977 while traveling with her husband and her son. The body of Skidmore's 5-year-old son was found in a lake in Tennessee in May 1977 and her husband was found dead in a motel room from a drug overdose/suicide in June 1977, according to BCSO. FOUNTAIN, Fla. - Deputies in Bay County say they now know the identity of a woman whose body was found in a shallow grave in 1980 and who likely killed her. The backstory According to the Bay County Sheriff's Office, three hunters found the remains of a woman in a shallow grave in 1980 about half a mile west of Highway 231, north of Fountain. Initially, investigators thought the remains may have been JoAnn Benner, who was reported missing in 1976. Her body had not been found, and foul play was suspected. The remains were sent to the FSU Anthropology lab and examined. Investigators said Benner was ruled out because she had injuries that these remains did not have. Foul play was suspected because of the damage done to the clothing found with the skeletal remains. While reviewing the Benner case and reading about the mysterious skeletal remains, cold case investigators with BCSO, which includes retired investigators and active employees, teamed with the Crime Scene Unit to use technology unknown in 1980 to identify the mystery woman. READ:Mother of murdered teen calls Ronny Walker a 'natural-born killer' as jury spares his life Investigators submitted a tooth from the remains to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) for a DNA profile. This profile was entered into the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS). Investigators said they got two matches. They explained that two people in Texas had previously submitted DNA because they had a sister that had been reported missing. BCSO said once there was a match identified, the Center for Human Identification conducted a kinship analysis to determine if the remains were those of a family member to the two siblings and issued a final report. It stated that the remains belonged to their sister Carol Sue Skidmore, who disappeared in 1977. Timeline According to BCSO, Carol Skidmore, her husband, James Ronald Skidmore, and her 5-year-old son, Lynn Dale Mahaffy, left their home in Sealy, Texas, to visit James' parents in Rossville, Georgia in March 1977. They wanted to "put their marriage back together". Investigators said they left on March 29, 1977, and were last heard of on April 9, 1977, when Carol Skidmore contacted her parents and told them she wasn't sure when they would be back. In May 1977, a child's body was found in Parksville Lake in Tennessee. Investigators said the boy was a victim of homicide. The body, wrapped in plastic and weighed down, appeared to have been in place for a few weeks. READ: Florida man accused of threatening federal attorney with 'a slow and painful death' indicted In June 1977, the FBI confirmed that the body was of Carol Skidmore's son, Lynn Dale Mahaffy. On June 1, 1977, Carol Skidmore's husband, James, was found dead in a hotel room in Harrison, Arkansas due to a drug overdose/suicide. Investigators said a suicide note was found with his body stating, "things weren't working out for him." Authorities searched for his wife, Carol Skidmore, with no success. She was listed as missing. Investigators believe that James Ronald Skidmore killed Carol Skidmore, burying her body in a shallow grave in Bay County, and her son, Lynn, leaving his body in a lake in Tennessee, and then himself. Investigators contacted Carol Skidmore's family and though one of her siblings had passed away, they said her brother was grateful to get word about his sister, to finally know what happened to her and have closure. What they're saying "We will never stop seeking justice for victims of crime, no matter how much time may have passed," said Sheriff Tommy Ford. "I am so proud of our Cold Case and Crime Scene Units for their determination to find the truth and bring closure to this family." What's next The BCSO Cold Case Unit and Crime Scene Unit are currently using ancestral DNA to identify several sets of human remains found in Bay County. The JoAnn Benner case has progressed and has been turned over to the State Attorney's Office by the Cold Case Unit for review and potential prosecution. The Source This story was written with information posted by the Bay County Sheriff's Office.
CBS News
11-06-2025
- CBS News
DNA leads to arrest of former next-door neighbor in 1994 cold case murder of North Texas woman, Irving police say
A 61-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the 1994 murder of a woman in Irving, police announced Monday. Irving PD said that Darryl Patrick Goggans is charged with capital murder in the fatal stabbing of Megan Beth Johns. The department plans to hold a news conference at 1 p.m. Wednesday to update the public on Goggans' arrest. Investigation begins after Johns doesn't show up for work According to police, on Oct. 5, 1994, Johns' coworkers called her apartment complex in the 3000 block of West Walnut Hill Lane after she did not show up for work that morning. Police said the maintenance worker at the complex went to Johns' apartment to check on her, and when he opened the sliding glass door at the back of her apartment, he found her body. When officers arrived, Johns was found lying face down on her living room floor with multiple stab wounds. She was pronounced dead at the scene. In a news release Irving PD said, "It was always believed, due to lack of evidence suggesting forced entry, that Johns knew her attacker." In a social media video posted by the department on the 29th anniversary of Johns' cold case, police described the crime scene. Police said Johns' home was ransacked, and they believed she put up a fight when she was attacked. Irving PD said within 48 hours of the crime, detectives spoke to neighbors, coworkers, friends and family members. Goggans was Johns' next-door neighbor at the time of her murder, police said. DNA links Goggans to the case Irving PD said during a recent review of the evidence in Johns' case, a sample was tested and yielded a DNA profile. The profile was entered into the Combined DNA Index System, a national DNA database, and matched with Goggans, police said. Goggans was arrested on Tuesday, June 10, and is currently in custody at the Irving City Jail. Darryl Patrick Goggans was arrested on Tuesday, June 10 in connection with the murder of Megan Beth Johns. Irving Police Department "Thanks to the collective effort from family, friends, media, and law enforcement, Megan Johns' case was never forgotten, and justice will finally be served," Irving PD said in a statement. Police ask anyone with information concerning Goggans' involvement in the murder of Johns to call 972-721-3539 or email ECurtis@ You can also stay anonymous by submitting a tip to IPDCrimeTips@
