News 8 Investigates: How rapid DNA testing is helping crack cases in Connecticut

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) — Crime-fighting meets high-tech in our News 8 investigation. A startling scene was captured on Farmington police’s dash cam. A burglary suspect was on the run, and there was a collision with a cruiser and an officer down — the intensity of the pursuit was so clear.

“Officer O’Donnell got out of his cruiser to address the suspect, at which point the suspect intentionally drove at him, pinned him against his cruiser, causing significant physical injury,” Farmington Police Lt. Matthew Corcoran said.

The aftermath of the chase left behind a stolen car and crucial clues. What followed was a convergence of cutting-edge technology, cooperation between police departments, and old-fashioned detective work.

Forensic science has evolved dramatically in the state’s Division of Scientific Services. Cheryl Carreiro and Sevasti Papakanakis lead the charge, emphasizing their allegiance not to prosecution or defense but to science.

Papakanakis, deputy director of forensic biology and DNA at the Division of Scientific Services, says the lab where she works has made significant strides.

“About ten years ago, in 2013, our lab struggled with backlogs immensely,” Papakanakis said. Our turnaround time was in the years, not even months. We worked towards reducing our backlogs.”

Now, something called rapid DNA is putting Connecticut on the map regarding crime-fighting, News 8 Investigative Reporter Jeff Derderian discovered.

Carreiro is the director of forensic biology & DNA at the Division of Scientific Services.

“The rapid DNA tests versus the traditional testing…they’re the same type of chemistries, it’s going to look the same as traditional testing,” Carreiro said. “The difference is the speed.”

So, just how rapid is rapid DNA testing? With rapid DNA, it’s 90 minutes, and results come back.

Law enforcement in the state says rapid DNA has been a game-changer in law enforcement, providing a swift turnaround in identifying suspects and clearing innocent individuals.

“We had a string of burglaries within the last year or so, and we used [rapid DNA] to pinpoint who was responsible and involved in those burglaries, and he was able to be taken off the street rather quickly,” New Haven Police Det. Josh Smereczynsky said.

Officers use bodily fluids like blood and saliva and load them into the DNA machines. Any officer using the machine is trained and certified by the state lab.

Six police departments — Hartford, New Haven, Greenwich, Bridgeport, Waterbury and Troop E in Montville — are equipped with these machines, each costing approximately $135,000.

Connecticut is one of just a couple of states that are fully integrated and using rapid DNA consistently.

Keep in mind this does not mean traditional DNA testing is not used. It is, but now, rapid DNA testing is another tool. Traditional DNA testing also remains the standard in criminal court cases.

Watch Jeff Derderian’s full investigation above.

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