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James Booher DNA Found in Ely farmhouse

A forensic examiner testified that DNA from James Booher, who was fatally shot in 2014, was found on a glove and floor vent cover at the Ely farmhouse where his accused killer lived. Charity Davis, nuclear DNA forensic examiner at the FBI Lab in Quantico testified during Matthew Robbins’ trial, which started last week in the U.S. District Court. Davis said Booher’s profile was generated from cigarette butts taken from an ashtray in his truck and a kinship analysis profile of his mother.

The examiner said that the lab uses advanced probabilistic genotyping to analyze DNA, which was required in this case because the samples were small and the human bone fragments found in a debris pile at the Ely house had been burned. This method of analysis looks at the entire DNA profile and provides a likelihood ratio strength of the evidence to show the contributor.

A glove, found in the upstairs bathroom at Robbins’ house after May 31, 2014, was tested for blood, but there wasn’t enough of the stain to confirm it was blood. The DNA testing of a stain found on the area of the pinkie on the outside of the glove showed the high likelihood ratio of 260 centillion that Booher was the contributor. The palm area of the outside of the glove also showed a high likelihood of 220 centillion that it was Booher’s DNA.

Robbins is accused of robbing and fatally shooting Booher, 51, a drug dealer, on May 31, 2014. He is charged with robbery affecting interstate commerce, conspiracy to commit robbery affecting interstate commerce, and using, carrying and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence resulting in murder.

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