DNA Diagnostics Center (DDC) Provides DNA Results that Lead to Exoneration
of Longest-Serving Inmate
Fairfield, Ohio (PRWEB) December 18, 2009 -- An innocent Florida man will spend his first Christmas in 35
years at home with his family, rather than behind prison bars, thanks to a DNA test performed by DNA
Diagnostics Center (DDC) and the defense work provided by the Florida Innocence Project.
James Bain, now 54, was 19 when he was convicted of breaking and entering, kidnapping, and rape charges. The Innocence Project of Florida picked up his case in 2005, when the appellate court ordered a new hearing after
Bain submitted his 5th motion for his case to be reopened for DNA testing.
In October, the Florida Innocence Project requested DNA Diagnostics Center to perform independent testing of
DNA on evidence from the case. Bain’s DNA was compared with the perpetrator’s biological material obtained
from the crime scene, and the analysis showed no match between his DNA profile and the evidence. After a brief
hearing Thursday at the Polk County courthouse, Judge James Yancey ordered him freed.
Of the 245 DNA exonerees to date, Bain has served the longest prison term as an innocent man. Dr. Ellen
Moscovitz, President and CEO of DNA Diagnostics Center stated, “This is a very profound moment for all of us
at DNA Diagnostics Center. It underscores the importance and impact of the DNA testing we provide every day
and reminds us that there is a precious human life attached to every specimen. We are so pleased to have been
able to play a part in achieving justice and freedom for Mr. Bain.”
DDC’s Forensics Division serves as an independent DNA testing resource to defense lawyers and government
prosecutors and works with many Innocence Projects across the country. Seth Miller, Director of the Innocence
Project of Florida, commented, “We’ve worked with DNA Diagnostics Center on a number of cases now for over
a year. Not only do their analysts do diligent work, but their customer service is top notch. There’s no other lab
that we would have wanted to put this case in the hands of, especially with the age of the case and the type of
sample that we had. We knew that DDC would take great care with it. We’re so thankful to DDC that they were
able to help us find the truth and help with the release of Jamie Bain.”
In 2008, DDC’s testing was instrumental in the exoneration of Robert McClendon, an Ohio man who was imprisoned for 18 years before DNA testing proved his innocence. DNA Diagnostics Center’s forensic expertise
in solving the unique challenges of post conviction cases, working with difficult specimens and limited evidence,
has made it one of the most respected forensic laboratories in the nation.
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About DDC
DNA Diagnostics Center (DDC) is the world's largest provider of private DNA identity testing services. Since
1995, DDC has performed genetic tests for over 1 million clients around the world. DDC offers comprehensive
DNA testing services in several specialty areas: family relationship testing, forensics, and veterinary DNA testing.DDC's quality DNA testing services are nationally and internationally recognized by a number of professional
accrediting organizations such as ACLASS (for ISO/IEC-17025), the AABB, the American Society of Crime
Laboratory Directors-Laboratory Accreditation Board (ASCLD/LAB-International), and the College of American
Pathologists (CAP).
Contact:
Kathy Gantzer
DNA Diagnostics Center–Forensics Division
pr@dnacenter.com
513-881-4035
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