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Friday, March 16, 2007
Man Arrested in 1980 Killing
Suspect's DNA tied to strangulation of Woods Cross woman
"And once again, Salt Lake-based Sorenson Forensics, who helped Salt Lake City police crack three of their cold cases recently, was responsible for helping investigators."
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Friday, March 16, 2007
CSI: Utah
"Investigators finally caught a break earlier this year, thanks to a new DNA testing lab created by Utah billionaire James LeVoy Sorenson."
"Since last October Sorenson Forensics has helped identify suspects in two other cold cases."
"The company is currently investigating a few dozen cases from across the country."
"State and federal authorities often outsource DNA work to commercial outfits that are better equipped to handle high-volume or scientifically difficult cases."
MONDAY, January 22, 2007
Y-chromosome test thaws three SLC cold cases
New procedure isolates male genetic marker in hunt to identify and arrest suspects in unsolved murders
"... the Sorenson lab is the first in the state to use the new method, which singles out the Y chromosome - effectively linking skin cells, hair, blood or other DNA evidence specifically to their male owners."
"This science was effective in filing charges against 40-year-old Michael Jones in the murder of Tara Brennan, whose body was found in her car at Salt Lake City's Poplar Grove Park on Feb. 24, 2004. Brennan was found with a belt around her neck and stab wounds on her neck and face, according to court documents."
"Salt Lake City Police Chief Chris Burbank says... the crime-solving possibilities are endless with the new testing."
"It's really exciting," says the chief. "And it's amazing you can come up with some of these things after 21 years."
"If we can bring closure to some of these families," Burbank says, "that's what we should be doing."
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Text of Rocky Anderson's State of the City Address
State of the City Address
Ross C. "Rocky" Anderson
Mayor of Salt Lake City
January 16, 2007
Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson specifically mentions the outstanding service provided by Sorenson Forensics in his state of the city address.
"After we formed the Cold Case Unit, Detectives Cordon Parks and Kelly Kent reexamined all available evidence and followed up on literally hundreds of leads. Due to the persistent, tenacious efforts of the detectives, and due to the outstanding services provided by Sorenson Forensics, it appears that Tiffany's loved ones may now obtain the answers they have been hoping for all these years' and that justice may indeed be achieved."
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Wednesday, January 13, 2007
DNA firm wins praise for work on 'cold cases'
"Salt Lake City police appear to have solved three "cold cases" in just one week, thanks in big part to a new company that does sophisticated DNA profiling."
"Sorenson Forensics, which just opened for business in October 2006, is an expansion of Sorenson Genomics. The company, however, is geared more toward law enforcement. It bills itself as providing casework services for federal, state and local crime laboratories. It was through the company's expertise in this area that Salt Lake's old cases appear to have been solved."
"Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson said he was "thrilled" that DNA technology had advanced to the point that it's now possible to solve cases that are as old as the Hambleton investigation."
"Thank goodness we have someone in the private sector now who can provide us with the information necessary to take vicious criminals off the street," he said."
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Saturday, January 13, 2007
Utah Company Helps Solve Cold Case Murders
A new company, Sorenson Forensics, recently made the match to Peterson, who is now being held in a Phoenix jail waiting to be transported to Utah.
Sorenson Forensics is also credited for its involvement with two other cold case arrests made just last week. Michael Jones was arrested for the 2004 murder of Tara Brennan. And Michael Johnson was accused of the 1998 murder of Cathy Cobb.
Sorenson Forensics looks at DNA, specifically the male Y-Chromosome, that up until recently was unusable. They can identify men's DNA even if it is contaminated by a woman's DNA.
Sorenson Forensics now plans to work alongside the Utah State Crime lab to help solve more cold cases.
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01/13/2007
Fox TV 13 (Salt Lake City, UT)
"The DNA was processed at Sorenson Forensics lab in Salt Lake City. Technicians there use state of the art science to isolate and identify tell tale genetic evidence from the tiniest samples."
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Tuesday, October 03, 2006
No clue is too small for lab
Newly created Sorenson Forensics is solving crimes
"At Sorenson Forensics, a team of nine people is now dedicating its efforts to solving society's worst crimes. The division was created in June after Salt Lake-based Myriad Genetics decided to discontinue its forensic services division."
"Now, with the addition of Sorenson Forensics, the team is busy solving murders, rapes and burglaries."
"The lab recently received accreditation from Forensic Quality Services International, allowing it to begin processing cases."
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