Comments on: Bite Mark News

By: Homeboy

Homeboy — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 19:59:42 +0000

Those who are curious about the weight accorded to bite mark evidence by some juries should consider the case of Ray Krone. Krone was wrongly convicted of rape, murder, and kidnapping and sentenced to death almost entirely on the basis of a bite mark analysis, despite a mountain of exculpatory evidence. Krone had a confirmed alibi, blood and DNA evidence found surrounding the body did not match his, shoe prints left by the murderer were of the wrong tread pattern and shoe size, and the fingerprints left by the killer on the murder weapon and at the crime scene were not his. Yet, two juries convicted Krone on the weight of a forensic bite mark analyst’s report and statement of absolute certainty that Krone was the murderer (this analyst’s report led to Krone being dubbed “The Snaggletooth Killer” by the Arizona news media).

Krone was eventually released after serving nearly ten years in prison, when he was finally able to get the DNA recovered from the victim’s body and the interior of her clothing tested by a certified DNA lab. The results from this test not only proved negative for Krone, but positively identified a recidivist violent sex offender living behind the murder scene as the killer. Even after DNA from inside the victim’s body excluded Krone, prosecutors from the Maricopa County Attorney’s office fought desperately against his release, arguing that Krone merely acted in concert with an unindicted ejaculator who Krone must have ordered to rape the victim before Krone killed her. The prosecutors drew nothing but scorn and ire from the judge who heard the defense motion, and Krone was out of prison later that same day.

Here is a link to a statement Krone recorded for Amnesty International:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fz35tNT-Zt8

By: Homeboy

Homeboy — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 19:24:47 +0000

I will be stunned if this lawsuit is not dismissed upon summary judgment. This should cost about $1.50 for Bowers to defend.

By: croaker

croaker — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 23:45:24 +0000

Waiting for some government prosecutor to get involved, seal all testimony, and have a judge declare that bite mark evidence is valid as the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

By: Balko on the Bennie Starks Case « Forensic Odontology – Bitemark Evidence

Tue, 27 Dec 2011 21:46:46 +0000

[...] Balko of the Huffington Post published a nice comprehensive piece on his blog The Agitator concerning the defamation suit filed by two Chicago dentists against Michael Bowers. Balko opens [...]

By: marco73

marco73 — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 20:29:27 +0000

The 2 dentists are suing because they are:

“subjected them to ridicule and a loss of business.”

Just follow the money. It isn’t about justice. Its about protecting their income.

Its always amusing how these types of lawsuits are filed with great fanfare, but then as soon as depositions are scheduled, the lawsuits are quietly dropped.

By: Judas Peckerwood

Judas Peckerwood — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 18:53:13 +0000

Justice won’t be served until bogus “expert witnesses” like these are criminally prosecuted and sued into penury for their lies –– along with the amoral prosecutors they enable.

By: Randy

Randy — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 16:52:54 +0000

Reality bites. I’m sorry, but it had to be said.