SARASOTA, Fla., Oct. 3, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- DNAPrint genomics, Inc. (OTCBB:DNAG) today confirmed that its DNAWITNESS forensics technology narrowed down a list of potential suspects during a police investigation that led to an arrest in the murder of two women in Napa, Calif.
The brutal stabbings of Leslie Ann Mazzara and Adriane Michelle Insogna, both 26, in a home they shared in the Northern California community, had stumped police for nearly 11 months because the women had no known enemies and there was no apparent motive. Police had speculated that the killer knew one or both of the victims.
Being held in custody was a man identified by authorities as Eric Matthew Copple, 26, of Napa. Police conducted more than 1,300 interviews during the investigation and collected DNA samples from 218 individuals, all men who had social or work contact with all three roommates who lived in the home. A third woman escaped unharmed during the Nov. 1, 2004, attack and called police.
The California Department of Justice Crime Lab and DNAPrint genomics previously determined that an analysis of blood samples collected at the crime scene indicated that the suspect was a male. Forensic evidence also pointed to a killer who smoked Camel Turkish Gold cigarettes, a hybrid of the popular cigarette brand. NapaPolice issued a statement to the media on Sept. 22, 2005, saying that DNAPrint genomics' forensics laboratory had further determined that the ancestry of the person of interest was white with 96% Northern European ancestry and 4% Southeastern European.
"We received a DNA sample from the Napa Police on Nov. 23, 2004 and returned the results of our DNAWITNESS analysis two days later," stated DNAPrint genomics President and Chief Executive Officer Richard Gabriel. "More recently, the case was revisited when DNAPrint was asked to analyze the sample with our EUROWitness technology to further refine the information. With information from DNAPrint, the Napa Police Department did a media release describing a white male adult who smokes or did smoke Camel Turkish Brand Cigarettes."
The San Francisco Chronicle newspaper reported that Napa Police Department Investigations Bureau Commander Jeff Troendy confirmed that DNA-related evidence and the media release led to the arrest of Copple. Troendy was quoted as saying, "The media release last week helped us get to this point, sometimes things happen very quickly."
About DNAPrint genomics, Inc.
DNAPrint genomics, Inc. (www.dnaprint.com) is a developer of genomics-based products and services focused on drug development, pharmacogenomic diagnostic tests, forensics technology and consumer genetic tests. DNAPrint's family of products for the law enforcement forensics and consumer markets include DNAWitness RETINOME (a predictive test for inferring eye color from a DNA sample), ANCESTRYbyDNA, and EURO-DNA. Recently announced and as a part of the Company's Trace Genetics acquisition, DNAWitness-Y and DNAWitness-Mito are two new tests that can be used as an identification tool when other DNA testing either fails to yield results or the sample might be too deteriorated. The Company's first theranostic product (drug/test combination) is PT-401, a "Super EPO" (erythropoietin) dimer protein drug for treatment of anemia in renal dialysis patients (end stage renal disease). Currently in pre-clinical development, PT-401 will be targeted to patients with a genetic profile indicating their propensity to have the best clinical response
Forward Looking Statements
All statements in this press release that are not historical are forward-looking statements. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected, including, but not limited to, uncertainties relating to technologies, product development, manufacturing, market acceptance, cost and pricing of DNAPrint's products, dependence on collaborations and partners, regulatory approvals, competition, intellectual property of others, and patent protection and litigation. DNAPrint genomics, Inc. expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in DNAPrint's expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions, or circumstances on which any such statements are based.