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One of the cases that could be in jeopardy after a crime-scene investigator’s errors came to light is an officer-involved shooting in East Houston.
One of the cases that could be in jeopardy after a crime-scene investigator’s errors came to light is an officer-involved shooting in East Houston.
Photo: Metro Video
Johnathon Sanchez was charged with murder months after police allegedly found him shooting a gun in the air near residences.
Johnathon Sanchez was charged with murder months after police allegedly found him shooting a gun in the air near residences.
Photo: Metro Video
Johnathon Sanchez
A crime scene investigator incorrectly counted cartridge cases, leaving one behind that “appeared to be unrelated.”
Johnathon Sanchez
A crime scene investigator incorrectly counted cartridge cases, leaving one behind that “appeared to be unrelated.”
Photo: Metro Video
Geno Salinas
Geno Salinas, 18, was charged with murder in the slaying of Noel Garcia in May 2016. A crime scene investigator made minor mistakes that could jeopardize the case.
Geno Salinas
Geno Salinas, 18, was charged with murder in the slaying of Noel Garcia in May 2016. A crime scene investigator made minor mistakes that could jeopardize the case.
An investigator made mistakes on an officer-involved shooting in November 2015, an audit later found.
An investigator made mistakes on an officer-involved shooting in November 2015, an audit later found.
Photo: Metro Video
Officer-involved shooting
The November 2015 officer-involved shooting happened after a man pulled a gun during a traffic stop, then fled and hit a tree, according to police.
Officer-involved shooting
The November 2015 officer-involved shooting happened after a man pulled a gun during a traffic stop, then fled and hit a tree, according to police.
Photo: Metro Video
The driver of the car died, but his passenger lived. She was not charged with any crime.
The driver of the car died, but his passenger lived. She was not charged with any crime.
Photo: Metro Video
Leandrew Hicks, 26, was charged with charged after he allegedly shot a man he was talking with, then fled the scene. A police officer assigned to investigate omitted measurements from a report and overlooked a towel and pillow near the body, an auditor found. less
Leandrew Hicks, 26, was charged with charged after he allegedly shot a man he was talking with, then fled the scene. A police officer assigned to investigate omitted measurements from a report and … more
An investigator listed multiple incorrect dates and omitted a report in a May 2016 death investigation after a woman accidentally ran over her boyfriend.
An investigator listed multiple incorrect dates and omitted a report in a May 2016 death investigation after a woman accidentally ran over her boyfriend.
Photo: Metro Video
Jerry Wayne Bonner died after his long-time girlfriend accidentally ran him over following a fight.
Jerry Wayne Bonner died after his long-time girlfriend accidentally ran him over following a fight.
Photo: Metro Video
Botched robbery
A grisly case where a man was fatally shot in front of his wife in a robbery gone wrong in November 2015 was among those dinged by an auditor examining the work of a Houston crime scene investigator. less
Botched robbery
A grisly case where a man was fatally shot in front of his wife in a robbery gone wrong in November 2015 was among those dinged by an auditor examining the work of a Houston crime scene … more
Photo: Metro Video
Geovanni Rios’ slaying
Geovanni Jesus Rios, 18, of Pasadena, was was fatally shot in July 2016. His slaying was one of the cases botched by an HPD crime scene investigator.
Geovanni Rios’ slaying
Geovanni Jesus Rios, 18, of Pasadena, was was fatally shot in July 2016. His slaying was one of the cases botched by an HPD crime scene investigator.
Road Rage
In December, a Southwest Freeway fender bender led to a shooting. This year, an auditor singled it out as one of 65 cases in which a crime scene investigator made errors.
Road Rage
In December, a Southwest Freeway fender bender led to a shooting. This year, an auditor singled it out as one of 65 cases in which a crime scene investigator made errors.
Photo: Metro Video
Police found a body in a burning van in December. The crime scene investigator failed to upload photos and neglected certain reports, an auditor later found.
Police found a body in a burning van in December. The crime scene investigator failed to upload photos and neglected certain reports, an auditor later found.
A slew of murder cases could be in jeopardy after an auditor uncovered crime-scene investigator errors in 65 Houston cases – including 26 homicides, five officer-involved shootings and six child deaths.
A road rage shooting, a body found in a burning van and a botched robbery that saw a man slain in front of his family are all among the cases that could be impacted by the errors, all made since 2015 by a single investigator.
In one case, the investigator failed to list a cartridge casing in an officer’s vehicle in a report. In another, bloody shoeprints were never processed, and in another the crime scene description offers incorrect details.
It’s not clear yet how much the mistakes could impact open cases.
AUDIT WOES: New evidence problems raise questions in 65 criminal cases
“Defense lawyers are going to have a chance to determine for themselves the relevance of these errors or omissions,” First Assistant District Attorney Tom Berg said.
“Because most of these cases have not yet been fully adjudicated, we won’t speculate on the possible impact, if any.”
Scroll through the gallery above to look at some of the cases affected by the newfound evidence problems.
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