What good is DNA if you ignore it?

[Quantum Windbag]

Since then, one of those three men, Jerry Hobbs, has been released. DNA from the crime scene — which authorities already knew didn’t come from Hobbs — was reportedly matched to a former Zion resident who also faces federal charges in Virginia in the 2009 killing of a Navy petty officer.
Meanwhile, there are signs “Don’t Notice the Alternatives” syndrome could be creeping into Cook County, where two sets of young men remain the official suspects though DNA evidence points in a different direction. We hope that isn’t happening.
In one case, five young men were convicted of the 1991 sexual assault and murder of a 14-year-old girl in Dixmoor though DNA extracted from the victim didn’t match any of them. Three of the young men confessed, but no physical evidence implicated them. One of the young men immediately recanted his confession and the other two have done so since. Now, although DNA results recently matched serial offender and convicted rapist Willie Randolph, Cook County is opposing a hearing for a new trial for the three men still in prison, but is re-investigating.
In the other case, four teenagers were convicted of the 1994 sexual assault and strangulation of Nina Glover, 30, in Englewood. The teenagers confessed, but there was no trace of physical evidence. Last month, DNA testing matched the now-deceased Johnny Douglas, who pleaded guilty in 2001 to the 1997 strangulation murder of another woman. Cook County is also re-investigating this case.

Editorial: Don