A federal grand jury has indicted 11 Missouri residents for drug possession, drug possession with the intent to distribute, and conspiracy to distribute drugs. The 22-count indictment was handed down on Dec. 12 and unsealed on Jan. 13 after the suspects were taken into custody. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Missouri, the suspects conspired to distribute approximately 10 kilograms of heroin and 150 kilograms of methamphetamine worth about $1.7 million between January 2017 and December 2019.
DNA evidence is compelling, but not perfect
Prosecutors in Missouri and around the country tend to be fairly confident when forensic scientists can link a suspect to the crime they allegedly committed using deoxyribonucleic acid analysis, but DNA can also be used by defense attorneys to exonerate individuals who have been wrongfully convicted. The cells of every living organism contain DNA, and analyzing it can link tissue samples with the organism they came from with incredible accuracy.
