Sample Cases

Here are some criminal cases in which hair recovered from the crime scene was used as evidence to prosecute, but were later reopened with new evidence.

Sample Case #1

Billy Gregory's exoneration in August 2000 was the first based on the DNA found in hair. He was convicted in 1993 of rape and attempted rape in separate crimes near his Louisville, Ky., home. Although the victims failed to identify him in initial photo lineups, hairs from a stocking mask were linked to him. Prosecutors insisted on testing all seven hairs before he was released.

Sample Case #2

Dennis Fritz and Ron Williamson celebrated their release in
1999 after 11 years in prison for a rape and slaying they didn't commit. Hair comparison mistakenly matched 13 hairs from the Ada, Okla., crime scene to Mr. Fritz and four to Mr. Williamson, who later came within five days of execution. Hairs and semen eventually were matched to a prison informant who testified against them. He's been charged with the crime.

Sample Case #3

Albert Brown was convicted of murdering a retired Tulsa firefighter in 1981 after hairs in the victim's gag were matched to him and hairs from Mr. Brown's car were matched to the victim. Mr. Brown was freed in October after 18 years in prison when mitochondrial DNA tests cleared him.