Blood Feud

Indeed, Pasadena police report that they have sent the blood and hair samples in the Durrett investigation back to the CellMark labs in Maryland for yet a third round of testing. One detective says those tests will also review the microscopic hair analysis first performed by Amy Haralson. Asked if his department had been mislead about how comprehensive Haralson's initial tests had been, Sergeant Kelly Payne replied, "Apparently."

In a possibly related matter, the FBI is conducting an investigation into allegations of sabotage and potential evidence tampering at the ME's Office. According to a source close to the ME's Office, it was discovered that reagents in the DNA lab had been mixed together on two occasions late last year. A reagent is a substance that is added to a solution of another substance to precipitate a chemical reaction. If a mixing of reagents went unnoticed, it is possible that DNA test results could have been compromised.

"This is not something that could have happened accidentally," says the source, who did not want to be identified. "It's clear somebody came in and messed with the reagents," which were kept under lock and key.

Johnson refused to comment on the investigation.
The allegation of possible tampering was forwarded to the district attorney, but Holmes passed it on to the FBI to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest posed by his ongoing review of Johnson's work. He says a case could be made that suspects' civil rights were violated if criminal evidence were tampered with, thus justifying the federal jurisdiction.

Special agent Doug Shipley confirmed that the FBI is conducting the investigation, but would not elaborate.

Meanwhile, Elizabeth Johnson is under the impression that her days at the ME's Office are numbered, regardless of the outcome of the review of her work.

"The situation has gotten to the point where I don't want to be there too much longer," admits Johnson. "I just like to leave on my own terms and expose the twits for what they are.