The Dumbest Ways Evidence Was Made Unusable.
By Edtrader Sept. 29th, 2022
Unfortunately, over the years evidence has been rendered unusable in cases. Usually because it wasn't collected properly. So, a smart lawyer finds ways to have it tossed. For the following is a list of the dumber ways evidence was made unusable.
Unfortunately, over the years evidence has been rendered unusable in cases. Usually because it wasn't collected properly. So, a smart lawyer finds ways to have it tossed. For the following is a list of the dumber ways evidence was made unusable.
#6. Saving the Earth.
Recycling and other planet-conscious actions are good things. However, for one sheriff, it came back to bite him in the butt.
Wausau, Wisconsin, Gillet Secondary School teacher Ray Johnson was enjoying a soda when he began to have stomach cramps and vomited. He went to the school nurse complaining that it started to burn. So, she called the ambulance, and it was discovered that the teacher was poisoned. Somehow, some whiteboard chemical cleaner was poured into his soda bottle.
The teacher said he had disciplined a student the day before. The police investigated, and students Hailey Brock and Gavin Gilbertson were charged with second-degree reckless endangerment. Luckily, the bottle was found by the police and was the key piece of evidence. Fingerprints and traces of the chemical would go a long way.
Their defense attorney came to the judge, asking for the case to be thrown out. The only real piece of evidence, the bottle, was poured out. Then the bottle was recycled. So it couldn't be studied by the lab.
Police Chief Jess Kepliner said he talked to one person in their crime lab. He was told there was no way to test the bottle. So, he dumped it in the sink, and the bottle went into the plastic recycle bin. Jess admitted that he indeed did this before getting a second opinion. That, and he couldn't remember what lab tech he talked to.
Recycling and other planet-conscious actions are good things. However, for one sheriff, it came back to bite him in the butt.
Wausau, Wisconsin, Gillet Secondary School teacher Ray Johnson was enjoying a soda when he began to have stomach cramps and vomited. He went to the school nurse complaining that it started to burn. So, she called the ambulance, and it was discovered that the teacher was poisoned. Somehow, some whiteboard chemical cleaner was poured into his soda bottle.
The teacher said he had disciplined a student the day before. The police investigated, and students Hailey Brock and Gavin Gilbertson were charged with second-degree reckless endangerment. Luckily, the bottle was found by the police and was the key piece of evidence. Fingerprints and traces of the chemical would go a long way.
Their defense attorney came to the judge, asking for the case to be thrown out. The only real piece of evidence, the bottle, was poured out. Then the bottle was recycled. So it couldn't be studied by the lab.
Police Chief Jess Kepliner said he talked to one person in their crime lab. He was told there was no way to test the bottle. So, he dumped it in the sink, and the bottle went into the plastic recycle bin. Jess admitted that he indeed did this before getting a second opinion. That, and he couldn't remember what lab tech he talked to.
He was asked why not so much as even fingerprints were taken from the bottle. His response was that he wasn't concerned with it. Judge Conley got on to him, citing that no one here today can say what was even in the soda bottle, that's why it should have been preserved. Calling the police chief absurd in court.
All of this happened in April of 2016, so the case is still ongoing. The only evidence still in play is the fact that the teacher wrote up one of the suspects.
#5. Brain loss.
The assassination of President John F. Kennedy is the most debated murder in U.S. history. Who did it, one or two bullets, from where, etc.? Countless books and articles have been dedicated to the subject. However, one piece of evidence that could have solved the whole thing went missing.
When studying being shot in the head... the brain and its damage are crucial pieces. As the brain has to be hit in order to cause instant death. If not, then the victim is more likely to bleed to death. Plus, the area of the brain the bullet hit is crucial to finding the bullet's trajectory.
In 1966, three years after his death, it was made known that his brain was not buried. But rather was stored at the National Archives. It was sealed in a metal container at the Bethesda Naval Hospital. Then deposited at the archives with paperwork and his x-rays. This was let out of the bag when it was discovered that his brain was actually missing.
Where did it go?
Several government and independent committees and fact-finding commissions have never come up with the answer. Whether opening the case on the murder or just trying to find the brain itself. Leaving conspiracy theorists to take this and run a touchdown. Going so far as to write a book claiming evidence that his brother Robert stole it. To conceal that John was sick or doped up at the time. It's comical that anyone would believe that. But the book got published after all.
Over the years, newer and more advanced investigative sciences have come along. So, with each new development, there's a chance to study the brain. To finally give some answers to all the theories. But with the brain just missing, that's impossible.
That evidence would reach far into an end-all, be-all investigation. But as fate would have it, we don't get that opportunity.
All of this happened in April of 2016, so the case is still ongoing. The only evidence still in play is the fact that the teacher wrote up one of the suspects.
#5. Brain loss.
The assassination of President John F. Kennedy is the most debated murder in U.S. history. Who did it, one or two bullets, from where, etc.? Countless books and articles have been dedicated to the subject. However, one piece of evidence that could have solved the whole thing went missing.
When studying being shot in the head... the brain and its damage are crucial pieces. As the brain has to be hit in order to cause instant death. If not, then the victim is more likely to bleed to death. Plus, the area of the brain the bullet hit is crucial to finding the bullet's trajectory.
In 1966, three years after his death, it was made known that his brain was not buried. But rather was stored at the National Archives. It was sealed in a metal container at the Bethesda Naval Hospital. Then deposited at the archives with paperwork and his x-rays. This was let out of the bag when it was discovered that his brain was actually missing.
Where did it go?
Several government and independent committees and fact-finding commissions have never come up with the answer. Whether opening the case on the murder or just trying to find the brain itself. Leaving conspiracy theorists to take this and run a touchdown. Going so far as to write a book claiming evidence that his brother Robert stole it. To conceal that John was sick or doped up at the time. It's comical that anyone would believe that. But the book got published after all.
Over the years, newer and more advanced investigative sciences have come along. So, with each new development, there's a chance to study the brain. To finally give some answers to all the theories. But with the brain just missing, that's impossible.
That evidence would reach far into an end-all, be-all investigation. But as fate would have it, we don't get that opportunity.
#4. Saved by death.
June 13th, 1964, in Philadelphia, Calvin Jones was in a relationship with Sara Tolbert. A lady ten years his junior. The couple got into one heck of a fight in Jones’s vehicle. He proceeded to beat her 'to death' with a rubber hose. Then drove around with her body in the car for a few hours. Some kind of guilt trip, literally. Eventually taking her body to the police.
He confessed, and it seemed like he was done for. But at trial, the medical examiners brought in something no one could have imagined. Her body can't be used as evidence to convict her. He killed her, but it didn't kill her.
Their reasoning was that that she was already dead... but still living! She was suffering from sickle cell anemia and was going to die in just a few hours. Regardless if he beat her or not. That it was too hard to prove that what he did had any life-ending effects. So, the entire evidence of her body can't be used.
The judge actually accepted throwing her dead body out as evidence. However, his confession of beating her a few times over the course of their relationship was good enough evidence for assault. Which he was convicted of this lesser charge.
#3. Lawyer ate my homework.
Lawyers do their best to get their clients free of charges. In the Republic of Tuva in Russia, a lawyer was caught on tape eating evidence. The lawyer was in the judge's office going over their client's case of drunk driving.
The judge's secretary leaves the lawyer alone therein. Who finds the blood alcohol test for his client. He threw it in his bag at first. But thinks otherwise of it. He could have stuffed it in his pocket or down his zipper. But he decides it's better to eat the paperwork.
Chews it down with a glass of wine and a side of peppered Lima beans (not really). The secretary walks back in, and a few moments later he has the balls to say the test is missing. Therefore, there shouldn't be a case. The secretary frantically searches the office for it.
Jokes on him as he's on video the whole time. She called down to the security guard, who ran the tape back. Sure enough, he's in plain view, having lunch. Munching away and walking around like nothing was happening. However, instead of getting his client off, he's the one in trouble. Facing two years in jail, with his case still pending as of April 2016.
June 13th, 1964, in Philadelphia, Calvin Jones was in a relationship with Sara Tolbert. A lady ten years his junior. The couple got into one heck of a fight in Jones’s vehicle. He proceeded to beat her 'to death' with a rubber hose. Then drove around with her body in the car for a few hours. Some kind of guilt trip, literally. Eventually taking her body to the police.
He confessed, and it seemed like he was done for. But at trial, the medical examiners brought in something no one could have imagined. Her body can't be used as evidence to convict her. He killed her, but it didn't kill her.
Their reasoning was that that she was already dead... but still living! She was suffering from sickle cell anemia and was going to die in just a few hours. Regardless if he beat her or not. That it was too hard to prove that what he did had any life-ending effects. So, the entire evidence of her body can't be used.
The judge actually accepted throwing her dead body out as evidence. However, his confession of beating her a few times over the course of their relationship was good enough evidence for assault. Which he was convicted of this lesser charge.
#3. Lawyer ate my homework.
Lawyers do their best to get their clients free of charges. In the Republic of Tuva in Russia, a lawyer was caught on tape eating evidence. The lawyer was in the judge's office going over their client's case of drunk driving.
The judge's secretary leaves the lawyer alone therein. Who finds the blood alcohol test for his client. He threw it in his bag at first. But thinks otherwise of it. He could have stuffed it in his pocket or down his zipper. But he decides it's better to eat the paperwork.
Chews it down with a glass of wine and a side of peppered Lima beans (not really). The secretary walks back in, and a few moments later he has the balls to say the test is missing. Therefore, there shouldn't be a case. The secretary frantically searches the office for it.
Jokes on him as he's on video the whole time. She called down to the security guard, who ran the tape back. Sure enough, he's in plain view, having lunch. Munching away and walking around like nothing was happening. However, instead of getting his client off, he's the one in trouble. Facing two years in jail, with his case still pending as of April 2016.
A snippet from the actual video!
#2. Sponge Bob Scarfaced.
In July 2015, northern California's Coast Guard had a cocaine bust that went down in the record books. They intercepted six tons of coke via submarine from Mexico. Once tallied, it came to $181 million bucks worth of blow. Or Tony Montana's weekend amount!
A plane spotted a semi-submerged vessel and radioed down to the ship Stratton. A craft boat was sent to investigate. The sub was forty feet long and was the biggest self-propelled drug vessel of its kind. Two men were inside the ship when the Coast Guard seized it. Being caught with that much blow in your lap isn't good.
Now they could turn it over to the proper authorities and get credit for helping bring down a drug kingpin. If nothing else, those two inside were jailbound. Unfortunately, that cocaine can't be used in court.
The craft boat officers were preparing to tow it to the main ship. But the darn thing sank before they could. Dumping all of that white snow down to the ocean floor. All of that evidence was lost to the sea. Officer Allyson Conroy said the massive amount wouldn't harm the environment, though. That's the most important thing.
#1. Evidence was sold to Sanford and Son's.
Reporter Dan Herbeck used the word 'astonishing' to describe the act of deputy Douglas M. Burke. When, because of a dumb error, a murder weapon was lost.
1998 Francisco Santos was stabbed to death out on Seneca Nation land. Santos was involved with drug dealers, and some guys were dispatched to 'take care of him'. In the course of the investigation, four men were arrested, and the murder weapon was found. It seemed like a slam-dunk case. However, judge Jonathon Feldmen had a decision to make. Whether or not to throw the whole case out of court. As the murder weapon was not able to be used.
Burke was on the verge of retirement and working as the desk clerk for the sheriff's office. When he sold the steak knife blade, which prosecutors believed to be the murder weapon. The property room was beginning to get too full. So, he decided to sell some metal junk for scrap. The blade being one of the items.
Judge Feldman said there was no rational excuse or explanation for such a mindless act. So naturally, the defense attorneys asked the court to throw out the case. No murder weapon means no concrete evidence. But the judge decided to deny the request. Citing that Burke, although stupid, did not intend harm.
One of the defense attorneys, Cheryl Buth, said that she can't believe that this sort of thing can happen in 2002.
In July 2015, northern California's Coast Guard had a cocaine bust that went down in the record books. They intercepted six tons of coke via submarine from Mexico. Once tallied, it came to $181 million bucks worth of blow. Or Tony Montana's weekend amount!
A plane spotted a semi-submerged vessel and radioed down to the ship Stratton. A craft boat was sent to investigate. The sub was forty feet long and was the biggest self-propelled drug vessel of its kind. Two men were inside the ship when the Coast Guard seized it. Being caught with that much blow in your lap isn't good.
Now they could turn it over to the proper authorities and get credit for helping bring down a drug kingpin. If nothing else, those two inside were jailbound. Unfortunately, that cocaine can't be used in court.
The craft boat officers were preparing to tow it to the main ship. But the darn thing sank before they could. Dumping all of that white snow down to the ocean floor. All of that evidence was lost to the sea. Officer Allyson Conroy said the massive amount wouldn't harm the environment, though. That's the most important thing.
#1. Evidence was sold to Sanford and Son's.
Reporter Dan Herbeck used the word 'astonishing' to describe the act of deputy Douglas M. Burke. When, because of a dumb error, a murder weapon was lost.
1998 Francisco Santos was stabbed to death out on Seneca Nation land. Santos was involved with drug dealers, and some guys were dispatched to 'take care of him'. In the course of the investigation, four men were arrested, and the murder weapon was found. It seemed like a slam-dunk case. However, judge Jonathon Feldmen had a decision to make. Whether or not to throw the whole case out of court. As the murder weapon was not able to be used.
Burke was on the verge of retirement and working as the desk clerk for the sheriff's office. When he sold the steak knife blade, which prosecutors believed to be the murder weapon. The property room was beginning to get too full. So, he decided to sell some metal junk for scrap. The blade being one of the items.
Judge Feldman said there was no rational excuse or explanation for such a mindless act. So naturally, the defense attorneys asked the court to throw out the case. No murder weapon means no concrete evidence. But the judge decided to deny the request. Citing that Burke, although stupid, did not intend harm.
One of the defense attorneys, Cheryl Buth, said that she can't believe that this sort of thing can happen in 2002.