Columbus crime lab mistake could affect 38 cases

COLUMBUS (AP) — At least 38 closed cases could be affected by a DNA-related mistake at a central Ohio crime lab, a prosecutor said.

Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O’Brien said this week his office likely will notify the attorneys for the 38 defendants in closed cases that the outcome could be affected. One convicted felon has already asked for a new trial based on the mistake at the Columbus police crime lab.

The problem involves DNA reports that were submitted for criminal cases but were missing the statistical weight, which shows the probability that the DNA belongs to a certain person, according to The Columbus Dispatch.

Because people can share similar genetic patterns, statistical weight is needed to say whether others in the population might also match.