The Ohio Attorney General's Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation covered the costs of the ballistics and DNA tests, among other tests, after the March 9, 2003, slaying of Ohio University student Terris Ross.
The costs of the tests are funded through state and federal funds, so the tests done for the investigation of the homicide were free for Athens County, said Athens County Prosecutor C. David Warren. Exact costs of the investigation could not be given.
Investigators from BCI were called in shortly after Ross was killed. Lab test results have since been released to Athens Police Department investigators, said Kim Norris, spokeswoman for the Attorney General's Office and BCI.
The late-model Cadillac Sedan Deville in which Ross was killed was processed in Athens by BCI investigators.
Bob Beasley, spokesman for the Attorney General's Office and BCI, said several reports have been issued by BCI.
The first and fifth reports, issued April 1 and May 5, 2003, included information about latent fingerprints. The second report was issued April 21, 2003, and had information about the firearm used. The third report, issued April 28, 2003, included DNA information. The fourth and sixth reports, issued April 30 and June 11, 2003, included information regarding trace evidence.
An additional report was requested May 18, 2004, and was received by the Athens Police Department and the Prosecutor's Office. The report included more information about DNA evidence. It was unknown who requested the report, Beasley said.
The services BCI provides are useful for smaller counties because they can provide crime-scene services that the county otherwise might not be able to provide, Norris said.
BCI lab technicians perform tests and collect evidence when a crime has occurred. Some of the other tests they do include work with body tissue and gun residue.
The length and time of investigations can vary with the type of crime committed, the size of the crime scene and the nature of the crime. The number of individuals involved in the crime also affects the investigation, Norris said.
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Janet Nester
