12 DNA matches so far from state crime lab

Gov. Jay Nixon signed the bill into law, and it went into effect Aug. 28. The law requires law enforcement to collect DNA samples from people arrested for violent felonies, sex crimes and burglaries. The old law said only those convicted had to give DNA samples

Once the samples are collected, they're sent to the state's crime lab in Jefferson City. From there a worker processes the sample and enters it into a database.

So far, it seems to be working. There is no backlog but there are some glitches.

The labs received 1,350 samples so far. Only 830 have been entered into the database.

Lab officials said it's due to error from arresting agencies.

"Anywhere from duplicate collections or people's samples being collected that were not qualified,” said Susanne Brenneke, Missouri State Codis administrator for the Highway Patrol Crime Lab in Jefferson City.

Just a handful of lab workers enter the samples, which takes at most two weeks. Their efforts are paying off. So far there's been 12 matches leading to an arrest.

"The cases range anywhere from auto thefts and burglaries to rapes and a sodomy that has been associated to arrestes,” said Brenneke.

The bill's sponsor Rep. Marilyn Ruestman (R) from Southwest Missouri isn't surprised.

"I can say I told ya so,” said Ruestman. “When I was debating this bill, I kept saying, 'Please believe me, we will catch these people."

At least 21 other states have similar legislation.

The Attorney General Chris Koster is making sure the new law is working properly.

Koster said he is making sure arresting and prosecuting agencies around the state have the support they need to bring DNA matches to trial.