"Hi Sir, Can we test you to determine if you're a murderer"?

[SirFozzie]

And just when you thought us Mass-holes couldn't get weirder..

BOSTON, Massachusetts (AP) -- Civil rights advocates asked authorities Monday to stop collecting DNA samples from men in Truro in their investigation of a fashion writer's slaying.

Calling it "a serious intrusion on personal privacy" that is unlikely to yield results, the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts sent a letter to Cape Cod prosecutor Michael O'Keefe and Truro Police Chief John Thomas, urging them to end the DNA effort.

In recent weeks, police have gathered DNA samples from hundreds of men in Truro in a renewed effort to solve the January 2002 slaying of Christa Worthington.

Worthington, 46, was found stabbed to death in the kitchen of her isolated Truro home. When her ex-boyfriend discovered her body about 36 hours after she was killed, her 2 1/2-year-old daughter was found nearby, hungry and crying but unharmed.

Worthington had sex shortly before her death, but despite the semen samples, police have not been able to figure out who the man was.

"The mass collection of DNA samples by the police is a serious intrusion on personal privacy that has proven to be both ineffective and wasteful," said the letter from ACLU Executive director Carol Rose and John Reinstein, the organization's legal director.

The letter raised concerns about statements from O'Keefe, who indicated that investigators would take note of those who decline a swab of the inside of their mouths.

Mass DNA collection has been used to crack criminal cases in Europe, but in this country the technique has been used only sporadically.

Authorities in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, collected DNA swabs from about 1,200 men in 2003 in an attempt to catch a serial killer. An arrest was eventually made, but authorities say it wasn't the result of the mass DNA effort.

Investigators in Virginia and Nebraska have also done mass DNA testing, with little success.

[Coffee Warlord]

I'm amazed that many people actually go along with it.

"Sir, we'd like to sample your DNA to investigate you for a murder."

"Hmm. No. Get."

The populace has gotta take a stand against shit like this, or it'll just get worse.

[SirFozzie]

The fact that police were "making note" of those who refused probably had something to do with it.

[Kodos]

I'd have no problem having my DNA registered.

[Fonzie]

Originally Posted by Coffee Warlord

I'm amazed that many people actually go along with it.

"Sir, we'd like to sample your DNA to investigate you for a murder."

"Hmm. No. Get."

The populace has gotta take a stand against shit like this, or it'll just get worse.

I agree entirely.

But the thing about that story that still gets to me, years after first hearing about the story, is the 2.5 year-old child who sat with her mommy's corpse for a day and a half. I'm on the verge of tears right now just thinking about what it must've been like for that poor little girl.

[Fonzie]

Dola-

I think it would probably be more effective to leak this plan to the press and then keep tabs on who moves out of the community (via change of address forms or somesuch). Follow-up on their motives and see if you can't scare up a suspect.

[Castlerock]

Originally Posted by Kodos

I'd have no problem having my DNA registered.

No warrant? No DNA.

[miked]

I think there was something similar to this in Virginia or something where they were trying to get all black, male DNA samples because the alleged suspect of a case was a young, black male. I think they actually collected a whole bunch of samples too...very odd.

[Klinglerware]

I would be amused if, as a protest against this, they could get thousands of people to march up to Truro and volunteer to get swabbed. That would slow things down and get the powers-that-be to see what a complete waste of time (and probably money) this all is...

[Samdari]

I'd do it, but only if they supplied a female officer to collect the sample.

Seriously, if they asked, that would be my answer.

[KWhit]

Originally Posted by Samdari

I'd do it, but only if they supplied a female officer to collect the sample.

You know they can get a sample by swabbing the back of your throat, right?

[Klinglerware]

Originally Posted by Samdari

I'd do it, but only if they supplied a female officer to collect the sample.

Seriously, if they asked, that would be my answer.

I always wanted to cop a little attitude with annoying airport (and rock concert) security by requesting a female to pat me down. I'd probably say something snooty about gay men turning me on necessitating a female pat down, or something like that.

Unfortunately, that probably would get my ass kicked Federale-style and land me in the clink. Don't have the balls...

[Samdari]

Originally Posted by KWhit

You know they can get a sample by swabbing the back of your throat, right?

Ahh, I thought they would be collecting actual semen samples.

Still, I would demand a female collector. And insist she buy me a nice dinner first.

[Qwikshot]

Originally Posted by miked

I think there was something similar to this in Virginia or something where they were trying to get all black, male DNA samples because the alleged suspect of a case was a young, black male. I think they actually collected a whole bunch of samples too...very odd.

This was the New Orleans serial killer... and to my knowledge they didn't find him via the samples.

[duckman]

The article is pretty vague. I'm curious if they have a profile of the person they are looking for?

[SirFozzie]

yes. he's male. That's it.

They're trying to match people's DNA to that of the semen found on the woman's body.