"New DNA testing has linked a Kelso man to the murder of his aunt 15
years ago — and could exonerate the victim's son, who is serving life in
prison for the crime. Longview police arrested Brian Del Kitts,
42, on Tuesday for investigation of first-degree murder in the death of
Sharon Cox in 2000, The Daily News reported.
Evidence suggested she was strangled and struck with a blunt object. Cox's
son, Donovan Allen, was 18 and found his mother in a pool of blood. He
gave police a confession after 14 hours of overnight interrogation.
Though he later recanted, he was convicted of aggravated first-degree
murder at his second trial in 2002 and is serving life without parole. The
Innocence Project Northwest at the University of Washington Law School
requested the new DNA testing — with technology that is far more
sensitive than was available back then — last spring in an effort to
exonerate Allen. Policy director Lara Zarowsky told The Associated Press
on Wednesday that prosecutors never suggested during Allen's trials
that more than one person may have been responsible, the new testing
excludes Allen as a suspect, and Allen should be freed from prison. A
hearing in Allen's case has been set for Dec. 22, but the organization
said it hopes the Cowlitz County prosecutor's office will agree sooner
to his release......... Police
said the new DNA testing, performed by the Washington State Patrol
Crime Lab, provided "compelling evidence" linking Kitts to the killing.
........In a statement released by Innocence Project Northwest,
Donovan was quoted as saying that he was relieved to hear of Kitts'
arrest. "He has taken everything from me," Allen said. "I lost my
mother, then I lost my freedom and my family - this has destroyed so
many lives."
Friday, December 4, 2015
Bulletin: Washington: Donovan Allen; Major development: Associated Press reports that DNA has linked a Kelso man to the murder of his aunt 15 years ago - and could exonerate the victim's son, who is serving life in prison for the crime. The Innocence Project Northwest had requested new DNA testing with technology unavailable at the time and is calling for Donovan Allen's immediate release.
