PODCAST: ADMISSIBLE SHREDS OF EVIDENCE: (Link to superb podcast below.) "13 wrongful convictions all tied to one forensic analyst. The analyst – Mary Jane Burton – was hailed as a hero for saving the DNA evidence that led to the exonerations. But when reporter Tessa Kramer starts investigating, she meets a former lab trainee with a very different – and much darker – story to tell. Over the course of 12 episodes, Kramer unravels this mystery, searching for proof of explosive allegations against Burton and a possible cover-up at one of the nation’s leading crime labs. An original podcast from VPM and Story Mechanics, future seasons of Admissible will investigate the role of evidence in our legal system."
https://www.npr.org/podcasts/1164809981/admissible-shreds-of-evidence
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PASSAGE OF THE DAY: "The state’s Forensic Science Board met Wednesday, and in addition to hearing an update on the new Central Laboratory that's set for move-in by next year, Amy Jenkins updated the group on the case review. Jenkins, counsel for the Department of Forensic Science, said they’re in the middle of contacting people involved in more than 1,100 cases that were flagged for review. In total, she said 70% of people convicted in cases where Burton’s evidence was used have been notified or are deceased."
STORY: "Forensic Science Board gets update on Burton DNA cases," by Reporter Dave Cantor, published by Radio WVTF on July 9, 2025. (Dave Cantor was an editor with VPM News from 2022–2025, juggling daily digital and broadcast stories.)
GIST: "Mary Jane Burton worked on more than 7,000 cases for the state crime lab between 1973 and 1988. And while it wasn’t common practice at the time, she made sure to save DNA evidence that was later used to exonerate 13 incarcerated people.
But research by journalist Tessa Kramer suggests that Burton might have tampered with evidence. So, last year, the state began examining cases that made use of Burton’s work.
Finding all the people involved in legal proceedings tied to Mary Jane Burton is a lengthy process that entails reviewing the legal outcome of prosecutions, and then figuring out where folks ended up, if they’re incarcerated and how to contact them.
The state’s Forensic Science Board met Wednesday, and in addition to hearing an update on the new Central Laboratory that's set for move-in by next year, Amy Jenkins updated the group on the case review.
Jenkins, counsel for the Department of Forensic Science, said they’re in the middle of contacting people involved in more than 1,100 cases that were flagged for review.
In total, she said 70% of people convicted in cases where Burton’s evidence was used have been notified or are deceased. A few dozen letters sent to possibly affected people have been returned because of an incorrect address.
"I get daily phone calls from individuals that want additional information or are not really understanding the contents of the letter," Jenkins explained. "So, we go about explaining that and encourage them to seek legal advice if they have the need for that."
The department’s fiscal year 2026 budget expands staff, including a senior legal assistant to work specifically on the Burton cases. Jenkins said candidates are currently working their way through the interview process.
Another update on the Burton case reviews is set for October, when the Forensics Science Board meets for a scheduled meeting at the Central Laboratory in Richmond.""
The entire story can be read at:
https://www.wvtf.org/news/2025-07-09/forensic-science-board-gets-update-on-burton-dna-cases
PUBLISHER'S NOTE: I am monitoring this case/issue/resource. Keep your eye on the Charles Smith Blog for reports on developments. The Toronto Star, my previous employer for more than twenty incredible years, has put considerable effort into exposing the harm caused by Dr. Charles Smith and his protectors - and into pushing for reform of Ontario's forensic pediatric pathology system. The Star has a "topic" section which focuses on recent stories related to Dr. Charles Smith. It can be found at: http://www.thestar.com/topic/charlessmith. Information on "The Charles Smith Blog Award"- and its nomination process - can be found at: http://smithforensic.blogspot.com/2011/05/charles-smith-blog-award-nominations.html Please send any comments or information on other cases and issues of interest to the readers of this blog to: hlevy15@gmail.com. Harold Levy: Publisher: The Charles Smith Blog.
SEE BREAKDOWN OF SOME OF THE ON-GOING INTERNATIONAL CASES (OUTSIDE OF THE CONTINENTAL USA) THAT I AM FOLLOWING ON THIS BLOG, AT THE LINK BELOW: HL:
https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/120008354894645705/4704913685758792985
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FINAL WORD: (Applicable to all of our wrongful conviction cases): "Whenever there is a wrongful conviction, it exposes errors in our criminal legal system, and we hope that this case — and lessons from it — can prevent future injustices."
Lawyer Radha Natarajan:
Executive Director: New England Innocence Project;
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FINAL, FINAL WORD: "Since its inception, the Innocence Project has pushed the criminal legal system to confront and correct the laws and policies that cause and contribute to wrongful convictions. They never shied away from the hard cases — the ones involving eyewitness identifications, confessions, and bite marks. Instead, in the course of presenting scientific evidence of innocence, they've exposed the unreliability of evidence that was, for centuries, deemed untouchable." So true!
Christina Swarns: Executive Director: The Innocence Project;
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