Steuben County Sheriff explains the importance of DNA analysis in Lake James murder – Fort Wayne’s NBC

STEUBEN COUNTY, Ind. (Fort Wayne's NBC) - Court documents sayDNA evidenceat the scene of the murder of 82-year-old Wilma Ballled to the charging of 29-year-old Matthew Hoover.

Steuben County Chief Deputy Michael Meeks says without the advanced technologyused to match the DNA found inside the Lake James home, hesnot sure a suspect would have been charged this soon.

Meeks says DNA analysis has revolutionized criminal investigations like this one.

"Its a game changer when it comes to identifying suspects, Meeks said."The chances of a case being solved now is greatly elevated compared to 30 or 40 years ago.

He saysits almost impossiblefor a perpetratornot to leaveDNAevidencebehind.

"Somethings always taken from the crime scene, and somethings always left, he said.

Court documents sayHoover left behind two beer cansand investigators sent them to theIndianaStatePolice lab forthe DNAanalysis.

Matching a suspect profile to something from the scene, its this person and the chances of it being another person is like 1 in 8 trillion, Meeks said. Theyre pretty certain its this person.

Meeks says todays technology can even analyze microscopic DNA.

"It all started back in the late 80susing DNA fora criminal case, and back then it was only blood DNA, he said.Now,fast forward to today, you can trace with pretty much any bodily fluid.

Meeks says its important that they continue to develop betterDNAtracingto bring justice to more families.

"Unfortunately,theres nothing we can do to bring the victim back, but we can do everything we can to bring justice, he said.

Meeks says at their Steuben County jail they take DNA samples from every person who is arrested for their DNA tracing database.

Matthew Hoovers trial date is set for November 29th.

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Steuben County Sheriff explains the importance of DNA analysis in Lake James murder - Fort Wayne's NBC