Blood Found at Scene Leads to Arrest for Vehicle Burglaries

DNA evidence recovered from the scene of a burglary from a motor vehicle in 2016 has led to the arrest of an Indianapolis, Indiana man on a charge of Burglary.

Effingham City Police received multiple reports of vehicles that were burglarized over a short period of time in the afternoon on October 14, 2016 while parked at businesses on the north end of the City. The Bureau of Criminal Investigations was called to the scene to further the investigation after Officers discovered apparent droplets of blood on and near one of the vehicles.

Samples were collected and sent to the Illinois State Police Division of Forensic Services Crime Lab for analysis, which identified Christopher L. Brown, 49, Indianapolis, Indiana as a match for the collected samples. After receiving the detailed lab report in September of this year, Effingham Police then presented the information to Effingham County State’s Attorney Bryan Kibler, and a warrant was issued for Brown’s arrest, with bond set at $25,000.

Brown was located ten days ago and taken into custody by Shelby County, Indiana Sheriff’s Department on the warrant charge, and is being held in the Shelby County, Indiana Jail on unrelated local charges.

Effingham Police Chief Jeffrey Fuesting attributes teamwork, detailed police work and modern-day technology to solving this crime. “First-arriving Officers immediately canvassed the area, inspected the crime scenes, and recognized the importance of analyzing a minute amount of evidence, which turned out to be human blood. Detectives processed the scenes and were able to collect that evidence, which led to a positive identification through the technologies of the ISP Crime Lab. As a result of thorough police work, we solved a serious felony crime and took one more criminal off the streets of our community.”