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Reckless Homicide Investigation Waiting on DNA Analysis

Prosecutors to send blood and hair samples to state crime lab. Defense hoping to reconstruct crime scene to their advantage.

A delay in the reckless homicide case against Nicholas Sord now depends on forensic scientists at the Illinois Crime Lab.

Sord was close to three times over the blood-alcohol limit on New Year’s Day 2010 when he lost control of his SUV near 147th Street and Oak Park Avenue, killing his 20-year-old girlfriend, Jessica Mejia, of New Lenox, according to police.

More than two years later, prosecutors plan to send the hair and blood samples collected from inside the rolled-over car following the crash for analysis.

Sord’s attorney, Jeff Aprati, is planning to use the evidence—and its location inside the car—to argue that Mejia caused the crash. On Thursday, he dismissed rumors that imply Sord and Mejia were “explicitly sexual” during the crash.

Without getting into specifics, Aprati added, "nobody is saying it’s bad—that’s the bottom line.”

Pretrial investigations could be stalled for many months, depending on the demand for forensic testing at the state crime lab. Aprati had been planning to have the DNA samples analyzed independently and said he may follow through with that request if two or three months pass without any word from the state.

Aprati believes the state doesn’t see any evidentiary value in analyzing whose DNA was in the car at the time of the crash and where it was recovered. Assistant state’s attorney Nick D’Angelo, lead prosecutor on the case, denied comment.

Both sides are scheduled back in court on March 28 for a status hearing.

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SomeGuyNamedEd February 17, 2012 at 12:59 pm
"nobody is saying it's bad"
I'm sure you could find at least a few that would.
Jane Marie February 17, 2012 at 04:59 pm
Why didn't he send them in earlier for testing? Stall tactic maybe. So in the mean time Sord get's to continue bar hopping like he is leaving the bars drunk?
frank February 27, 2012 at 07:32 am
Add this case to the Kustok case and many more.........Common sense?
Some of the quotes in this article could lead to a really great SNL skit. No one denied the cir cum stances that were rumored after this crash occured. <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
frank June 19, 2012 at 02:01 am
What's happening with this case?
?>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Note Article
Just a short thought to get the word out quickly about anything in your neighborhood.
Share something with your neighbors. Write a new post... What's up? Make an announcement, speak your mind, or sell something
A few items Calvary Church wll e sellng at teir garage sale
deborah June 12, 2013 at 07:44 am
Where is it?
Mary Compton June 12, 2013 at 10:51 am
At the church, 16100 S. 104th Ave. in Orland Park
Cathy Kelso June 6, 2013 at 05:44 pm
I heard it was a furniture store
Ben Feldheim (Editor) June 6, 2013 at 11:31 pm
Yes, it'll be an Art Van furniture store.
Kim Cali June 7, 2013 at 03:01 pm
Thanks