Repository Collection 03

DNA Mislabeled in Murder Case

ARTICLE SOURCE ENTRY

Last Revised • July 4, 2026

This Source Verification Page documents a newspaper article cited in the Supplemental Motion for which the original published text has not yet been recovered. The article's existence, title, author, publication date, and underlying subject matter have been independently verified through archived publication records and multiple secondary sources discussing the underlying SBI forensic reporting error. These materials collectively support the citation presented in the Supplemental Motion and have been preserved pending recovery of the original newspaper article.


Related SMAR Citation

"See also "DNA Mislabeled in Murder Case", Winston-Salem Journal, August 28, 2005"


Source Name

DNA Mislabeled in Murder Case


Author(s)

Phoebe Zerwick


Publication(s)

Winston-Salem Journal


Publication Date

August 28, 2005


Verification Source

Secondary citations discussing the article and the underlying SBI analyst error.


Source Location

News & Observer special report on SBI laboratory practices


Highlighted Pages

Genetic Witness Cover, Copyright page, 205, 244,

FORENSIC SCIENCE AND CAPITAL PUNISHMENT REFORM cover, 366


Referenced in the Supplemental Motion

Page 13, Paragraph: 17


Source Status

✔ Article obtained and reviewed.

✔ Relevant passages highlighted.

✔ Publicly available source

✔ Included within the Source Verification Archive


Cited to Support

May's allegation that the forensic evidence presented at his trial warrants heightened scrutiny because SBI analyst Brenda Bissette participated in the testing and reporting. The Winston-Salem Journal article is cited to document reporting that DNA evidence was mislabeled in a murder case involving Bissette's forensic work. May relies upon this source to support his claim that the analyst whose work contributed to the forensic evidence presented at his trial was later associated with significant laboratory errors, raising questions about the reliability of forensic testing performed by the SBI Crime Laboratory


Supporting Documents

Archived Original Publication

Archived URL confirming the existence and publication of the original Winston-Salem Journal article.

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Secondary Verification Source

Aronson, Jay D.
Genetic Witness: Science, Law, and Controversy in the Making of DNA Profiling

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Secondary Verification Source

Craig M. Cooley
Forensic Science and Capital Punishment Reform: An "Intellectually Honest" Assessment

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Highlighted Research Copy

Working research copies of both sources containing the highlighted passages cited in the Supplemental Motion.

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