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November 19, 2024

M-Vac Gets the Evidence in Today’s Homicides and Decades-Old Cold Cases 

by Laura L. Sullivan, Public Relations Specialist

If you’re trying to clean a stain on a rug, is it better to dab it with a small rag, or use a wet vacuum? What if you have to clean a huge carpet, or the room is dark so you don’t even know exactly where the stain is? Forensic scientists have a similar problem when they’re trying to collect DNA from a crime scene. 


Your body is shedding DNA all the time – every time you touch something, every time you walk into a room, you are leaving behind shed skin cells and other miniscule bits of yourself that contain your unique DNA. This contact DNA could be found on a doorknob a suspect touched, on the shell casing of a bullet they loaded into a gun, or even on a sofa where they sat down. 


Usually, forensics scientists gather DNA using a small swab. After moistening it with sterile water, they rub it where they think they might be able to find DNA evidence. Sometimes it can be easy to find where DNA could be located, for example where there is a pool of blood. Or they might try a logical location, such as the steering wheel of a car they know the suspect drove. But a swab is tiny, and can only collect a small sample. There may be DNA at the crime scene, but if they don’t test exactly the right spot they could miss it, or the small swab may not collect enough DNA to create a profile. Rough surfaces like rocks, or porous surfaces like fabric are very hard to effectively swab. DNA evidence that could identify a suspect might exist but be impossible to retrieve.


Enter the M-Vac (molecular vacuum), a device that uses a sterile spray combined with vacuum suction to collect as much DNA as possible from a sample. “The M-VAC is much more sensitive,” said Forensic Science Specialist Kelsey Brumbelow. “It’s able to pick up so much more DNA.” A forensic scientist can run the collection hose over a wide surface area, collecting 200 times more DNA than a traditional swab. The agitation of the sterile liquid combined with the suction can pull DNA from places a swab can’t, like deep pile of a carpet, or material with texture or ridges. The company that manufactures it, M-Vac Systems, describes it as a “mini hurricane.”


Once the sample is collected, the solution has to be concentrated. The collected liquid goes through a 0.45-micron filter that lets the liquid through but catches cellular material. The filter is then cut out with a sterile scalpel, dried, and sent to the lab. 


Because of the risk of cross contamination, the forensic scientists always wear personal protective equipment such as gloves, sleeves, an apron, and a face mask. (The mask is omitted in the photo for demonstration purposes.) In almost all circumstances, the M-Vac isn’t used in the field – the evidence has to be brought to the lab, even if that means cutting out a square of carpet or a chunk of wall. They have to take a separate sample for each piece of evidence, cleaning the machine and switching to new collection parts. They can’t take any chance that an unrelated piece of DNA contaminates the evidence. “Just by breathing I could get my DNA on a sample.”


Brumbelow said the M-Vac isn’t an everyday piece of equipment. “We use it for the big cases, the shootings, the cold cases. It’s a valuable resource not only for us, but for surrounding counties too because we are able to work collaboratively.”


Not a lot of agencies have the M-Vac. Brumbelow said they have been inundated with requests from other agencies in Pinellas and neighboring counties. Some have been for shell casings, which are very hard to collect DNA from by other means. But by using the Bardole method – in which the casings are washed in the sterile M-Vac liquid along with Chelex beads to remove contaminants, and agitated in a vortex before the solution is filtered – a forensic scientist can more successfully obtain DNA evidence from shell casings. The Bardole method also works well with other small, hard to swab things like fingernail clippings, keys, jewelry, or bomb fragments. 


The M-Vac also has huge potential for cold cases. Items from unsolved cases are stored in the hopes that new technology might yield fresh evidence. Recently, PCSO forensic scientists were asked to use the M-Vac on a piece of fabric from another agency’s 1968 cold case. They were able to get a complete DNA profile, which ties for the oldest piece of evidence from which they were able to come up with a full profile. Unfortunately, there is no matching DNA in CODIS (the Combined DNA Index System database) which means the suspect’s DNA has never been collected for another reason, such as having been arrested on another felony. But having the complete profile brings them much closer to solving the case. New clues, or new technology like genetic genealogy could be used to develop a suspect. 


“This is a remarkable piece of equipment that is going to help law enforcement solve a lot of cases,” Brumbelow said.

Pinellas County Jail Hosts Florida Model Jail Standards Inspector Class 

by Laura L. Sullivan, Public Relations Specialist

The Pinellas County Jail is responsible for the care, custody, control, health, and safety of about 3,000 inmates at any given time. We pride ourselves on maintaining high standards, and passing the Florida Model Jail Standards (FMJS) annual inspections are part of how we do that. Recently, the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) hosted a class for those interested in becoming FMJS inspectors.


“FMJS are the minimum jail standards required in the state of Florida,” said Deputy Lorey Bosser. “They focus on life safety for the inmates as far as food, healthcare, access to programs, fire safety, etc.” Every jail in Florida has to pass the FJMS inspections, but we are also accredited by the prestigious American Correctional Association and the National Commission on Correctional Healthcare. “Those are voluntary, and those standards are even more rigorous and extensive than the Florida Model Jail standards.”


Every jail in Florida is inspected twice a year. An announced inspection must be completed by August 1, with an unannounced follow-up occurring at least 120 days after that. Each facility is responsible for gathering the inspectors from outside agencies. In 2023 we had Osceola, Hillsborough, Pasco, and Hernando inspectors at the Pinellas County Jail. “I try to mix in different agencies, just to get a different set of eyes,” Deputy Bosser said. “I cast a wide net to get different perspectives.” It can be good for both the inspectors and the jail being inspected to learn how other facilities tackle similar issues. 


People came from Hillsborough, Brevard, Polk, Lake, Leon, and Dixie counties for the class facilitated by the Florida Sheriff’s Association. After the classroom portion, participants broke into groups to perform a mock inspection. They explored the jail, clipboards in hand, with a 30-page checklist of things to look for. Some of the things can be easily observed, such as whether hazardous materials are safely stored, if inmates have a proper mattress and linens, or the toilet-to-inmate ratio. Other things they check are a matter of policy, such as when inmates are searched or how they determine what part of the jail inmates are housed in. 


Participants toured the laundry facility where inmate workers loaded sheets, towels, and uniforms into a huge industrial washing machine, and inspected the kitchens where they make, according to standards, “three substantial, wholesome, and nutritious meals daily.” They checked the cleanliness of all areas, and measured the spacing below, above, and between beds. 


Beyond observations, the inspectors talk with detention deputies about policies and procedures, and interview inmates to hear their side of things. They might ask them how often they are given a fresh uniform, or have them demonstrate how they use a kiosk to access information and programs. From their observations and interviews, the inspectors can get multiple points of view to confirm the criteria are met. 


Violations may be classified as either serious or notable. A serious violation pertains to immediate life safety issues, such as missing fire suppression equipment, or improper chemical storage. A notable violation, on the other hand, could be a problem with access to inmate programs, or an issue with the shower-to-inmate ratio – they need one shower head per 16 inmates. Temporary issues can sometimes lead to violations at the time of the inspection. An unexpected influx of inmates might result in overcrowding in one area of the jail, throwing off the approved ratio. But it’s not always easy to shuffle inmates around because of classification requirements, so there might be a brief period when an area of the jail doesn’t fall in line with the inspection criteria. For any serious violations, a jail has 48 hours to fix the problem or come up with a plan of action. 


The Pinellas County Jail has never had a big issue in an inspection. They do a lot of their own checks internally through the year, in some cases even hiring an external inspector. “We have minimum standards for lighting, sound, and air quality,” Deputy Bosser said, “so we have a company that tests that for us annually to make sure there’s enough light, enough ventilation, and that the noise level is within the acceptable range.” They also stay up to date on fire inspections, and visits from the Health Department.


Deputy Bosser has been in accreditation since 2014, and became a Florida Model Jail inspector in 2022. Now she does both announced and unannounced inspections around the state. She’s pretty happy with what she’s seen at other jails. 


“For the most part the jails we’ve inspected have been on point. If your daily operations keep you in those good practices, you’re always ready for an inspection. There’s going to be the odd label missing from a chemical bottle or inventory that’s not matching because something broke or somebody moved it – those things are going to happen. But as far as the serious life safety matters, it’s rare that we find something egregious.”

Every child deserves to have a joyful holiday season. You can help by joining us on Saturday, December 7th at Fort De Soto Park for this year’s Ride And Run With The Stars. For more than 30 years, this has been the Tampa Bay area’s largest law enforcement fundraiser. Money raised at Ride And Run With The Stars goes directly to the Christmas Sharing Project which provides toys, bikes, clothes, and necessities to kids who are in need because of economic hardship or who have been victimized by crime. 


Ride And Run With The Stars is a family friendly event that includes running, biking, and family races as well as vendors, specialized vehicles, a K-9 demonstration, and Santa and Mrs. Claus arriving in a helicopter to meet children and hear their Christmas wishes. There’s also an online auction. 


To register or for more information, visit www.rideandrunwiththestars.com


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