Police Comment On Hannah Rogers Case

Fairhope, Alabama

STILL AWAITING FORENSICS

In response to a question from a citizen, earlier this month Chief Press gave a progress report on the investigation into the death of Hannah Rogers -- who died on March 10th at a residence she shared with her boyfriend on CR13. The 24 year old's death (single gunshot to the head) was ruled a suicide by County Coroner Stan Vinson, but family-members questioned that conclusion (click).

Press said the case was still under investigation and awaiting forensic evidence from the state crime lab (Alabama Dept. of Forensic Sciences).

Press: "We have no control over other agencies who have to look at this from a forensic perspective ... we don't have a crime lab here in Baldwin County ... we're dependent upon these folks ... as much as we're pushing and asking for this ... we're waiting to hear those results ... as soon as we do ... make a decison on the status of that case ... ."

Officer Jimmy Davis said it currently takes 3 - 6 months to receive blood toxicology reports and forensics involving guns, a year to 18 months. (Budget cutbacks at the state level are a factor in the long delays.)

Press said he was proposing having all the police agencies in Baldwin County share the cost of hiring their own forensics analyst in order to expedite the process in the future.


Comments

Anonymous said…
The Chief makes a great suggestion. The cost could easily be born by Baldwin County law enforcement budgets. We have insane forensic result response times.