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Vehicle burglary suspect arrested based on DNA confirmation in Moorpark
By Ventura County Sheriff Department — Wednesday, March 23rd, 2011
 Ventura County Sheriff's Department On November 13, 2009, (V) Casey Waddel discovered that unknown suspect(s) forced entry into his locked vehicle by breaking the passenger side windows. Waddel looked inside and noticed some of his property had been taken. Waddel reported the burglary to the Moorpark Police Department. Deputies responded to the location and processed the scene for evidence. During the initial investigation, deputies located and collected blood that was on some of the shattered glass that was inside Waddel’s vehicle. The evidence was submitted to the Ventura County Sheriff’s Forensic Laboratory for comparison. Personnel from the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office Forensic Lab tested the blood sample and determined the DNA profile matched that of Leonard Hatcher, who’s DNA profile was already in the local, state, and national databases. Personnel from the Moorpark Investigations Bureau, completed a search warrant to obtain a DNA reference sample from Leonard Hatcher. The reference sample was later obtained from Hatcher. The DNA reference sample was submitted to the Ventura County Sheriff’s Forensic Laboratory for comparison, which confirmed the DNA profile matched that of Leonard Hatcher. Hatcher was later arrested for vehicle burglary and booked into the Ventura County Jail. This case illustrates that, although some time had passed between the initial crime and the arrest of the suspect, law enforcment investigators were tenacious and thorough in preparing a solid case for prosecution. It also illustrates the importance of members of the community to call on the services of local law enforcement whenever they become the victim of any crime. Location: City of Moorpark |
