AUSTIN, Texas — A freezer housing hundreds of DNA samples at the Austin police crime lab reportedly broke down last spring and officials decided not to tell anyone about the issue until now.
The Austin-American Statesman cites a memo released by the lab where officials say they have not determined if heat has damaged critical evidence in pending cases.
The interim DNA technical leader says if the lab finds a sample has been affected, the customer will be notified.
Former Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo says fixing the issues at the DNA lab was one of his biggest unaccomplished goals.
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