UPDATE: What to do when the DNA evidence collected in 1971 vanishes?

 For some some time now I have been curious about the possibility of taking whatever DNA was provided by the accused attacker and re-testing it with modern technology but that hope appears to have been lost for now, short of finding enough proof to convince a judge to exhume a few bodies.

Armed with knowing that on April 15, 1971 at 11:25 AM that Arkansas State Medical Examiners officer signed and received the evidence collected by the Fayetteville Police Department, I sent an email the the directors of the 2022 Arkansas State Crime Lab with a list of questions.

The response was cases this old any evidence would be returned to the original investigating agency. 

I thought great, the one agency which when I filed an FOIA in the very beginning of my search for answers I was told by the person over the F.O.I.A. requests that my FOIA request would remain opened but it appears after an exhaustive search including one of an off site storage facility that the case files have either been misplaced or lost,

It was at this time, I must have caused a stir at the department because an author who wrote a story in 2020 about Pauline Storment’s murder was contacted by a Lieutenant Franklin with questions about where did the author receive their information. 

The response was historical newspaper articles.

I eventually reached out to Lt. Franklin who stated he had read the case files about Pauline and was interested in helping to close the case. Then when I asked about DNA evidence he stated they didn’t have any. 

 So, I am left with the question of NOW WHAT?

Pauline Storment Case Files Found – When Local Police Misplace Case Files always F.O.I.A. multiple agencies.

 A while back I submitted a F.O.I.A. request to the Fayetteville Police for the records on my twice removed first cousin, Pauline Storment’s April 12, 1971, stabbing death I was informed after an exhaustive search of the station and off site storage they were unable to find the case files, and stated the would keep the request active should they turn up.

It was at that point I chose to submit a F.O.I.A. request to Washington County Sheriff”s Office of which three days have passed and I have heard NOTHING from them not even an acknowledgement that they received my request.

I also submitted a request to the Arkansas State Police and after on the 7th day including the weekend I was emailed the case files they had archived.

Click Below to Download

Pauline Storment – Arkansas State Police F.O.I.A. Request Results.

What now, when record keeping FAILS.

Earlier this month I submitted a F.O.I.A request to the Fayetteville, Arkansas Police Department 

Seeking as much case information as possible, sadly after 51yrs the case file had been misplaced/lost.

I still have F.O.I.A requests out for the Washington County Sherrif’s Office and the Arkansas State Police, hopefully one of the other two agencies which worked on the case will come through with better record keeping.