DNA Evidence Can Be Important to Swampscott Police Investigations

DNA evidence helped lead authorities to a suspect in the 2007 murder of Lara Rizzo of Lynn, a case that received widespread media attention Monday with the arraignment of a Lynn man charged with the murder.

say DNA evidence can be important in helping them solve crimes.

And the department has resolved three or four cases, including a sexual assault, through DNA matches, said Swampscott Det. Ted Delano.

DNA from Swampscott crimes — including blood evidence taken from a house break — has been linked to the DNA of known individuals in unrelated cases, the detective said.

In the Lynn case, fingernail scrapings and clippings were gathered from the victim.

A DNA profile generated from this evidence was searched against DNA databases, according to court documents.

State police learned last September of a link between the DNA profile in the Lynn case and the Saugus Police Department’s investigation into the rape of a 15-year-old girl, according to court documents.

Authorities also matched Rivera’s fingerprints to those found on a bag that had been removed from Lara Rizzo’s head, according to court documents.

The Swampscott police has several officers and detectives who are certified to take DNA samples.

If an individual consents or a court approves of a DNA swab, the officers use a large Q-tip-like article to swab the inside of a person’s mouth.

The swab is then packaged and sent to the state lab.

“It’s a very important tool,” Det. Delano said.