Sep 23, 2009 5:59 pm US/Eastern
DNA Lab Might Solve Horse Killing Cases
THE REDLAND (CBS4) ―
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18-year-old Luis Cordero from Hialeah is accused of offering to take money to slaughter two South Florida horses for meat.
CBS
A lab in South Florida has come up with a new way to protect horses in light of the string of illegal slaughters that have taken place in recent months. The lab is using the same forensic evidence for humans and applying it for horses.
"It's a way to indentify a horse after it has been slaughtered and sold for horse meat," said Dr. DeEtta Mills, Director of the Forensic DNA Profiling Facility.
Dr. Mills has offered her services to police detectives investigating the string of dead horses in South Florida. Mills is not only a doctor, she has owned horses for more than 40 years. It's a love she shares with her husband.
"She is the quality trainer. I am the one that rides the rough ones and gets them started," said John Mills to CBS4's Jorge Estevez at his Ranch in the Redland.
John DeEtta and his wife own a safe and secure field in Southwest Miami-Dade, but they are still concerned for their horses.
"People have to just to go to bed, worrying about it and hope the next day, they don't have bad news," said DeEtta about how families have to be concerned over the death of their horses.
It seems others are going after horses for the wrong reasons and despite two arrests so far in the case, Dr. Mills is afraid of more deaths. Mills is proposing matching horses with their owners and keeping their horses DNA on file.
"And we can match it to a horse and use the lead to be able to try and arrest someone," said Dr. DeEtta Mills, whose husband thinks the database is a good idea. "If people watch CSI or anything like that it, it's really is a powerful tool," said John Mills.
So far, Dr. Mills has circulated about 30 applications, but she wants to sign up more horse owners. If you are interested
click here.
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