TUCSON, AZ (Tucson News Now) -
Analysts at the new Tucson police crime lab have been especially busy these last few weeks processing evidence gathered in the investigation of missing 6-year-old Isabel Celis.
The Celis investigation has been a major priority here. Here's a look at what kind of evidence the lab can process here, locally.
Through science mysteries solved and high profile cases cracked, "Any kind of serial case, homicides, unsolved homicides, any type of child case," said Susan Shankles, superintendent of the new Tucson Police crime lab.
The new facility is a high-tech hub for evidence analysis.
"Now the examiners can fire into the back wall, Shankles said. This new firing range helps the experts figure out what happened in a shooting. "How far away was somebody when the gun went off, they can replicate it," she said.
The lab is handling more trace samples. For example, DNA from a stain you can't even see.
"We get requests 'we think somebody was holding onto this object for a certain amount of time, can you swab it and see if you can get a profile," Shankles said.
The lab can handle a lot of evidence sent by investigators, but not everything.
"Occasionally we'll get a shoe print request but typically we don't provide that service here," Shankles said.
Some items are sent to the DPS crime lab, including some hair and fiber samples.
One area that's expected to expand in the next few years is the unit that analyzes data taken from cell phones and computers. For now the crime continues to acquire newer technology.
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