Alayna

But the psychics who came to Ovid with the O'Connells may have given them hope that their daughter's murder would be solved. But as we know, we're here today talking about it. Years passed without an arrest or even a suspect. And this is awful. In 1993, tragedy struck again when Michael O'Connell died unexpectedly. Oh, no. At the age of 51. Oh, super young. Super young.

But the psychics who came to Ovid with the O'Connells may have given them hope that their daughter's murder would be solved. But as we know, we're here today talking about it. Years passed without an arrest or even a suspect. And this is awful. In 1993, tragedy struck again when Michael O'Connell died unexpectedly. Oh, no. At the age of 51. Oh, super young. Super young.

He never obviously learned who was responsible for his daughter's death. Damn. Yeah. So now for years, Kristen O'Connell's case was shelved as investigators shifted their attention to new and more pressing matters. But then in early 1996, a hair sample found on Kristen's body led investigators to a man named Gary Harris. He was a former Ovid resident who was 15 at the time of the murder. Okay.

He never obviously learned who was responsible for his daughter's death. Damn. Yeah. So now for years, Kristen O'Connell's case was shelved as investigators shifted their attention to new and more pressing matters. But then in early 1996, a hair sample found on Kristen's body led investigators to a man named Gary Harris. He was a former Ovid resident who was 15 at the time of the murder. Okay.

According to Seneca County District Attorney Donna Caffey, Harris was, quote, seen in the area where O'Connell was staying on the night of her murder. Huh. At the time of the murder, the hairs were only identifiable as belonging to a black male, but Harris came to the attention of investigators after he was arrested for an armed robbery in New York in 1996.

According to Seneca County District Attorney Donna Caffey, Harris was, quote, seen in the area where O'Connell was staying on the night of her murder. Huh. At the time of the murder, the hairs were only identifiable as belonging to a black male, but Harris came to the attention of investigators after he was arrested for an armed robbery in New York in 1996.

Unfortunately, though, a month after announcing Harris as a suspect, the lab results came back as inconclusive on the hair sample.

Unfortunately, though, a month after announcing Harris as a suspect, the lab results came back as inconclusive on the hair sample.

And investigators were forced to rule Harris out as a suspect.

And investigators were forced to rule Harris out as a suspect.

Absolutely. Yeah. Yeah. In Kristen's case, like I said, blood samples and skin fragments had been collected from her body that could lead to her killer. But as it turned out, things wouldn't be quite as easy as submitting the samples for DNA testing. Why?

Absolutely. Yeah. Yeah. In Kristen's case, like I said, blood samples and skin fragments had been collected from her body that could lead to her killer. But as it turned out, things wouldn't be quite as easy as submitting the samples for DNA testing. Why?

In August 2009, New York State Police had received approval of funds for up to $40,000 in order to hire a Dutch forensic lab known for their pioneering work in touch DNA. Let's go. And that's a type of analysis that can identify an individual from a Like the smallest sample.

In August 2009, New York State Police had received approval of funds for up to $40,000 in order to hire a Dutch forensic lab known for their pioneering work in touch DNA. Let's go. And that's a type of analysis that can identify an individual from a Like the smallest sample.

But the problem was that the New York State Health Department refused to allow investigators to contract with the Amsterdam-based company because they weren't certified in New York. Come on. In his statement to the press, District Attorney Richard Swinehart told reporters, We feel this is our last, best effort to solve this case.

But the problem was that the New York State Health Department refused to allow investigators to contract with the Amsterdam-based company because they weren't certified in New York. Come on. In his statement to the press, District Attorney Richard Swinehart told reporters, We feel this is our last, best effort to solve this case.

We are very frustrated with the bureaucracy of the Department of Health and that they won't take a world-leading lab where the lab people have testified in other states in our country as experts on homicide cases and won't let them at least examine the evidence while they're being certified.

We are very frustrated with the bureaucracy of the Department of Health and that they won't take a world-leading lab where the lab people have testified in other states in our country as experts on homicide cases and won't let them at least examine the evidence while they're being certified.

That doesn't make any sense. That's infuriating. It doesn't make any sense. Kristen's family was equally frustrated with the state's decision to deny the testing until the lab applied for and received certification in New York. Kristen's brother Kyle O'Connor said they're railroading for their own purposes. There could be no other reason. Yeah.

That doesn't make any sense. That's infuriating. It doesn't make any sense. Kristen's family was equally frustrated with the state's decision to deny the testing until the lab applied for and received certification in New York. Kristen's brother Kyle O'Connor said they're railroading for their own purposes. There could be no other reason. Yeah.