RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — It’s been close to three and a half years since Wake County announced it would open its own DNA lab. While the lab is physically set up, there have been delays in other areas, pushing back the anticipated opening.
Raleigh/Wake City County Bureau of Identification Director Sam Pennica said the lab has been a dream of a many people in his agency for a number of years.
He anticipates the lab will open in about one year.
In 2022, CBS 17 did a story on the progress of the lab’s opening. At the time, the opening date was slated for late 2023 or early 2024. CBS 17 asked Penica why there’s been a delay.
“Well, there have been there have been some delays in trying to staff the laboratory,” Pennica said.
Pennica said it’s been challenging to find DNA analysts with the right level of education and experience. One out of the lab’s three DNA analyst roles are filled.
“Experienced DNA analysts in the state, there’s not that many,” Pennica said.
Once it opens, Wake County will be the second county in North Carolina to have its own DNA lab. Pennica said it will give the county more control of what evidence to prioritize for analysis.
“Right now, we are dependent on the state crime laboratory, and we don’t have that control,” Pennica said. “We don’t have the ability, we can ask for a case to be moved to the top of the list, but we’re competing with 99 other counties.”
According to the North Carolina Department of Justice, in just over the past five years, Wake County law enforcement agencies have submitted 1,778 cases to the state Crime Lab that have DNA exams. Those cases contributed to 1,910 individual DNA cases.
When it comes to resolving cases quicker, Wake County District Attorney Lorrin Freeman said DNA analysis is an important tool in being able to more quickly resolve cases.
“In many instances we have waited a year or more for this work to be done at the state crime lab, which remains underwater in attempting to meet the demands of our growing state,” Freeman said in a statement. “Wake County takes a major step forward by standing up their own DNA analysis capabilities.”
Pennica said some of the things that have to happen before the lab can open are dependent on outside agencies, including validation of the instruments and accreditation, and then they can request to be connected to the FBI database.
“Hopefully this time next year we’re analyzing evidence,” Pennica said.
