DNA screening in Rovensko pod Troskami: police search for mother of dead newborn
Three weeks after the discovery of a dead newborn in a waste container, detectives have launched a large-scale DNA collection from local women. The screening could potentially be expanded to men.
Three weeks after discovery: detectives collect DNA from women around Rovensko pod Troskami
The search for the mother of a newborn found dead in a sorted waste container in Rovensko pod Troskami has entered a new phase. According to Blesk.cz, detectives have launched a large-scale DNA screening of local women — an unusual step intended to help investigators establish the identity of the mother.
Three weeks have passed since the discovery of the body. The collection of biological material is focused on women within a certain age range. The police have not disclosed the more precise age threshold or the total number of people being investigated due to the ongoing investigation.
The case investigator, Martin Müller, did not rule out in an interview with Seznam Zprávy that the screening could be expanded over time. "It is not ruled out. For us at the moment, the simplest thing is to look for the mother," Müller said.
Participation in the collections is voluntary — the police cannot take DNA without the consent of the person in question. Consent can moreover be withdrawn at any time. If comparison of the sample does not establish a connection to the case, the biological material will be destroyed. The provided DNA can only be compared with evidence from this specific case.
The situation would be different if the investigation were directed at a specific suspect. In that case, the collection of biological material would be regulated by the criminal code and would not constitute a voluntary large-scale procedure.
The case began on 13 September, when the body of a dead newborn was found in a container in Rovensko pod Troskami in the Semil district. Regional detectives are investigating it as a particularly serious crime and continue to search for the person who placed the child in the container.
Source: Blesk.cz