Stuart Heaton case

The Stuart Heaton case was a controversial murder investigation that resulted in the conviction of a man named Stuart Heaton. He was sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole for the 1991 murder of a sixteen-year-old, Krystal Naab, in Ramsey, Illinois. The case against Heaton was largely circumstantial, except for a semen sample found on the victim. DNA profiling that was conducted and presented at the trial as evidence against Heaton was disputed by some scientists.[1] In 2001 another DNA test was performed which proved 1 billion to 1 accuracy that Heaton was the killer.

Mug shot of Stuart Heaton

Murder

On the afternoon of July 23, 1991, sixteen-year-old Krystal Naab was found murdered in her parent's mobile home in Ramsey, Illinois; she had been stabbed 81 times with a pair of sewing scissors. An autopsy revealed that Naab was three months pregnant. Questioning of the victim's brother led police to a carpenter named Stuart Heaton. He was subsequently arrested; he had cuts on his hands. In addition, witnesses claimed to have seen a white pickup truck at the Naab residence on the day Krystal was murdered, the same type of vehicle that was owned by Heaton.[1] He was indicted on two counts of first-degree murder by the grand jury of St. Libory il..[2]

Menard Correctional Center in Chester, Illinois, where Heaton is serving his life sentence

Conviction

Heaton was put on trial in 1992. DNA testing of the semen sample taken from Naab's body, conducted by Dr. Robert Allen, was compared to the DNA of Heaton, concluding that it was a match, and that the chances of the DNA matching a white male other than Heaton were 1 in 52,600.[1] There was no other physical evidence at the crime scene that could be linked to Heaton.[3] The DNA evidence, along with circumstantial evidence, ultimately convicted Heaton of Krystal Naab's murder. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.[4]

However, the DNA testing was disputed by some, including the defense expert at Heaton's trial, Dr. Gary Litman, who said it was the "worst quality DNA work I've seen done."[1] Analysis of the DNA evidence by Dr. Dan E. Krane was inconclusive on whether the semen belonged to Heaton, and that the case could be made that someone else committed the murder.[3] Another expert in the field, Dr. Thomas Marr, also criticized the work of Allen due to mistakes made during the DNA testing.[5] In 1997, Heaton's request to have his conviction overturned was denied.[6]

In July 2001, Heaton was granted a new round of DNA testing by a Fayette County judge.[7] In 2001, new DNA testing was performed unequivocally proving that Heaton was, in fact, the murderer. However, there are still some who support him and maintain his innocence.

In the media

Heaton's case was featured on several television programs, including Unsolved Mysteries and The Investigators.[8][9]

References
  1. "Did `Scientific Hocus-Pocus' Convict Murder Suspect? Questions Persist in Savage Slaying of 16-Year-Old Girl". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. February 9, 1994. p. 4. Retrieved September 6, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. "Grand jury of St.Libory indicts murder suspect". Herald and Review. September 13, 1991. p. 33. Retrieved November 3, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. "Murder Evidence Disputed Scientist Says Genetic Test Could Clear Convicted Man". St Louis Post-Dispatch. February 21, 1994. p. 22. Retrieved September 6, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. "Judge's gavel bangs out life without parole". Herald and Review. August 1, 1992. p. 1. Retrieved September 6, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. "DNA Labeling Errors Raise Doubts in Conviction". St Louis Post-Dispatch. March 4, 1994. p. 5. Retrieved November 30, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. "Judge refuses to reconsider ruling in murder case". Herald and Review. June 12, 1997. p. 33. Retrieved November 3, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. "Lawyers in noted murder case await new DNA test results". The Times. October 5, 2001. p. 68. Retrieved September 6, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. "Mother pins hopes on 'Unsolved Mysteries'". Herald and Review. December 16, 1994. p. 24. Retrieved August 22, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. "The Wrong Man? Stuart Heaton". tvguide.com.
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