amazing.

Cops probing private use of forensics lab

Scientist tested husband's underwear

July 5, 2007

BY KATHY BARKS HOFFMAN

ASSOCIATED PRESS

LANSING -- A state forensic scientist who said she tested her husband's
underwear for DNA to find out whether he was having sex with another woman
is being investigated to determine whether she violated policies banning the
use of state equipment for personal reasons.

Ann Chamberlain-Gordon of Okemos testified in a March 7 divorce hearing that
she ran the test last September on the underwear of Charles Gordon Jr. Asked
by his attorney what she found, she answered, "Another female. It wasn't me."

She also said during a May 25 hearing in Ingham County Family Court that she
ran the test on her own time with expired chemicals that were set to be
thrown away.

The Michigan State Police, which oversees the Lansing forensics laboratory
where Chamberlain-Gordon works, is conducting an internal investigation. It
expects to decide by next week whether disciplinary action should be taken.

"We don't know exactly what was or wasn't done," State Police spokeswoman
Shanon Akans said Tuesday. "We haven't completed our investigation."

A request for comment was left Tuesday with Chamberlain-Gordon. She has not
had her duties restricted during the investigation, Akans said.

The DNA test came to light after Charles Gordon's Lansing attorney, Michael
Maddaloni, sent a letter to the State Police and some news media outlets
questioning how many times DNA tests have been improperly run.

Maddaloni said Tuesday that Gordon disputed his wife's testimony that he
acknowledged a sexual encounter with another woman after she found the
female DNA on his underwear.

Gordon, a defensive back, played in the Canadian Football League from the
early 1990s through 1997.

Chamberlain-Gordon received the inaugural award for Outstanding Contribution
to the Michigan State Police Biological Services in 2006 for her research
and method development in embryonic/fetal DNA recovery, according to
Forensic Science Consultants Inc., which lists her among the forensic
scientists it employs.

According to information on the Williamston company's Web site, Chamberlain-
Gordon has worked for the State Police as a forensic scientist since 1999
and was interim supervisor of the biology unit in 2005. She has given expert
witness testimony in more than 50 cases, including in last year's trial
involving the death of 7-year-old Ricky Holland.

State Police policies dealing with the care and use of property say
that "department supplies, materials or equipment shall not be used for any
non-duty or non-department purpose."

Akans said she didn't know yet whether Chamberlain-Gordon had used state
equipment. She added that State Police managers think they have strong
policies in place to keep forensic labs secure, but said changes might be
made once the investigation is complete.

"The integrity of the lab means so much," she said. "We'll be looking at
that and seeing if there aren't places to strengthen."