Richard Crafts, a Connecticut man accused and later found guilty of murdering his wife and disposing of her body in a wood-chipper, is arrested on January 13, 1987. Helle Crafts, a Pan Am flight attendant, had vanished on November 18, 1986. Although her body was never found, authorities did find enough evidence to convict her husband of murder.Following her disappearance, friends immediately suspected Richard Crafts because his answers about his wife’s whereabouts had been so evasive. When police got involved, Crafts’ version of the events began to crumble. Although he claimed he had not left the house on November 19, credit card records showed he had purchased new bedding. Further inquiry showed that he had bought a chest freezer and rented a wood-chipper in the days right before Helle’s disappearance.A witness then came forward, saying that he had seen a wood chipper near the Housatonic River. A search of the Craft house revealed a blood smear on the mattress that turned out to be consistent with Helle’s blood type. Detectives also found an envelope addressed to Helle near the river. Divers found a chain saw and serrated cutting bar, which had human hair and tissue embedded in the teeth. This led to a search for further evidence, which began on December 30, 1986.Thawing the snow and sifting the soil, detectives found 2,660 hairs, one fingernail, one toe nail, two teeth, one tooth cap and five droplets of blood. From this microscopic evidence, doctors were able to prove that Richard Crafts had disposed of his wife’s body with a wood chipper near the river. The most important evidence was that the tooth cap matched Helle’s dental records.Crafts’ first trial in 1988 ended with a deadlocked jury, but the following year he was convicted of murder and sentenced to 50 years in prison. Until recent advances in forensic science, a murder conviction without a dead body was nearly impossible. But as this case proved, it is more difficult than ever to get away with murder. Crafts was released from prison in 2019.
This is why the Philippine justice system failed. Hubert Jeffry P. Webb requested for a DNA test of the semen found on the late Carmela Vizconde's body. However, retired judge Atty. Amelita G. Tolentino declined which made me think what was wrong with that woman. Tolentino didn't only immediately dismiss evidence without examination. Any good judge would have the evidence examined before dismissing them. What proof was it that it was tampered? Was it all based on hearsay?
What's really so bad is that innocents die as DNA goes untested. Unsurprisingly, the Chiong Sisters' case also involves the Supreme Court decision becoming more questionable than the documentary Give Up Tomorrow which came out in 2011. The article was written in 2005. Here's something worth mentioning about the lack of DNA tests:
Conspiracy theories surround the case. A policeman who worked on the case said last week he thought Larrañaga was innocent. Only one body was found, which was identified as Marijoy’s, but there are serious doubts about whether it is in fact her – even from the original trial judge. What’s more, there are rumours that one or both sisters is living in Canada. A DNA test would establish whether the body is Marijoy, but the supreme court has said no. The president, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, promised on Monday that she would intervene to save Larrañaga.
In the Philippines, witness testimony, especially in rape crimes, is often considered strong enough evidence to convict, says Faisal Saifee, a barrister from Fair Trials Abroad, a UK-based charity that helps European Union citizens accused of crimes abroad. This and the cost of a DNA test explains the court’s reluctance, he says.
But it doesn’t just happen in the Philippines. There are many examples in the US of possible miscarriages of justice that could have been overturned by a DNA test post-conviction. Perhaps the most notorious is the case of Jackie Elliot, sentenced to death in 1986 for the rape and murder of a woman in Austin, Texas.
Elliot’s defence team – and all 12 jurors – wanted DNA testing of blood stains found on the shoes of a man arrested at the same time as Elliot, who had not been charged. The trial judge refused their requests and Elliot was executed in February 2003 despite mounting evidence of his innocence.
To those who think that Give Up Tomorrow is biased because of some "familiar connection", let me remind people that Marty Syjuco is the brother-in-law of Paco's sister, Mimi. The wrongful execution of Jackie here is also caused by non-testing. Hubert's life was wasted also because of a lack of DNA testing. Paco and the six others are still considered criminals because of no DNA testing. I'd like to say that even if the body was Marijoy's--further DNA testing will prove that the "single semen" didn't belong to Paco and may have found the real culprit. I assume that Atty. Hilario G. Davide Jr.'s marriage to Virginia Jimenea Perez, a relative of Mrs. Thelma Jimenea-Chiong, would've affected the decision not to DNA test the body. It's a shame, really, because any good judge would want to make sure that the real culprits were found. Again, how can the Supreme Court of the Philippines' decision be "well-written" if DNA testing wasn't done or further tests done? The body can still be positively Marijoy and any further forensics could point to another culprit.
Helle's brutal death and body never recovered incident (but parts of it were recovered) could've solved the case. Evidence like bloodstain, some shredded body parts, and more were passed through DNA tests. The DNA tests pointed out that Helle's body could no longer be recovered because it was shredded via a woodchipper. Helle's death is comparable to the Chop Chop Lady cases in the Philippines. The most familiar ones may be Elsa Castillo and Lucila Lalu. A movie based on Elsa's demise was called Chop Chop Lady, starring Kris Cojuangco Aquino as the titular victim.
People need to see this case. Justices need to be aware of Helle's murder without a body recovered case and how it was solved. I think DNA testing could've done the case in finding any proof of what happened to Jacqueline. However, since Davidson V. Rusia was nothing more than a fall guy, it would be impossible for him to really and accurately pinpoint where Jacqueline is. I find his story that they dropped him in Ayala Center Cebu while the others pursued Jacqueline to be questionable. That's why Marty and Michael Collins wanted to find Davidson. Who knows what he could've told. Hopefully, Davidson will surface and will have the courage to tell the truth The guy was given his freedom even if he was allegedly involved in a savage case of gang rape.
This case should be an example of how DNA testing can't be ignored. Judges who ignore DNA testing may consider getting their licenses revoked for good.