Retrial Begins For Man Accused of 1984 Rochester Murder in NY’s First-Ever Familial DNA Case

The retrial of Timothy Williams, accused of the 1984 murder of 14-year-old Wendy Jerome in Rochester, begins Monday, marking a significant moment as New York’s first-ever case to utilize familial DNA evidence. Jerome’s case, which involved rape and murder, remained unsolved for decades until advancements in DNA technology provided a breakthrough. In 2020, Williams was arrested in Florida after a familial DNA search linked him to the crime, with a subsequent surreptitious collection of his DNA reportedly matching the evidence from the scene. The initial trial was declared a mistrial by State Supreme Court Justice Thomas Moran due to juror misconduct, specifically undisclosed improper discussions among jurors. This retrial not only revisits the tragic death of Wendy Jerome but also sets a precedent in the use of familial DNA in New York’s legal system.

Source: Democrat & Chronicle