"As far as DNA evidence goes, at this point in the investigation, there has been no link made between known DNA standards collected and evidence processed to date," Phoenix PD Sergeant Trent Crump says. "The overall processing of the evidence and comparative analysis is not complete and is expected to take several months. We will continue working on the case until all leads have been exhausted."
The officers ordered to turn over their DNA are the same cops believed
to be involved in a fraud scheme that resulted in the indictment of
three current officers and one former.
Drenth, Phoenix police
Chief Jack Harris confirmed last month, was also on the list of officers
involved in the scheme (which you can read all about by clicking here) and probably would have been indicted, as well, if he were still alive.
There has been speculation that Drenth's death was somehow
tied to the investigation that led up to the indictment of the four
officers -- and what would have likely been an indictment of his own.
Fueling the speculation is the fact that Harris also claimed last week
that Drenth knew he, and the other officers, were being investigated.
However, Harris also said he knew of no connection between the
investigation and Drenth's death.
However, Harris also said last month, the DNA samples were ordered because they help "eliminate the people
that were there ... to ensure that none of them were involved in the
case."
Drenth's body was found shot to death
near the State Capitol -- next to his police cruiser -- on October 18.
He was on-duty at the time, but was out of contact with his precinct for
about 45 minutes before the shooting.
The Phoenix P.D. has been fairly tight-lipped about the investigation,
and the medical examiner hasn't said whether it was a murder or a
suicide.
Skeptics suggest he may have known he was under investigation and killed
himself. There's also the theory that he was aiding in the
investigation of the other officers and was killed by one of them.
Crump stresses to New Times that the key words in his update on the case are "to date." Stay tuned...