New DNA Test Reopens Russell Murders Case

Thirty years after the brutal murders of Lin Russell and her daughter Megan, new forensic tests are being utilized in an effort to identify another suspect. Michael Stone, who is serving life sentences for the crimes, will provide a new DNA sample on Thursday as part of an investigation by the Criminal Cases Review Commission. These advanced tests, including DNA-17 and Y-STR analysis, can isolate male DNA from mixed samples and separate trace amounts, techniques that have recently aided in overturning wrongful convictions.

Stone's legal team believes these new methods could prove his innocence and identify the real killer. Their renewed focus is on evidence such as a bloodstained plimsoll lace and tapings from the victims' bodies, which have not been re-tested since 1996. There is also interest in previously lost exhibits, including a bootlace and fingernail scrapings, that may yield crucial DNA evidence.

Serial killer Levi Bellfield has previously confessed to the murders, although his claims have been met with skepticism by the Criminal Cases Review Commission. However, Stone's defense maintains his innocence, highlighting his consistent requests for further forensic examination over the decades. The investigation aims to find male DNA that does not match Stone or Lin Russell's husband, potentially leading to a new suspect and resolution for the Russell family.