The testimony of Jayann Sepich, mother of Katie Sepich for who “Katie’s Law” in New Mexico is named, compelled the skeptics in the Connecticut General Assembly to support legislation mandating the taking of DNA samples from those arrested for serious felonies.

Katie Sepich’s murder could have been prevented had her attacker, a previous offender, been required to submit a DNA sample. Jayann Sepich and her husband, Dave, have become forceful advocates for legislation requiring a DNA sample from anyone arrested for a felony, and many states have adopted some version of Katie’s Law.

The law has had great success in New Mexico where 177 crimes in which there was DNA from an unknown person have been solved by matches with DNA obtained from arrestees. Three individuals who had been wrongfully convicted of serious crimes have been exonerated because DNA in the crimes was matched with DNA obtained from arrestees.

Source: The Hartford Courant