December 23, 1981, thomas sophonow, murder of 16yearold barbara. Thomas sophonow authorities said they had a new suspect in the 1981 murder for which sophonow was tried three times and spent nearly four years behind bars. According to the book, two of these groups originated from ancient israel. While chief ewatski said dna evidence played a role in the investigation, he insisted forensic evidence wasnt what cleared mr. Joseph smith said in the introduction to the book i told the brethren that the book of mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone to our religion yet, the evidence shows the book of mormon is not revelation from god, but a fictitious story written by joseph smith. Reviews of dna evidence for book of mormon geography fairmormon. Dna tests offer evidence that jefferson fathered a child with.
July marks the 25th anniversary of the first use of dna. Nov 29, 2004 forensic dna evidence interpretation is the most comprehensive resource for dna casework available today. Wrongfully convicted sophonow ready to forgive the globe. One was terry arnold, who is now a suspect in the killing. The book of mormon presents the evidence from dna researchers, including mormon scientists, who are wrestling with the dna dilemma that now faces mormonism.
Thomas author see all 2 formats and editions hide other formats and editions. Just last week, sophonow stumbled upon a news article that said dna evidence was. Identifying ancient dna related to book of mormon people summary. Reference articles showing dna evidence is not foolproof, and in fact is often wrong.
The dvd is based upon a popular presentation given in a number of fireside. Since the only available dna evidence comes from direct male lineal descendants of persons who have descended from a common male line with thomas. Thomas sophonow, who was tried three times for the murder of. The inquiry into the wrongful conviction of thomas sophonow made the recommendation that police use only sequential lineups one picture at a time, until the witness makes an identification not simultaneous lineups. Has dna testing proved that thomasjefferson fathered at least. On january 31, 2014, the lds church published an essay entitled book of mormon and dna studies in the gospel topics series on its official website. Judge for yourself as to whether the dna evidence was foolproof in garys case. The book traces 36 cases of wrongful conviction, and. But the 66yearold says even after all these years, hes never known exactly what that evidence is.
Murphy born circa 1967 is an american anthropologist and writer. He underwent three trials and two appeals, the last one of which acquitted him. Dna test finds evidence of jefferson child by slave the. A perceptive analysis of thomas jefferson 17431826 by american historian henry adams emphasizes the contradictions and tensions between the philosophy, principles, and political practices of the. This web version of the final report of the research committee on thomas jefferson and sally hemings is organized into six sections, evaluating the. View a video showing what went wrong with gary leitermans case. Can evidence rules guide juries and prevent wrongful convictions 2008. Retired police officer writing new book about thomas sophonows. Broadly speaking, the evidence that convicted thomas sophonow could be broken down. An inquiry was held, with a report released on november 5, 2001. Nov 06, 2006 now the same dna evidence used in courts of law can credibly speak to the validity of the book of mormon, which serves as the foundation of the mormon religion. The authors of the original dna report in nature say the evidence for thomas jeffersons paternity is less than conclusive. Resources in doubt the psychology of the criminal justice.
Ive heard this so many times from my genealogy friends. Sep 08, 2016 on january 31, 2014, the lds church published an essay entitled book of mormon and dna studies in the gospel topics series on its official website. One of the major aspects of wrongful convictions is the tunnel vision. This led to a comparison of what at first appeared to be two similar cases with similar results. Retired police officer writing new book about thomas sophonows wrongful conviction. Its records of slave births, deaths, purchases and sales, and other information has provided researchers with considerable data about the lives of slaves at monticello, including the births of all sally hemings known children. Does dna evidence prove the book of mormon to be false. New evidence came to light that was not available at the time.
Retired police officer writing new book about thomas. The lds church released an essay on their website titled book of mormon and dna studies. Dna evidence of the book of mormon in north america, linking. Dna evidence and molecular genetics disprove the book of mormon by rich deem introduction. Dna samples taken from modern american indians show no connection to the dna of the peoples of the middle east. Now, hes writing a book about the case in an effort to reveal insight into. In early 2008 rodney meldrum published a dvd titled dna evidence for book of mormon geography. Instead, the evidence has resulted in renewed controversy and has demonstrated that even in cases where the scientific evidence is clear, its interpretation remains ambiguous. Reid technique reliability result right to silence role sentence sexual assault smiths sophonow specific supreme court. Several eyewitnesses testified against sophonow but there were problems with each one. Dna evidence proves book of mormon claims about ancient.
There is generally no direct support amongst mainstream historians and. Thomas sophonow was accused of murdering a young waitress who worked in a donut shop in winnipeg, manitoba. Perhaps the most wellknown wrongful conviction in canada is that of thomas sophonow, who was wrongfully convicted of murdering 16yearold barbara stoppel. Thomas sophonow, who was tried three times for the murder of barbara stoppel, and convicted twice before finally being acquitted, is offering a reward to anyone who can tell him what the new. Remembering and judging canada has had its share of memories being introduced into legal cases with devastating results. Reviews of dna evidence for book of mormon geography. Just last week, sophonow stumbled upon a news article that said dna evidence was used to clear. In march of 1982, sophonow was arrested for the killing of 16yearold barbara gayle stoppel, who was strangled in a st. Book of mormon dna evidence is the holy grail for mormons and antimormons alike. Dna tests on the descendants of thomas jeffersons family and of jeffersons young slave, sally hemings, offer compelling evidence that the nations third president fathered at least one of her. Dna vs book of mormon incredible new evidence that proves the book of mormon.
Case western reserve university school of law scholarly commons. Dna evidence and molecular genetics disprove the book of mormon. In addition to three jailhouse informants who testified for the prosecution, nine others volunteered. A recently published book claims that dna evidence proves the book of mormon, one of the books of scripture used by the mormon church, incorrect. The book of mormon makes several scientific claims that can be tested.
The book of mormon, the founding document of the latter day saint movement and one of the four books of scripture of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints lds church, is an account of three groups of people. Correlation and verification through dna, prophetic, scriptural, historical, climatological, archaeological, social, and cultural evidence. The chief claim, and the premise of the entire book, is that hebrews carried the message of the coming messiah on a voyage across the atlantic. Remembering and judging introduction to psychology 1st. Johns a former crown prosecutor will not say if he would have charged randy druken with murder in 1993.
A very good book for those who wishto learn in more depth the fascinating issue of the dna topology. His work has focused on environmental issues and various church of jesus christ of latterday saints related topics. In 2000, a winnipeg police service reinvestigation identified another suspect and announced that sophonow was not responsible for the murder. The witness said he hadnt identified sophonow in the cell because he was bearded, and had been cleanshaven during the lineup. Its advantage is that the reader will find everything on the subject. Since the only available dna evidence comes from direct male lineal descendants of persons who have descended from a common male line with thomas jefferson father, grandfather, etc. In more than 15% of wrongful conviction cases overturned through dna testing. However, the book of mormon has been scientifically proven to be false which means joseph smith was a gross liar and received no revelation from god. The commission found that forensic evidence was unreliable and that some. The thomas jefferson memorial foundation issued a report in january 2000 concluding that there is a strong likelihood that thomas jefferson was the father of at least one and perhaps all the children of sally hemings. Case western reserve university school of law scholarly. However, this attack ignores several key points, among which is the fact that the book of mormon states that lehi and his.
Another testament of jesus christ, is true, not false. Unfortunately, these individuals are but some of the relatively recent persons who have been incarcerated at length for serious crimes that they did not. The dvd is based upon a popular presentation given in a number of. If the book of mormon is false, joseph smith was not a prophet. Dna evidence and the book of mormon conclusive proof.
It is extremely difficult to determine the number of wrongful convictions in canada. In particular, innocence canada focused on the issue of eyewitness evidence and its many failings, and fought to ensure that thomas would receive the compensation that he so richly deserved. Dna analysis has concluded that native american indians do not originate from the middle east or from israelites but rather from asia. Retired police officer writing new book about thomas sophonows wrongful conviction canadas wrongful convictions but the mystery about the evidence that cleared him has remained. New scientific support for the truthfulness of the book of mormon. In this article, we will provide some background on this issue focusing on the scientific issues, followed by a point by point response to various statements made in the essay about the book of mormon. Sophonow had an alibi and was not officially exonerated until 2000.
Thomas sophonow stands alone among the ranks of the wrongly convicted in canada for having been tried three times for the same crime, before finally being exonerated barbara stoppel murder. In november of 1998, following the release of dna tests which, combined with the historical record, strongly point to thomas jefferson as the father of at least one of sally hemingss children. The wrongful conviction of innocent people has gradually been recognized over the last quarter of a century as a problem for the canadian criminal justice system. On june the 8th, 2000, winnipeg police announced that dna testing of evidence had cleared sophonow of the crime, and a suspect had been identified. Stoppel was working alone at the ideal donut shop when around 8. In 1953, thomas jeffersons farm book was published in an edited version, after having been rediscovered. Thomas sophonow stands alone among the ranks of the wrongly convicted in canada for having been tried three times for the same crime, before finally being exonerated. Joseph smith claimed that the book of mormon is the. As would be brought to light many years later, thomas sophonow had an.
Attacks on the validity of the book of mormon using dna data support for the book of mormon by mormon academics. Written by leaders in the fields of biology and statistics, the book emphasizes the interpretation of test results and provides the necessary formulae in an easily accessible manner. Police interviews with thomas sophonow in vancouver. In 2004, plant biologist simon southerton published a book that made a similar argument. Well, i finally got the results of my dna testing, but. Thomas sophonow speaks about his wrongful conviction. The notorious cases of david milgaard, thomas sophonow, guy paul morin, donald marshalljr. Government to look into the case of thomas sophonow. The fact is proven with final and irrefutable evidence that joseph smith wrote the fictitious tale in the early 19th century and founded the lds church what he falsely claimed was revelation from god. Thomas sophonow inquiry report recommendations province of. Members of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints need to realize that god does not seek to confuse us and lead us away from him through the use of our intellect. Strengthening forensic science in the united states.
California commission on the fair administration of justice. Dna tests offer evidence that jefferson fathered a child. Devout mormon, daniel peterson, a professor of asian and near eastern languages at brigham young university, said. Innocence canada formerly aidwyc participated extensively throughout the inquirys hearings. However, this attack ignores several key points, among which is the fact that the book of mormon states that lehi and his family are clearly not jews. The book explores details of the botched investigation, including many details that werent included in the inquiry following the exoneration of thomas sophonow. Those who denied the possibility that thomas jefferson was the father of any of sallys children hoped that dna evidence would settle the question. The book traces 36 cases of wrongful conviction, and points to several systemic causes. The officer told the witness to consider sophonow during the lineup, and said that all of the suspects could swap clothes for the witness. This must mean that amerindians are not descended from book of mormon peoples, and the book of mormon is false. In 2002, anthropologist thomas murphy published an essay in which he argued that dna evidence points to native americans being related to asians, and therefore this disproves the book of mormon. Dna vs book of mormon incredible new evidence youtube. The strongest evidence yet against the book of mormon. Dna evidence and the book of mormon conclusive proof that.
Dna evidence proves that thomas jefferson fathered at least one child by sally hemings confirming the results of research published by sam sloan years ago, dna evidence has just proven that thomas jefferson was the father of at least one of the five children of sally hemings. Thomas sophonow was charged with the december 1981 murder in winnipeg of barbara stoppel. The investigation and prosecution of the murder that sophonow was alleged to have committed exposed problems seen time and again in miscarriages of justice. In the past few years, dna studies have been used to provide what may be the strongest and most convincing evidence so far against the authenticity of the book of mormon. Case studies in the use of dna evidence to establish innocence after trial. This video is an eyeopening look for mormons to see the deception laid before them by clearly proving that there is no evidence to support the book of mormon and, in fact, provides contrary evidence. Thomas murphy, anthropologist, mormon scholar, and dna researcher, acknowledges the problem that the dna evidence presents for the historical accuracy of the book of mormon. No, the dna testing is inconclusive and, at best, proves only that any of thomas jeffersons male relatives could have fathered a child with sally hemings. The idea that america may have been overwhelmingly peopled by folks. In 1998, winnipeg police service undertook a reinvestigation of the stoppel murder. In responding to letters to nature, the authors make it clear that the data establish only that thomas jefferson was one of several candidates for the paternity of eston hemings, sally hemings 5th child. Members of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints need to realize that. Na tests performed on the descendants of thomas jeffersons family and of jeffersons young slave, sally hemings, offer compelling new evidence that the third president of the united states fathered at least one of her children as has long been speculated, according to an article in the next issue of the scientific journal nature. The conclusion states, much as critics and defenders of the book of mormon would like to use dna studies to support their views, the evidence is simply inconclusive.
Guilty till proven innocent the thomas sophonow story malloy, ronald alexander on. George thatchers book revisits a great unresolved miscarriage of justice. Thomas sophonow innocents database of exonerations. Jennifer thompson is not the only person to have been fooled by her memory of events. Thomas sophonow was wrongfully convicted twice of the 1981 murder of shop clerk barbara stoppel in winnepeg, manitoba, canada. The rcmp are claiming the same reasons for the downfall of. In summary, dna evidence and the book of mormon is long overdue. Over the past 10 years, almost 400 people have been released from prison when dna evidence confirmed that they could not have committed the crime for which they had been convicted. Forensic dna evidence interpretation is the most comprehensive resource for dna casework available today. Dna evidence proves that thomas jefferson fathered at. Criminal law resources from dan simon, author of in doubt. Has dna testing proved that thomasjefferson fathered at. The witness was led to sophonows cell to meet him against all protocol.
Dalton said faulty science, tunnel vision by investigators who only look at evidence that relates to. Officers have spent hundreds of hours going over 600. They made several mistakes in the prosecution of tom sophonow and in his arrest, mikolajewski said from his home on vancouver island in british columbia. Johns at the lamer inquiry, which is examining drukens conviction of the murder of his girlfriend, brenda young. This is a recommendation, though, not a law, and police do not always follow it. The investigation has determined that thomas sophonow was not responsible for this crime and the sevenperson investigating team has.
These resolutions and conclusions are based on subjective and incomplete historical information. Repository citation dufraimont, lisa, regulating unreliable evidence. In 1994, new york states highest court upheld the use of dna evidence in wesleys case. Retired police officer writing new book about thomas sophonow. The criticism of the mormon church is the following. Guilty till proven innocent the thomas sophonow story paperback jan 15 1987. Retired police officer writing new book about thomas sophonow s wrongful conviction. Jun 09, 2000 new evidence came to light that was not available at the time. Jan, 2016 dna vs book of mormon incredible new evidence that proves the book of mormon. Rather, he calls us to prove all things 1 thessalonians 5. Guilty till proven innocent the thomas sophonow story. Ces letter links to a poorly written wikipedia article as the basis of their sweeping claim.
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