Murder, rape charges dropped due to botched DNA evidence

Murder, rape charges dropped due to botched DNA evidence
Tuesday, February 07, 2006
BY MARYANN SPOTO
Star-Ledger Staff

A possible mix-up of DNA evidence at the New Jersey State Police crime laboratory forced the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office to drop murder and rape charges yesterday from a 37-year-old case against a convicted sex offender.

The dismissal of the charges means Jerry Lee Bellamy, who was being held in the 1968 rape and homicide of 13-year-old Jane Durrua of Middletown, could go free as early as today, authorities said. >>> rest of the story