Blood sucking leeches

October 20, 2009 7:59 AM

Leeches, horror film staples, medicinal wonders, and now crime fighters. Police cracked the case of a home invasion and safe robbery when they found one of the suspects' blood inside a leech on the floor and matched his dna.
posted by caddis (14 comments total)

You aren't giving them enough credit, the leech framed him.
posted by Stonestock Relentless at 8:15 AM on October 20, 2009 [1 favorite]

This is exactly why, when "casing a joint", I always move along when I see a sign that says "Warning: Guard Leeches".
posted by DU at 8:16 AM on October 20, 2009 [4 favorites]

I was skeptical that the suspect's blood would remain undigested for any length of time. I found this part of a paper (PDF):

"After removal of excess fluid the condensed blood is stored in the crop for a long period,
depending on the age of the leech and ambient temperature. The stored blood undergoes
extremely slow changes, involving gradual breakdown (haemolysis) of erythrocytes. In
some cases structural integrity of erythrocytes can persist for up to 18 months (Pütter
1907)."

Looks like it is possible. I hope future Americans are prepared for a taser- and leech-shooting police force.
posted by kuujjuarapik at 8:43 AM on October 20, 2009 [2 favorites]

If the leech has taken a shit, you must acquit.
posted by digsrus at 9:14 AM on October 20, 2009 [4 favorites]

This is exactly why, when "casing a joint", I always move along when I see a sign that says "Warning: Guard Leeches".

This is the only reason?!
posted by infinitywaltz at 9:48 AM on October 20, 2009

That was on an episode of CSI. They found a mosquito at the scene with the killer's blood in it.
posted by amro at 10:02 AM on October 20, 2009

Leeches, let'em live, let'em live.
posted by destro at 10:27 AM on October 20, 2009

Wouldn't this be rather circumstantial evidence? It seems plausible, certainly within "reasonable doubt," that the real thief went swimming/whatever with Peter Cannon, and decided to pocket this leech as a way to plant evidence. Likely? Not at all, but it wouldn't be the first time someone has planted false evidence to hide their own identity.
posted by explosion at 10:52 AM on October 20, 2009

That was on an episode of CSI. They found a mosquito at the scene with the killer's blood in it.

In real life it happened in Seinäjoki, Finland few years ago. They found a mosquito in a stolen car with a blood load matching a known deliquent, who, based on that, confessed that yes he got a lift from an 'unknown friend' in that car. The crime was a car theft.
posted by Free word order! at 11:04 AM on October 20, 2009 [1 favorite]

Too many variables in this kind of scenario. There's no chain of custody in regards to the leech. I would not convict somebody based on this evidence.
posted by metagnathous at 1:20 PM on October 20, 2009

I think it was his guilty plea that convicted him.
posted by caddis at 2:03 PM on October 20, 2009

amro: "That was on an episode of CSI. They found a mosquito at the scene with the killer's blood in it."

[puts on sunglasses]

Criminals... should know to expect a sting.

[Daltrey screams]
posted by Joe Beese at 3:15 PM on October 20, 2009

they found "one of his blood"? what happened to the other one?
posted by kitchenrat at 4:27 PM on October 20, 2009

yes, that was pretty embarrassing.......
posted by caddis at 6:06 PM on October 20, 2009