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AI Overview
A US company, M-Vac Systems, has been involved in testing DNA evidence in the Sophie Toscan du Plantier cold case using their specialized wet vacuum DNA collection technology, the M-Vac System. A team led by M-Vac Systems CEO Jared Bradley traveled to Ireland in late July 2025 to test a bloodstained flat rock and concrete block from the crime scene, as well as Sophie’s clothes, from which “potentially conclusive” DNA believed to belong to the killer was recovered. The DNA samples are now undergoing further testing at Forensic Science Ireland, with results expected within weeks, and this breakthrough is hoped to finally bring justice to the nearly 30-year-old case.
What is M-Vac Systems and its technology?
- MA collection technique.
- The M-Vac System uses a wet vacuum to recover DNA, especially from porous and rough surfaces where traditional methods are less effective.
- It involves spraying a sterile solution onto a surface and simultaneously applying vacuum pressure, creating turbulence that loosens and collects microscopic biological material, such as skin cells and blood.
What was the process?
- 1. Arrival in Ireland:In July 2025, the US team traveled to Ireland to test evidence from the 1996 murder scene.
- 2. Evidence Tested:The focus was on a flat rock and a concrete block believed to be the murder weapons, and Sophie’s clothes.
- 3. DNA Recovery:The team successfully recovered what is described as “potentially conclusive” genetic material believed to be from the killer.
- 4. Further Testing:The retrieved DNA is now being rigorously tested at Forensic Science Ireland, with results anticipated in the coming weeks.
What is the significance of this breakthrough?
- Historic Breakthrough: This is the first time significant DNA material has been recovered in the long-running investigation.
- Potential for Justice: This breakthrough offers the first real hope of identifying the killer and bringing justice to the case after almost three decades.
Who Watches the Watchers? 