Staff writer

kwarco@observer-reporter.com

Had it not been for DNA in a blood smear lifted from a bedroom carpet 20 months ago, North Strabane Township police say they likely never would have determined who broke into a Linden Creek home.

The blood came from 39-year-old Anthony J. Thomas Jr. of Pittsburgh's Beechview section, who cut his hand when he, along with another man, broke into the home in the 200 block of Linden Creek on Nov. 21, 2006.

North Strabane police Detective John Wybranowski said Tuesday that Thomas and the other suspect broke into the house through a rear door, smashing the glass panel to manipulate the lock. Stolen from the home were DVDs, jewelry, cash and electronic equipment valued at more than $5,000.

"There was a stain on the carpet in the bedroom that appeared to be a blood transfer. It looks like he had put his hand down on the carpet to look under the bed," Wybranowski said. "We collected it as possible blood evidence and submitted it to the state police crime lab in Greensburg."

Wybranowski said it was identified as human blood and sent to the DNA lab in Greensburg for further processing.

"We did get a DNA profile that was sent to the Combined DNA Identification System," the detective said of the national data bank known as CODIS. "But we got no hit."

Wybranowski said the DNA profile was loaded into the system. Profiles are checked weekly to determine if there are any matches.

On Jan. 31, police were notified by the DNA lab that there was a hit on a sample consistent with the one taken from the carpet.

"All people convicted of felonies have a Buccal swab of their cheek," Wybranowski said. "That DNA is put in a data bank like a fingerprint."

When Thomas was convicted of a felony retail theft, he was required to submit a DNA sample.

In March, police obtained a DNA sample from Thomas to do a scientific match. That sample was a complete match with the one from the carpet.

Wybranowski said police interviewed Thomas, who admitted his involvement in the robbery.

"He said they went from door to door. If someone answered, they asked for directions. They went until they found a house where no one was home," Wybranowski said. "We never, ever would have solved this burglary without the DNA."

"We didn't have a suspect," said township police Lt. Dan Levi.

At the time, there was a rash of daylight burglaries in Peters Township. North Strabane police at one time believed the Linden Creek break-in was connected.

Wybranowski said a second suspect who is in Allegheny County Jail on unrelated charges also will be arrested.

Because he is being cooperative, Thomas will be charged via summons from the office of District Judge Jay Weller. Charges include burglary, theft, receiving stolen property, criminal trespass, criminal mischief and criminal conspiracy.

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