DNA Connects Oil City Man to 2014 Burglary Case

| December 26, 2016

blood-dnaCLARION, Pa. (EYT) – Forensics helped Clarion-based State Police crack an unsolved burglary case from January 2014.

Court documents filed in Clarion County District Court on December 20, 2016, indicate that Clarion-based State Police Trooper Salusky has filed multiple felony charges against Lawrence George Henderson, 45, formerly of Oil City.

Henderson is currently serving a state prison sentence of five to 20 years in Albion, Pa., on charges related to a burglary spree in Venango County.

According to a criminal complaint filed by Tpr. Salusky, the new charges stem from a January 2014 burglary at a computer store along South 5th Avenue in Clarion Township, Clarion County.

Around 3:39 a.m. that morning, Clarion-based State Police Troopers Salusky and Gezik responded to a call for a burglary at the store.

The store owner contacted police after receiving an alarm notification and observing a broken exterior window upon arrival at the scene.

Upon police arrival, investigators discovered a bug screen and shattered glass on the ground near the broken window. A metal claw hammer with a rubber handle was found inside the building near the window.

Investigators also found a small droplet of blood on the interior window sill of the broken window.

Evidence was collected and later sent to the Erie Regional Laboratory for DNA analysis.

Video surveillance captured a silver or gray Subaru pull into the parking lot of the store. A white male exited the vehicle and then gained access through the same window that was broken.

Once inside, the suspect was recorded moving from the showroom into a room where laptops were stored. The suspect was observed carrying the laptops to his vehicle before fleeing the scene.

Four laptops valued at a total of $1328.00 were stolen from the scene. Damages to the building were estimated at $950.00, according to the criminal complaint.

On January 25, 2014, Franklin-based State Police recovered three of the laptops at a residence used by Henderson. The laptops were recovered while troopers were conducting an investigation related to the 2014 burglary spree in Venango County.

In addition, it was discovered that Henderson had access to a silver Subaru Legacy just like the one captured on video at the Clarion Township computer store.

On December 4, 2014, the Pennsylvania State Police Bureau of Forensic Services DNA Division indicated that the blood collected from the inside window sill was a possible match with Henderson.

Those test results were used to obtain a search warrant for Henderson’s DNA.

On June 19, 2015, the search warrant was served on Henderson at SCI Albion.

Two buccal swabs were obtained from Henderson and sent to the Erie Regional Laboratory for DNA analysis.

The analysis confirmed that the blood discovered on the window sill matched Henderson’s DNA.

The following charges were filed against Henderson on December 20, 2016, at District Judge Duane Quinn’s office:

  • Burglary – Not Adapted for Overnight, Felony 2
  • Crim Tres-Break Into Structure, Felony 2
  • Theft By Unlawful Taking-Movable Property, Felony 3
  • Receiving Stolen Property, Felony 3
  • Criminal Mischief – Damage Property, Misdemeanor 3

Henderson remains lodged at SCI Albion where he is awaiting a preliminary hearing on the burglary charges.


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