Police Admit Delay in Test of Evidence

San Diego police confirmed Thursday that they delayed sending hair samples to a DNA testing lab from a man they now believe is a serial killer but said the evidence is of “very questionable value” to the investigation.

The Times reported Wednesday that Willard (Bill) Schultz, the father of the first of five murder victims, had been told by investigators that hair and skin samples found in his daughter Tiffany’s hand at the time of her death had not been forwarded to a testing lab because of an in-house “mix-up.”

Deputy Chief Cal Krosch confirmed the delay but downplayed its significance. He did not mention skin samples.

“I can assure you that there is absolutely no negative effect on the outcome of this investigation because of the delay in processing that evidence,” he said. “It is being processed and, quite frankly, that piece of evidence is of questionable value to the case. Very questionable value.”

Since January, five women have been fatally stabbed in their apartments or homes by a killer who entered through unlocked or open doors. Four of the five have been brunettes, 18 to 21 years old, some of whom had showered just before the attacks. The fifth is the 42-year-old mother of one of the victims, whom the killer may not have been expecting, police said.

Police are looking for a black or dark-skinned man, 14 to 23 years old, 5-foot-7 to 5-foot-10, with a medium build and short-cropped hair.

Krosch said the delay over the evidence was caused by a backlog of murder cases.

“Let’s face it, we’ve had 117 homicides in this city this year to date,” he said. “At that time, that was one homicide. It was not related to others and we had no relation. There was no urgency.”

However, Schultz told The Times that police did not send the evidence to a testing lab until July. By that time, three women had been murdered and police had linked all three killings to the same man.

Krosch said the evidence is not vitally important now because police have no suspect in the serial slayings. But at the time of Schultz’s murder Jan. 12, police believed her fiance, Christopher Jon Burns, may have killed her. Burns was held in County Jail for five days before being released for lack of evidence.

Burns is no longer an “active” suspect, Krosch said.

Police would not say Thursday how long the delay lasted. Krosch said only that it was less than six months and now has been sent to a DNA lab, which he would not identify. He said the evidence had not been sent to FBI lab, as Schultz had remembered.

Hair and skin samples are often used to extract DNA--deoxyribonucleic acid--which is found in every cell of the body and contains each person’s unique genetic makeup. From DNA molecules, technicians can piece together a pattern to compare to those of suspects.

Schultz could not be reached for comment Thursday but his ex-wife, Ramona Schultz, said she was pleased police admitted their error. She said a homicide detective had mentioned the delay within the past few weeks.

“Well, I’m glad they confessed to screwing it up,” she said. “I’m glad they accepted responsibility for it. I myself don’t blame (the homicide agent investigating her daughter’s death), because the detectives themselves don’t handle (the evidence).”

Ramona Schultz was angered by Krosch’s remarks that the evidence wasn’t significant.

“I think any evidence is important,” she said, adding that a homicide detective recently told her he was upset by the mistake.

In his interview with The Times Wednesday, Willard Schultz also criticized the department’s overall handling of his daughter’s case. Tiffany Schultz, a 20-year-old San Diego State University student who worked as a nude dancer, was stabbed more than 50 times on the day she was found in her Cowley Way apartment.

“Absolutely, I’m angry with them, and in order for me to act on my considerable frustration, I’m planning a trip to San Diego to find out exactly what they’re doing--or not doing,” he said.

Krosch said he could understand Schultz’ frustration.

“I can certainly relate to him,” he said. “I’m a father and if I were in his position being an aggrieved father, I would be very concerned. And I don’t hold any ill will for anything that Mr. Schultz said.”

Police are sifting through 600 tips regarding the killer and have assigned 19 full-time detectives to the cases, which are part of the city’s largest-ever murder investigation.

The tips have been divided into three categories of importance, the most worthy dealing with people who claim to have seen someone who closely identifies the killer. So far, police have interviewed six people who say they have seen someone who matches the suspect’s composite but have no suspects in the case.

Although police say several black men have been stopped, questioned and photographed in the past week, they say the process was done “properly and lawfully,” said Lt. Gary Learn.

“It’s ludicrous to believe that we’re stopping every black person on the street,” Learn said. “I’m not aware of any specific complaints.”

Learn said the department would investigate any complaints about random checks.