DNA evidence from a dog's mouth helped Barberton police solve an October home invasion robbery involving a murder suspect.
That suspect, 24-year old David Stoddard of Barberton was not charged or arrested before he allegedly shot and killed a 16-year old pregnant girl Jan 6 on Archwood Ave in Akron .
Lieutenant Brian Jamison of the Barberton Police Department says the case was a dead end until they got the evidence linking Stoddard to the alleged robbery.
"We were very surprised because we had no other evidence in this case," Jamison said.
"That DNA that was taken from the dog's mouth by the patrol officers turned out to be the only evidence we had in the case at that time."
In that case, three masked suspects illegally entered the home on Jefferson Avenue and robbed the residents.
Barberton Police said the homeowners had a pit bull mix that bit Stoddard in the arm. Police then say the dog was shot and killed by one of the suspects.
On scene two Barberton police officers swabbed the dog's mouth for DNA and sent it to the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation for analysis.
On December 5, Barberton Police received a letter from the Ohio BCI saying there was a possible DNA match from the sample linking them to Stoddard.
Lieutenant Jamison explains why Stoddard wasn't charged until now.
"We needed David Stoddard's cooperation to identify the other two suspects said to be involved in this robbery and we were hoping that by working through his attorney, we would be able to talk to him and he would be charged at that time."
Lieutenant Jamison says Stoddard is facing multiple charges at this time including aggravated robbery and aggravated burglary for his alleged role in the October home invasion.
He is also facing aggravated murder charges and attempted murder charges related to the death of 16-year old Anna Karam, who was 4-months pregnant and the shooting of 19-year old Jessica Halman of Norton. Halman has since been released from the hospital.
Stoddard is currently being housed at the Summit County Jail.
