DNA Links Homicide Victim’s Blood in Rental Car to Defendant

By Elizabeth Bernstein - October 8, 2024
Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects |

An expert in DNA analysis testified that blood found in a rental car linked to a homicide defendant is very likely to belong to the victim during a jury trial before DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun on Oct. 7.

Dennis Chase, 31, is charged with first-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and unlawful possession of a firearm while armed, for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 30-year-old Anthony Orr. The incident occurred on Dec. 7, 2020, on the 400 block of Xenia Street, SE. 

The prosecution called a forensic DNA analyst as a witness who testified about the results of the DNA tests on items recovered from the incident. 

Swabs of blood recovered from a red Kia K5 rental car linked to Chase were tested and the swabs had an extremely high likelihood of belonging to Orr. 

The DNA recovered from a water bottle found in the car was found to likely belong to Chase.

Further swabs from different areas of the car found that there’s a high likelihood that Chase was in contact with the driver’s side of the car and Orr was in contact with the passenger side of the car.

The prosecution also called the medical examiner who performed the autopsy on Orr.

She testified that Orr sustained a gunshot wound to the head and that the gun was a few inches to a foot from Orr’s head when it was fired. 

She also found fractures to the teeth and scratches on the head and hands, which are consistent with terminal collapse or rapid heart failure.

The medical examiner confirmed that it was possible that the gunshot wound was consistent with someone in the driver’s seat shooting Orr, and that the injuries to the teeth and body could have been from being pushed out of a car.

Trial will resume on Oct. 8.