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Generalized question: Warranting and DNA testing.
Concerning the latest interview with Grant Fontaine; aren't you allowed to issue an arrest or search warrant due to his open and direct admitting to having used, bought, and had possession of the cocaine he received from Benito? Generally, recorded statements (hearsay) can be taken as evidence due to Probable Cause (in certain places that I'm not entirely aware of). I'm not entirely familiar with Mississippi's state laws (assuming the case is based there from what I've seen).
If so, then you should be allowed to test Grant's blood for the drugs he claims to have used on the night of the murder, and also cross-reference between the DNA of the unknown male blood droplets collected at the crime scene. Just to be certain.
If all of this can be applied, then Benito can also be brought in for DNA testing and comparison to the blood droplets collected at the crime scene, and a second interview to get some cooperation. He has two (or one) legal witnessess, Grant and Will, who identify him at the Roadhouse Bar n' Grill, trafficking drugs.
If not, then that's fine. I'm just curious.
If so, then you should be allowed to test Grant's blood for the drugs he claims to have used on the night of the murder, and also cross-reference between the DNA of the unknown male blood droplets collected at the crime scene. Just to be certain.
If all of this can be applied, then Benito can also be brought in for DNA testing and comparison to the blood droplets collected at the crime scene, and a second interview to get some cooperation. He has two (or one) legal witnessess, Grant and Will, who identify him at the Roadhouse Bar n' Grill, trafficking drugs.
If not, then that's fine. I'm just curious.
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Accepted Answer
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Gentleman, thanks for your detailed inquiry
All valid points and we have considered these ideas ourselves. However, our main focus is to find who killed Philip Fontaine.
We have several suspects each with motive and we need to narrow the field down a tad before we start issuing warrants.
If this were a drug investigation instead of a murder investigation then we would be on the same page as you.
Yes, we have probable cause to go in looking for drugs. We can look into that further at a later date.
For now, we are searching for a killer.
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I'm only assuming all of this "hearsay" talk is viable because it would normally apply to someone who admits to a murder (also known as a confession). Therefore, one would assume that Grant's openness to having used drugs is alike a confession to a crime, i.e., illegally buying drugs, having possession, and using them. He admitted to all three, and so is a confession that allows for his detainment, and therefore, examination.
If drugs were to appear in Grant's system, that means that it can confirm his confession, and give probable cause for Benito's detainment or search.
I strictly speak out of bits of memories from articles, and personal reasoning, so I may very well be mistaken. -
That's perfectly understandable; but my intentions were those exactly, to find the killer(s). What Grant said allows you to bring him, and Benito, in for blood testing. If you can do that, then you can also test their blood against the DNA that was collected in the crime scene in hopes of getting a better understanding of who was there at the time of the crime. This test can help us determine why those drops of blood of unknown males were there at the scene, and it can either exonerate or indict them. In doing so, we are placed plenty of steps closer to the killer(s).msdetective likes this post.
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