DNA Key in Hoffa Case

Investigators will still be able to prove whether Jimmy Hoffa died in a Detroit House in 1975 where traces of blood were discovered last week even though the DNA evidence is nearly 30-years old.

Asked if DNA tests would still be effective on unsecured blood evidence after such a long period, Dr. Larry Kobilinsky, professor of forensic science at New York's John Jay College of Criminal Justice, told the Fox News Channel, "I think the chances are actually quite good."

"Despite the fact that there were only trace amounts of blood 29-years old, you still have a technique called mitochondrial DNA analysis," he told FNC's Eric Shawn, who broke the Hoffa story on Friday.

If the blood sample did match Hoffa's DNA, it would confirm the confession of longtime Hoffa friend, Detroit mobster Frank "the Irishman" Sheeran, who confessed to the crime before he died last year.

Although Hoffa's body is believed to have been cremated, investigators will be able to compare any blood DNA with a strand of Hoffa hair obtained by the FBI, said Kobilinsky, adding, "I believe this will put closure on the case."

One possible problem, however: the quantity of recoverable blood evidence. Detroit prosecutors said Saturday there may not be enough to yield any DNA test result.

Even so, said Kobilinsky, "the fact that there was blood there and it seems to corroborate Sheeran's confession, I think that is almost complete closure - although it would be best if we had the DNA test results."

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