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Douglas County approves addendum to bring 23rd Judicial District into United Forensic Laboratory
Summary
Douglas County approved an addendum to the memorandum of participation that will formally add the 23rd Judicial District Attorney's Office to the United Forensic Laboratory partnership; the DA committed funding for a full‑time DNA analyst and county staff cited the lab's role in resolving cold cases.
Douglas County commissioners approved an addendum to the memorandum of participation to expand the United Forensic Laboratory (UFL) partnership to include the 23rd Judicial District Attorney's Office.
Dan McMillan, Division Chief of Investigations with the Douglas County Sheriff's Office, said the addendum will strengthen regional forensic capacity and noted a recent example in which UFL DNA analysis helped resolve the decades‑old Rhonda Fisher cold case by identifying previously unidentified DNA linked to Vincent Groves.
"When the case was reassigned for a fresh review, UFL DNA analyst Shane Williams conducted a detailed line by line evidence examination. Through that work, he located previously unidentified DNA that ultimately linked to Vincent Groves," McMillan said, describing the result as an example of the value of shared forensic resources.
McMillan said the 23rd Judicial District committed to fund a full‑time DNA analyst, which will help regional capacity and reduce backlogs. Commissioners praised the lab, discussed the importance of jurisdictional equity among participating cities and counties, and the board approved the addendum for signature after a motion and second.
The county noted the district attorney (named in the transcript as DA Brockler) supports the addendum. Staff will sign the addendum and continue regional collaboration on forensic capacity and governance.
