Windsor police Sergeant Matthew D'Asti speaks with the media on January 21, 2015 about the murder of Cassandra Kaake. (Photo by Jason Viau)Windsor police Sergeant Matthew D'Asti speaks with the media on January 21, 2015 about the murder of Cassandra Kaake. (Photo by Jason Viau)
Chatham

Reassurances As Police Collect DNA

They've had a tremendous response so far from concerned members of the public, but Windsor police say they could be collecting DNA samples in the Cassandra Kaake murder investigation for several days.

Police started collecting DNA samples from residents living in the Benjamin and Hanna St. area last week, and Sergeant Matt D'Asti says some residents have also called to volunteer a sample. The samples are sent to the Centre for Forensic Science in Toronto where they will be compared to evidence collected at the scene of the murder.

D'Asti says there's no pressure on the public to provide a sample. It's voluntary, but he understands if some in the community have reservations.

"We are obligated by law that we must destroy this evidence," he says. "These things are being documented, and we can't simply just take a DNA profile from somebody and then start comparing it to other crime scenes. We're not even permitted to do that."

Kaake was 31 years old and seven months pregnant when she was found dead in her Benjamin Ave. home December 11. Firefighters found her body while responding to a blaze at the house, and investigators believe she bled to death after suffering severe trauma.

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