Blood DNA Evidence Used To Capture New Canaan Burglary Suspect

NEW CANAAN, CT — A 27-year-old Bridgeport man, who was already incarcerated for other crimes, was arrested on a warrant by New Canaan police with the help of blood DNA evidence linking him to a 2015 house burglary on Snowberry Lane.

Arrested on charges of first-degree larceny and third-degree burglary was Joseph Martinez, who is currently serving a seven-year prison sentence at the Willard-Cybulski Correctional Institution in Enfield, according to New Canaan police.

The Snowberry Lane break-in occurred in October of 2015. "Stolen during the burglary were multiple pieces of jewelry valued at approximately $32,000.00," wrote police in a statement.

When New Canaan Police Investigators responded to process the burglary scene, they "were able to obtain a DNA sample of blood found on a piece of broken glass" from the door that had been forced open.

The DNA sample was turned over the state forensics lab soon after the crime occurred. It took almost two years, but in late June of this year, the lab returned results that showed a positive match for Martinez, according to police.

Martinez was processed for the New Canaan arrest at Norwalk Superior Court on Tuesday, and was returned to prison. He is scheduled to appear in court again at a later date.

Photo: Joseph Martinez. Photo credit: New Canaan Police Department