Aborted fetus could be key evidence in Denver rape case
Authorities say an unusual piece of evidence may come into play if a Denver rape case goes to trial: A fetus collected by investigators after the 13-year-old victim had an abortion.
KUSA-TV reports that 30-year-old Gabino Otero-Labra faces two counts of sexual assault on a child stemming from the March 2010 attack. Court records don’t list his attorney.
The girl had an abortion, and Denver detectives obtained the fetus from the clinic for testing.
District Attorney Mitch Morrissey says a fetus could be important evidence, because it potentially contains DNA from both the victim and the suspect.
It’s unclear how often prosecutors use fetal tissue in rape cases. Investigators obtained fetal tissue in a different Denver case, but that suspect was acquitted after questions arose about the victim’s age.
