Yuma County Sheriff's deputies used modern science to solve a burglary.
The break-in was reported on the morning of Tuesday, January 10, 2023, at a business in the 8700 block of E. South Frontage Road. While processing the crime scene, deputies found a blood trail. Investigators were able to obtain a sample of the blood and submit it for examination. The blood sample was run through the YCSO RapidHIT Instrument. The RapidHIT instrument generates forensic DNA profiles in as little as 90 minutes. With the DNA profile from the instrument, within 2 hours, investigators identified 34-year-old Whitney Brooks of Yuma, as the suspect in the burglary. On Thursday, January 19, 2023, she was booked into Yuma County Detention Center on charges of Theft, Criminal Damage, Criminal Trespass and 3rd Degree Burglary. According to YCSO, this was their first completed successful run of the RapidHIT Instrument resulting in an arrest.