Case of the Mad Irish Case of the Mad Irish BakerBaker

BackgroundBackground Body found in an alley, Body found in an alley,

in a pile of trash, 1 block in a pile of trash, 1 block from O’Reilly’s Mad from O’Reilly’s Mad Baker Baker

Body badly bludgeoned, Body badly bludgeoned, a white handprint, and a white handprint, and coated with some white coated with some white substancesubstance

Body identified as Body identified as Dermit McHenry, Mr. Dermit McHenry, Mr. O’Reilly’s assistantO’Reilly’s assistant

Estimated time of death Estimated time of death 0435 0435

Dead Body

InterviewsInterviews

Newspaper delivery boy states he Newspaper delivery boy states he gave Mr. O’Reilly his paper at 0400gave Mr. O’Reilly his paper at 0400

At 430 am old man Berkery states he At 430 am old man Berkery states he heard a loud argument in the alley heard a loud argument in the alley behind the bakery on his daily behind the bakery on his daily morning walkmorning walk

Interview with Mr. O’ReillyInterview with Mr. O’Reilly“I’m sorry Mr. O’Henry died, but let me tell YOU—I yelled at him for being late for the last time! I fired him at 0420 this morning when he tried to enter the shop via the alley!!! I was 3/8 the way through making my famous Irish Soda Bread when he walked in.”

Interview with Mr. O’Henry’s WifeInterview with Mr. O’Henry’s Wife

“I can’t believe Dermit is dead! It’s that Mr. O’Reilly—he’s mad with jealously because Dermit’s Irish Soda Bread is simply the best in the city!”

Interview with Detective JonesInterview with Detective Jones“I collected the white powder trail to the deceased. I put it in an airtight container and handed it over to the evidence collector who brought it straight to the lab. I also swabbed some clear liquid from the face of the deceased and put it in paper, completed the chain of custody and sent it to the lab

Interview with Detective JohnsonInterview with Detective Johnson“I was undercover at the time, but I came to scene at 0445, put some white powder near the scene in my lunch bag along with some hairs I picked up with my bare hands and left the samples in the car for a bit while I interviewed suspects.”

Interview with Detective Kerns Interview with Detective Kerns

“I immediately noticed the unusual powder on the body, so I used latex gloves, collected the sample in an airtight container, marked the container with time and date, handed it to the evidence collector who signed for it and took it immediately to the lab.”

Forensic Science Analysis ResultsForensic Science Analysis Results

White powder collected by the White powder collected by the detectives revealed traces of flour, detectives revealed traces of flour, baking soda, and sugarbaking soda, and sugar

Traces of hair at the murder scene Traces of hair at the murder scene belong to Mr. O’Reillybelong to Mr. O’Reilly

The clear liquid that was swabbed The clear liquid that was swabbed was saliva and was DNA testedwas saliva and was DNA tested

Forensic Science Analysis ResultsForensic Science Analysis Results

DNA ResultsDNA Results 3000

1800

1000

25

500

1400

2200

O’Reilly O’ Henry’s

Wife

6 locus STR DNA Test

O’Reilly’s Irish Soda Bread RecipeO’Reilly’s Irish Soda Bread Recipe

30 cups all-purpose flour 30 cups all-purpose flour 10 tablespoon baking soda 10 tablespoon baking soda 10/3 cup white sugar 10/3 cup white sugar 10 teaspoon salt 10 teaspoon salt 10 teaspoon baking soda 10 teaspoon baking soda 10 egg, lightly beaten 10 egg, lightly beaten 20 cups buttermilk 20 cups buttermilk 10/4 cup butter, melted 10/4 cup butter, melted

Who did it? And why?Who did it? And why?

ConclusionConclusion

Only the powder evidence submitted by Only the powder evidence submitted by Detective Kearns was admitted into courtDetective Kearns was admitted into court—the other powders were inadmissible —the other powders were inadmissible due to poor chain of custody maintenancedue to poor chain of custody maintenance

Hair analysis was inadmissible due to poor Hair analysis was inadmissible due to poor chain of custody maintenancechain of custody maintenance

DNA sample is positive for Mr. O’Reilly DNA sample is positive for Mr. O’Reilly with a probably of 1 in 3.1 trillion the DNA with a probably of 1 in 3.1 trillion the DNA discoveredis not his discoveredis not his

Conclusion (Cont)Conclusion (Cont)

Mr. O’Reilly, who was held for 24 hours, Mr. O’Reilly, who was held for 24 hours, learned from his lawyers that only one set learned from his lawyers that only one set of evidence was incriminating—the powder of evidence was incriminating—the powder composition was exactly the 3 of the 3/8composition was exactly the 3 of the 3/8thth recipe completion that Mr. O’Reilly stated recipe completion that Mr. O’Reilly stated during his interviewduring his interview

Mr. O’Reilly stated that the DNA must have Mr. O’Reilly stated that the DNA must have been his spit from yelling at O’Henry—he been his spit from yelling at O’Henry—he admitted to being very angry and “in his admitted to being very angry and “in his face”face”

Conclusion (Cont)Conclusion (Cont)

Given the poor evidence collection, Mr. Given the poor evidence collection, Mr. O’Reilly felt his case was going to get O’Reilly felt his case was going to get dropped due to insufficient evidence, but the dropped due to insufficient evidence, but the District Attorney said he would prosecute District Attorney said he would prosecute anyway to ruin his business so that not even anyway to ruin his business so that not even O’Reilly’s kids would benefit from the O’Reilly’s kids would benefit from the bakery’s businessbakery’s business

Faced with the pressure from the DA, Mr. Faced with the pressure from the DA, Mr. O’Reilly agreed to a plea bargain of 25 years O’Reilly agreed to a plea bargain of 25 years in prison with a chance of parole in 15 years in prison with a chance of parole in 15 years and a gag order by the DA’s officeand a gag order by the DA’s office