Marshall University may House State’s Second Crime Lab
Marshall University may House State’s Second Crime Lab Save Email Print
Posted: 9:08 PM Apr 28, 2008
Last Updated: 9:08 PM Apr 28, 2008
Reporter: Dave Benton
Email Address: dave.benton@wsaz.com

A | A | A

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- West Virginia has one crime lab for 55 counties, and that means it can take up to five months to get results back for a drug sample.

The forensics center at Marshall will be expanding, and there's a strong possibility it could be the new home for the second drug crime lab in the state.

The center already tests DNA. The state police have their digital forensics unit, and now an expansion to the building could offer drug testing.

Once the new building is complete, the first floor will have forensic classrooms, the second floor economic labs and hopefully the third floor will have room for the drug testing; if funding is available.

“Accreditation could take a year. Equipment would come from grants,” Terry Fenger, director of the forensics center, said.

Dr. Fenger said it would take close to $500,000 to have a drug crime testing lab.

“Right now we have one state police lab for all 55 counties,” Chris Childes, Cabell County prosecutor, said.

Chiles also suggests WVU look into building their own drug crime lab to help decrease the load at the state lab in Charleston.

A ground breaking ceremony on the new building is scheduled for next couple weeks. It should be complete by March. Then, the search for funding will begin.

More Stories
BREAKING NEWS: No Survivors in Wayne County Plane Crash, Crews Say

A Thousand Byrds

July 4th TEA Party

A Different Type of Strip Mining Protest

Double Header at Appalachian Power Park Sunday, Followed by Fireworks

Charleston Fireworks Earlier than Scheduled

Worm Wiggles Way Out of Faucet

Elderly Woman Dies After Car Crash

Post Your Comments
First Name:
Location:
Enter Comments: characters left
Email (optional):
By posting this comment I have read and agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy:
You must agree to the Terms of Service to continue.
Read Comments
Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.
Posted by: Anonymous on Apr 29, 2008 at 12:04 PM
sounds good~!

Posted by: Anonymous on Apr 29, 2008 at 11:51 AM
If the lab were located in the north, a certain university would tarnish it with scandal.

Posted by: Joe on Apr 28, 2008 at 10:21 PM
Wouldn't it be better for a 2nd lab to be in northern WV. It could handle everything from Lewis County and the other counties north, and in the pannhandles. Lewis or Harrison County would be the most southern county the New lab would handle. The old lab would handle the other 27 or 28 counties in WV. Do you think the dummies in Charleston would think of this? NOT !!!!

Posted by: Bobsowv on Apr 28, 2008 at 09:46 PM
How come everytime someone talks about doing something positive it relies on "Grant" money. Why doesn't WV fund things like this with appropiated funding from the WV Legislature. I would rather have a state of the art crime lab than spend state mony on Greyhound breeders, fixing a roof on a senior center that employes a State Senator at 20 an hr to spoon out lunches, and the Director made over 400,000 a year

National Headlines - MSNBC.com
  • NYT: Leading clerics defiant on Iran election
    The most important group of religious leaders in Iran called the disputed presidential election and the new government illegitimate on Saturday.
  • Earn our trust or go, Afghans tell GIs

    July 2: A major new offensive in Afghanistan is aimed at a key Taliban stronghold and heroin trafficking center. NBC's Chief Pentagon Correspondent Jim Miklaszewski reports.  (Nightly News)U.S. forces who have moved deep into formerly Taliban-controlled territory in southern Afghanistan this week meet locals who tell them that they won't be won over easily.


  • U.S. misread scale of Honduran rift

    Honduras' President Manuel Zelaya, left, is welcomed by Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez after his arrival in Nicaragua on Monday. Although the U.S. government knew for months that Honduras was on the brink of chaos, officials say they underestimated how fearful some were of president Zelaya and his ally Hugo Chávez.


  • Weary Palin seeks to regain control

    July 4: In a hastily arranged news conference at her home in suburban Wasilla, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin abruptly announced she will formally resign from office at the end of the month. NBC’s Lester Holt and Chuck Todd discuss the possible reasons for the lawmaker’s move.  (Today Show)Why did Sarah Palin step down?  Some of the people close to the Alaska governor say she wanted to regain control of a script that slipped out of her hands when she burst onto the national stage.


  • Ex-QB McNair, reported girlfriend found dead

    The shooting death of former NFL quarterback Steve McNair raised questions Sunday about his relationship with the 20-year-old woman whose body was found alongside his in his downtown condominium.


  • Zelaya returning to Honduras

    A police officer receives the baggage of a passenger outside Toncontin International Aiport in Tegucigalpa on Sunday, after flights were cancelled.Exiled Honduran President Manuel Zelaya has announced his imminent departure for home to reclaim his post even though the interim government of Honduras is vowing to prevent his plane from landing.


  • One trip, three different agendas for Obama

    President Barack Obama, with first lady Michelle Obama, will take a weeklong trip to Russia, Italy and Ghana beginning Sunday night. President Obama is onto his next foreign mission: rebuilding relations with Russia, proving to the G-8 that the U.S. is serious about climate change, and outlining his vision for Africa.


  • Russia to U.S.: Compromise on missile defense

    Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev speaks at the presidential residence Barvikha outside Moscow on Sunday.Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said in an interview published Sunday that the U.S. must compromise on plans for a European missile defense shield to get a deal on cutting nuclear warheads.


SearchKOW Business of the Day
WSAZ.com Sponsor Sections & Links
Healthy Tri-State
Live a healthier lifestyle in 2009
SOMC
Very good things are happening here
Moms4Moms
By moms, for moms
WV Lottery
Nightly drawings and numbers
Big Sandy
For all your furniture and appliance needs