SANTA ANA, Calif. – The Orange County District Attorney's Office (OCDA) Rapid DNA program quickly provided the identity of a serial burglar who committed two pharmacy burglaries in Irvine and Tustin within 30 minutes of each other. Rapid DNA also identified a woman who burned and vandalized a vacant apartment in Tustin, leaving her DNA behind on cigarettes.

Circumstances of the Case

• In 2016, Rhodes pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of falsely representing himself to a peace officer and voluntarily provided a DNA sample to the OCDA Local DNA Database as a condition of his sentence.
• On Dec. 13, 2017, at approximately 3:00 a.m., Rhodes is accused of shattering the glass front door of Creative Compounding Pharmacy in Tustin.
• The defendant is accused of burglarizing the business and attempting to open the cash register.
• The Tustin Police Department (TPD) responded to the business after a motion alarm was activated and collected forensic evidence, including swabs of blood found near the shattered glass and the cash register.
• Approximately 30 minutes later, Rhodes is accused of gaining entry into Walnut Village Pharmacy in Irvine by shattering a glass window in the storefront.
• The defendant is accused of burglarizing the business and stealing several bottles of Promethazine.
• The Irvine Police Department (IPD) responded to the businesses security alarm, investigated this case, and found blood at the scene.
• On Dec. 19, 2017, IPD and TPD separately submitted the blood evidence for forensic analysis.
• The same day, the DNA profile from both crime scene samples were matched to Rhodes's DNA profile and OCDA Investigators provided IPD with suspect information.On Dec. 21, 2017, Rhodes was charged with the burglaries and a warrant was issued for his arrest.
• On Thursday, Dec. 28, 2017, Rhodes was arrested in Riverside County where he now awaits trial on unrelated charges. The defendant will be transported to Orange County Jail when his Riverside case is resolved.

Circumstances of the Case

• In 2010, Price pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor count of possession of controlled substance paraphernalia and voluntarily provided a DNA sample to the OCDA Local DNA Database as a condition of her sentence.
• On Dec. 12, 2017, after 4:00 p.m., Price is accused of entering a vacant apartment on Myford Road in Tustin by breaking a window lock and removing the window screen.
• The defendant is accused of vandalizing the apartment by burning holes in the carpet with lit cigarettes, urinating in the bathtub, and leaving trash in various rooms.
• Price is further accused of stealing a bucket of tools and cleaning supplies left by maintenance workers earlier that day.
• Apartment maintenance employees discovered the damage when they entered the apartment the next day and contacted the Tustin Police Department (TPD).
• TPD investigated this case and collected evidence including cigarette butts left in the apartment by the suspect.
• On Dec. 27, 2017, the DNA evidence was submitted to the OCDA Rapid DNA program for forensic analysis.
• The same day, the DNA profile from the crime scene sample was linked to Price's DNA profile and OCDA Investigators provided TPD with suspect information.
• Price was charged and a warrant was issued for her arrest on Jan. 3, 2018.

Prosecutor: Deputy District Attorney Andrew Katz, DNA Unit

Rapid DNA Program

The Rapid DNA program merges the power of the OCDA Local DNA Database with cutting edge DNA technology to provide investigators with leads, including suspect names, within hours of a crime. The program launched in 2015 and is available to all local law enforcement. The IntegenX RapidHIT 200 DNA instrument, which was validated for use with the assistance of the Orange County Crime Lab (OCCL), can generate a DNA profile from evidence collected at a crime scene in less than two hours. If suitable, that crime scene DNA profile is searched against the Local OCDA DNA Database, which was established in 2007 and is now the largest consensual DNA database in the country. The Rapid DNA program is supported by Proposition 69 funding and is a collaborative effort among the OCDA, OCCL and local law enforcement to harness the power of science and technology to promote justice and enhance public safety.

*Rapid DNA also used to identify woman who committed arson and vandalism in a vacant Tustin apartment and left cigarettes behind

Orange County District Attorney / Case # 17CF3228, 18CF0076 / January 4, 2018