Jo Ward, a seasoned crime scene coordinator with West Midlands Police, is on a relentless quest to solve her only unsolved case—a murder that has haunted her since February 9, 2022. With 27 years of experience in the police force, Jo has been the first responder at over 50 murder scenes. However, the unresolved murder of 41-year-old Chinese national Jinming Zhang in a flat in Digbeth, Birmingham, remains a thorn in her side. This case is now in the spotlight as it features in the new BBC series "Forensics: The Real CSI."
Jo was among the first to arrive at the crime scene and meticulously combed the property for evidence. Despite her efforts, the suspect remains at large. Described as a black man, between 5ft 2in (1.6m) and 5ft 5in (1.7m) tall with a slim build, the suspect left behind a crucial piece of evidence—a DNA sample. Unfortunately, this sample did not match any profiles on the national DNA database, which holds about 5.9 million profiles of individuals who have been arrested, cautioned, or convicted of a crime.
The advances in forensic science offer a glimmer of hope in cracking this case. Jo highlights the evolution of DNA profiling techniques over the years.
"Years ago we used to have to have quite a large amount of blood, or any other cellular material, to then actually get a DNA profile from it," – Jo
Today, even the smallest trace of cellular material can yield a complete DNA profile.
"Nowadays, we literally need a pinprick size amount of blood or any other cellular material to be able to get a full profile." – Jo
Modern techniques such as familial DNA searches can potentially identify biological relatives of the suspect. Furthermore, cellular DNA can be obtained from items simply touched by an individual.
"Obviously when we have murders or sexual assaults, we're always looking at [whether] the item of clothing [has] been gripped by the offender at all during the assault. It's about targeting those areas to then see if you can obtain the DNA from that." – Jo
These advancements enable law enforcement to rapidly process DNA evidence.
"where they get a DNA and literally within an hour they get results." – Jo
Despite these technological strides, Jo acknowledges the emotional toll of her work. Her commitment to justice is unwavering, even in the face of personal adversity. She candidly shares the psychological challenges she encountered during previous murder investigations.
"Sometimes I feel sick after I've come out and not wanting to eat, but I've really got a mindset now where I think: 'Ok I can't change what's happened but what I can do is my utmost to then identify the person responsible and get justice for the victim and the family.'" – Jo
Jo's determination stems from her impeccable record; she has never left a case unsolved until now.
"because I don't actually think I've had a case that has not been solved in my 27 years, so it doesn't sit right with me." – Jo Ward
Reflecting on past experiences with PTSD, Jo reveals a critical lesson learned—one that involves maintaining professional distance from emotionally charged evidence.
"I think that's the mistake I made when I had my PTSD, that I was looking at all the family photographs," – Jo
She remains hopeful that public attention from the BBC series will jog memories and encourage individuals to come forward with information that could break open the case.
"We need to get justice for the victim and the family. Do the right thing and come forward." – Jo
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