Woman's conviction for husband's murder overturned after 2 decades

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Jane Dorotik has spent 2 decades warring for her freedom. The California parent and woman was convicted of murdering her hubby Bob successful 2001, but ever maintained her innocence.

From prison, wherever she was serving a condemnation of 25 years to life, Jane spent years filing motions pushing for a caller introspection of the evidence.

Working with Loyola Project for the Innocent, caller investigating of grounds was done, including of humor recovered successful the couple's bedroom. They said it revealed immoderate of the spots were ne'er tested and others were not humor astatine all.

"If you conscionable look astatine each of the pieces of grounds that Loyola was capable to perfectly instrumentality apart, and yet we cognize what was told to the assemblage successful the archetypal conviction," Jane Dorotik tells "48 Hours" analogous Erin Moriarty, who has has covered the lawsuit for 24 years.

"Jane, however would you picture what the past 22 years person been similar for you?" Moriarty asked.

"It's been torturous successful galore ways," explained Jane. "I accidental galore moments erstwhile I thought, "How bash I support going?'

WHO KILLED BOB DOROTIK?

When "48 Hours" archetypal met Jane Dorotik successful 2000, the beingness she had erstwhile recovered truthful serene successful the foothills extracurricular of San Diego — a beingness she had shared with her hubby Bob — had taken an unimaginable turn.

Jane Dorotik: How tin this be? How tin this happen? Surely I'll aftermath up and it's a dream.

Jane had been go the premier fishy successful Bob's murder. Authorities believed that she viciously attacked him successful their home.

Jane Dorotik: I surely didn't bash this. I loved my husband.

Jane, 53 years aged astatine the time, and Bob, 55, shared much than fractional their lives together.

Jane Dorotik: I was 23 erstwhile we were joined … Bob was a wonderful, loving, originative person.

Bob spent astir of his vocation arsenic an engineer. Jane worked arsenic a nurse, and later, arsenic an enforcement successful the wellness attraction industry. The mates raised 3 children, Alex, Claire and Nick.

Jane Dorotik: The household has ever been incredibly important to some of us.

Also important to Jane, were their horses. While Jane's passionateness was breeding and riding, Bob was an avid jogger. And that, says Jane, is the past representation she has of her husband.

Jane Dorotik: Bob was sitting, actually, successful this chair, facing the TV.

Although Jane was nether suspicion, she allowed "48 Hours" into her home.

Jane Dorotik: He said helium was going retired for a jog, and helium was really — had his jogging suit on, was tying his shoes. … That was the past I talked to him.

It was astir 1 p.m. connected Feb. 13, 2000, erstwhile Jane says Bob near to spell for that run. As hours passed without immoderate connection from him, Jane says she grew concerned.

Jane Dorotik: It was opening to get acheronian … I — decided to spell retired and look.

Jane says she searched for Bob, driving up and down the elevation wherever helium sometimes ran. By 7:45 p.m., Jane's interest turned to fear.

Jane Dorotik: I said, "Enough. This is enough. Something is wrong." … And that's erstwhile I made the telephone to the Sheriff's Department.

Deputy James Blackmon: My archetypal … thought that nighttime was possibly this antheral had a bosom onslaught and … fell down the embankment along Lake Wohlford Road .

As Deputy James Blackmon, and others from the San Diego County Sheriff's Department, searched for Bob, acrophobic friends and household gathered astatine the Dorotik house.

Claire Dorotik: The infinitesimal I saw my mom's face, I knew close distant thing unspeakable had happened.

The Dorotik's daughter, Claire, 24 astatine the time, had spent the play visiting her aunt and returned location to a distraught Jane.

Claire Dorotik: She was freaked out, she was scared, she was nervous, she was crying.

Jane Dorotik: It was a horrifying feeling that got much and much horrifying erstwhile helium wasn't found.

And then, successful the predawn hours of Feb. 14, Deputy Blackmon turned into a driveway, respective miles from the Dorotik home, and noticed a assemblage disconnected the road.

Deputy Blackmon (2001): At this point, I could spot the shirt, the … pants … And helium was laying connected his back.

From Jane's description, helium instantly knew it was Bob Dorotik.

Det. Rick Empson: I got determination a small aft 7 successful the morning.

San Diego County Sheriff's Detective Rick Empson was called to the scene.

Det. Rick Empson: There was nary grounds of immoderate benignant of conveyance accident.

The grounds Empson did find suggested thing else.

Det. Rick Empson: I could spot that helium had humor connected his look … determination was humor adjacent the backmost of his head, and I could spot that determination was a enactment astir his neck.

Bob Dorotik had been bludgeoned and strangled. The one-time missing idiosyncratic lawsuit had turned into a homicide investigation.

Erin Moriarty: Is determination anybody you could deliberation who would privation to spot your hubby dead?

Jane Dorotik: Nobody. Nobody.

As instrumentality enforcement asked Jane questions astir Bob, she fto them into her home.

Jane Dorotik: "Come in. Search. Look for anything."

Detective Empson noticed a portion of enactment hanging from the structure that caught his attraction — reasoning helium had conscionable seen thing akin connected Bob Dorotik.

Det. Rick Empson: It appeared to beryllium the nonstop aforesaid benignant of enactment that was recovered astir his neck.

And erstwhile investigators got to Bob and Jane's bedroom, they recovered thing much troubling. They believed they were looking astatine humor spatter.

Det. Rick Empson: There was nary question successful our caput that this battle occurred successful the maestro bedroom.

They documented their findings successful a diagram, taking photos on the mode of what they believed to beryllium humor connected assorted items successful the bedroom, and of what appeared to beryllium a ample humor stain connected the underside of the mattress.

Jane Dorotik: I bash cognize erstwhile Bob had a nosebleed helium made a remark astir getting immoderate humor connected the mattress.

Jane says determination was a logical mentation for immoderate of the different blood, excessively — they had dogs who were injured and had bled.

Jane Dorotik: This small canine had an abscess connected her feature that was openly draining astatine the clip and small drops of humor we'd find erstwhile she sat connected the couch. … The carpet pieces are what the detectives removed, feeling that determination was humor connected the carpet.

The spots of humor investigators said they found each implicit the chamber amazed Jane.

Erin Moriarty: Do you person immoderate different mentation of however that humor spatter could person gotten there?

Jane Dorotik: Not really.

Erin Moriarty: On the ceiling, connected the window, connected the walls?

Jane Dorotik: No.

Adding to authorities' suspicions was the bloody syringe recovered successful the bath garbage. Jane told "48 Hours" she utilized it to medicate her horses.

Jane Dorotik: I cognize that I springiness the horses shots each the clip … if you spell look successful my fridge close now, you'll find equine syringes.

Investigators theorized that Jane deed her hubby with an entity successful the chamber and strangled him. She past dressed him successful his jogging suit, enactment him successful their truck, and dumped him on the broadside of the roadworthy wherever his assemblage was found.

Erin Moriarty: Why bash they judge you killed your husband?

Jane Dorotik: You know, I conjecture I've been done that 1 a cardinal times. I don't know.

But investigators thought they knew, believing the motive was money, and escaping a troubled marriage. Jane was the main breadwinner, and they learned the mates had divided up for a twelvemonth successful 1997.

Jane Dorotik: I don't marque immoderate apologies for the information that we had unsmooth times. But that doesn't alteration the information that we loved each other.

And that love, says Jane, is wherefore they reconciled. They had been backmost surviving unneurotic arsenic a mates for a year-and-a-half earlier Bob was killed.

Jane Dorotik: I truly deliberation the separation caused america to truly regroup and deliberation astir what was important.

Claire Dorotik: They were getting on amended than they ever had successful the past. I was surviving there. I tin archer you that.

But instrumentality enforcement was unmoved, and 3 days aft Bob Dorotik's assemblage was found, Jane was arrested, and charged with first-degree murder.

Jane Dorotik: I cognize I didn't bash this. I cognize determination is simply a slayer retired determination … but however americium I going to wide myself?

Kerry Steigerwalt: She's baffled 'cause I don't deliberation she knows what happened.

Released connected bail, Jane started preparing her defense, hiring lawyer Kerry Steigerwalt.

Kerry Steigerwalt: She knows she's placed arsenic the slayer and she's not the killer.

And astatine trial, Jane's lawyer would contiguous a astonishment suspect, who helium felt was liable for Bob Dorotik's murder.

THE TRIAL OF JANE DOROTIK

Jane Dorotik: I cognize that I americium innocent, but I don't person immoderate much religion successful the ineligible system. I judge I could beryllium convicted for thing that I didn't do. And that's precise scary.

While Jane disquieted astir her result astatine trial, Claire Dorotik was overmuch much assured astir her mother's chances.

Claire Dorotik: My ma could not person done this crime. She didn't person the motive, and she didn't person the opportunity.

But erstwhile the lawsuit went to proceedings successful 2001, a twelvemonth aft the murder, authoritative Bonnie Howard–Regan described the Dorotik's matrimony arsenic earnestly troubled and told jurors that Jane didn't privation to wage Bob alimony successful a divorce.

Bonnie Howard–Regan (in court): Bob Dorotik ne'er went jogging. And helium ne'er near that residence alive.

According to the state, Bob had really been killed Saturday night, astir a time earlier Jane reported him missing. The autopsy performed, by Dr. Christopher Swalwell, showed undigested nutrient accordant with what Jane said they had for meal that night.

Bonnie Howard–Regan (in court): Are you capable to springiness america an estimation of however agelong aft Mr. Dorotik ate, however agelong aft that, helium — helium was killed?

Dr. Christopher Swalwell: Yes. It was precise soon aft helium ate. …I would accidental it was astir apt wrong a mates of hours.

And helium wasn't killed connected the broadside of the road, the authoritative said. There wasn't capable humor there. Instead, she said Bob's humor was each implicit the bedroom. Lead detective Rick Empson testified helium had asked Jane to explicate that.

Det. Rick Empson (in court): She indicated initially that she had a canine that — had been bleeding, and past indicated that astir a week prior, Bob had a bloody chemoreceptor implicit successful the country by the stove, and that Bob had cleaned it up.

There was grounds idiosyncratic cleaned the bedroom. The carpet adjacent to the potbelly stove and tiled level was bedewed and had humor stains underneath.

Erin Moriarty: Did immoderate of the humor from his nosebleed get connected the carpet?

Jane Dorotik: Uh huh (affirms).

Erin Moriarty: Do you cognize where?

Jane Dorotik: Uh huh. Right adjacent to the tile. 'Cause I — I'm the 1 that helped him cleanable it.

Authorities dismissed Jane's explanations. Their mentation was that Jane deed Bob successful the caput successful their chamber with an entity portion helium was lying successful bed, though they ne'er identified oregon recovered immoderate weapon. Charles Merritt, a criminalist and bloodstain signifier expert for the San Diego County Sheriff's Crime Lab, recounted 20 locations wherever helium saw humor stains.

Charles Merritt (in court): On 1 of the pillows … connected a lamp … this peculiar nightstand. … connected the potbelly stove … connected the ceiling itself. … and past connected the underside of the mattress.

The assemblage was besides shown this grounds of tyre tracks recovered adjacent Bob's body. The state's adept Anthony DeMaria said helium matched the 3 antithetic types of tires connected Dorotik's truck

Bonnie Howard–Regan (in court): Are you saying the measurements taken astatine the country were adjacent to the measurements … taken disconnected the existent vehicle?

Anthony DeMaria: Yes.

The astir telling grounds connecting Jane to the murder, according to the prosecutor, was that syringe recovered successful the bathroom. It had traces of a equine tranquilizer inside. And adjacent though determination was nary grounds that Bob had been injected with anything, it had Bob's humor and a bloody fingerprint connected it.

Bonnie Howard–Regan (in court): The grounds volition amusement that the fingerprint connected this syringe was Jane Dorotik's.

Erin Moriarty: Can you explicate that?

Jane Dorotik: I can't truly explicate it, different than – I cognize that I helped Bob cleanable up a nosebleed. And if that's the aforesaid clip erstwhile I took the syringes and threw them successful the trash … and determination was immoderate humor connected my hand, that could person — made that happen.

But possibly the astir almighty witnesses were the Dorotiks' 2 sons, Nick and Alex. They some testified against their mother.

Bonnie Howard–Regan (in court): Did you accidental thing specifically astir the syringe?

Nick Dorotik: Well, I asked her — however it got determination and what it was doing there.

Bonnie Howard-Regan: And what was your mother's response?

Nick Dorotik: She said that — her biggest fearfulness successful each this was that the — that america household members would commencement questioning her.

Kerry Steigerwalt (in court): Your parent ever settled things logically, tried to?

Alex Dorotik: No.

Kerry Steigerwalt: — you wouldn't hold with that statement?

Alex Dorotik: Nope. …It would beryllium my ma fundamentally saying, "This is what you person to accept." And past my dada would either judge it oregon determination would beryllium threats of divorcement oregon something. That's what I retrieve from increasing up.

Jane's attorneys Kerry Steigerwalt and Cole Casey admitted it was a large blow.

Erin Moriarty: Would you accidental that's been the astir damaging testimony?

Kerry Steigerwalt: Yeah.

Cole Casey: It's not what they said. It's the information that they were determination testifying for the prosecution.

When it came clip for the defence to contiguous its case, Steigerwalt really agreed with the prosecution connected a large constituent — that the execution took spot successful the bedroom. But helium had a jaw-dropping alternate suspect: Claire Dorotik.

Kerry Steigerwalt (in court): Ladies and gentlemen, Claire hated her father.

He claimed Claire, an avid horsewoman, hated her begetter due to the fact that helium threatened to merchantability the animals she loved – and suggested that she was susceptible of murder.

Kerry Steigerwalt (in court): That's what Claire is. A hot-tempered, explosive individual.

It was a risky strategy that Jane reluctantly agreed to.

Jane Dorotik: All I tin bash is spot what Kerry says is the champion mode to go.

Erin Moriarty: Are you astatine each acrophobic that the assemblage volition wonderment astir a pistillate who would let herself to beryllium defended by pointing the digit astatine her daughter? Could that enactment against the 2 of you?

Kerry Steigerwalt: It may. I don't know. … I deliberation it is the astir viable defense. And I deliberation it's supported by the champion evidence.

Steigerwalt insisted Jane wasn't physically capable to perpetrate the murder, but Claire was.

Kerry Steigerwalt (in court): She runs marathons. And she's a idiosyncratic trainer. She is arsenic acceptable a pistillate arsenic you volition spot astatine the property of 24.

But remember, Claire and her aunt said they were together, 2 hours away.

Kerry Steigerwalt (in court): They called the aunt ...That's the grade of the probe connected the alibi of Claire Dorotik. … That alibi is nonsense.

The jurors ne'er heard from Claire, who took the fifth, oregon Jane, who chose not to testify. But they did perceive from a pistillate who said she thought she saw Bob the time helium disappeared – sitting betwixt 2 men successful a achromatic pickup motortruck not acold from wherever his assemblage was found.

Kerry Steigerwalt (in court): Who killed Robert Dorotik? … Was it Claire Dorotik? … Or ladies and gentlemen, was it idiosyncratic else?

In his closing argument, Steigerwalt accused investigators of dismissing witnesses similar that pistillate and focusing lone connected Jane.

Kerry Steigerwalt (in court): The prosecution had focused connected 1 idiosyncratic and that's not the mode to behaviour an investigation. That's not the mode to tally a case.

Bonnie Howard-Regan (in court): Jane Dorotik and Bob Dorotik were the lone 2 radical successful that location that weekend.

Bonnie Howard-Regan said determination is nary request to analyse further erstwhile you person capable evidence.

Bonnie Howard-Regan (in court): They searched that chamber and they saw each the humor and they knew that was the transgression country … What much probe bash they request to do?

It took the assemblage 4 days to instrumentality a verdict.

COURT CLERK: We the assemblage successful the supra titled origin find the suspect Jane Marguerite Dorotik blameworthy of the transgression of execution successful the archetypal grade successful usurpation of penal codification …"

Erin Moriarty: Did Jane Dorotik get a just trial?

Matthew Troiano: No. No. … Because fairness means that you're presenting things accurately, and it — it appears similar it was not done accurately.

JANE DOROTIK ADVOCATES FOR HER INNOCENCE

Jane Dorotik (jail interrogation with Erin Moriarty): It astir didn't registry for a minute. It's similar "No, this can't be." … I was truthful definite that I was walking retired … I thought they would spot the truth.

Jane Dorotik ne'er imagined she'd beryllium recovered guilty.

Jane Dorotik (jail interview): It's hard to support going (crying).

At the clip of her condemnation for the execution of her husband, she was 54 years aged and sentenced to 25 years-to-life.

Jane Dorotik (jail interview): I mean, I just, I can't spot my mode wide to a beingness successful prison. I conscionable can't spot it.

Determined to beryllium the assemblage got it wrong, Jane became her ain advocate, moving connected her lawsuit for galore years. "48 Hours" spoke with Jane again 2 decades aboriginal astir her efforts.

Jane Dorotik: All done the situation — my situation journey, I continued to constitute to … all innocence projects I could deliberation of, asking for help. … At the aforesaid time, realized … that I had to combat for myself.

Jane filed motions from situation citing specified issues arsenic insufficient grounds and ineffective assistance of counsel.

Jane Dorotik: I would picture my defence arsenic constricted and inadequate.

In her filings, Jane indicated that she wanted to attest astatine her proceedings but had near that determination up to her attorney. And that had she testified, she could person explained Bob's tummy contents — stating that helium sometimes ate leftovers from the erstwhile night. She besides described her attorney's alternate fishy theory, pointing to her girl Claire arsenic the killer, arsenic absurd.

Erin Moriarty: Do you judge that your girl Claire had thing to bash with the decease of her dad?

Jane Dorotik: Absolutely unequivocally not. And my defence attorney, everybody knew she was distant for that weekend.

In respect to that defence strategy, Claire, aboriginal wrote successful a book, "how could I beryllium aggravated astatine my mother, erstwhile each I did was interest astir her." Jane's lawyer, whom "48 Hours" interviewed astatine the clip of her trial, did not talk with america again.

Jane Dorotik: That was the worst strategy of my beingness ever… I said to my attorney, "If thing happens to Claire, I'm gonna basal up and accidental I did it."

In her filings, Jane besides questioned wherefore her defence lawyer accepted the "bad forensics "pointing to the chamber arsenic the execution scene, alternatively than presenting different scenarios arsenic to wherever and however Bob Dorotik could person been murdered.

Erin Moriarty: Did the defence excessively easy judge the chamber arsenic a transgression scene?

Matthew Troiano: That is simply a precise morganatic argument.

CBS News advisor Matthew Troiano, a erstwhile authoritative and existent defence attorney, was not progressive successful the Dorotik case, but helium reviewed immoderate of the tribunal documents astatine "48 Hours"' request.

Matthew Troiano: The defence made a strategical decision. … Are we going to quality that a transgression happened successful this determination oregon … are we fundamentally gonna concede that it happened determination and past travel up with a antithetic communicative of however it happened there? And they chose the latter.

And that decision, Troiano says, apt led the defence to constituent the digit astatine Claire for the murder.

Matthew Troiano: They had to blasted idiosyncratic other for thing that happened successful a circumstantial location. … And they, astatine least, arsenic it relates to the daughter, you know, went backmost to her, having immoderate disagreement with her begetter astir something. … And it was – it was a risk.

Erin Moriarty: Have you ever seen that benignant of defense?

Matthew Troiano: You don't — you don't spot it. I mean, it could hap erstwhile determination are wide facts and grounds to enactment it, but erstwhile determination are nary … that's, you know, that's a showstopper.

And, successful fact, Claire was ne'er charged with immoderate wrongdoing successful transportation to her father's murder. The defence accepting the chamber arsenic the execution country is particularly puzzling to Troiano, arsenic determination were reports from respective eyewitnesses who said they saw a antheral jogging that time — accounts accordant with Jane's depiction of events, not the prosecution's.

Matthew Troiano: That's critical, captious evidence.

Jane Dorotik: And each of that was truly not pursued. … And … I didn't cognize of each the witnesses. … Had determination been a thorough probe initially, each of that would person travel out.

Through the years, successful filings, Jane raised problems with the full lawsuit against her, arguing that authorities focused connected her from the precise opening of the probe and failed to travel different investigative leads. But question aft question was denied. And regarding Jane's ineffective counsel claims, the justice rejected them all, ruling that her attorney's show was not deficient, and that his actions had not affected the result of the case.

Jane Dorotik: There were galore moments wherever I doubted erstwhile is this ever going to crook around. Many, galore moments.

Still, Jane didn't springiness up. She continued looking for caller grounds to wide her, particularly arsenic DNA investigating became much advanced. In 2012, she filed a petition for DNA investigating of that enactment recovered astir Bob's neck, and different items, similar Bob's fingernail clippings, which had been saved, but ne'er tested. And successful 2015, the question was granted.

Erin Moriarty: Is that antithetic that she yet adjacent got investigating based connected her filing motions connected her own?

Matthew Troiano: Yes, it's — it's precise atypical.

It was astatine this clip that Jane yet got the attraction of a wrongful condemnation group, Loyola Law School's Project for the Innocent.

Jane Dorotik: I get this fantastic missive from Loyola saying, "You've contacted america and we're funny successful your case. … And aft that, Loyola took over. Got the investigating done.

And what that investigating revealed, arsenic good arsenic a caller introspection of different evidence, would alteration the people of the case.

Matt Troiano: That's truly what flips the publication to accidental that there's much here. This is much than conscionable an inadequate investigation. There is simply a antithetic communicative that's moving done these trial results. … determination is grounds that different idiosyncratic could beryllium involved.

A NEW LOOK AT THE EVIDENCE

Matthew Troiano: When you speech astir the grounds successful this lawsuit … the consequent investigating reveals that you mightiness person a antithetic mentation for things … that truly shed airy connected what whitethorn person happened here.

Jane Dorotik spent years down bars asking for a caller introspection of the grounds utilized to convict her of her hubby Bob's murder. Now, moving with a squad from Loyola Project for the Innocent, the tribunal allowed them to person caller DNA investigating connected items specified arsenic the enactment recovered astir Bob Dorotik's neck, his fingernails, and clothing. Appeal filings authorities that overseas antheral DNA was recovered connected respective items.

Jane Dorotik: The results of that — nary of my DNA anywhere.

Matthew Troiano: There is carnal grounds … from fingernail clippings … from a enactment … from his clothing, that is overseas to Jane.

The squad from Loyola Project for the Innocent declined to beryllium interviewed. We asked Nathan Lents, a Professor of Biology and Forensic Science astatine John Jay College of Criminal Justice, who was not progressive successful the case, to reappraisal tribunal documents astir caller evidence, specified arsenic the DNA connected the rope.

Nathan Lents: While they didn't get a illustration that would beryllium bully capable to hunt a database oregon adjacent lucifer to a suspect, they did get capable DNA that is not attributable to Bob oregon to Jane.

But portion Jane and her squad believed the results pointed to her innocence, the authorities came to a antithetic conclusion, stating successful filings: "… the DNA obtained was excessively debased level to marque immoderate reliable interpretation."

Lents agrees the DNA levels were low, but helium believes it was capable to exclude Jane, and that the lack of Jane's DNA connected the rope, arsenic good arsenic nether Bob's fingernails oregon connected his clothing, is significant.

Nathan Lents: With the mentation of transgression that they presented, you would expect a batch of Jane's DNA connected Bob … and if — if she had moved his body, there's a batch of DNA transportation that mightiness person taken spot determination — that wasn't found.

The appellate squad besides reviewed the chamber humor grounds the authoritative told the assemblage was afloat tested and was Bob's.

Prosecutor Bonnie Howard-Regan (in court): Now, the grounds volition amusement that each this humor that has been described to you, the observations made successful this bedroom, that it was each sent retired for DNA analysis, and it each came backmost Bob Dorotik's blood.

But according to the appeal, not each azygous spot successful the chamber believed to beryllium humor was tested. Instead, typical samples were tested.

Nathan Lents: There were cases wherever conscionable simply 1 swab with a power was taken and it was representative, uh, of a assortment of spots. That's not bully signifier … it conscionable invites misinterpretation.

Matthew Troiano: When you're talking astir humor spatter and you're trying to analyse however it got determination … you request to bash a reasonably broad trial to beryllium capable to gully the decision that you're drawing.

Erin Moriarty: But I deliberation the prosecution could reason … You can't spend to test, tin you, each azygous driblet that looks similar blood?

Matthew Troiano: Right. … But erstwhile you accidental we did everything … and that's not accurate, that's wherever the occupation lies.

In fact, the appellate squad says that respective blood-like stains connected items including a pillow sham, the nightstand, a lampshade, turned retired not to beryllium blood.

And determination were those stains connected the bedspread, which criminalist Charles Merritt pointed to astatine proceedings and described arsenic Bob's blood. Jane's lawyers learned those peculiar spots were ne'er tested astatine all, and owed to improper storage, the bedspread could not beryllium tested again.

The handling of the evidence, implicit the people of the full investigation, was besides raised connected appeal.

Nathan Lents (looking astatine photograph with Moriarty): This 1 is hard to adjacent look at. Um, you person an researcher who decidedly should cognize better, um, handling execution grounds with his bare hands. … In summation to evidently depositing his ain DNA each astir this transgression scene, he's besides risking transferring grounds from among the assorted spots that he's collecting.

And there's that syringe, with Bob's humor and Jane's fingerprint, recovered successful the bath garbage — thing the appellate team, and Lents, thought could beryllium explained.

Nathan Lents: And if you propulsion that syringe successful the garbage tin … Bob throws a — a bloody Kleenex successful that garbage can, they could transfer. Transfer of DNA from 1 entity to different successful a trash tin is not unexpected.

Lents feels the information that syringe was adjacent recovered successful the garbage, points fingers distant from Jane.

Nathan Lents: If you're cleaning up aft a murder, you won't permission the bloody syringe successful the discarded bucket — basket.

But the authorities stood by its archetypal investigation, maintaining the chamber was the execution scene, stating that the grounds inactive points to Jane Dorotik arsenic the killer, and that the defence "arguments are mostly derived from speculation and misstatements of fact."

Jane's appellate team, though, maintains the chamber did not adjacent look similar a transgression scene, thing Lents besides believes.

Nathan Lents: There is not a accordant signifier to the grounds that indicates a convulsive bludgeoning that took spot successful that bedroom. … if Bob were live contiguous and investigators had walked successful his room, nary 1 would say, oh, this looks similar idiosyncratic was murdered here.

Jane Dorotik: If you conscionable look astatine each of the pieces of grounds that Loyola was capable to perfectly instrumentality isolated … and yet we cognize what was told to the assemblage successful the archetypal condemnation … So — however tin that happen?

As her attorneys reviewed evidence, Jane Dorotik, successful 2020, was temporarily and conditionally fto retired of situation owed to COVID wellness concerns. The question present became, was the caller grounds her lawyers were uncovering capable to marque her merchandise permanent?

JANE DOROTIK'S FINAL PUSH FOR FREEDOM

In the summertime of 2020, Jane Dorotik and her squad hoped a tribunal would overturn the jury's verdict, turning her impermanent merchandise from situation into lasting freedom.

Erin Moriarty: What were their large points?

Matthew Troiano: The investigating that was done initially was insufficient. The mode that that investigating was presented to the assemblage was inaccurate. There were a fig of antithetic arguments that they made.

A proceeding was scheduled, but past abruptly the authorities requested an unplanned virtual hearing.

PROSECUTOR KARL HUSOE (remote hearing): The radical are consenting to concede petitioner's caller grounds claim…

The prosecution admitted what Jane's lawyers had argued each along.

PROSECUTOR KARL HUSOE (remote hearing): The DNA grounds arsenic it exists now, successful 2020, is overmuch antithetic successful prime and quantity than presented astatine proceedings successful 2001.

That the caller DNA trial results – arsenic good arsenic issues with however the Sheriff's Crime Lab handled grounds — formed uncertainty connected the verdict. But what came adjacent was adjacent much unexpected. The authorities requested that Jane's execution condemnation beryllium overturned … and the justice agreed.

Jane Dorotik: I ever believed that astatine immoderate constituent … the information would travel out.

But Jane's ordeal wasn't over. Three months later, successful different shocking move, the DA's bureau decided to retry her.

Jane Dorotik: I don't deliberation immoderate of america thought … that San Diego County would effort to retry me. But they did.

Matthew Troiano: The authorities believes that she did this, and they privation to prosecute it. … Then you person this conflict … successful court. … If you're conceding that determination were problems … however are you going to bash it again, fundamentally with the aforesaid evidence?

Jane Dorotik: It was astounding to beryllium successful that courtroom and spot what they effort and enactment guardant arsenic existent evidence. And past besides thrilling to spot my squad instrumentality it apart.

Jane's attorneys questioned the credibility of respective of the State's experts, including Charles Merritt of the Sheriff's Crime Lab. The justice yet ruled that the caller proceedings could spell ahead, but that immoderate cardinal grounds presented successful her archetypal proceedings would not beryllium admissible — including those tyre tracks adjacent wherever Bob's assemblage was recovered that were linked to Jane's truck.

Matthew Troiano: You person a fig of antithetic trucks that could beryllium accordant with those tyre tracks … It's successful essence benignant of junk science-y.

In May 2022, conscionable arsenic assemblage enactment was astir to begin, the prosecution amazed everyone yet again.

Jane Dorotik: We spell into tribunal arsenic the assemblage is assembled and acceptable to travel into the … courtroom Monday morning. And everything's changed.

Deputy DA Christopher Campbell (in court): We nary longer consciousness that the grounds is capable to amusement impervious beyond a tenable uncertainty and person 12 members of the jury. So we are requesting that the tribunal … dismiss the charges astatine this time. Thank you.

Judge: Ms. Dorotik, you are escaped to go. Good luck to you ma'am.

JANE DOROTIK (to reporters): It conscionable is overwhelming to recognize that present I tin find my ain future. It's thing I've prayed for and hoped for.

After the hearing, Jane's attorneys spoke astir her decades-long fight.

MICHAEL CAVALUZZI ( to reporters) Jane's dignity successful lasting up and stoically warring for her innocence against each hazard and each threat. That's wherefore this lawsuit got dismissed contiguous and … arsenic acold arsenic we're concerned, we're moving on.

The District Attorney's Office and Sheriff's Department declined to talk with "48 Hours." The lawsuit against Jane Dorotik was dismissed without prejudice, which means, if caller grounds surfaces, charges could beryllium brought again someday.

Erin Moriarty: But then, doesn't that permission inactive a shadiness implicit Jane Dorotik?

Matthew Troiano: Oh, sure, it does. I mean, there's nary question astir it. … From a applicable perspective, bash I deliberation it's over? Yeah, I deliberation it's over. But from a ineligible perspective, no.

Jane Dorotik is moving to rebuild her beingness aft spending astir 2 decades successful prison.

Jane Dorotik: My full household has been blown isolated by this hurricane of events. … It's been heartbreaking connected truthful galore levels.

Claire Dorotik did not respond to"48 Hours"' petition for comment, but Jane says they are inactive close. Her lad Nick died successful 2023. Alex Dorotik did not supply a remark to "48 Hours," but according to filings by the state, helium remains convinced his parent killed his father.

Erin Moriarty: Do you person anticipation that your household volition travel unneurotic astatine immoderate point?

Jane Dorotik: Of people I do. Of people I person hope.

Jane besides has anticipation that she tin marque a quality successful different people's lives, arsenic she works with advocacy groups that assistance incarcerated women.

Jane Dorotik: To me, it's not conscionable astir my story. And yes, we tin each beryllium present and say, "This is truthful horrendous." And "How did this hap to this woman?" … But unless we look systemically, however galore others are we gonna find? And to me, that's critically important.

Many unanswered questions astir this lawsuit remain, including, perhaps, the astir important one.

Matthew Troiano: What happened here? … We don't cognize what happened to Bob Dorotik. … Where's justness for Bob? Where's justness for Robert Dorotik?

Jane Dorotik has filed a civilian suit against the County of San Diego. The suit besides names respective members of the San Diego County Sheriff's Department and its Crime Laboratory.

"48 HOURS" POST MORTEM PODCAST

Dive deeper into "The Troubled Case Against Jane Dorotik" with the "Post Mortem" podcast. Correspondent Erin Moriarty and shaper Ruth Chenetz sermon the gruesome transgression country and Jane's 21-year combat for state from down bars. Listen to "Post Mortem" successful the "48 Hours" feed, wherever you get your podcasts.

Produced by Ruth Chenetz and Dena Goldstein. Atticus Brady, George Baluzy and Joan Adelman are the editors. Greg Fisher and Cindy Cesare are the improvement producers. Lourdes Aguiar is the elder producer. Nancy Kramer is the enforcement communicative editor. Judy Tygard is the enforcement producer.

Erin Moriarty

Erin Moriarty is simply a "48 Hours" analogous and big of the true-crime podcast, "My Life of Crime."

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