Location: Prince Edward Island, Canada (1994)
Story: In 1994, the murder of Shirley Duguay stumped Canadian police. The key piece of evidence was a few white cat hairs found on her jacket. The prime suspect was her ex-boyfriend, Douglas Beamish (often confused with a similar later case involving David Truscott), who owned a white cat named Snowball. đ±
Twist: For the first time in forensic history, animal DNA was used in a homicide trial. Scientists matched mitochondrial DNA from the crime-scene hairs to Snowball. This breakthrough genetic evidence, combined with other proof, helped convict Beamish of murder. Snowball the cat became a forensic pioneer, proving that pets can unknowingly provide the crucial link between a criminal and a crime, revolutionizing how trace animal evidence is valued in court. đ