Kane County Judge Allows The Use Of Cadaver Dogs As Evidence

 Posted on November 16, 2012 in Criminal Defense

A Kane County judge gave prosecutors permission to use testimony based on the use of cadaver dogs in a 1990 murder case. This might be the first time that such evidence has been allowed to be presented in a state case. WGNtv.com reported a story about the case.

It is possible that Judge Timothy Sheldon's ruling will make way for dog handlers to provide evidence in the case of Aurelio Montano. Montano is a convicted double-murdered who is awaiting trial for killing his wife, Guadalupe Montano.

Prosecutors wish to present that ”cadaver dogs” showed signs of detecting human remains on a farm where authorities say Montano buried his wife after strangling her. The said farm is located in DuPage County, and the alleged murder took place in July 1990.

In other states, the use of cadaver dogs has been approved as testimony, and Illinois courts have accepted evidence obtained by dogs trained in finding narcotics. Prosecutors said, however, that they could find no Illinois state cases where the use of cadaver dogs was part of the evidence.

The judge made his decision after hearing several hours of testimony from Susan Stejskal, who has a doctorate in toxicology and has trained cadaver dogs and written a book about the subject.

Further details about Stejskal's testimony and the case can be found in the WGNtv story.

The judge's decision can have a dramatic effect on future murder cases. If you or a loved one are facing murder charges or any other criminal charges, an experienced criminal defense attorney can help you build your case. It is in your best interests to get a qualified legal professional on your side. Contact a skilled criminal defense attorney in Illinois today.