08-07-2012, 11:55 AM
another cig. butt murder case. i thought it was interesting. it's a perfect medium for DNA.
![[Image: cigarette-butt-280x300.jpg]](http://ckdp.ca/files/2009/05/cigarette-butt-280x300.jpg)
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The Austin Statesman
Texas
A discarded cigarette at the scene of a fatal July shooting in North Austin led detectives to a Hays County man now charged with murder.
Thomas Atkinson, 35, from Niederwald, was arrested Friday after police traced DNA evidence on a cigarette butt left at the scene of the homicide, an arrest affidavit filed Monday said.
Alejandro "Alex" Hernandez Jr., 42, was found dead shortly before 6 a.m. July 9 in a pickup truck in the 200 block of Lola Lane, near Interstate 35 and U.S. 183. Police collected items from the scene, including the discarded cigarette, and analyzed them for DNA evidence. Hernandez's wife told officers he did not smoke.
During the investigation, various witnesses told detectives that Hernandez had picked up a prostitute called Sunshine at the Austin Suites Hotel in North Austin the night before he was shot, court documents said.
Witnesses told investigators that in the morning, Hernandez would not let Sunshine out of the truck, which was parked on Lola Lane, the affidavit said. Atkinson, Sunshine's boyfriend, was nearby. Court documents said that witnesses told investigators Atkinson then approached the vehicle and shot Hernandez.
According to a search warrant issued last month, police said the cigarette butt was likely left behind during the confrontation.
"The cigarette butt found on the front passenger seat of the decedent's truck was most likely dropped by the suspect during the confrontation that resulted in the victim's death," the documents said.
Atkinson told police he knew Sunshine and had a confrontation with a Hispanic man who would not let her out of his vehicle the night of the shooting, the affidavit said.
He told police that he hit the man's windshield and left. When pressed about his involvement in the shooting, Atkinson asked for an attorney, the affidavit said.
![[Image: 080712_atkinson_mu_1531842e.jpg]](http://www.statesman.com/multimedia/dynamic/01531/080712_atkinson_mu_1531842e.jpg)
Thomas Atkinson is charged with the murder of Alejandro Hernandez Jr.
![[Image: 080712_hernandezmu_1531843k.jpg]](http://www.statesman.com/multimedia/dynamic/01531/080712_hernandezmu_1531843k.jpg)
dead guy. Alejandro Hernandez Jr. was found shot in his pickup truck July 9.
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The Austin Statesman
Texas
A discarded cigarette at the scene of a fatal July shooting in North Austin led detectives to a Hays County man now charged with murder.
Thomas Atkinson, 35, from Niederwald, was arrested Friday after police traced DNA evidence on a cigarette butt left at the scene of the homicide, an arrest affidavit filed Monday said.
Alejandro "Alex" Hernandez Jr., 42, was found dead shortly before 6 a.m. July 9 in a pickup truck in the 200 block of Lola Lane, near Interstate 35 and U.S. 183. Police collected items from the scene, including the discarded cigarette, and analyzed them for DNA evidence. Hernandez's wife told officers he did not smoke.
During the investigation, various witnesses told detectives that Hernandez had picked up a prostitute called Sunshine at the Austin Suites Hotel in North Austin the night before he was shot, court documents said.
Witnesses told investigators that in the morning, Hernandez would not let Sunshine out of the truck, which was parked on Lola Lane, the affidavit said. Atkinson, Sunshine's boyfriend, was nearby. Court documents said that witnesses told investigators Atkinson then approached the vehicle and shot Hernandez.
According to a search warrant issued last month, police said the cigarette butt was likely left behind during the confrontation.
"The cigarette butt found on the front passenger seat of the decedent's truck was most likely dropped by the suspect during the confrontation that resulted in the victim's death," the documents said.
Atkinson told police he knew Sunshine and had a confrontation with a Hispanic man who would not let her out of his vehicle the night of the shooting, the affidavit said.
He told police that he hit the man's windshield and left. When pressed about his involvement in the shooting, Atkinson asked for an attorney, the affidavit said.
Thomas Atkinson is charged with the murder of Alejandro Hernandez Jr.
dead guy. Alejandro Hernandez Jr. was found shot in his pickup truck July 9.