BRAINTREE, Mass. — One more case is being thrown out after a Braintree Police evidence room scandal.
That brings the total number criminal cases have thrown out because they relied on evidence from that room to six, as reported on FOX25 News Tuesday.
The final audit was released Wednesday afternoon, and documented what went missing from the room and how it effects past and current cases.
More than $400,000 in cash, 4,700 drug items, and 60 guns were unaccounted for, according to the audit.
Attorneys tell FOX25 past convictions may need to be evaluated in addition to the cases still in the court system.
"They may have to look at these prior convictions, people either pleaded guilty in the face of evidence. It could have probably been tampered with our they lost trials and they may have to undo all of that," attorney Peter Elikann said.
The audit focused on a period of time from 2013 to May of this year while Officer Susan Zopatti was assigned to oversee the evidence room.
The police chief requested a third-party audit after concerns about the evidence room surfaced. A short time later, Zopatti died of self-inflicted injuries.
Braintree Mayor Joseph Sullivan told FOX25 the audit uncovered other problems including bad record keeping that may have impacted the evidence.
Now that the report has been released, hundreds of more cases are in jeopardy.
Cox Media Group
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