New Haven Independent

Cops Back At Annie Le’s Lab Building

by Thomas MacMillan and Paul Bass | September 23, 2009 3:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (7)

(Updated) Investigators returned to 10 Amistad St. Wednesday to examine potential new evidence in the murder of 24 year-old graduate student Annie Le.

10 Amistad is the Yale medical lab building where Le’s remains were found inside a basement wall last week.

Police had closed off the building during the hunt for Le’s killer. It reopened Monday.

Wednesday morning lab techs were told to leave a basement “wash room” — where mouse cages are cleaned — because the area had become a crime scene again, according to one employee.

New Haven Police Chief James Lewis confirmed Wednesday afternoon that the state had returned to the scene. He declined to describe the potential new evidence; he called the visit part of an ongoing investigation.

Lewis also said Wednesday afternoon that he continues to believe that cops will make no more arrests in the case.

The Register’s William Kaempffer reported Thursday morning that the new potential evidence was found stuffed in a drain and may be medical scrubs.

Police arrested 24 year-old lab tech Raymond Clark last Thursday on a murder charge for allegedly strangling Le to death and stuffing her body inside a basement wall at the Amistad St. lab.

Police collected 300 pieces of physical evidence as part of their investigation, overseen by city cops in conjunction with state and Yale police and the FBI. They obtained an arrest warrant for Clark as soon as they reportedly found a DNA match; however plenty of evidence remained to be scrutinized.

The state police have been collecting and analyzing the evidence inside 10 Amistad, Chief Lewis said. “We don’t want to break the chain” of responsibility, so that’s why the state continued to handle any new potential evidence collection Wednesday, Lewis said.

He declined to comment further. A judge has sealed the arrest warrant.

City detectives Jeff Goodwin and Carlos Roman (left to right in photo at the top of the story) were on hand, too, Wednesday. Goodwin had a bundle of documents and manila folder under his arm as the pair prepared to drive off in a blue sedan around 11 a.m.

Other police vehicles were on site throughout the day.

“They’ve been here all day,” one student said of investigators.

But business went on as usual, and the building itself stayed open. “It’s been a normal day here,” one researcher remarked.

Ex-Girlfriend Speaks

Also Wednesday, Clark’s former girlfriend spoke out on national TV.

The ex-girlfriend filed a police complaint with Clark when they were dating as Branford High School students. She told cops he forced her to have sex and acted in a threatening way when she wanted to break up. She declined to press charges. Click here to read an earlier Independent story about that police report.

On “Good Morning America,” the ex told Diane Sawyer that her experience should serve as a warning to young women: If a “controlling” boyfriend makes you feel uncomfortable, break up. Click here to watch that interview.

Previous coverage of the Annie Le case:

Monday, Sept. 21
• What Annie Le Story?
• Public Defender: I Don’t Want Annie Le Reporters Investigated
Thursday, Sept. 17
• After Annie Le Murder, Union Chief Sends Rallying Call
• Annie Le Suspect Knew Cops Were On His Tail
• Cops Arrest Lab Tech In Annie Le Murder
• Suspect Arraigned (live blog)
Wednesday, Sept. 16:
• Ex-Girlfriend “Shocked” About Annie Le Target
• Cops Stake Out Annie Le Target’s Motel
• Annie Le Case: It’s Coming Down To The DNA
• Annie Le Was Strangled
Tuesday, Sept. 15:
• City, Yale Learned From Jovin In Annie Le Case
• Suspect In Annie Le Case Has Fiancee
• NBC Producer Trampled At Annie Le “Briefing”
• Cops Take DNA From Annie Le Target
• Was That Annie Le’s Killer?
Monday, Sept. 14:
• Body Identified As Annie Le
• “Serious” Suspect In Annie Le Case
• You Can Get In The Wall With A “Butter Knife”
• Lab Building Shuts Down
Sunday, Sept. 13:
• Remains Of Annie Le Believed Found; “A Time For Compassion,” Levin Says
• Annie Le Hunt Extends To Hartford
Saturday, Sept. 12
• Focus In Annie Le Probe Less On “State Lines”
Friday, Sept. 11
• City Cops Join Search For Annie Le; $10,000 Reward Posted

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Comments

Posted by: Not Eff Lee Bailey | September 23, 2009 8:00 PM

Has NHPD taken dna samples from the 180 people working in the lab to eliminate them as suspects.

Posted by: Bugupit | September 23, 2009 11:46 PM

The [ex girlfriend] wants her experience to serve as a warning to young women? How about... if your extremely controlling boyfriend rapes you when you break up, DO report it to the police. That seems to be the take home lesson here.

Posted by: Beansie's Mom | September 24, 2009 6:55 AM

Detective Roman was recently promoted and just left the Fair Haven patrol. He was a good officer and he obviously cared about the community. I will never forget the day my daughter's school had to go into lockdown because some 20something took her parents car w/out permission and they had mistakenly reported her carjacked.

It was scary to see five squad cars with weapons drawn right next to the building that your child is in. The whole incident was over in less than five minutes and once Officer Roman said everything was fine, I could relax.

Detective Roman will be using his brain to solve cases. ...

Posted by: Alex Rhodeen | September 24, 2009 8:59 AM

The photo at the top of the article actually features two new Detectives. Jeff Goodwin is also a recently promoted Detective who has served in neighborhoods across the city. Both are a credit to our Police Department and it's great to see them hard at work. Congratulations to Detectives Roman & Goodwin and thanks for your hard work.

Posted by: Dan | September 24, 2009 9:00 PM

Paul,

When is enough enough?

Yes, murder is horrific and newsworthy. Agreed.

But have you gotten a bit lost in the glare of national-spotlight-tabloid-land?

Does this story really have any significant relationship to the lives of 99% of the people of New Haven and of Connecticut? Do we need all the details and updates? Is this really what makes the New Haven Independent special??

Sure, the murder's got everything that gives Jerry Springer orgasms: gore (splattered blood!); sex (rough stuff, with the ex-girlfriend!); money (Yale!); romance (her wedding day!) and Poe-worthy horror (a body IN a building!)

[I'm sure the made-for-TV movie will make someone a bag or two of cash.]

But this coverage quickly becomes sensationalism - and the blog fills with embarrassing gossip and why-bother speculation.

As you know, what is REALLY killing the people of Connecticut, what poses the REAL danger, is unregulated capitalism run amok; political corruption; deep-seated racism; the money behind the Tea Party cranks; Obama's (apparently) broken promises on health care and global warming; two senseless, endless wars; etc. etc.

THOSE are the real crimes.

THAT's where we need you.

Posted by: Uncle Egg | September 25, 2009 9:44 AM

Dan:

The fact that you carefully read the story and took the time to comment on it justifies the coverage. People are still interested in this case and want to read more about it.

News is not a zero-sum game, especially online. Since waking up this morning, I've read stories on most of the issues you mentioned. It's not like they're being ignored. But they're not New Haven stories, and Annie Le is.

Cops Back At Annie Le’s Lab Building

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