Richard J. Schmidt was an American former physician who was convicted by a Louisiana court in 1998 of attempted second degree murder for injecting his mistress, Janice Trahan, with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The case marked the first time in forensic history that viral RNA was used to prove a link between two people with HIV or acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) in a criminal trial.[1]
In 1994, Schmidt used a sample of blood taken from one of his HIV-positive patients to inject into his lover and former colleague, Janice Trahan, infecting her with HIV. Six months later, Trahan, a nurse, was diagnosed with HIV. Convinced that Schmidt had infected her after a suspiciously fleeting late-night visit to give her a "vitamin B" injection,[2] Trahan had her ex-husband and former sexual partners tested. All were shown to be negative for HIV—results which led Lafayette, Louisiana police to further investigate her claims.[3]
HIV is a fairly fragile RNA virus, and lasts for only a few hours outside the human body. Detectives examining hospital records found that Schmidt had taken blood from one patient that night, but had never sent the blood to the lab.[4] The absence of laboratory testing identification references against this patient's name led to police visiting the man who readily disclosed that he had AIDS and that he had been called in for a blood test by Schmidt on the evening in question. The forensic challenge at that point was to match the RNA from the virus itself from the patient to the victim, a process known as strain analysis that had never been attempted before. HIV RNA was collected from the victim, from the putative patient source, and from thirty-two other unrelated, HIV-positive individuals living in the same metropolitan area. Scientists concluded that of all the samples they tested, the two viruses' RNA from the victim and the patient matched almost exactly, even with HIV's potential to mutate very rapidly.[5]
It was further disclosed at trial that the victim had also acquired hepatitis C around the same time.[6] Evidence from Schmidt's patient records showed that a blood sample was taken from a patient with hepatitis C the day before the HIV-infected sample was taken. The hepatitis C sample was similarly not matched with any laboratory references – these two were the only such omissions found in Schmidt's patient records.
In 1998, Schmidt was sentenced to 50 years in prison for attempted second degree murder.[7]
In 2015, after 17 years served of his 50-year sentence, Schmidt was unanimously denied parole by the three-member State Board at a June hearing in Baton Rouge.[6]
On March, 3, 2023, the Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections confirmed that Schmidt had died at a Baton Rouge hospital in Department of Corrections custody on February 12. Schmidt was 74.[8]
In media
edit- This case was shown on the television series Forensic Files in the ninth episode of its eighth season, entitled "Shot of Vengeance".[9][10]
References
edit- ^ Metzker, Michael L.; Mindell, David P; Liu, Xiao-Mei; Ptak, Roger G.; Gibbs, Richard A.; Hillis, David M (October 29, 2002). "Molecular evidence of HIV-1 transmission in a criminal case". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 99 (22): 14292–14297. Bibcode:2002PNAS...9914292M. doi:10.1073/pnas.222522599. PMC 137877. PMID 12388776.
- ^ "Scientists Use Virus to Trace Assault Suspect". ABC News. 7 January 2006. Retrieved 15 August 2017.
- ^ Mindell, David (29 October 2002). "Molecular evidence of HIV-1 transmission in a criminal case". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 99 (22): 14292–14297. Bibcode:2002PNAS...9914292M. doi:10.1073/pnas.222522599. PMC 137877. PMID 12388776.
- ^ Lambert, Pam (24 May 1999). "Act of Revenge – Vol. 51 No. 19". PEOPLE.com. Time Inc. Retrieved 15 August 2017.
- ^ Vogel, Gretchen (28 October 1998). "RNA Strain Analysis Debuts in Murder Trial". Science | AAAS. AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE. Retrieved 15 August 2017.
- ^ a b Burgess, Richard (15 June 2015). "State board denies parole to former Lafayette doctor convicted of injecting mistress with AIDS, hepatitis C". The Acadian Advocate. Archived from the original on 24 June 2018. Retrieved 15 August 2017.
- ^ Dalke, Kate (2003-01-24). "In court, scientists map a murder weapon". Genome News Network. Retrieved 2016-11-16.
- ^ "Dr. Richard Smidt has died". KATC. 22 March 2023. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
- ^ Aquillano, Kate (14 March 2016). "'Forensic Files' follow-up: Doc who injected ex with HIV denied parole". HLNtv.com. Retrieved 15 August 2017.
- ^ ""Forensic Files" Shot of Vengeance (TV Episode 2003)". imdb.com. 25 June 2003. Retrieved 15 August 2017.