Robbery suspect charged based on DNA evidence

DNA evidence collected from an April robbery in Cape Girardeau matched a local suspect, authorities said.

Ronald D. Heyl, unknown age, of Cape Girardeau, was charged Wednesday with felony first-degree robbery and armed criminal action. He was being held in lieu of a $100,000 bond.

Heyl is accused in the April 4 robbery of Quik Cash, 125 S. Broadview St.

At 9:14 a.m. that day, a man armed with a kitchen knife robbed the business, according to a probable-cause statement filed in the case.

Clothing the suspect was wearing, including jeans, a black zip-up hooded sweat shirt and gloves were found about one block from Quik Cash in a Dumpster behind 2410 William St., the statement read.

Heyl admitted to being in the area but denied any knowledge of the robbery.

DNA collected from the found clothing matched Heyl's. According to the probable cause statement, the DNA gathered would only match 1 in 459.8 quadrillion people in the Caucasian population.

"It's unbelievable what they're able to do with DNA," said Cpl. Joseph Tado, a detective with the Cape Girardeau police department.

The department's use of DNA has increased significantly over the years to the point where Tado believes fingerprinting will eventually become obsolete.