Former investigator on Genelle Bradford case highlights ‘failures’

Investigators recently identified the remains of Genelle Bradford. The 18-year-old woman went missing from Wilkinsburg in 1999, and her decomposed body was found months later just two blocks from her home.“That was a failure on the police agencies. That was a failure on the crime lab. It was a failure on law enforcement, hands down,” said Doug Yuhouse, the former Wilkinsburg lead investigator on the case.Yuhouse expressed doubt about the circumstances surrounding Bradford’s disappearance and the discovery of her remains.“I don’t believe in coincidence. I have a young girl who goes missing two blocks away; two blocks later, we find the body months later,” Yuhouse said. When asked why he didn’t push harder to identify the remains sooner, Yuhouse said he was restricted by issues within the police department. “From that suspicion, you didn’t feel the need to push harder and say this is Genelle or this may be Genelle?” Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 reporter Yazmin Rodriguez asked.”I was not allowed to push harder at that point,” Yuhouse said.Yuhouse said he was reassigned from being the lead investigator on the case to a patrol unit, which he believes delayed the identification of Bradford’s remains. He said the remains could have been identified within months if he had been allowed to continue his work. Another issue in the investigation was the use of dental records in an attempt to identify Bradford’s remains.“I do know that the dental records that were submitted were the wrong dental records,” Yuhouse said.The dental records submitted belonged to Bradford’s grandmother, Princess Bradford, rather than Genelle Bradford. “The grandmother’s name was Princess Bradford. This young lady was Genelle Princess Bradford,” Yuhouse said. Yuhouse noted that the discrepancy in the dental records should have been apparent. “It wasn’t obvious that it was the dental records of an older woman, and not a 17-year-old woman?” Rodriguez asked.”I can’t comment on that. That’s a forensic issue,” Yuhouse said. Dr. Edward Cheppa, Bradford’s former dentist, provided investigators with dental records for Genelle and her family. He also commented on the mix-up. “Wouldn’t you be able to tell that’s the dental records of an older woman and not a teenager?” Rodriguez asked.”I would,” Cheppa said.”Investigators would?” Rodriguez asked.”I would hope,” Cheppa said. “Forensics?” Rodriguez asked. Cheppa shook his head yes.Although he was ultimately taken off the case, Yuhouse said it stayed with him and that he often thought of Bradford. He said he was relieved to learn that the Allegheny County Police Department was reinvestigating the case.”It makes me feel good. I have some closure for myself. Part of me was invested in it,” Yuhouse said.The death of Bradford has been ruled a homicide. At a news conference earlier this week, a sergeant with the Allegheny County Police Department said an investigation is continuing.

WILKINSBURG, Pa. —

Investigators recently identified the remains of Genelle Bradford. The 18-year-old woman went missing from Wilkinsburg in 1999, and her decomposed body was found months later just two blocks from her home.

“That was a failure on the police agencies. That was a failure on the crime lab. It was a failure on law enforcement, hands down,” said Doug Yuhouse, the former Wilkinsburg lead investigator on the case.

Yuhouse expressed doubt about the circumstances surrounding Bradford’s disappearance and the discovery of her remains.

“I don’t believe in coincidence. I have a young girl who goes missing two blocks away; two blocks later, we find the body months later,” Yuhouse said.

When asked why he didn’t push harder to identify the remains sooner, Yuhouse said he was restricted by issues within the police department.

“From that suspicion, you didn’t feel the need to push harder and say this is Genelle or this may be Genelle?” Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 reporter Yazmin Rodriguez asked.

“I was not allowed to push harder at that point,” Yuhouse said.

Yuhouse said he was reassigned from being the lead investigator on the case to a patrol unit, which he believes delayed the identification of Bradford’s remains. He said the remains could have been identified within months if he had been allowed to continue his work.

Another issue in the investigation was the use of dental records in an attempt to identify Bradford’s remains.

“I do know that the dental records that were submitted were the wrong dental records,” Yuhouse said.

The dental records submitted belonged to Bradford’s grandmother, Princess Bradford, rather than Genelle Bradford.

“The grandmother’s name was Princess Bradford. This young lady was Genelle Princess Bradford,” Yuhouse said.

Yuhouse noted that the discrepancy in the dental records should have been apparent.

“It wasn’t obvious that it was the dental records of an older woman, and not a 17-year-old woman?” Rodriguez asked.

“I can’t comment on that. That’s a forensic issue,” Yuhouse said.

Dr. Edward Cheppa, Bradford’s former dentist, provided investigators with dental records for Genelle and her family. He also commented on the mix-up.

“Wouldn’t you be able to tell that’s the dental records of an older woman and not a teenager?” Rodriguez asked.

“I would,” Cheppa said.

“Investigators would?” Rodriguez asked.

“I would hope,” Cheppa said.

“Forensics?” Rodriguez asked. Cheppa shook his head yes.

Although he was ultimately taken off the case, Yuhouse said it stayed with him and that he often thought of Bradford. He said he was relieved to learn that the Allegheny County Police Department was reinvestigating the case.

“It makes me feel good. I have some closure for myself. Part of me was invested in it,” Yuhouse said.

The death of Bradford has been ruled a homicide. At a news conference earlier this week, a sergeant with the Allegheny County Police Department said an investigation is continuing.