DA: Evidence links suspect to stabbing
Fayette County prosecutors filed court documents Wednesday claiming that DNA evidence taken from blood on the clothes of accused killer Nathaniel Stites matches that of Christopher Kiss, the man he is accused of stabbing 42 times. The document, filed by First Trial Assistant District Attorney Joseph M. George Jr., indicates the odds of having a false match to another white person are 1 in 12 quadrillion. Both Kiss and Stites are white.
Stites, 25, of Uniontown, allegedly stabbed Kiss to death at Kiss’ Coolspring Street home around 3 a.m. Oct. 19, 2001. Uniontown police allege that after Stites stabbed Kiss, he threatened to kill other people who were in the home at the time, including Kiss’ girlfriend.
Documentation of the match came three months after Stites lost a bid to have his confession to police thrown out.
His defense attorney claimed Stites was under the influence of alcohol and drugs and could not have knowingly waived his right to remain silent. A judge, however, believed police who testified that Stites was cognizant of what was going on.
Stites also recently declined to accept a first-degree murder plea and could stand trial as early as next month.