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Twelve years after a murder on Cape Cod, the alleged killer was arrested. Prosecutors claim that a sweet potato was used in the commission of the crime. And the killer’s DNA was left behind.

Devarus Hampton, a 40-year-old man, was arrested and arraigned on Monday, February 27th, 2023, for the murder of Todd Lampley.

Lampley was murdered in Hyannis, Massachusetts, back in 2011. The arrest came exactly 12 years after the crime took place. And Hampton pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Police found three shell casings and a sweet potato with a hole in it, at the scene of the murder. 

Prosecutors from the Cape and Islands District Attorney's Office said they found DNA on the sweet potato that was a match for Hampton. "The sweet potato appears to be used as a silencer," said First Assistant District Attorney Jessica Elumba.

DNA found on sweet potato

Interestingly, a cell phone was also found at the murder scene, registered in the name of Marlo Stanfield, a fictional character on HBO's "The Wire." 

Fans of the show may remember an episode in which a sweet potato was used as a silencer, which has sparked numerous internet demonstrations to test whether it worked. Elumba commented on this saying, "It's an interesting fact pattern."

In court, Elumba said there was additional evidence placing Hampton at the scene at the time of the shooting, but she declined to comment on why it took 12 years to make the arrest. 

Prosecutors alleged that the gun used in the crime was fished out of a nearby lake. Hampton was also wearing a GPS monitor from a different crime at the time of the shooting.

Hampton is being held without bail and is scheduled to appear again in court in Barnstable County on April 5th.

This case is a reminder that justice may not come swiftly, but it can come eventually. Thanks to advancements in technology and forensic sciences using DNA, law enforcement agencies are reexamining old cases. And able to solve them with new evidence. 

Victims and their families of cold cases may find some comfort in knowing that those responsible for their loved ones' deaths will ultimately be held accountable.