City police chemist faces investigation

The FBI is checking the laboratory work of an Oklahoma City police chemist to determine whether anyone may have been wrongfully convicted based on her scientific conclusions.

The FBI is testing evidence from the Oklahoma City police lab in cases where an individual's guilt was primarily determined by the scientific analysis, prosecutors confirmed Thursday.

Oklahoma City police said a chemist in the police department's lab was under a "personnel investigation" but would not identify her.

The Oklahoman learned that the police chemist is Joyce Gilchrist, who has been placed on administrative leave.

Gilchrist was sharply criticized by U.S. District Judge Ralph Thompson in 1999 for her work in a murder case.

Thompson accused her of giving "untrue" and "misleading" testimony. He noted that she was repeatedly criticized by the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals for such things as testifying "to a conclusion which was not scientifically supported."

Police Chief M.T. Berry confirmed Thursday he had asked the FBI for its assistance. The focus of the investigation "concerns evidence processing and analysis," Berry said in a news release.

Berry called the investigation "administrative in nature" but declined additional comment. FBI spokesman Gary Johnson would not comment.

John Jacobsen, first assistant district attorney in Oklahoma County, confirmed Thursday that the FBI briefed Oklahoma County prosecutors two days ago about the inquiry.

"There has been no indication any part of their investigation is criminal in nature," Jacobsen said. "There has been no evidence suggested to us by the FBI that results have been altered or falsified."

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