Appeals Court Upholds Tulsa County's Use of Unprecedented DNA Testing

The case is important because it involves a type of DNA testing that had never been considered in Oklahoma, and will likely pave the way for future cases.

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

An Oklahoma inmate will stay behind bars after the Court of Criminal Appeals upheld his conviction for the 2017 random stabbing of a woman outside of Hillcrest Medical Center. The case is significant because it involves the use of probabilistic genotyping, a relatively newer DNA testing method that was key evidence in the case despite returning inconclusive results using standard testing methods.

Why it matters

This case is important because it establishes the use of probabilistic genotyping, a more advanced DNA testing method, in Oklahoma courts. The technique can help interpret complex, 'mixed' DNA samples that standard methods cannot, potentially leading to more convictions in cases with limited physical evidence.

The details

Patrick Napoleon was sentenced to 65 years in prison for the 2017 stabbing. Witnesses saw Napoleon attack the victim as she was returning to the hospital from a nearby QuikTrip. While standard DNA testing on evidence like the sock and pants found at the scene was inconclusive, probabilistic genotyping results showed the sock was roughly 32 trillion times more likely to be Napoleon's, and the pants were 1.18 quadrillion times more likely. Napoleon appealed, but the Court of Criminal Appeals ultimately upheld the conviction and the use of the new testing method.

  • In 2017, Patrick Napoleon stabbed a woman outside Hillcrest Medical Center in Tulsa.
  • In 2025, the Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed Napoleon's conviction and the use of probabilistic genotyping DNA testing.

The players

Patrick Napoleon

An Oklahoma inmate sentenced to 65 years in prison for the 2017 random stabbing of a woman outside of Hillcrest Medical Center.

John Tjeerdsma

Tulsa County Assistant District Attorney who prosecuted the case against Patrick Napoleon.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“He had a sock over his arm and a knife in his hand. According to testimony, had she not been stabbed at the hospital, she wouldn't have made it.”

— John Tjeerdsma, Tulsa County Assistant District Attorney (kjrh.com)

“That kind of stranger danger is something we rarely see. I wanted to do right by her [the victim]. I wanted to make sure the jury had all the evidence they could consider.”

— John Tjeerdsma, Tulsa County Assistant District Attorney (kjrh.com)

What’s next

The use of probabilistic genotyping in this case is expected to pave the way for more widespread adoption of the DNA testing method in Oklahoma courts.

The takeaway

This case highlights the importance of advanced forensic techniques like probabilistic genotyping in solving complex criminal cases, even when standard DNA testing methods prove inconclusive. The ruling establishes a legal precedent for the use of this newer technology in Oklahoma, which could lead to more convictions in the future.