Police use DNA tests to trace ‘vulgar’ notes

BY BERNIE HORNICK
The Tribune-Democrat

CRESSON December 22, 2008 11:21 pm

— A Cresson-area mom is facing harassment charges after state police said she wrote “very vulgar’’ letters to a 16-year-old girl for more than two years, The Tribune-Democrat has learned.
“She was saying, ‘You’re this,’ ‘You’re that,’ ’’ Trooper John Haydu said. “Using profanity.’’
Haydu said he was going to file 15 harassment counts against Barbara Cottrill, 41, of Sumner Street in Sankertown – perhaps as early as Monday.
“She’s also going to be responsible for DNA lab fees, which are going to be astronomical,” perhaps topping $10,000, Haydu said Monday from the Ebensburg barracks.
The extensive state police investigation included eight DNA tests.
Cottrill has a daughter who has been friends with the victim since grade school.
Haydu couldn’t point to one incident that might have precipitated the letter writing.
A message left on Cottrill’s answering machine was not immediately returned.
The letters began in November 2006 and the last one arrived in the mail in October, police said. The family became so concerned that at one point they rented a post-office box so the girl would not accidentally come upon another letter.
“Initially, the victim came up with five names of who could be sending the letters,” Haydu said. “All of them were girls who went to school with her.”
Those five girls – all students in the Penn Cambria School District – voluntarily took DNA tests, and all were excluded.
The victim then came up with two more names.
Those two also gave DNA samples, and both were excluded. But one child’s DNA had consistencies to DNA on the envelope. Since the child had no siblings, and since the DNA indicated a female, troopers turned their attention to the girl’s mother.
“When confronted with the evidence, she (Cottrill) confessed,” Haydu said.
The schoolgirl was not threatened physically.
“The victim doesn’t seem to be affected,” the trooper said. “She’s been strong through this. Thank God for that.”
However, the victim’s mother was “highly upset,” Haydu said.