In one case, from 1995, gasoline was reported after first being orally reported negative. It was not gasoline at all but a trace quantity of MPD in a flooded basement. The data did not get a thorough review until last fall.

In the second case, also from 1995, kerosene was reported in a bedroom after first reporting negative. There was an innocent reason for kerosene in the living room, where there had been a portable heater. There was no innocent reason for kerosene in the bedroom. The original negative report was discovered years after the wrongful conviction during the appeals process.

In the last case (reported above), trace levels of toluene and acetone were mistakenly equated with lacquer thinner. Lacquer thinner was the field investigator's hypothesis as to the identity of the alleged accelerant. An undated in-house review of the case, which was critical of the reported interpretation (which was testified to) suddenly appeared in the lab file and was revealed last fall.