Duguay case marked the world’s first use of non-human DNA in a criminal trial; while the forensic science of testing cat and dog hairs had been firmly established and studied, it was an unknown science up until that point. Convicted of second-degree murder, Beamish was sentenced to 18 years-to-life in prison on 19 July 1996, serving the life sentence in an Ontario prison. He appealed his conviction in 1998 and 1999, being rejected both times. His request for parole in 2013 was also denied. Media In an episode entitled "Purr-fect Match," Forensic Files outlined this story on February 12, 2002 (Episode 7 of Season 7). It was also told on The New Detectives on December 10, 2002, in episode 3 of season 8, "Material Witness." See also List of solved missing person cases References External links Profile of Marilyn Menotti-Raymond, who developed cat DNA testing in response to the Snowball case (archived) R. v. Beamish, 1999 CanLII 4537 (PE SCAD) 1990s missing person cases 1994 in Prince Edward Island 1994 murders in Canada Deaths by person in Canada Formerly missing people History of forensic science History of criminal justice History of British Columbia Kidnapped Canadian people Missing person cases in Canada Murder in Prince Edward Island Uxoricides Violence against women in Canada Women in British Columbia