Melba Ketchum Has a History of Failing to Deliver DNA Results

Dr. Melba Ketchum's DNA Diagnostics Better Business rating is an "F"

Disappointed by the delay in the Bigfoot DNA results? Get in line. A Post by Michael Merchant, of the Team Tazer Bigfoot Fanpage, linked to the Better Business Bureau® rating for Dr. Melba Ketchum's business DNA Diagnostics, Inc. Unfortunately on a scale from A-F, Melba's company gets an F. Why? Failure to deliver DNA Results. In these cases it is horse, cat and dog DNA results.

Under the additional complaint information header on the BBB page was this paragraph.

DNA Diagnostics has developed a pattern of complaints and has failed to correct the underlying reasons for complaints. Consumers claim have paid for services that have not been delivered or have not been delivered within a reasonable time. Further, they have not received a refund when services were not provided.

To be fair, we do not know the percentage of unhappy DNA Diagnostics consumers, we do know there have been 19 complaints submitted to the BBB and 18 are due to "delivery issues". 7 of the complaints were resolved with the aid of BBB, 8 did not get resolved, 3 have not even been responded to by DNA Diagnostics and 1 was determined as a good faith effort to resolve. Click the following link to read the entire details of every BBB DNA Diagnostic Complaint.

Here is a brief of each of the 19 complaints

1. 04/19/2011 - Extremely poor custstomer service and communication. [Resolved]
2. 09/01/2010 - Missing Feline DNA results. Pre-Paid. No results   [Resolved]
3. 08/23/2010 -  I ordered 5 tests from Catgenes (Dna Diagnostics) and none of them were ever completed.   [Resolved]
4. 08/04/2010 - Service not done. I purchased testing and sent in samples, which were received, and never got results.  [Resolved]
5. 07/23/2010 -  I ordered DNA tests to be completed in the beginning of March, and have not recieved my results or had any phone calls/emails returned.  [Resolved]
6. 04/14/2010 - I paid for a service (feline DNA testing) and never received the results.  [Resolved]
7. 03/12/2010 - Provided a sample to be worked, they have not worked it and will not provide a refund or assistance.  [Resolved]
8. 12/16/2010 - I submitted hair for a DNA test with Shelterwood Lab. almost a month ago and they have cashed my check but they have not returned calls or emails.  [UNResolved]
9. 09/03/2010 - I ordered $320 worth of DNA tests in Dec., 2009. Results were promised in 3 weeks. In March, 2010: received incorrect results.  [UNResolved]
10. 08/20/2010 - I sent samples to be analyzed & included full payment. Have received no results and almost no response to my inquiries over the past 12 months.  [UNResolved]
11. 08/02/2010 - I submitted a request for an equine paternal test at the end of March 2010. It is now July 1, 2010. I still have not recieved test restults. [UNResolved]
12. 08/02/2010 - Paid for a service in Feb 2010, and have not received test results.  [UNResolved]
13. 07/30/2010 - Sent DNA in on two horses last week of March. Still no report on these. Have called numorus times . No responce.  [UNResolved]
14. 05/17/2010 - I paid for services they did not give me.  [UNResolved]
15. 05/13/2010 - For 2 1/2 months have been told at least 10 times I would recieve results of DNA test in 1 -3 days.I ask for a refund today and they say no refunds.  [UNResolved]
16. 11/01/2010 - Sent samples with full payment in April 2010. I have recieved no results to date and have tried repeatedly to contact them for a refund. [Biz did not Respond]
17. 06/25/2010 - Sent dog DNA in for testing 1/23/10 no results...  [Biz did not Respond]
18. 07/20/2010 - Delivery Issues  [Biz did not Respond]
19. 03/31/2010 - They have not provided me the diagnostic service as promised from June of 2009. [BBB Determined Biz made good faith effort]

We are not blind to the irony of the complaints. Most of them categorized as failing to deliver DNA results on time. Bigfooters have been waiting for Melba's DNA test results for a while too.

Again to be fair, some of the complications arose when Cat Fanciers Association.(CFA) stopped using DNA Diagnostics and continued to test with another DNA testing contractor. Why CFA decided to go with a different lab is unknown to us.

To put this in some further context. According to the BBB there are 19 other businesses in the BBB category of  "Laboratories - Medical" serving the Tyler & Longview TX area. None of them has had complaints within the last 36 months.

Another independent source also expressed frustration with Dr. Melba Ketchum. A company called International Genetics has this on their page.

April thru July 2008     Melba Ketchum became very tardy in extracting PinPoint’s DNA samples. This was the first period of delays that caused severe customer service problems. We then came to an agreement with Texas A&M to handle this process as well as the PID testing.

April 2009     The 2nd lawsuit was filed and this was the final straw between Dr. Ketchum and InGen. Due to Dr. Ketchum’s failure to properly research certain tests that are allegedly protected by patent, InGen was drawn into another lawsuit which eventually led to the early termination of the contract between InGen and Texas A&M. InGen severed its relationship with Dr. Ketchum which was the best thing that has come from that suit.

We attempted to reach out to Dr. Melba Ketchum for a response regarding the BBB rating and have not yet heard back from Dr. Ketchum. If she responds we will update this post.

We truly hope for the best, there is a good portion of people who sent samples to Ketchum that have good standing in the community. We would love to have all of our concerns proven to be baseless.

A final thought: when the press release comes out before the evidence, that press release might as well be a red flag.

See Bigfoot Legend Peter Byrne at 2012 Ohio Bigfoot Conference

Bigfoot research legend Peter Byrne will be a
special guest at the Ohio Bigfoot Conference

The ManfieldNewsJournal.com reminds us that one of the original four horsemen of Sasquatchery, Peter Byrne, will be a special guest this coming Sunday at the Ohio Bigfoot Conference. You can buy tickets at the door.

Read the article below and then the details of the event after the article.

CAMBRIDGE -- Peter Byrne -- a legendary adventurer, big game guide turned conservationist and seeker of bigfoot -- will be the special guest at the Ohio Bigfoot Conference at 1 p.m. Sunday at the Pritchard Laughlin Civic Center.

Byrne, who served for the British in World War II, made India his home for decades and developed an interest in the yeti. This interest culminated in a multi-year expedition in the Himalayas financed by Texas oil baron Tom Slick, who eventually convinced Byrne to organize an expedition to seek the sasquatch in the Pacific Northwest.

Byrne is founder of the International Wildlife Conservation Society. Other speakers at the event will include wildlife biologist John Bindernagel, surveillance and technology expert Bill Dranginis, and Believe It Tour sponsor Mike Esordi.
Tickets are available at the door for $10 ($4 children 12 and under). Civic center doors will open at 11 a.m.

Bigfoot related merchandise will be for sale and attendees will be entered for door prize drawings.

About The Event

Featured Speakers and Appearances Confirmed as of 3/06/2012

Mr. Peter Byrne - Special Guest

Dr. John Bindernagel - Speaker

A Special Mystery Keynote Speaker

Mike Esordi - Speaker

Bill Dranginis - Speaker

Date: April 29, 2012

Time: 1:00 p.m. to about 6:00 p.m. - Doors will open at 11 a.m..

Location: Prichard Lauglin Civic Center, Cambridge, OhioGeneral Admission Tickets (Up to 400 tickets available at the door) - $10 for adults,  $4 for children age 12 and under.

VIP Packages are limited to a few possible non-pays, you can be added to a waiting list.

An educational gathering of everyone from the devoted bigfoot researcher, to the novice and even the mildly curious. Hear from established national and local speakers, share ideas with those interested in the enigma of bigfoot, see old friends and make new ones,  or learn how to become involved in a family friendly, healthy outdoor hobby. There will be a vendor area for books, clothes and everything bigfoot.

With the recent explosion of bigfoot in pop culture, we will be setting aside time and a special seminar specifically for those that are new to the field and want to learn more.

On Saturday, 4/28/2012 a Bigfoot Festival will be held.  There are more details on the Activities and Schedule page.

 

History

 For over 20 years, Don Keating has been organizing and hosting a bigfoot conference in an area he has named the Sasquatch Triangle. It has grown to be the marquee bigfoot related event east of the Mississippi, boasting attendance in excess of 400 enthusiasts and consistent praise from those in attendance. The 2012 edition of the Ohio Bigfoot Conference is a transitional year as he entrusts this event to other respected and long-time Ohio bigfooters who have committed to continue the tradition of a quality bigfoot focused conference in the Sasquatch Triangle.  The Ohio Bigfoot Organization (OBO), led by Marc DeWerth,  is the host group for the conference.

Tri-State Bigfoot Changes Leadership

Keating holds a plaster cast of a large footprint. 

“If I get a report (of Bigfoot activity) I will investigate it,” Keating said, but I will not devote as much time as I have in the past.”

At the TimesReporter.com they announce the Tri-State Bigfoot changing of the guard; from Don Keating to Marc A. DeWerth of the Ohio Bigfoot Organization. Don Keating was the organizer of the Ohio Bigfoot Conferences and in 2009 allowed an entertainer who claimed to be a TV producer and an expert on the New Zealand variety of Bigfoot to speak on those fake credentials. The fake presenter even claimed to own the world’s largest feces analyzing machine. You can read the details at our previous post Hart-less.

You can read the complete TimesReporter article below.

Search for Bigfoot gets a new leader

By Joe Mizer

TimesReporter.com staff report

Posted Apr 25, 2012 @ 11:54 PM

CAMBRIDGE —

After investigating the Bigfoot phenomenon for more than three decades, Newcomerstown native Don Keating is turning over leadership of the Tri-State Bigfoot Study Group to his hand-chosen successor.

While Keating is not totally withdrawing from the search for Bigfoot, he wants to devote more time to his interest in meteorology and weather, having founded “Ohio Weather” and ohiowx.com in late 2010.

Keating, who left Newcomerstown in 2006 and now resides in Cambridge, intends to be a big part of Sunday’s “Ohio Bigfoot Conference 2012” in Cambridge.

He also plans to hold Bigfoot study group meetings in August, October and December.

“If I get a report (of Bigfoot activity) I will investigate it,” Keating said, but I will not devote as much time as I have in the past.”

The 49-year-old has found what he calls “interesting artifacts in the ground.” Although he knows some to be fake, others tracks appear to be real.

After more than 30 years of trying, Keating has never been able to obtain any body parts that scientifically can be proven as being from a Bigfoot, also known as a Sasquatch.

“We just don’t have the scientific evidence,” he said.

Keating began his interest in Bigfoot in 1980 by writing an article on the topic of an alleged sighting near Newcomerstown. He officially started investigating in July 1984, and he’s been holding conferences since March 1989.

Keating is turning over most of the group’s reins to Bigfoot researcher Marc A. DeWerth of the Ohio Bigfoot Organization.

DeWerth said Keating asked him last fall to be his successor, “which after some thinking and family discussion, I gladly accepted.”

He credits Keating with growing the “Annual Bigfoot Conference” into the largest event of its kind anywhere in the world.

The Ohio Bigfoot Organization, DeWerth said, is dedicated to continuing the conference every spring for years to come. Members are hoping to grow it to a three-day event,  Friday through Sunday.

SRC: TimesReporter