Prosecution Obtains DNA Sample from Wayland Murder Suspect

Prosecutor Lisa McGovern's request Nov. 1 for a buccal (cheek) swab of Nathaniel Fujita went uncontested by the teenager's defense team during a hearing Tuesday at in Woburn.

Fujita is facing charges that he murdered his ex-girlfriend Lauren Astley and dumped her body in a Wayland swamp on July 3. Fujita was arrested on July 5, the day after her body was discovered by a passing bicyclist. A Middlesex County Grand Jury on Aug. 4 indicted Fujita on charges of first-degree murder, two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, and assault and battery.

A spokesperson for the Middlesex County District Attorney's office said Fujita did not volunteer a DNA sample at the time of his arrest, so the Commonwealth had to pursue obtaining the sample through a court hearing.

Fujita appeared in court Nov. 1 shackled at the hands and feet and wearing a blue shirt, tie and khakis. It was his first appearance in .

William Sullivan, lead counsel for Fujita, said his team would not contest the Commonwealth's request for the DNA sample, and the sample was collected immediately after the hearing in a more private area of the courthouse.

In addition to the motion for a DNA sample, McGovern also moved to amend the third count of the indictment against Fujita. The amendment was allowed without opposition. Details of the amendment were not immediately available.