BLAIRSVILLE, Pa. -- A former Pennsylvania state trooper is appealing his conviction in the stabbing death of a Blairsville dentist.

Defense attorneys are filing an appeal on behalf of Kevin Foley, who is serving a life sentence for the stabbing death of John Yelenic. At the time of the murder, Foley was living with Yelenic’s estranged wife.

Foley’s defense team said the methods used to match DNA found under the victim's fingernails to Foley is "junk science.

His attorneys claim the DNA sample was contaminated by being stored in a unrefrigerated locker for a year before the tests were performed.