The DNA Test Results for the Knife Found Buried at O.J. Simpson's Estate Are In

Earlier this month, TMZ reported a knife that could be evidence in the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman was found buried at O.J. Simpson's estate "years ago" and kept hidden by an LAPD officer. Police who saw the knife said residue was possibly on it, but they couldn't know for sure without testing. Now, we have those test results.

TMZ (again) has the scoop. According to the online tabloid, no DNA was found on the buried knife. However, it doesn't 100 percent confirm that the blade was never used in a crime. All this means is the knife was buried in soil for so long that it degraded any chance of a "meaningful" DNA match. (Simpson's alleged chant, "If the knife is rusted, I can't be busted!" has even more of an omen now.)

DNA can have a shelf-life of up to a million years (theoretically), according to Slate. Hell, DNA was used to identify the body of King Richard III when remains of him were found under an England parking lot in 2013. What matters is the preservation of the DNA. Because the knife was buried in soil and no doubt exposed to natural elements like water, it shortened its life. Essentially, the knife doesn't do anything to help (or hinder) the truth behind Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman's murder.

What does hinder it, though, is a report from NBC that says this particular knife is inconsistent with the killings of Brown and Goldman. Plus, NBC reports the knife doesn't appear buried long enough to match the time frame of the 1994 killings.

The bottom line? This knife doesn't mean much. Maybe.

UPDATE: MARCH 16, 2016 AT 11:07 A.M. EST: The Los Angeles Police Department refutes the report from TMZ saying no DNA was found on the buried knife. LAPD Officer Jane Kim tells USA Today the knife is still being tested, and they won't know the results for at least another week. TMZ, however, stands by its story.