Bomb’s DNA sample yields no match to suspect’s widow

An analysis of DNA obtained from pieces of the detonated Boston Marathon explosives found no matches to the widow of dead suspect, Tamerlan Tsarnaev, or to him or his brother, who has been charged, a law enforcement official said Friday.

The official, who is not authorized to comment publicly, said the source of the DNA is “unknown,’’ adding that it could belong to any one of a number of people, from the point of the bomb-component’s manufacture and distribution to sale.

Authorities had taken a sample of DNA from Tsarnaev’s widow, Katherine Russell Tsarnaeva, earlier in the week as investigators sought to learn more about the suspected bomber’s activities during the time leading to the April 15 attacks and the days immediately following.

The explosions near the finish line of the famed race killed three people and injured more than 260.

On Thursday, a law enforcement official said investigators are seeking Russell’s cooperation in learning more about Tsarnaev’s activities and communications leading up to the attacks.

Investigators have been specifically interested in a telephone call Tsarnaev made to her on April 18, three days after the bombings, after the FBI first circulated photographs of Tsarnaev and his 19-year-old brother, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, as suspects. The content of the phone conversation between the two has not been disclosed.

Tamerlan died and Dzhokhar was injured during a shootout with police that same evening. Dzhokhar has been charged in connection with the bombings and is being held at a prison medical center.

Russell, a physician’s daughter, met Tamerlan at Suffolk University, according to her lawyer. She converted to Islam and married him in 2010.

Russell’s attorney, Amato DeLuca, said in a written statement Wednesday that his client “will continue to meet with law enforcement, as she has done for many hours over the past week, and provide as much assistance to the investigation as she can.”

Meanwhile, a spokesman for the Justice Department issued a statement Friday telling residents of Dartmouth, Mass., that there would be searches at several locations in connection with the investigation into the marathon bombings.

“Residents should be advised that there is no threat to public safety.” said spokeswoman Christina DiIorio-Sterling.

Dzhokhar Tsarnaev had a dorm room at the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth. Three of his friends have been charged in connection with the alleged removal of evidence from the room on the night that the brothers’ photographs were released by the FBI.

In a related development, the funeral director of a mortuary familiar with Muslim services confirmed Friday that it will handle funeral arrangements for Tamerlan Tsarnaev.

Peter Stefan, owner of Graham Putnam and Mahoney Funeral Parlors in Worcester, could not confirm whether he has possession of the body.

Stefan said everybody deserves a dignified burial service no matter the circumstances of their death and he is prepared for protests. He added that arrangements have yet to be worked out.

Several protesters showed up outside a North Attleborough funeral home Thursday night where Tsarnaev’s body was taken following its release by the state medical examiner.

Tsarnaev’s remains were released at 5:30 p.m. Thursday by the Massachusetts Office of the Chief Medical Examiner to the funeral service retained by Tsarnaev’s family, spokesman Terrel Harris said.

The medical examiner’s office does not make public the name of the family member who claimed the body or the funeral home that is handling the remains, he said.

Katherine Russell’s attorney issued a statement earlier this week saying she would relinquish to his family her rights to his remains.

Also Friday, the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth said it has asked U.S. Department of Education officials for guidance in releasing student records for Dzhokhar Tsarnaev and three 19-year-old friends accused of disposing of evidence and lying to investigators after they suspected Tsarnaev was involved in the bombings.

Federal law bars the release of such records unless the student consents, but UMass-Dartmouth Chancellor Divina Grosman asked the Education Department to make an exception.

Azamat Tazhayakov and Dias Kadyrbayev, both from Kazakhstan and in the U.S. on student visas, and Robel Phillipos, 19, of Cambridge, were charged Wednesday. The university said that it had suspended Tazhayakov, pending the outcome of the criminal charges, and that Kadyrbayev and Phillipos were not currently enrolled.

“The University has fully cooperated with the FBI and other law enforcement officials, and has provided every document and resource necessary to assist in their investigation,” the statement said.

“The Boston Marathon tragedy of April 15 has had a profound impact on this campus, and the sense of loss remains with us,” Grossman said. “The University has been challenged by these events and has demonstrated its ability to keep our community safe and focused on teaching and learning under the most difficult circumstances.”

Grossman also said a task force would review student financial and academic requirements, public safety and international policies.

The Department of Homeland Security has ordered border agents to verify that all international students have valid U.S. student visas, according to an internal memorandum obtained Friday by the Associated Press.

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