The State Bureau of Investigation has fired agent Duane Deaver, a veteran analyst and agent whose work came under fire in several high profile cases and an independent audit of the state's crime lab.

Deaver was terminated Friday, according to an email from Noelle Talley, spokeswoman for Attorney General Roy Cooper.

Deaver's work - and the practices of the SBI - came under fire in February when Greg Taylor, a Wake County man, was exonerated after 17 years in prison. Deaver withheld results of more sophisticated blood tests that yielded negative results. He reported to prosecutors that Taylor's SUV gave chemical indications for the presence of blood.

An independent audit of the crime lab's serology unit called into question the lab's work in 229 criminal cases.

Deaver performed the work in the five cases an independent auditor deemed most troubling.