Thousands of murder cases in the United States stay unsolved every year. The current number of unsolved cases stands at over 300,000 cold cases that remain on record. The introduction of forensic genetic genealogy presents the potential to transform this dire situation.
Investigators used genetic genealogy to catch Joseph DeAngelo (the Golden State Killer) in 2018, marking when many people learned about this investigative technique. The investigator obtained a confession from him about his crimes of murdering 13 people and assaulting approximately 50 women throughout California during the 1970s and 1980s.
The application of genetic genealogy in criminal investigations has experienced continuous expansion since its introduction. Police arrested the man accused of raping and murdering Rachel Morin, a 37-year-old mother of five whose body was discovered near a Maryland running trail in 2023 because of findings from this past year's investigation.
The killer’s DNA from Morin’s case matched another unsolved crime in Los Angeles but investigators were unable to identify who the suspect was.
The Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) has served law enforcement needs for many years. The FBI initiated CODIS during the 1990s to enable law enforcement to match DNA samples from crime scenes against profiles already stored in their database.
DNA features distinctive markers that function as a genetic fingerprint. The CODIS database reviews only 20 genetic markers and cases without database matches tend to remain unresolved.
Violent offenses in which suspects remain unidentified fail to reach resolution.
The solution: forensic genetic genealogy.
While forensic genetic genealogy depends on detective work and DNA samples like CODIS it examines hundreds of thousands of genetic markers instead of 20. This procedure produces results that show genetic connections between the suspect and other people. Police can track back to the origin of crime scene DNA through sufficient genetic matches.
The majority of police departments lack the necessary resources to carry out forensic genetic genealogy independently. For Morin's case investigators handed the DNA evidence to Othram which specializes in solving both modern and historical unsolved cases. Investigators working with genetic genealogy developed new clues which led to the arrest and subsequent conviction of Victor Antonio Martinez-Hernandez on murder and rape charges.
The investigative technique of genetic genealogy has resolved thousands of unsolved cases from the past.
The existence of this technology today provides us with reason for optimism.Solving historical crimes provides families with closure while proactive identification of serial offenders prevents future offenses.
Expanded application of forensic genetic genealogy infrastructure would achieve more than just convicting criminals. Solving cases quickly reduces both time and financial resources that would otherwise be spent following dead-end leads or conducting lengthy investigations.
The lack of sufficient funding at present stops numerous investigators from fully utilizing genetic genealogy tools.
A solution requires increased federal support. The Department of Justice provides grant funding to address DNA backlog issues. But more help is required. The upcoming federal budget must prioritize the transformative potential of genetic genealogy applications. Lawmakers must also undertake a reassessment of how current resources are allocated. Many cutting-edge technologies produce equal or better outcomes while costing much less.
Our current technology enables us to solve crimes and safeguard innocent people. The political commitment to justice remains essential for effective implementation.