Genetic genealogy cracking the code on cold cases

Summary

Genetic genealogy has emerged as a groundbreaking technology in solving cold cases. FOX 9 investigator Nathan O'Neill explores how this tool, typically used for building family trees, is now playing a crucial role in identifying victims and catching perpetrators. Despite its success, the technology raises ethical questions about privacy and usage, particularly in Minnesota, where law enforcement has used it in over 20 cases. With no current standards or regulations in place, experts debate the implications of this powerful but controversial tool.

Highlights

• Genetic genealogy helps crack cold cases by using DNA from public databases 🧬
• It's been effective in solving unidentified person cases and homicides in Minnesota ⚖️
• Privacy and ethical concerns are hot topics in this new investigative realm 🤔
• In one case, a napkin led to a murder conviction after 25 years! 🍽️
• Experts call for clear regulations as the usage of this tech becomes more common 📜

Key Takeaways

• Genetic genealogy is a game-changer for solving cold cases 🤔
• Solving mysteries with family trees and DNA magic! 🧬🔍
• Ethical debates are heating up with privacy concerns 😮
• In Minnesota, this tech is solving decade-old mysteries 🕵️‍♂️
• No regulations yet, but the technology is making waves 💥

Overview

Imagine solving decades-old mysteries with just a cheek swab! That's the power of genetic genealogy – a fascinating technology making waves in the realm of criminal investigations. It uses DNA from public databases to reverse-engineer family trees, helping to identify victims and catch those elusive criminals.

In Minnesota, this technology has illuminated answers in previously unsolvable cases. Highlights include the identification of cold cases like the 1993 murder of Jeannie Childs, cracked open with the help of a discarded napkin! Such instances mark the triumph of genetic genealogy but also stir the pot for ethical considerations.

Despite the groundbreaking successes, ethical and privacy debates are in full swing. There are no formalized standards yet, prompting experts to call for regulation, especially as this tech begins to cross over into active case territory. The delicate balance between solving crimes and respecting privacy remains a contentious issue.

Chapters

• 00:00 - 00:30: Introduction to Genetic Genealogy This chapter introduces the concept of genetic genealogy, highlighting its dual role in both personal family history research through home DNA kits and its application in solving cold cases. It notes the emergence of this technology in Minnesota, raising important questions about its implications.
• 00:30 - 01:00: Identifying Cold Cases The chapter 'Identifying Cold Cases' discusses the recent breakthrough in solving a cold case from 1982, where a missing person was positively identified through modern forensic methods. It highlights how DNA, such as a cheek swab, can not only aid in building family trees but also solve decades-old mysteries, showcasing the significant impact of new techniques in resolving cold cases.
• 01:00 - 01:30: Use in High-Profile Cases The chapter discusses the use of genetic tools in high-profile criminal cases, highlighting a specific case involving a nationwide manhunt following the murder of four Idaho college students. It suggests confidence in justice being served through criminal processes and raises questions about the ethical considerations and responsible use of such technology, specifically in places like Minnesota.
• 01:30 - 02:00: Case Study: Lilydale Jane Doe In 1976, the body of an unidentified woman, known as Lilydale Jane Doe, was discovered on the banks of the frozen Mississippi River near Saint Paul. Despite the efforts, no clues about her identity or origins surfaced, leaving the case unsolved and cold for 45 years. Recently, genetic genealogist Tracy Boyle took interest in the case, aiming to unravel the mystery from over a thousand miles away.
• 02:00 - 02:30: Process of Genetic Genealogy The chapter titled 'Process of Genetic Genealogy' focuses on a case involving the identification of a young woman whose body was found in the Mississippi River. The case highlights the use of genetic genealogy, a method employed by volunteers nationwide, including those from the DNA Doe Project. This project uses public DNA databases to match family connections and identify unidentified remains. The process involves reverse engineering a family tree, similar to traditional genealogy, to help solve cold cases. The chapter specifically mentions the successful identification of a person named Lilydale through this methodology.
• 02:30 - 03:00: Adoption in Minnesota The chapter titled 'Adoption in Minnesota' delves into the complex world of genetic genealogy. It begins with the intriguing story of Jane Doe, whose real name was Roberto Seifert, born in 1954 in Tucson, Arizona. While many questions about her remain, including the cause of her death, the chapter highlights how genetic genealogy can provide answers. By uploading DNA information to public genetic databases such as Gen Match, it's possible to identify victims or suspects, demonstrating the power and potential of this field.
• 03:00 - 03:30: Notable Case - Jeanie Childs The chapter "Notable Case - Jeanie Childs" discusses the use of genetic genealogy by law enforcement in Minnesota to solve unsolved cases, particularly cold cases. The method involves working from extended family matches to closer relatives like parents to identify suspects. Drew Evans, superintendent of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, is highlighted as discussing the strategy and its increasing implementation.
• 03:30 - 04:00: Moscow Idaho Case The investigation into the Moscow Idaho case is discussed, with an emphasis on the use of genetic genealogy as a tool to solve difficult cases. It is noted that the state lab relies on third-party groups for DNA testing, which differs from what is used for genetic genealogy. This method is typically employed when other techniques and methodologies have been exhausted, offering a new lead that could help identify the perpetrator. In Minnesota, genetic genealogy has been implemented in at least 23 cases, demonstrating its utility in solving previously unsolvable cases.
• 04:00 - 04:30: Legal and Ethical Considerations The chapter 'Legal and Ethical Considerations' discusses the implications of using public genealogy databases to solve cold cases. It highlights the case of Genie Childs who was murdered in 1993, and how DNA technology advancements led to a breakthrough 25 years later, pointing to Jerry Westrom as a suspect. The chapter delves into the balance between legal procedures and ethical responsibilities in the realm of criminal investigations.
• 04:30 - 05:00: Privacy Concerns The chapter highlights the privacy concerns arising from the use of DNA evidence in criminal investigations. It uses a case study involving Westrom, whose DNA was collected from a napkin discarded at a hockey game, ultimately leading to his conviction for the murder of Jeannie Charles. The narrative raises questions about the implications of using surreptitious DNA collection tactics in law enforcement.

Genetic genealogy cracking the code on cold cases Transcription

• 00:00 - 00:30 [Music] foreign you may have used one of those home DNA kits to build your family tree online but in recent years these genetic genealogy tests have been used to crack cold cases and identify victims and even catch Killers tonight Fox 9 investigator Nathan O'Neill digs into this emerging technology and now it's being leveraged right here in Minnesota Nathan what'd you find yeah well it's a relatively new type of Technology that's already giving New Life to cold cases but it's also posing some pretty big questions about
• 00:30 - 01:00 how and when it should be used today the sheriff announced they have positively identified human rights back in 1982. White Bear Lake family whose loved one disappeared nearly 40 years ago and the case went cold cold a swab of the cheek can help you build your family tree but it can also unlock decades-old Secrets it would have been very difficult to solve any of the cases any other way a new method for solving
• 01:00 - 01:30 crimes and serving Justice a genetic tool reportedly used in a nationwide manhunt after the murder of four Idaho college students we do believe Justice will be found through the criminal process raising new questions about the technology that's really where this debate is and how it's used in Minnesota can we ensure that there aren't ethical concerns or considerations and it's being done responsibly
• 01:30 - 02:00 on the banks of the Frozen Mississippi river is where some Mysteries have turned ice cold in 1976 a woman known only then as Lilydale Jane Doe was pulled from the river near Saint Paul she had likely been dead for weeks the case went cold after 45 years with no answers and no idea who she was or where she came from that is until genetic genealogist Tracy Boyle got involved from more than a thousand miles
• 02:00 - 02:30 away said we didn't know that her body was found floating in the Mississippi River when she was very young I think she was like 22 at the time of her death Boyle is one of nearly a hundred volunteers Nationwide with a non-profit DNA dough project which uses public DNA databases to identify family matches through a method known as genetic genealogy to help identify unidentified remains it's not much different than anybody during their genealogy it's reverse engineering a family tree using that method she helped identify Lilydale
• 02:30 - 03:00 Jane Doe her real name was in fact Roberto Seifert born in 1954 in Tucson Arizona but many questions remain with the cause of her death still a mystery genetic genealogy may seem complicated but the idea is straightforward say you want to identify your victim or perhaps even a suspect and all you have is the DNA you can upload that genetic information to certain public DNA database like gen match from there you can search for
• 03:00 - 03:30 family matches working your way from an extended family to closer ones like parents in hopes of identifying your target in Minnesota law enforcement agencies are increasingly turning to genetic genealogy to revisit unsolved cases typically it's been utilized so far just in cases that we would consider quote unquote cold cases cases where we have a full DNA profile Drew Evans is superintendent of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal apprehension he tells the
• 03:30 - 04:00 Fox 9 investigators the agency relies on third-party groups since the type of DNA testing done at the state lab is not the same type used for genetic genealogy it really is used in those cases where we are trying to solve the unsolvable the cases that we have exhausted other methodologies other techniques and it's providing us a lead to determine whether or not we can identify the perpetrator through this technology in Minnesota genetic genealogy has been tried in at least 23 cases so far it's solved at
• 04:00 - 04:30 least five unidentified persons cases and four homicide cases for example take the 1993 murder of Genie Childs where the 35 year old was stabbed to death inside her apartment the trail went cold until 25 years later when DNA collected at the crime scene was run through new public genealogy databases which pointed to Jerry Westrom the reason
• 04:30 - 05:00 though you were inside that apartment by the time Westrom was brought in for questioning investigators had already tailed him at a hockey game in Wisconsin where he trashed this used napkin yes it was a key piece of DNA evidence that ultimately led to westrom's conviction for the murder of Jeannie Charles today perhaps one of the most
• 05:00 - 05:30 consequential cases turns our attention to Moscow Idaho it's here where genetic genealogy may have been key to solving an active case the murder of four University students it's been widely reported that authorities used public DNA databases to zero in on their Prime Suspect I think what's interesting about that particular case is that genetic genealogy is not mentioned anywhere in the court records or affidavits at this point Professor Jamie Spaulding of
• 05:30 - 06:00 Hamlin University heads the forensic science department there he's watching how genetic genealogy will play out in the courtroom you know moving forward does that change how it's practiced or does that set some standards for this because at the moment it's done in a variety of different ways across the country there are no standards of practice in Minnesota genetic genealogy has not been applied to any Active cases and right now there are no laws that regulate it but couldn't that genetic
• 06:00 - 06:30 technology be used right here in Minnesota in Active cases in the near future well the answer to that is just truly unclear I think we should carefully think about where this could add value especially in those horrific crimes that we see that create significant Community concern or cases where we can bring answers to families ongoing but professors tells us there are some ethical considerations so you're actively investigating people that you know could not have committed this I think that's
• 06:30 - 07:00 an ethical concern and debate that we're having in the community I think another that a lot of media talks about is the right to privacy even so the technology does have challenges from its efficiency to its legal limitations there's a strong track record both in Minnesota and across the country that the technology works but it's a lead and it's a lead in criminal investigations because it doesn't identify the individual that was the perpetrator of
• 07:00 - 07:30 the crime in the same way that it does with traditional DNA that we use in our Laboratories day in day out and now is the time to start thinking about how we can best utilize this technology now if you are concerned about privacy DNA testing companies like ancestry and 23andMe do not make your information readily available for law enforcement in both those cases they require a court order so if that's the case Nathan what kind of databases are law enforcement using that well there are some public
• 07:30 - 08:00 databanks like gen match which we mentioned which do work with law enforcement they actually require you to upload your own data from testing companies like ancestry but in any case those data mix usually require you to opt in before allowing law enforcement to access your genetic information interesting stuff Cutting Edge of Technology it is fascinating and see how it's being used more and more too all right thanks Nathan