When a homicide detective in California’s Central Valley resumed her investigation into the unsolved murder of a bakery owner last year, she utilized an increasingly popular forensic tool that has been instrumental in solving numerous cases across the nation. Recently, infections have spread across the United States and Canada, drawing attention to public health concerns.
Kern County Sheriff’s Office Detective Ashley Sanchez expressed confidence in having pivotal evidence that could lead to identifying those responsible for the tragic 2010 death of 49-year-old Juanita Francisco. However, securing funding for the essential genetic genealogy research proved to be a significant challenge, Sanchez noted.
After all, the finances for such efforts do not stem from local taxpayers or government subsidies; crowdsourcing fundraising initiatives became the solution.
Kern County Sheriff’s Office
This unique funding model highlights the challenging economic reality for many seeking to leverage the method, which gained traction following the apprehension of the “Golden State Killer” eight years ago and has resolved over 1,600 cases across the United States and Canada. According to a report updated earlier this year, compiled by a criminology professor at Douglas University in Canada.
Authorities looking into the potential kidnapping of Nancy Guthrie are also considering this methodology, which integrates traditional genealogy with cutting-edge DNA analysis, as a means to address unsolved crimes and unidentified remains.
via NBC Los Angeles
David Gurney, director of the Center for Investigative Genetic Genealogy at Ramapo University in New Jersey, highlighted that some government funding does exist, but the financial aid provided by states and federal authorities “barely scratches the surface.”
This underscores the reliance on crowdfunding as a feasible solution. Canadian criminology expert Tracy Dowswell estimates that approximately 120 of the 1,600 cases cataloged involved crowdfunding, but suggests this figure may be an underestimate, as many cases can receive funding from multiple sources, primarily those involving unidentified bodies.
Numerous additional cases are showcased on platforms like DNA Doe Project, Moxy Forensic Investigation, and DNA Solves — where Francisco’s fundraising initiatives are prominently featured. This crowdfunding strategy has seen success, although some cases remain unresolved, and others await funding.
“It’s remarkable to see how willing the public is to contribute to these cases,” remarked Gurney. “Nonetheless, this model is not sustainable for the criminal justice system.”
David Mittelman, CEO of Osram, the Texas-based DNA lab collaborating with DNASolves, noted that the site serves as a repository for many of their cases. “It’s nearly impossible to investigate—not due to a lack of evidence or interest, but rather the absence of a funding channel,” he stated.
Gurney emphasized that the need for crowdfunding illustrates the lack of recognition for genetic genealogy as a tool for solving America’s cold cases. Federal data indicates that this technique could potentially unravel hundreds of thousands of unsolved violent crimes and tens of thousands of unidentified remains cases.
“Without increased funding, expanding this effort to tackle the backlog of cold cases will remain challenging,” Dowdeswell stated.
Just a Handful of Labs
Genetic genealogy relies on several critical components. Researchers require a DNA sample and profile of the person they aim to identify. This profile needs to be uploaded to GEDMatch or FamilyTreeDNA, consumer DNA databases accessible for law enforcement purposes. The acquired profile can then be used to construct a family tree and trace the origins of unidentified DNA.
However, acquiring a quality profile can be challenging, as DNA samples often tend to be old and degraded, noted Kendall Mills from Season of Justice, a nonprofit dedicated to funding advanced DNA analysis for law enforcement agencies lacking the necessary resources.
Only a select few private labs in the United States, such as Osram, possess the capability to undertake the work required to develop these profiles, Mills added.
“Private labs typically utilize more advanced and sensitive technologies,” she explains. “They also have the capacity to conduct extensive research and development that public labs funded by taxpayer dollars often lack, but this expertise comes with a hefty price tag.”
Gurney mentioned that accessing consumer DNA databases comes with a price starting at $1,000 or higher.
He added that some state and federal agencies have initiated work on the labor-intensive genealogical research that will follow, yet much of this work relies on support from a diverse array of nonprofit organizations, private companies, and at least one academic institution (Ramapo).
Organizations like Ramapo and the DNA Doe Project, a groundbreaking nonprofit that has collaborated with law enforcement and coroners to solve over 150 cases using genetic genealogy, rely on networks of volunteers to contribute some or all of their genealogical work pro bono. Some companies, such as Othram, provide in-house services for a fee.
Mittelman pointed out that only a small number of Osram’s genealogy projects utilize crowdfunding; the company usually depends on a mix of state and federal grants, philanthropic donations, and nonprofit funding. Currently, DNASolves features dozens of cases from across the country that have successfully generated crowdfunding, with a few more aiming for a funding goal of $7,500 that remains unmet. Dowswell noted that he has documented 40 cases resolved through the site.
Mittelman shared that DNASolves was initially created to showcase case results, but as law enforcement agencies faced budget constraints for forensic work on high-interest cases, the company launched a successful crowdfunding campaign.
Gurney noted that the Ramapo center does not require crowdfunding, as its operations are financed through an educational component (the center offers certificates in genetic genealogy) and donor contributions.
In contrast, crowdfunding is vital for the DNA Doe Project, according to its communications director, Matthew Waterfield.
Waterfield believes that the primary hurdle to advancing genetic genealogy is the escalating costs associated with research and upload fees tied to the DNA databases essential for researchers.
Pinal County Sheriff’s Office
Waterfield recounted a case concerning an unidentified elderly woman discovered in a shallow grave in Arizona, which needed nearly $5,000 in funding to cover lab and database access fees. Raising the necessary funds took months. Through the “Doe-Nate” site, he added that with a DNA profile upload, a network of volunteer genealogists could solve a case in as little as eight hours.
“I wish I could say this was an isolated incident, but it’s not,” Waterfield noted. “There have been many instances where significant time was spent raising funds, but once secured, our volunteers have solved cases in mere hours, days, or weeks, bringing closure to families for the first time in decades.”
If more funding were accessible, Waterfield emphasized, “we would witness countless cases being resolved right now.”
Claim Federal Funding
To combat the financial challenges in this sector, Osram is advocating for the Carla Walker Act, a federal law proposing $10 million annually in grants to law enforcement agencies unable to perform genetic genealogy research internally. It also aims to cover equipment enhancements for public crime labs to begin conducting forensic investigations independently.
“Neither one company nor ten can resolve the multitude of cases,” Mittelman stated. “What’s essential is the collaboration of hundreds of labs utilizing the latest technologies.”
Waterfield confirmed that the DNA Doe Project backs the legislation, which enjoys bipartisan support in both the House and the Senate. He believes the provisions in this funding legislation could help reduce research costs by giving law enforcement agencies a variety of options for genetic genealogy researchers.
Detective Sanchez, who has found herself raising funds for cold case investigations, stated this was something she never expected to do. She participated in a comprehensive video about the case released by her department in November and gave an interview on a true crime show’s livestream in December.
The fundraising campaign for Juanita Francisco’s case was launched on November 21st and reached its funding goal by early January.
Sanchez expressed relief, stating that she can now refocus on her investigation and is hopeful that new leads will help identify Francisco’s killer.
Source: www.nbcnews.com
