Unusual Collaboration and Techniques to Solve a Cold Case Homicide

Description:

Presentation of the challenges and obstacles faced in solving a 47 year old cold case kidnapping, sexual assault and homicide of an eleven year old girl. Unusual collaboration between numerous law enforcement agencies, medical examiner offices, forensic anthropologist, public and private forensic/DNA laboratories, unique investigative techniques and Genetic Genealogy were used to solve this case. Several generations of DNA technologies, CODIS, familial searching, genetic genealogy and human remains exhumation were utilized over sixteen years. Participants will benefit from lessons learned, new forensic approaches to solve cold cases as well as the requirements for successful prosecution of these cases.

Learning Outcomes:

1. How to approach cold case evidence analysis and potential problems.
2. Investigative approaches and problems of opening and investigating cold cases.
3. Types of forensic disciplines and DNA technologies used to solve this cold case.
4. How to use Genetic Genealogy analysis in solving cold cases.
5. How to use private laboratories and unique forensic technologies to help solve cold cases.
6. Challenges experienced in collaborating teamwork between law enforcement and medical examiner agencies, law enforcement and private forensic laboratories, and District Attorney Offices and Court systems.
7. Legal requirements and concerns of using Genetic Genealogy evidence and exhumation of human remains.

Intended Audience:

Forensic Scientists, Attorneys, Detectives, Genetic Genealogists, and the general public