Police reportedly identified the suspect in the fatal stabbings of four Idaho students through genealogy.
A law enforcement source familiar with the matter told CNN that police found unknown DNA at the scene of the killings. However, the DNA didn’t match anything within the police system, so police utilized genealogical techniques. The unknown DNA was run through a public database, which identified relatives of the suspect.
“Subsequent investigative work” done by police led to graduate student Bryan Kohberger being identified.
IDAHO MURDERS: POLICE TRACKED SUSPECT ACROSS COUNTRY AND SURVEILLED PARENTS’ HOUSE
(Monroe County Correctional Facility via AP)
Several high-profile cases have been solved by law enforcement using this method.
The most famous example of genealogical data being used to solve a homicide case was identifying the Golden State Killer as former police officer Joseph DeAngelo, who wasn’t even a suspect when identified. California investigators were able to take DNA from a crime scene and use a public DNA database to trace it through his relatives and back to him.
The technique has become a “boon” for crime investigators, who have used it to identify hundreds of persons of interest, the Gadsden Times reported.
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Kohberger’s lawyer has said that he is innocent.
“Mr. Kohberger is eager to be exonerated of these charges and looks forward to resolving these matters as promptly as possible,” Jason LaBar said to CNN.
