Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Forensic Genetic Genealogy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
UNT lab tells Parker County it can provide free genetic genealogy help for cold cases and unidentified remains
Summary
Dr. Susan Brown Davis and investigator Jackie Pearson of UNT's Center for Human Identification told Parker County commissioners they offer free investigative genetic genealogy services, including SNP and STR testing, to nearby agencies and urged local law enforcement to identify cases for testing.
Dr. Susan Brown Davis, representing the UNT Center for Human Identification in Fort Worth, briefed the Parker County Commissioners Court on the center's forensic genetic genealogy services and said the lab provides free testing to neighboring agencies.
"It's the same technology that was used, with finding the Golden State Killer," Davis said, describing how SNP-based genetic genealogy and CODIS STR comparisons can help identify perpetrators and unnamed human remains. She said the center has performed the work for about two years and is accredited under FBI assurance standards.
Investigator Jackie Pearson said the center's services are aimed at smaller agencies that lack funding for advanced SNP testing and urged the county sheriff and local police to designate a point person to assemble cold-case lists and samples the center can review. "We primarily like to deal with a lot of the smaller agencies that don't have the funding to do these sorts of things," Pearson said.
Davis explained the center's funding sources include SAKI (sexual assault kit initiative) grants, state and federal funds, which allow the center to provide many services at no charge to participating counties. Commissioners and staff discussed outreach to the Parker County Sheriff's Office and Weatherford Police Department; presenters said the center already has worked with local agencies on property-crime testing in the past.
