FORENSIC investigative genetic genealogy

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Every week it seems, another Jane or John Doe has been identified.  Another individual named as a killer or rapist from years earlier.  Another case closed.  That is the power of forensic investigative genetic genealogy. Our team is proud to assist families and investigators in these efforts.  You can help as well by uploading your DNA test to GEDmatch or FTDNA and making it available for comparison in these cases. 

Some genetic genealogists working on cases of unidentified remains and/or crime scene DNA  refer to themselves as “Forensic Genetic Genealogists,” others as “Investigative Genetic Genealogists."  Our team combines the two terms and uses the acronym FIGG.  Keep in mind,  most genetic genealogists do not work in an accredited forensic laboratory, and do not testify in court.  Their work is "investigative” in nature, meaning it produces something like a tip.  Law enforcement then confirm the tip forensically having an accredited private lab or government crime lab perform a forensic comparison of the suspect's DNA to the crime scene DNA.  (Our lab, Intermountain Forensics, can provide all of these steps - genetic DNA testing, forensic DNA testing, and genetic genealogy.)

For more than a decade, genealogists have been using DNA to help adoptees identify their biological family.  This process, known as genetic genealogy, is now utilized to identify unknown human remains, as well as suspects from crime scene DNA.  This is possible due to the authorization of this usage in two of the genetic genealogy DNA databases: GEDmatch and FTDNA.  DNA profiles uploaded to these sites result in a list of biological matches from members of the public who have their DNA at these sites and whose individual test settings don’t prohibit these types of comparisons.

Some matches are distant, such as 4th or 5th cousins.  Others might be quite close, such as a half-brother or first cousin.  The closer the match, the easier it is to trace the match's genealogy and determine how the unidentified remains, or suspect, might be related to the match. 

Once a genetic genealogist identifies an investigative lead in cases of unidentified human remains, or crime scene DNA, law enforcement must confirm it.  For cases of unidentified remains, typically close family members submit their DNA for comparison.  In cases involving crime scene DNA, the governing agency will determine the best step for DNA collection, which may involve a voluntary collection or collection via a search warrant.  A forensic lab would then perform the necessary DNA comparison.  This final confirmation uses different testing methodologies that have been used for decades for official identifications.

Our team creates resources to help families and cold case investigators navigate and understand the Forensic Investigative Genetic Genealogy (FIGG) process.   Although many of the items below were developed specifically for the 1921 Tulsa Identification Project, they each have information that would be of use to any DNA tester, family member or investigator.