genealogical information thanks to a site called
GEDmatch, which lets individuals upload their
genetic information. This can be used to link to
other people on the site, or for research, or in this
case: law enforcement investigations.
This process of using genetic information and
traditional family tree construction is called
genetic genealogy, and it has been used in other
cold cases as well. In 2017, similar processes were
used to identify some of the victims in the Bear
Brook murders.
To be clear: These are good stories, and a
remarkable use of technology and historical
research. They aren’t alone, either. In researching
this article, I found an extensive list on Wikipedia
of cases that used GEDmatch data. They should,
and have been, celebrated.
Here comes the “but.”
NETWORK EFFECTS
The same mechanisms that allow genetic
genealogy to be used to catch bad guys also
expose people who had nothing to do with the
crimes and may not feel comfortable with their
information being used in an investigation.
Our individual DNA is unique to each of us, but it
also ties us to our families, our region, and even
our species. While the person who submits their
DNA to a site such as GEDmatch might be
perfectly comfortable with their data being used
in an investigation, the rest of their family might
not be. Writing in the Washington Post in 2018,
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the problem: “In submitting our DNA for testing,”
M
a
x
E
d
d
y
Our individual
DNA is unique
to each of us,
but it also ties
us to our fami-
lies, our region,
and even our
species.
