FAQ About Cold Cases and Breakthroughs

Yes, there have been cold cases that have been solved through the use of familial DNA searches. Familial DNA searching is a technique that involves searching DNA databases for partial matches to an unknown suspect's DNA profile, which can potentially lead to identifying close relatives of the suspect. This method has been particularly helpful in cases where there is no direct match to an individual in the DNA database. Here are a few notable examples:

• The Golden State Killer: The case of the Golden State Killer, Joseph James DeAngelo, was one of the most high-profile cold cases solved using familial DNA searching. Investigators used a publicly available genealogy website, GEDmatch, to search for DNA matches and identified a distant relative. Through further investigative work and traditional DNA testing, they were able to link DeAngelo to the crimes committed by the Golden State Killer.
• The Grim Sleeper: Lonnie David Franklin Jr., known as the Grim Sleeper, was a serial killer active in Los Angeles from the 1980s to 2002. The case remained unsolved for many years until familial DNA searching was utilized. Investigators obtained a partial match to Franklin's son in the California DNA database, which eventually led to the identification and arrest of Franklin as the Grim Sleeper.
• The Murder of Angie Dodge: In the case of Angie Dodge, a young woman who was murdered in 1996 in Idaho Falls, Idaho, familial DNA searching played a crucial role. After the initial investigation failed to identify the perpetrator, law enforcement used familial DNA searching to identify a close relative of the suspect. This eventually led them to Christopher Tapp, who was wrongfully convicted and later exonerated. The case was ultimately solved when the DNA of Brian Dripps Sr., a friend and neighbor of Tapp, matched the crime scene DNA.