DNA Links Suspect in 1999 Alabama Cold Case Murder

[volshayes]

You would think criminals would have learned by now not to send their DNA to genealogy websites.

https://www.officer.com/investigations/forensics/dna-technologies/news/21072354/dna-links-suspect-in-1999-alabama-cold-case-murder?utm_source=Officer.com+Newsday+E-Newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=CPS190318010&o_eid=5113J4674090I4J&rdx.ident[pull]=omeda|5113J4674090I4J&ajs_uid=5113J4674090I4J&oly_enc_id=5113J4674090I4J&ajs_trait_oebid=5902A2468689B2E

[DaveTN]

It didn't have to be him, it could have been traced through a family member. About a year ago my 80 year old uncle found out he has a 60 year old daughter. She contacted my sister after my sister did one one of those DNA tests and she was a familial match.

With a lot of people having their DNA tested, I would guess a lot of these type cases are happening.

[BrasilNuts]

I’ve thought about doing mine, but under the name Rusty Shackleford with a PO Box in Arlen TX.

Cool that they caught this PODS.

Edited March 19, 2019 by BrasilNuts

[hipower]

21 minutes ago, BrasilNuts said:

I’ve thought about doing mine, but under the name Rusty Shackleford with a PO Box in Arlen TX.

Cool that they caught this PODS.

Yes, the idea has crossed my mind, but I really don't want to know any more about my family past. Too many skeletons in the closets...moonshiners, coon hunters, drag racers, and a lot of other less well-known vices.

Seriously though, you'd think some of the so-called intelligent law-breakers would realize that advertised or not; DNA tests and results seem to be available to LEO all around the world.

[Omega]

I didn't have a choice, the military collected my DNA and submitted it to a database for ID purposes.  Now, that database is open, with subpoena(?), to LEO to find criminals. 

[volshayes]

2 hours ago, Omega said:

I didn't have a choice, the military collected my DNA and submitted it to a database for ID purposes.  Now, that database is open, with subpoena(?), to LEO to find criminals. 

Not to mention the hackers you have to worry about too.  I would imagine they could cause havoc in a database like that if they ever got into it.

[buck1032]

2 hours ago, Omega said:

I didn't have a choice, the military collected my DNA and submitted it to a database for ID purposes.  Now, that database is open, with subpoena(?), to LEO to find criminals. 

Same here. I did protest a bit as they could not provide me documentation to tell me who could access the data, where that data was stored and who stored it. Untimely the process for NJP got me to surrender that sample.   

[MacGyver]

There are a fair number of ethical issues here, but genetic genealogy is breaking a bunch of cold cases right now.  

The Golden State Killer, the Bear Brook murders (good, short podcast if you’re interested), among others.  

About 80% of the US has at least multiple third cousins in publicly available datasets now. 

And yes, just like with Facebook, the 23 and Me’s of the world are profiting off of your data.  You’re not the customer.  You’re the product.  

[MacGyver]

6 hours ago, Omega said:

I didn't have a choice, the military collected my DNA and submitted it to a database for ID purposes.  Now, that database is open, with subpoena(?), to LEO to find criminals. 

No subpoena needed.  Amateurs are breaking a lot of cases from their kitchens right now. 

[RED333]

8 minutes ago, MacGyver said:

You’re not the customer.  You’re the product. 

DING,DING,DING we have a winner here.

The on line DNA labs are a way to get your DNA for the worlds LEOs to see if you have committed a crime. As well as put your butt into a data base!

 

[MacGyver]

1 minute ago, RED333 said:

DING,DING,DING we have a winner here.

The on line DNA labs are a way to get your DNA for the worlds LEOs to see if you have committed a crime. As well as put your butt into a data base!

 

They don’t care the first thing in the world about helping law enforcement, really.  They’re not paying customers. 

Selling access to that data to big pharma on there other hand is quite profitable.