Latest news with #forensictechnology
Forbes
6 days ago
- Science
- Forbes
How DNA And Data Are Solving America's Coldest Cases
Across the United States, more than 50,000 people have died without a name. These are individuals who were never identified, never claimed and often never mourned. But thanks to forensic technology and the growing use of genetic genealogy, that's beginning to change. Naming the Dead, a six-part docuseries from National Geographic, brings this invisible crisis to light. The series follows the DNA Doe Project, a nonprofit using cutting-edge DNA analysis and open-source genealogy tools to solve some of the country's most confounding cold cases. It's a quiet revolution in forensics, powered by algorithms, datasets and persistence. From Data to Identity The process of forensic genetic genealogy begins by extracting DNA from unidentified remains. That data is then uploaded to public databases in search of distant relatives. It might sound simple, but it rarely is. Samples are often degraded, especially if they've been buried or exposed to the elements for years. Sequencing has to be precise. And even when a viable DNA profile is produced, the real challenge starts: building family trees from matches that might be third or fourth cousins, or even more distant. I recently spoke with Jennifer Randolph, director of the DNA Doe Project, about the objective of her and her team, and about this Nat Geo series. She described the work as 'a really large logic puzzle.' She added, 'Our genetic genealogy volunteers really like that kind of a challenge... you get pretty excited because it's that feeling of, you know, you're on the cusp of resolving this puzzle.' That excitement is balanced by the gravity of the work. 'It becomes very bittersweet,' she said. 'We know that some family is going to get a knock on the door and they're going to get not the news they hoped for.' It's resolution, not closure—but it's more than many of these families have had in decades. My Experience with Genetic Discovery A few years ago, I submitted a DNA test through It was mostly out of curiosity, but also with the hope of finding a missing uncle—my mother's brother—who was separated from the family while they were in foster care. We only have one photo of him as a toddler, and for most of my life, I've wondered where he ended up. I didn't find him. But I did find someone else. The results revealed that I had a half-brother I never knew existed. We've since connected. We've met. We've had the conversations you never expect to have in your 40s or 50s. The circumstances are complex, but that's the nature of family sometimes. What's important is that the technology gave us a way to discover one another. That experience helped me understand just how powerful this work can be—especially for families of the unidentified dead. It's not just about science. It's about being seen. It's about making the anonymous known. The Tech Making It Possible The show emphasizes how far the technology has come. Advances in next-generation sequencing have made it possible to work with even the most degraded samples—sometimes from cases that are 30 or 40 years old. That data is then uploaded to public databases like GEDmatch, FamilyTreeDNA and DNA Justice. While private services like AncestryDNA and 23andMe hold the largest databases, they don't allow uploads of profiles from unidentified remains. That limitation means the work of the DNA Doe Project depends on much smaller pools of data—typically between 1.5 and 2 million profiles. That makes each match even more critical. Randolph noted the impact of visibility and public education, saying, 'We've had more than one instance where someone learned about [this technique], had a missing person in their family and decided to upload to GEDmatch. And then—out of the blue—a high match, like a niece, appears. And once you have that, you know you're there.' In other words, awareness is its own kind of technology multiplier. Infrastructure for Justice Behind the breakthroughs is a growing ecosystem of cloud-based collaboration. Investigators, coroners, volunteers and data analysts work across states and time zones using shared digital tools. Case notes, DNA files and potential family trees are securely stored and accessed in real time. What used to be the work of entire agencies can now be supported by distributed teams using pro bono platforms. The DNA Doe Project itself operates as a nonprofit, often covering both the cost of lab work and the countless hours of volunteer research it takes to identify a single person. That's one of the reasons this show matters. Visibility attracts donations, but it also sparks interest from law enforcement. As Randolph explained, 'We want every Jane and John Doe to have the opportunity to be identified, no matter who they are or how tough the case might be. So we do try to get the word out at conferences... and then they learn about us through word of mouth.' Beyond the Lab Naming the Dead doesn't glamorize the work. There are dead ends. Cases stall. Some episodes end with possibilities, not certainty. But the emotional core is steady—this is about restoring dignity, not just solving puzzles. And the tech, as powerful as it is, still relies on human effort and intention. None of this happens without people willing to volunteer time, apply pressure and keep showing up for the forgotten. It's worth remembering that some families have waited 20 or 30 years for answers. That kind of silence can be corrosive. When resolution comes—whether through a second cousin match or a last-minute database upload—it opens the door to grief, remembrance and sometimes, healing. Naming the Dead premieres August 2 on National Geographic and streams the next day on Disney+ and Hulu. New episodes run through September 6.
CBS News
6 days ago
- CBS News
Mystery remains found in Alameda Marina in 2008 identified as 20-year-old man from Honduras
Human remains found floating in the Alameda Marina nearly two decades ago have now been positively identified, authorities announced. The Alameda County Sheriff's Office said in a social media post on Thursday that partial skeletal remains were discovered in the marina in September 2008, with a white or gray sock and a size 8.5 Vision brand skateboarder-type shoe. In July 2001, additional skeletal remains were found floating across the Oakland Estuary from the Alameda Marina, near Embarcadero East and the Coast Guard Island Bridge. DNA comparison confirmed that both sets of remains were of the same person, the Sheriff's Office said, but the cause and manner of death were undetermined due to only a partial skeletal finding. Extensive investigative efforts to determine the person's identity were unsuccessful until the Sheriff's Office began working with Texas-based forensic technology firm Othram. Investigators sent DNA evidence to Othram, which uses proprietary advanced genome sequencing techniques that can extract genetic information from degraded or low-quality samples. The company was able to create a comprehensive DNA profile for use in a genetic genealogy investigation to develop new leads in the case, the Sheriff's Office said. With the new information, investigators were able to conduct follow-up inquiries, leading them to potential relatives of the unidentified person, the Sheriff's Office said. Using Othram's technology that rapidly confirms or excludes candidates as potential relatives, the analysis helped confirm a genetic relationship to the DNA profile. In late June, 17 years after the initial discovery of the remains, they were identified as Esteban Pablo Pablo, a 20-year-old man who was last seen alive in Alameda County in 2007. Since the identification, the Sheriff's Office has been working with the Pablo Pablo's family to reunite him with his family in Honduras. "Thank you to the family of Esteban Pablo Pablo, who provided the pictures above and allowed us to share his story," the Sheriff's Office said in the social media post. "We hope to reunite them soon." The Sheriff's Office said the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) funded the advanced DNA testing and forensic genetic genealogy science used in the case. NamUs is a U.S. Department of Justice national program that helps law enforcement and the criminal justice community in resolving missing, unidentified, and unclaimed persons cases nationwide.
Daily Mail
30-06-2025
- Daily Mail
Police unveil 'revolutionary' new handheld gadget that captures even slightest bruising on domestic abuse victims for use as evidence
'Groundbreaking' new technology will allow police to properly capture bruising on domestic violence victims using a handheld gadget. Britain's biggest force is today unveiling the device which will allow frontline officers to gather forensic-grade material that can be used as evidence in court within minutes of first contact. Project Archway uses cross-polarisation to eliminate glare on the skin and enhance visual contrasts to identify bruises invisible to the naked eye. Previously, officers often faced challenges in capturing visible evidence of bruising – particularly on darker skin tones and during the early stages of injury. But the technology, developed in-house by the Metropolitan Police, is closing this gap and the force said it is already improving outcomes for victims. A 33-use pilot in south London resulted in charges for 45 per cent of the cases. Met commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said his force's charge rate for offences involving violence against women and girls (VAWG) has tripled in three years and this new device was a bold symbol of the force's desire to protect the public from predators. 'These improvements are a credit to our people – to their empathy, determination, and courage as they take on these heartrending cases day after day,' he added. 'The Met is leading nationally on innovation that puts victims first. We are the only police service to develop this kind of frontline technology, and we're already seeing how it strengthens evidence, builds trust, and ensures victims feel seen and heard from the moment they report abuse.' London Mayor Sadiq Khan praised the technology as a 'game-changer.' 'This cutting-edge technology will be rolled out across London and is the latest milestone in the Met's action – backed by record funding from City Hall - to rebuild trust and bring more perpetrators to justice,' he said. Sir Sadiq added: 'I completely understand why ethnic minority and women Londoners have had less confidence in the police service and one of the missions of the police service with my support - and challenge - is to make sure we address the concerns that those Londoners have. 'I think what today shows is just how much the police has changed, and is responding to a legitimate concern raised by victims and survivors, particularly ethnic minority victims and survivors.' He continued: 'It's really important to acknowledge the progress made. Similarly, the response last week from the Met Police Service and the commissioner to the hearing into Child Q is significant; a recognition of the systemic issues last week from the police service. That wouldn't have been the case a few years ago.' Two Metropolitan Police officers were sacked last week after they were found to have committed gross misconduct during the 'disproportionate' strip search of a 15-year-old black girl at school, who was wrongly suspected of carrying cannabis. Project Archway will now be expanded across more boroughs, custody suites, sexual assault referral centres and forensic teams. The technology could also be used for post-mortem investigations in the future, the Met said. Christabel Yeboah, chief executive of HERSANA, which supports black victims of crime, welcomed the innovation which will help document bruising of darker skin. But she said that technology alone is not enough to fix systems that have long failed victims. 'Tools like this must be implemented alongside survivor-led consent protocols, meaningful community consultation, anti-racist practice and robust accountability,' she added. 'Only then can trust begin to be rebuilt and justice truly served.' The Project Archway announcement comes as the Met publishes a three-year progress report on tackling VAWG. Last year, more than 123,000 VAWG cases were reported to the Met, which said it had doubled arrests and charges for rape and serious sexual offences. The force's V100 programme, which is a targeted approach to proactively pursuing the capital's most dangerous offenders using a list which is updated every month, has resulted in 129 convictions and 154 charges including rape and attempted murder.
