DNA Solves Cold Cases/Parabon Nanolabs & GED/Match.

[Legally Bland]

I think we missed this one. Another guilty verdict:
_____

The jury found Corbett guilty of murdering James and attempting to kill Linda.

[...]

A detective with the Elkhart County Homicide Unit testified he learned genetic genealogy had been used in a cold case in another state and tried that to help identify the unknown DNA.

On October 16, 2018, the detective received the genetic genealogy report, which helped identify Corbett.

Investigators then did a "trash pull" and sent items they believed belonged to Corbett for DNA analysis.

Winston Corbett convicted in murder of professor James Miller

WS thread (only a few posts):

IN - IN - Prof. James Miller, 58, Goshen, 9 October 2011

 

[margarita25]

It really irks me that he lived a normal life for so long.

(Slightly O/T, but this what really bothers me about the Nazi doctor that killed/experimented on children, Dr. Mengele, AKA the “Angel of Death”. He escaped, and lived a nice long life in South America, only to die one day at a Brazilian beach.)

 

[DSCrime]

I wonder if NYPD and Parabon had a falling out at some point. The rest of New York will use them but not this particular police department. Hmmm.

Wonder if police depts like NYPD or LAPD, are developing their own forensic genealogy units / labs. Big police depts have so many unsolved cases, it might be more cost-effective to try to solve these cases in-house.

Or do it on a state level w/ state police labs.

On the other hand, a lot of state forensic labs are so backed up w/ DNA testing that they have to outsource to private labs, without even adding genetic genealogy to the mix...

 

[Legally Bland]

A Marlborough man and former charter school CEO is suspected in four sexual assaults in four different Connecticut cities and towns in 1984 and has been arrested after a DNA match.

According to the Chief State's Attorney's Office, 69-year-old Michael Marion Sharpe was arrested and charged with four counts of kidnapping in the first degree with a firearm after an investigation by the Cold Case Unit. He is not charged with sexual assault because in 1984 the statute of limitations for that crime was five years.

...

Sharpe was identified as a suspect using information from publicly available genealogy data. On November 9, investigators collected his DNA from trash left at the curb. That sample matched DNA collected from all four sexual assault cases.

"They were able to upload this to public sourced databases such as GEDmatch and family tree and what happened from there we were able to generate a cousin, they were able to from that create a family tree. The genealogist going up first to a level that allowed them to come down to potential suspects. They gave us four people of interest," explained John F. Fahey, supervisor assistant states attorney for the Cold Case Unit.

Former Charter School Organization CEO Arrested and Charged In Cold Cases

 

[margarita25]

This is one of the best threads on WS, imo.

Thanks everyone for your updates.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

Michael Marion Sharpe, 69, of Marlborough, was arrested Monday on four counts of first-degree kidnapping with a firearm in the 1984 attacks — after investigators matched his DNA to the crime scenes, the Chief State’s Attorney’s Office announced Tuesday.

“With this arrest, the victims of these crimes who have waited more than three decades to see their attacker brought to justice now know he will be held accountable for his crimes,” Chief State’s Attorney Richard Colangelo said in a statement.

Turning to forensic genetic genealogy as a possible breakthrough for unsolved cases shows that the Cold Case Unit’s investigators never forget the victims of these crimes,” Senior Assistant State’s Attorney John Fahey said in a statement.
https://nypost.com/2020/11/18/ex-charter-school-group-exec-arrested-in-4-cold-case-sex-assaults/

 

[PaulaDC]

Released on a promise to appear?! That's a kick in the gut to all his victims and all the LE who worked these cases!

A Marlborough man and former charter school CEO is suspected in four sexual assaults in four different Connecticut cities and towns in 1984 and has been arrested after a DNA match.

According to the Chief State's Attorney's Office, 69-year-old Michael Marion Sharpe was arrested and charged with four counts of kidnapping in the first degree with a firearm after an investigation by the Cold Case Unit. He is not charged with sexual assault because in 1984 the statute of limitations for that crime was five years.

...

Sharpe was identified as a suspect using information from publicly available genealogy data. On November 9, investigators collected his DNA from trash left at the curb. That sample matched DNA collected from all four sexual assault cases.

"They were able to upload this to public sourced databases such as GEDmatch and family tree and what happened from there we were able to generate a cousin, they were able to from that create a family tree. The genealogist going up first to a level that allowed them to come down to potential suspects. They gave us four people of interest," explained John F. Fahey, supervisor assistant states attorney for the Cold Case Unit.

Former Charter School Organization CEO Arrested and Charged In Cold Cases

 

[Legally Bland]

This is not a missing persons case but is a 28 year old murder/rape cold case, subject of the KNOCK KNOCK podcast. Arrest made Saturday!

Arrest made in Labor Day cold case | Starkville Daily News

The above link doesn't work anymore, but this guy has plead guilty and sentenced.

Rienzi man to serve life for 30-year-old Starkville murder

November 18, 2020


Michael Devaughn


Devaughn, 53, of Rienzi, had just pleaded guilty to capital murder, more than 30 years after the deaths of Starkville residents Betty Jones, 65, and Holt's grandmother Kathryn Crigler, 81. The two women had been at Crigler's home the night of Sept. 3, 1990, when an intruder entered the home, murdered Jones and sexually assaulted Crigler, who died two months later.

It wasn't until October 2018 that investigators arrested Devaughn after matching DNA from family members of his to DNA taken from Crigler's rape kit. Holt said she'd kept a picture of Devaughn on her phone ever since the arrest.

[...]

During the hearing, he told Coleman prosecutors had evidence to show that Devaughn entered Crigler's home and slashed Jones' throat before going into Crigler's room "with his hands covered in blood." He assaulted her, breaking her pelvis, before taking her purse and leaving the house. Colom said Crigler "crawled her way to the kitchen" to call 911.

"She did not know at that time that her friend had been killed," Colom said.

[...]

Starkville Police Department Lt. Bill Lott, who has been working on the case on his own time for 14 ½ years, said he later sent further samples of DNA off to different labs, hoping they could match the DNA to DNA of the suspects' family members who had been arrested in other states or who had willingly submitted their DNA to genealogy websites such as Ancestry.com. Virginia-based Parabon NanoLabs eventually matched DNA from the rape kit to relatives of Devaughn whose DNA had been uploaded to GEDMatch, a free online database where individuals can upload DNA to discover relatives or find other genealogical information.

"Genetic genealogy is what actually solved this case," Lott said. "Not CODIS, not your traditional database."

Rienzi man to serve life for 30-year-old Starkville murder

 

[Legally Bland]

Arrest in a DNA Doe Project case:

BARRON, Wis. — A 60-year-old Minnesota woman and her 26-year-old son were arrested Thursday on suspicion of killing the woman’s husband in 2014. His body was located in western Wisconsin’s Barron County in 2017.

Connie Lou Herbst of New Prague, and her son, Austin James Herbst, of Elko New Market, were arrested on suspicion of second-degree murder in the death of 63-year-old Gary Herbst of New Prague. They were taken into custody without incident and were booked into the Scott County (Minn.) jail.

Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald said the body was discovered in December 2017 in a wooded area about two miles south of the city of Barron, in the town of Maple Grove. The deceased male had been shot in the head. However, the agency was unable to identify the man until the DNA Doe Project began working on the case in February. In June, the group identified him as Herbst, who was reported missing in 2014.

Minnesota woman, son arrested in husband’s slaying; body found in Wisconsin in 2017 – Twin Cities

WS thread:
Identified! - WI - Barron Co, Skeletal, found in Woodlot, Maple Grove, 3 Dec 2017 - Gary Albert Herbst

 

[Quill]

The above link doesn't work anymore, but this guy has plead guilty and sentenced.

Rienzi man to serve life for 30-year-old Starkville murder

November 18, 2020


Michael Devaughn


Devaughn, 53, of Rienzi, had just pleaded guilty to capital murder, more than 30 years after the deaths of Starkville residents Betty Jones, 65, and Holt's grandmother Kathryn Crigler, 81. The two women had been at Crigler's home the night of Sept. 3, 1990, when an intruder entered the home, murdered Jones and sexually assaulted Crigler, who died two months later.

It wasn't until October 2018 that investigators arrested Devaughn after matching DNA from family members of his to DNA taken from Crigler's rape kit. Holt said she'd kept a picture of Devaughn on her phone ever since the arrest.

[...]

During the hearing, he told Coleman prosecutors had evidence to show that Devaughn entered Crigler's home and slashed Jones' throat before going into Crigler's room "with his hands covered in blood." He assaulted her, breaking her pelvis, before taking her purse and leaving the house. Colom said Crigler "crawled her way to the kitchen" to call 911.

"She did not know at that time that her friend had been killed," Colom said.

[...]

Starkville Police Department Lt. Bill Lott, who has been working on the case on his own time for 14 ½ years, said he later sent further samples of DNA off to different labs, hoping they could match the DNA to DNA of the suspects' family members who had been arrested in other states or who had willingly submitted their DNA to genealogy websites such as Ancestry.com. Virginia-based Parabon NanoLabs eventually matched DNA from the rape kit to relatives of Devaughn whose DNA had been uploaded to GEDMatch, a free online database where individuals can upload DNA to discover relatives or find other genealogical information.

"Genetic genealogy is what actually solved this case," Lott said. "Not CODIS, not your traditional database."

Rienzi man to serve life for 30-year-old Starkville murder

Thank you for posting. I saw this and forgot to come post here. It has to be such a relief to the family that he has plead guilty. This crime has had some long reaching effects for so long. I often drive past the little house where this happened and I am so glad the monster is finally in a cage. Hats off to the officer who NEVER gave up and those grandsons who took this on in a podcast, in spite of some family members' resistance.

 

[Legally Bland]

Nearly 30 years after two women were raped near a Metro station in Northern Virginia, a suspect has been charged. A dropped baseball cap and genetic genealogy helped crack the case, Arlington County Police say.

Michael F. Thomson, 63, was arrested Tuesday at his home in Montross, Virginia, after the attacks near the East Falls Church Metro station in 1991. He was charged with rape, forcible sodomy, abduction and use of a firearm in two cases. Additional charges are expected.

Suspect Charged in Arlington Rape Cold Cases After 29 Years

 

[Legally Bland]

It was Dec 27, 1975 when Grand Junction Police officers responded to an apartment complex in the 1000 block of Belford Avenue. A caller had said a woman was dead inside one of the units. Officers found [19-year-old Deborah] Tomlinson, who had been bound, sexually assaulted, and strangled.

[...]

In Tomlinson’s case, Parabon analyzed a genetic data profile created from the unknown crime scene DNA sample and compared the results to a public genetic genealogy database. Parabon was able to narrow down the possibilities before a final list of leads was produced.

The Grand Junction Police Department then used traditional police work to identify Jimmy Dean Duncan as a suspect.

[...]

Duncan, a Colorado native who was 26 at the time of the murder, died in 1987.

Grand Junction Cold Case Murder Of Deborah Tomlinson Solved After 45 Years

 

[Niner]

View attachment 274222

It was Dec 27, 1975 when Grand Junction Police officers responded to an apartment complex in the 1000 block of Belford Avenue. A caller had said a woman was dead inside one of the units. Officers found [19-year-old Deborah] Tomlinson, who had been bound, sexually assaulted, and strangled.

[...]

In Tomlinson’s case, Parabon analyzed a genetic data profile created from the unknown crime scene DNA sample and compared the results to a public genetic genealogy database. Parabon was able to narrow down the possibilities before a final list of leads was produced.

The Grand Junction Police Department then used traditional police work to identify Jimmy Dean Duncan as a suspect.

[...]

Duncan, a Colorado native who was 26 at the time of the murder, died in 1987.

Grand Junction Cold Case Murder Of Deborah Tomlinson Solved After 45 Years

WS thread:
CO - Deborah Tomlinson, 19,GRAND JUNCTION, bound, sex.assaulted & strangled, 27 Dec.1975,*reopened*

 

[Legally Bland]

After 38 years, a small child found floating in a Mississippi river has been identified—only deepening her mysterious cold case death.

Eighteen-month-old Alisha Ann Heinrich, of Joplin, Mo., was known over the decades as “Baby Jane Doe” until DNA and genetic genealogy cracked the case.

[...]

But still to be solved is what happened to Alisha’s mother, Gwendolyn Mae Clemons who was 23 in 1982.

“She hasn't been seen or heard from since she and Alisha disappeared from the Joplin, Missouri, area around Thanksgiving 1982,” Ezell said. “Our investigators hope the identities will lead to more clues to solve this case. It remains open and active.”

Investigators, however, aren’t holding out much hope Clemons is alive.

'Baby Jane Doe' identified after being found in Mississippi river 38 years ago

WS thread for Gwendolyn:
MO - MO - Gwendolyn Mae Clemons, 23, Kansas City, 24 Nov 1982

ETA: UID thread for Alisha:
Identified! - MS - Pascagoula, WhtFem Child 45UFMS "Delta Dawn", 1-3, Dog River @I-10, Dec'82 - Alisha Heinrich

 

[Legally Bland]

A Michigan woman was arrested last week in the cold case killings of her twin newborn sons 17 years after their bodies were found in an Illinois garbage truck, authorities said Saturday.

The woman, Antoinette Briley, faces two counts of first-degree murder after detectives with the Cook County Sheriff's Office used genetic genealogy to track down the babies' mother, Public Safety Chief Leo Schmitz told reporters.

[...]

During an interview with detectives, he said, "she admitted to her involvement in the birth death, disposal of the two infants."

Michigan woman faces murder charges in cold case killings of twin newborns

 

[DSCrime]

"Colorado Springs police detectives have solved the cold case of a more than 20-year-old murder. The suspect was identified using familial DNA.

In 1999, Jennifer Watkins was found dead under a stairwell in an area of Memorial Hospital that was under construction in Colorado Springs. The 23-year-old worked there as a food service aide.

Her body was discovered by a maintenance worker two days after she was reported missing by her husband. She died from blunt force trauma to the head and her death was ruled a homicide.

Two DNA profiles other than the victim’s, were developed from the evidence, including semen, found at the scene and on the victim’s pants. No matches were found and eventually the investigation became a cold case.

Between 2017 and 2018, through a process called DNA phenotyping, investigators were able to develop a composite of the suspect that was created through DNA found at the scene. The lab estimates that the killer was about 25 years old at the time and of Northern European ancestry, blue or green eyes with blond or brown hair and fair skin.

In August 2020, police were notified of a potential lead on the unknown DNA profile and the person of interest was identified as Ricky Severt. He worked as an employee in the maintenance department at Memorial Hospital at the time of Watkins murder. Severt was killed in a traffic accident on Nov. 2, 2001 on Highway 94 just east of Colorado Springs.

Familial DNA was collected from surviving relatives of Severt and after analyzing the DNA, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation determined that Severt cannot be excluded from the from the results. The 4th Judicial District Attorney is confident that the person responsible for Watkins’ murder is Severt. Because he was killed, the investigation into the murder of Watkins will be closed out as Exceptionally Cleared/Death of Offender."

Colorado Springs Detectives Solve 1999 Cold Case Murder Of Jennifer Watkins

The article says 2 DNA profiles were developed from the evidence other than the victim's. So what about the second DNA profile? Is there's an unknown 2nd perp? Wish they would clarify.

 

[faithx]

"Colorado Springs police detectives have solved the cold case of a more than 20-year-old murder. The suspect was identified using familial DNA.

In 1999, Jennifer Watkins was found dead under a stairwell in an area of Memorial Hospital that was under construction in Colorado Springs. The 23-year-old worked there as a food service aide.

Her body was discovered by a maintenance worker two days after she was reported missing by her husband. She died from blunt force trauma to the head and her death was ruled a homicide.

Two DNA profiles other than the victim’s, were developed from the evidence, including semen, found at the scene and on the victim’s pants. No matches were found and eventually the investigation became a cold case.

Between 2017 and 2018, through a process called DNA phenotyping, investigators were able to develop a composite of the suspect that was created through DNA found at the scene. The lab estimates that the killer was about 25 years old at the time and of Northern European ancestry, blue or green eyes with blond or brown hair and fair skin.

In August 2020, police were notified of a potential lead on the unknown DNA profile and the person of interest was identified as Ricky Severt. He worked as an employee in the maintenance department at Memorial Hospital at the time of Watkins murder. Severt was killed in a traffic accident on Nov. 2, 2001 on Highway 94 just east of Colorado Springs.

Familial DNA was collected from surviving relatives of Severt and after analyzing the DNA, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation determined that Severt cannot be excluded from the from the results. The 4th Judicial District Attorney is confident that the person responsible for Watkins’ murder is Severt. Because he was killed, the investigation into the murder of Watkins will be closed out as Exceptionally Cleared/Death of Offender."

Colorado Springs Detectives Solve 1999 Cold Case Murder Of Jennifer Watkins

The article says 2 DNA profiles were developed from the evidence other than the victim's. So what about the second DNA profile? Is there's an unknown 2nd perp? Wish they would clarify.

From the press release:
"As part of the crime scene processing, a careful examination of the plastic used to wrap the body of Jennifer Watkins revealed some hairs, fibers, and a “yellow/white” stain, later determined to be semen. Additional biological evidence was collected at autopsy as well. Multiple items of evidence were sent to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for analysis. Two DNA profiles, other than the victim’s, were developed from the evidence items submitted for analysis. These profiles were developed from semen samples collected at autopsy, from the plastic wrap, and from the victim’s pants. The semen recovered from the plastic wrap and from the pants of Jennifer Watkins matched each other but were not a match to the sample collected at autopsy.

Biological samples were taken from several possible suspects and all of these individuals had been cleared due to their respective DNA not matching the two unknown DNA samples. As the investigation continued Jennifer’s husband, Michael Watkins, was interviewed several times and fully cooperated with any request made by investigators. After an extensive investigation no suspect was identified and eventually the investigation became a Cold Case. Over the past 21 years, multiple detectives continued to work on this case in order to identify a suspect to no avail."

"In March 2019, a Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) hit was received on the unknown DNA profile developed from the evidence collected at the autopsy of Jennifer Watkins. The match in this instance was to Michael Watkins and was expected to be present based upon information learned during the initial investigation."

 

[PaulaDC]

Tampa rape and kidnapping solved from1998:
Man, 60, accused in 1998 kidnapping, sexual battery, Tampa police say

 

[DSCrime]

@faithx thnx for posting this

From the press release:
"As part of the crime scene processing, a careful examination of the plastic used to wrap the body of Jennifer Watkins revealed some hairs, fibers, and a “yellow/white” stain, later determined to be semen. Additional biological evidence was collected at autopsy as well. Multiple items of evidence were sent to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for analysis. Two DNA profiles, other than the victim’s, were developed from the evidence items submitted for analysis. These profiles were developed from semen samples collected at autopsy, from the plastic wrap, and from the victim’s pants. The semen recovered from the plastic wrap and from the pants of Jennifer Watkins matched each other but were not a match to the sample collected at autopsy.

Biological samples were taken from several possible suspects and all of these individuals had been cleared due to their respective DNA not matching the two unknown DNA samples. As the investigation continued Jennifer’s husband, Michael Watkins, was interviewed several times and fully cooperated with any request made by investigators. After an extensive investigation no suspect was identified and eventually the investigation became a Cold Case. Over the past 21 years, multiple detectives continued to work on this case in order to identify a suspect to no avail."

"In March 2019, a Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) hit was received on the unknown DNA profile developed from the evidence collected at the autopsy of Jennifer Watkins. The match in this instance was to Michael Watkins and was expected to be present based upon information learned during the initial investigation."

 

[bazthehandyman]

Thank God for DNA geneology....if you've committed a crime and left any form of DNA ,someone will be knocking on your door.