Less than a year ago the science of Forensic Genetic Mapping broke with the arrest of the Golden State Killer. Since then dozens of cases have been solved using that method. If there was ever an appropriate case for it, it is this case.
Now, if it is currently being done, perhaps it is best to say nothing so as not to tip off the perp. If it has been tried and it was unsuccessful, I can see both arguments pro and con in announcing it.
It has occurred to me that I am not aware of any case from the State of Texas that has been cleared by forensic genetic mapping. Cane nypne think of one?
Not Houston, but here is a case out of Brazos County, TX:
June 26, 2018
“A 37-year-old Brazos County homicide case has been solved, authorities said Monday.
A man
executed by lethal injection two decades agois responsible for the 1981 death of Virginia Freeman, Brazos County Sheriff Chris Kirk said.
Kirk said an analysis of DNA recovered from beneath Freeman’s fingernails provided ‘clear and convincing evidence’ linking James Otto Earhart to the woman’s death.
Earhart was executed Aug. 11, 1999, for the 1987 kidnapping and murder of 9-year-old Kandy Janell Kirtland of Bryan.
[SBM]
Ellen Greytak, director of bioinformatics at Parabon, said Monday that the company used public DNA databases available for ancestry and adoption research to help solve the Freeman case.
[SBM]
Kirk said the DNA ancestral analysis identified two female samples in the database, both second cousins of the suspect. Parabon researchers then identified the great-grandparents of the top DNA matches. The great-grandparents had six children, Kirk said, and the scientists determined the suspect would likely be the grandson of one of those children.
Last week, Parabon officials notified Brazos County investigators that based on ancestry genetic research, Earhart was the likely suspect in Freeman’s death.
‘We are all elated to finally close this case,’ Kirk said. ‘The one regret I have is that we weren’t able to put handcuffs on the suspect and prosecute him for the vicious killing of Virginia Freeman,’ Kirk said.
Kirk said investigators have filed paperwork to exhume Earhart’s body to confirm the DNA connection.
‘Earhart was already on our list’ of suspects, Kirk said.
Kirk credited former Investigator Dick Gulledge, who, in 1981, secured the hands of the victim and collected fingernail clippings during the autopsy. DNA technology did not exist in 1981, but Kirk said the Bexar County Medical Examiner’s Office helped preserve the DNA found underneath Freeman’s fingernails.
No DNA sample was collected from Earhart while he was alive, but a DNA sample provided by Earhart’s son in April 2017 was analyzed by the Texas Department of Public Safety’s Austin lab, and the testing indicated a match, Kirk said.
Freeman’s children said in a statement Monday that they were grateful to Kirk, Investigator Kenny Elliott, the Brazos County Sheriff’s Department and others involved in the case. ‘We hope that this brings some closure to all who were affected by this crime,’ the statement said.”
Modern forensics lead Brazos County authorities to executed murderer as likely killer of Virginia Freeman
More on Ms. Freeman’s case:
Body of executed killer James Earhart exhumed for DNA testing
Virginia Freeman's unsolved 1981 killing remains priority for original investigators
