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

[jaejae]

With the help of a DNA database, the Clearfield Police Department arrested a man Wednesday they believe committed multiple aggravated sexual assaults in Utah and Wyoming between 1991 and 2001.

Mark Douglas Burns, 69, of Ogden, has been charged with eight counts of aggravated sexual assault, six counts of aggravated kidnapping, two counts of aggravated burglary and one count of aggravated robbery — and police believe this is not the full extent of his offenses.

[...]

But police credit their real breakthrough to advancements in DNA technology and the work of a genetic genealogist Barbara Rae-Venter, who was able to discover a potential familial relationship of the suspect’s using previously gathered evidence. As a result of that work, officers were eventually able to identify and interview Burns, culminating in his arrest Wednesday after two decades of investigation.

Police say he committed each rape in a similar fashion — breaking into homes, blindfolding the victim with duct tape or ripped clothing, and then brutally raping the victim repeatedly — often while other people were in the home. He allegedly targeted women in apartments with sliding glass doors, and would take money and panties with him when he left.

His victims ranged in age from an 11-year-old girl to a 52-year-old woman. They lived in Clearfield, Ogden, Layton and Riverdale.

Clearfield police arrest alleged serial rapist with the use of a DNA database

Thanks for the post. Just wondering if this FBI VICAP is the same offender or a different one as he struck in Utah, this offender struck in Arizona as well. Might be worth LE looking for any possible connection though:

UNKNOWN SUSPECT - ARIZONA, UTAH — FBI

 

[jaejae]

Thanks for the post. Just wondering if this FBI VICAP is the same offender or a different one as he struck in Utah, this offender struck in Arizona as well. Might be worth LE looking for any possible connection though:

UNKNOWN SUSPECT - ARIZONA, UTAH — FBI

Here is another report about the arrest in the Utah rape cases:

Genealogy, DNA helped identify Utahn suspected in multiple sex assaults

 

[jaejae]

Here is another report about rapid DNA. Again if any civil liberties groups or human rights groups and the lawyers of people arrested read my post I urge them to look into the possibility that LE have been identifying some innocent men for crimes they did not commit because I believe this to be the case as in my opinion LE and genealogists do not understand the processes they are putting DNA through as well as they think:

'Rapid DNA' promises breakthroughs in solving crimes. So why does it face a backlash?

My point is this is a very important part of the debate about the use of investigative genetic genealogy because up to now the argument has been one sided with the people advocating the use of genetic genealogy working on the basis that the right offender has been identified in every case. I do not believe or know this is not the case as do the FBI and Federal Authorities in my opinion:

Rapid DNA - Wikipedia

Rapid DNA — FBI

‘Rapid DNA:’ A Breakthrough For Solving Crimes? Some Say Not So Fast

 

[jaejae]

Here is another report about the arrest in the Utah rape cases:

Genealogy, DNA helped identify Utahn suspected in multiple sex assaults

Here are a couple of video reports about the case in Utah:

One of these reports mentions that Utah LE did not even know the name of this suspect until 2019.

 

[jaejae]

Here is an article about Dr Barbara Rae-Venter who helped to identify Joseph James DeAngelo as a suspect in the Golden State Killer case and Mark Douglas Burns as a suspect in the Utah rapes cases which are shown above in this thread. Of course this was with the use of investigative genetic genealogy. Dr Rae-Venter has been an advocate for members of the public to enter their DNA into public databases for her and other genealogists to use to identify suspects like these and has done so on Paul Holes audio book Evil Has A Name which of course definitively named Joseph DeAngelo as the Golden State Killer and once at a comic book convention:

Dr. Barbara Rae-Venter And Gene By Gene Join Forces To Shape The Future Of Investigative Genetic Genealogy

I assume that this use of genetic genealogy fits in with the new guidelines issued by the Department Of Justice about how LE should access public DNA databases to conduct their investigations. Here is a quote from the above article:

According to Dr. Rae-Venter, "Their willingness to work with law enforcement to help solve the most violent of crimes, through crime scene DNA matching, takes great corporate courage. I am honored to be part of the Gene By Gene team, as we forge the future for investigative genetic genealogy and a safer society."

Clearfield, Utah, a suspected serial rapist was arrested after Dr. Rae-Venter provided investigators with information using the FamilyTreeDNA matching database. This is one of more than 20 cases of either violent crime, or unidentified remains Dr. Rae-Venter has assisted in solving since GSK.' data-reactid="15">The success of investigative genetic genealogy has been demonstrated in more than sixty arrests of suspected murderers and rapists since the Golden State Killer break in April of 2018. This week, in Clearfield, Utah, a suspected serial rapist was arrested after Dr. Rae-Venter provided investigators with information using the FamilyTreeDNA matching database. This is one of more than 20 cases of either violent crime, or unidentified remains Dr. Rae-Venter has assisted in solving since GSK.

 

[jaejae]

Here is an article about Dr Barbara Rae-Venter who helped to identify Joseph James DeAngelo as a suspect in the Golden State Killer case and Mark Douglas Burns as a suspect in the Utah rapes cases which are shown above in this thread. Of course this was with the use of investigative genetic genealogy. Dr Rae-Venter has been an advocate for members of the public to enter their DNA into public databases for her and other genealogists to use to identify suspects like these and has done so on Paul Holes audio book Evil Has A Name which of course definitively named Joseph DeAngelo as the Golden State Killer and once at a comic book convention:

Dr. Barbara Rae-Venter And Gene By Gene Join Forces To Shape The Future Of Investigative Genetic Genealogy

I assume that this use of genetic genealogy fits in with the new guidelines issued by the Department Of Justice about how LE should access public DNA databases to conduct their investigations. Here is a quote from the above article:

According to Dr. Rae-Venter, "Their willingness to work with law enforcement to help solve the most violent of crimes, through crime scene DNA matching, takes great corporate courage. I am honored to be part of the Gene By Gene team, as we forge the future for investigative genetic genealogy and a safer society."

Clearfield, Utah, a suspected serial rapist was arrested after Dr. Rae-Venter provided investigators with information using the FamilyTreeDNA matching database. This is one of more than 20 cases of either violent crime, or unidentified remains Dr. Rae-Venter has assisted in solving since GSK.' data-reactid="15">The success of investigative genetic genealogy has been demonstrated in more than sixty arrests of suspected murderers and rapists since the Golden State Killer break in April of 2018. This week, in Clearfield, Utah, a suspected serial rapist was arrested after Dr. Rae-Venter provided investigators with information using the FamilyTreeDNA matching database. This is one of more than 20 cases of either violent crime, or unidentified remains Dr. Rae-Venter has assisted in solving since GSK.

As I have mentioned above I believe in the Golden State Killer case Dr Rae-Venter took part in a process that misidentified an innocent man as the offender and I take issue that this has made it a safer society for Mr DeAngelo or his daughters.

 

[dotr]

LA - Newborn,‘Baby Jane Doe’, found Jan.24,1994 in 55-gallon drum,Arrest of mother,Sonia Charles,50.

DNA cold case: Louisiana woman charged in 25-year-old murder of ‘Baby Jane Doe'
JEANERETTE, La. -
A Louisiana woman has been charged with murder after DNA evidence linked her to a newborn girl left to freeze to death in a trash can 25 years ago, authorities said.

 

[jaejae]

Thanks for the post. Just wondering if this FBI VICAP is the same offender or a different one as he struck in Utah, this offender struck in Arizona as well. Might be worth LE looking for any possible connection though:

UNKNOWN SUSPECT - ARIZONA, UTAH — FBI

From the statements they have made LE will be looking to find more cases that might be linked to the Utah offender:

Television show from 2015 is now helping more victims of ‘the Clearfield Rapist’ receive closure

If people are interested here is an appeal about information on the Utah rapist from 2015 before his capture:

Serial rapist attacked a dozen women in Utah and Wyoming

Here is one more report from 2015:

Police chasing serial rapist after 170 new leads, 6 possible new victims

 

[jaejae]

Here is an article about Dr Barbara Rae-Venter who helped to identify Joseph James DeAngelo as a suspect in the Golden State Killer case and Mark Douglas Burns as a suspect in the Utah rapes cases which are shown above in this thread. Of course this was with the use of investigative genetic genealogy. Dr Rae-Venter has been an advocate for members of the public to enter their DNA into public databases for her and other genealogists to use to identify suspects like these and has done so on Paul Holes audio book Evil Has A Name which of course definitively named Joseph DeAngelo as the Golden State Killer and once at a comic book convention:

Dr. Barbara Rae-Venter And Gene By Gene Join Forces To Shape The Future Of Investigative Genetic Genealogy

I assume that this use of genetic genealogy fits in with the new guidelines issued by the Department Of Justice about how LE should access public DNA databases to conduct their investigations. Here is a quote from the above article:

According to Dr. Rae-Venter, "Their willingness to work with law enforcement to help solve the most violent of crimes, through crime scene DNA matching, takes great corporate courage. I am honored to be part of the Gene By Gene team, as we forge the future for investigative genetic genealogy and a safer society."

Clearfield, Utah, a suspected serial rapist was arrested after Dr. Rae-Venter provided investigators with information using the FamilyTreeDNA matching database. This is one of more than 20 cases of either violent crime, or unidentified remains Dr. Rae-Venter has assisted in solving since GSK.' data-reactid="15">The success of investigative genetic genealogy has been demonstrated in more than sixty arrests of suspected murderers and rapists since the Golden State Killer break in April of 2018. This week, in Clearfield, Utah, a suspected serial rapist was arrested after Dr. Rae-Venter provided investigators with information using the FamilyTreeDNA matching database. This is one of more than 20 cases of either violent crime, or unidentified remains Dr. Rae-Venter has assisted in solving since GSK.

As people might guess I find this genetic genealogy and ethical questions around it an interesting subject although if I had a magic wand I would remove all the crimes on this board. The article above mentions that Dr. Barbara Rae-Venter is planning to 'join forces' with a private company it would appear to expand the use of genetic genealogy which of course most famously she used to identify Joseph James DeAngelo as a suspect in the Golden State Killer. This was partly achieved by her discovery that the suspect had Italian heritage from the DNA sample that Paul Holes obtained from a crime scene years after the original DNA was taken from the crime scene. Here are details of the company that the above article states that Dr. Rae-Venter intends to link up with and I am sure the Department Of Justice and the FBI will ensure this fits in with the new guidelines about the use of investigative genealogy by LE:

Gene By Gene - We are genetics! What's in YOUR genes?

Gene by Gene - Wikipedia

Family Tree DNA - Wikipedia

 

[Suglo]

As people might guess I find this genetic genealogy and ethical questions around it an interesting subject although if I had a magic wand I would remove all the crimes on this board. The article above mentions that Dr. Barbara Rae-Venter is planning to 'join forces' with a private company it would appear to expand the use of genetic genealogy which of course most famously she used to identify Joseph James DeAngelo as a suspect in the Golden State Killer. This was partly achieved by her discovery that the suspect had Italian heritage from the DNA sample that Paul Holes obtained from a crime scene years after the original DNA was taken from the crime scene. Here are details of the company that the above article states that Dr. Rae-Venter intends to link up with and I am sure the Department Of Justice and the FBI will ensure this fits in with the new guidelines about the use of investigative genealogy by LE:

Gene By Gene - We are genetics! What's in YOUR genes?

Gene by Gene - Wikipedia

Family Tree DNA - Wikipedia

You have a heart of gold JaeJae

 

[jaejae]

You have a heart of gold JaeJae

Thank you. I have a feeling you might have as well. Love in

 

[jaejae]

Here is an article that is about the use of genetic genealogy:

We can use genes to find serial killers, but how much more can they really tell us?

 

[jaejae]

Here is a blog entry about the use of investigative genetic genealogy. In my opinion the recent use of investigative genetic genealogy to identify possible suspects in serious crime cases has been very unethical:

Justice Department issues DNA guidelines

This blogger is of course in favour of a much more ethical use of DNA by genealogists.

 

[jaejae]

Here is an interesting report about Parabon Labs the company of scientists who have been very involved in the use of investigative genealogy to identify potential suspects in cold cases with CeCe Moore being employed as their lead scientific genealogist. Cases where suspects have been identified including a double murder case in Alabama:

Case Closed: A Reston company that helps police crack DNA evidence

Here is part of the above report:

By that time, Parabon was already working with a renowned genetic genealogist named CeCe Moore. “Within two weeks’ time we had revamped the business model here, hired CeCe, and began using genetic genealogy as really our primary first offering,” Armentrout said.

Greytak said the level of specifics Parabon can determine now can truly help in a case.

“I joked, ‘Do you really care if he has blue eyes if we can tell you his name and address?’,” Dr. Greytak said.

Here are a few links about cases Parabon Labs have used their scientific expertise to identify suspects in via investigative genetic genealogy:

List of suspected perpetrators of crimes identified with GEDmatch - Wikipedia

DNA and a Coincidence Lead to Arrest in 1999 Double Murder in Alabama

Parabon NanoLabs - Wikipedia

 

[watcher9]

Here is an interesting report about Parabon Labs the company of scientists who have been very involved in the use of investigative genealogy to identify potential suspects in cold cases with CeCe Moore being employed as their lead scientific genealogist. Cases where suspects have been identified including a double murder case in Alabama:

Case Closed: A Reston company that helps police crack DNA evidence

Here is part of the above report:

By that time, Parabon was already working with a renowned genetic genealogist named CeCe Moore. “Within two weeks’ time we had revamped the business model here, hired CeCe, and began using genetic genealogy as really our primary first offering,” Armentrout said.

Greytak said the level of specifics Parabon can determine now can truly help in a case.

“I joked, ‘Do you really care if he has blue eyes if we can tell you his name and address?’,” Dr. Greytak said.

Here are a few links about cases Parabon Labs have used their scientific expertise to identify suspects in via investigative genetic genealogy:

List of suspected perpetrators of crimes identified with GEDmatch - Wikipedia

DNA and a Coincidence Lead to Arrest in 1999 Double Murder in Alabama

Parabon NanoLabs - Wikipedia

I'm sure it's been posted before but here is link to latest WS thread on this case.

AL - AL - J.B. Beasley, 17, & Tracie Hawlett, 17, Ozark, 31 July 1999 #5 *ARREST*

 

[wary]

Mill Creek Shed Man - DNA Doe Project Cases

Mill Creek Shed Man identified by DNA Doe. Since there was no indication of foul play, it will be up to his family whether his name is released. He was the first African American identified by DNA Doe Project.

 

[mpnola]

LA - Newborn,‘Baby Jane Doe’, found Jan.24,1994 in 55-gallon drum,Arrest of mother,Sonia Charles,50.

DNA cold case: Louisiana woman charged in 25-year-old murder of ‘Baby Jane Doe'
JEANERETTE, La. -
A Louisiana woman has been charged with murder after DNA evidence linked her to a newborn girl left to freeze to death in a trash can 25 years ago, authorities said.

This post was overshadowed so I wanted to bring it forward. Such important work to identify the nameless and the harmed. Rest in peace, sweet child.

 

[jaejae]

From the statements they have made LE will be looking to find more cases that might be linked to the Utah offender:

Television show from 2015 is now helping more victims of ‘the Clearfield Rapist’ receive closure

If people are interested here is an appeal about information on the Utah rapist from 2015 before his capture:

Serial rapist attacked a dozen women in Utah and Wyoming

Here is one more report from 2015:

Police chasing serial rapist after 170 new leads, 6 possible new victims

Here is an interview with the first Detective to be involved with Utah rape cases in which a suspect has just been identified through the use of investigative genetic genealogy by LE with the assistance of genealogist Dr Barbara Rae-Venter who was also of course involved with Paul Holes investigation into the Golden State Killer case which lead to Mr Joseph James DeAngelo or JJD as he is often known being identified as a suspect in these cases:

First detective in serial rape case says case 'was personal on so many levels'

 

[jaejae]

Here is an interview with the first Detective to be involved with Utah rape cases in which a suspect has just been identified through the use of investigative genetic genealogy by LE with the assistance of genealogist Dr Barbara Rae-Venter who was also of course involved with Paul Holes investigation into the Golden State Killer case which lead to Mr Joseph James DeAngelo or JJD as he is often known being identified as a suspect in these cases:

First detective in serial rape case says case 'was personal on so many levels'

It is fact that many of these cases that have offenders through the use of investigative genetic genealogy stick in the minds of the investiagtors because of the brutality of the crimes. Very similar to the way the East Area Rapist and Golden State Killer crimes stuck in the minds of those great Detectives Larry Crompton, Richard Shelby, Carol Daly and Larry Pool etc etc:

COTTONWOOD HEIGHTS — Reflecting from her living room, former detective Lynette Griffith said a rape case she was called out to in 1991 in Rock Springs, Wyoming, was particularly troubling.

“It was personal on many levels,” Griffith said. “One, it was a child, and I was a mother at that time myself, and you think of somebody breaking in your house in the middle of the night.”

Investigators said 69-year-old Mark Douglas Burns, who is accused of raping women in Utah and Wyoming, typically entered through unlocked sliding glass doors, tying up his victims and assaulting them for sometimes several hours. Griffith said the case back in 1991 was similar.

“The unknown suspect at that time crawled through a bedroom window,” Griffith said. “He had a gun. He bound her, and sexually assaulted her in several different ways.”

For nearly three decades, Griffith said that case never left her.

“Whatever I thought I felt because it was unsolved, I always just multiplied that for the parents,” Griffith said. “I worked with both the parents on and off for the rest of my career. So anytime you see the parents, it always is in the back of your mind.”

Here are another couple of reports about this case:

Utah serial rape suspect appears in court, plans to hire his own attorney

We'll be back

 

[jaejae]

Here is a blog entry about investigative genetic genealogy and the in particular the Institute For DNA Justice group:

Becoming a Genetic Witness | VOICE

The two cases focused on are the Golden State Killer case and the NorCal Rapist case where potential suspects have been identified through the use of investigative genetic genealogy.

Here is part of the blog:

Last week the Association of Deputy District Attorneys sought to simultaneously bring attention to the nonprofit Institute for DNA Justice while also calling on citizens to become so called “genetic witnesses” by submitting their DNA information for use by the police.

“To the extent that poverty/low income is intertwined with the criminal justice system … a focus on using these databases to identify criminals will create unease or distrust, especially among historically targeted populations.”
– Jennifer King, Director of Consumer Privacy, Stanford Law School
The Institute for DNA Justice (Institute) was formed to help educate the public about the value of investigative genetic genealogy as—what the organization describes on its website, “[A] revolutionary new tool to identify, arrest and convict violent criminals, deter violent crime and exonerate the innocent.”

The mission of the Institute is to raise awareness about the value of Investigative Genetic Genealogy (IGG) to identify, arrest and convict criminals; exonerate people who were wrongly accused or convicted; and identify previously unidentified murder victims.

https://www.institutefordnajustice.org/

Institute for DNA Justice (@iminforjustice) | Twitter

Roy Charles Waller - Wikipedia

Golden State Killer - Wikipedia