Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 34:31 — 47.5MB)
The previous episode showed how homicide detectives solved 50-year-old cold cases.
They analyzed old evidence using new DNA extraction technology pioneered by Othram, a forensic genealogy lab in Texas.
Othram provided new leads by finding relatives of suspects on genealogy databases.
As revolutionary as that seems, it was just a few years ago that the FBI pioneered the use of mitochondrial DNA in a Texas murder case.
Mitochondrial DNA is handed down from mother to child, so it can only tell you about your maternal ancestors.
In a landmark case, former U.S. prosecutor Bill Johnston used the mitochondrial DNA from a single hair to send a killer to prison for the rest of his life.
Here’s the backstory of how he did it.
FOLLOW the True Crime Reporter® Podcast
SIGN UP FOR my True Crime Newsletter
THANK YOU FOR THE FIVE-STAR REVIEWS ON APPLE Please leave one – it really helps.
TELL ME about a STORY OR SUBJECT that you want to hear more about
Leave a Reply