Editor’s Note: This is the thirteenth episode in Season 3 of Break the Case. Listen to the first episode.
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Genetic genealogy has played a major role in helping law enforcement solve infamous unsolved murders like the Golden State Killer and has helped solve more than 650 cold cases across the country.
Genetic genealogy allows officers to compare DNA evidence with public genealogy databases, helping investigators build out family trees and identify relatives of potential suspects. Using family lineage, officers can narrow down potential suspects so they can conduct a more targeted on-the-ground investigation.
While genetic genealogy is proving to be an invaluable tool for cold case investigators, conducting this type of research is complicated, time consuming, and requires advanced training for officers. Unfortunately, many agencies do not have officers trained with the skills needed to conduct genetic genealogy investigations.
Could Genetic Genealogy Uncover Linda Malcom’s Killer?
When AMU investigator Jennifer Bucholtz learned that the Port Orchard Police Department was potentially using genetic genealogy to help identify Linda Malcom’s killer, she wanted to learn more about this investigative technique.
She completed a challenging training course with Genetic Genealogy for Law Enforcement. In this course, she learned about DNA typing and how to use those results, along with open sources ancestry databases, to build family trees and, in turn, identify a likely suspect.
In this episode, Jen and George talk to Jen’s genetic genealogy instructor, Christine Burke. Learn how Christine’s personal experience uncovering disparities in her own family lineage motivated her to learn more about genealogy. She then coupled her personal interest with her professional background as a law enforcement officer and founded a training company to teach both law enforcement and civilians how to conduct advanced genetic genealogy investigations.
The AMU Cold Case Investigation Team awaits news if genetic genealogy will lead Port Orchard Police to identify Linda Malcom’s killer.
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Anyone with information about the death of Linda Malcom can email our confidential tip line tips@justice4linda.com or call Detective Walton of the Port Orchard Police Department at 360-876-1700. All tipsters are guaranteed confidentiality and anonymity if they wish.
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