Investigators are considering a new tactic in the search for Nancy Guthrie, who has been missing for 20 days. She was last seen on January 31 and reported missing from her home in Arizona the following day.
DNA genealogy websites could be used in the search for Nancy Guthrie
As the search for Nancy enters Day 20, investigators are considering using DNA genealogy websites to uncover her kidnapper(s).
While police were able to collect DNA from the crime scene at Nancy’s home, this hasn’t turned up any matches in the national criminal justice database, known as CODIS. The database includes DNA profiles from convicted criminals and, in some states, people arrested on certain charges.
“Investigators are currently looking into additional investigative genetic genealogy options for DNA evidence to check for matches,” the Pima County sheriff’s department said at a press conference earlier this week.
Speaking about how helpful genealogy websites can be during investigations, expert Ruth Ballard told Fortune they are a “fantastic tool.”
“If it’s a good quality sample and they’re able to get a profile, they could find a hit on that fairly quickly,” said the Californian geneticist. She specializes in DNA and has testified in hundreds of court cases.
So, do genealogy sites have to comply with police? Ancestry, 23andMe and MyHeritage have confirmed they can be asked to comply with court orders seeking information. Other sites have policies which require users to opt in to allow police to look at their data.
The use of genealogy sites in criminal investigations has, in some cases, helped solve the case. Murderers, including Joseph DeAngelo Jr (AKA The Golden State Killer) and Bryan Kohberger (who killed four University of Idaho students), have been convicted based on DNA evidence ran through genealogy sites.
TELL US – HAVE YOU BEEN FOLLOWING THE CASE OF NANCY GUTHRIE?
