thea_jones•1mo ago

Noticed more cold cases getting solved thanks to public genealogy databases.

Idk, maybe it's just me but submitting your DNA to one of those services could actually help crack old cases.

4 comments

4 Comments

patricia2621mo ago

How many people's DNA was used in that Golden State case?

spencer_barnes681mo ago

That Golden State Killer case, 56 I think. I mean, they basically used distant cousin matches to pinpoint him. It’s wild when you really think about it.

jana_black1mo ago

Honestly, the whole thing is crazy. I read how they built massive family trees from public DNA data, which took months of work. It makes me think about all the unsolved cases out there. But using distant cousins like that is a game-changer. My big question is, where do we draw the line on privacy? If your cousin gives DNA, you could be linked to a crime without ever knowing.

jana_sanchez961mo agoMost Upvoted

Yeah but is it actually that bad? Most people will never have their DNA used like that unless they're involved in something. If it catches murderers who've gotten away for decades, I'm kinda okay with it. The privacy stuff feels overblown when you weigh it against solving cold cases. My cousin submits her DNA, I'm not sweating it because I haven't done anything wrong. It seems like a useful tool, not some big scary invasion.