Investigators Face New Hurdles in Solving Decades-Old Crimes Locally
Law enforcement agencies have been using online genealogy services to solve crimes, including cold case murders.
These services have helped investigators identify suspects and human remains by matching DNA from crime scenes with genetic profiles on the sites.
The technique relies on public records and family-tree building, with Ancestry being a crucial tool.
Ancestry has a vast amount of individual DNA profiles and public records, which have been used to solve over 1,400 cases.
However, the site recently revised its terms and conditions to prohibit use by law enforcement agencies without a legal order or warrant.
This change has deterred many police agencies from using the site, which may slow or stall criminal investigations.
The revision has significant implications for investigators, who rely on Ancestry’s records database to build family trees and find links to other users.
Without access to this database, investigators’ work will be severely hindered, and some cases may not be resolved.
The Ramapo College’s Investigative Genetic Genealogy Center in New Jersey has already had its account canceled for violating Ancestry’s terms and conditions.
Ancestry’s decision highlights the tension between privacy concerns and the need to solve crimes using genetic material.
The company has clarified its long-standing policy, stating that its services are intended solely for family history research, not law enforcement.
This development may impact the use of genetic genealogy in criminal investigations, with some officials proposing laws to regulate the use of DNA databases.
The use of genetic genealogy has been instrumental in solving high-profile cases, including the 2018 identification of the Golden State Killer.
However, the technique also raises concerns about privacy and the potential for misuse of genetic information.
As the debate continues, law enforcement agencies must adapt to the new landscape and find alternative methods to access the information they need to solve crimes.
Investigations have been affected, with the Ramapo center and other agencies having to rely on smaller databases, which may not be as effective in solving cases.
Ancestry’s public records, including census, death, and cemetery records, have been critical in solving over 50 cases in the past five years, according to the Toronto Police Service’s investigative genetic genealogy unit.
The loss of access to these records may thwart efforts to catch dangerous criminals and bring justice to crime victims and families of the missing.