The Cold Case Science and Technology Unit

The mission of the Cold Case Science and Technology Unit is to work with our partner agencies to solve cold cases and identify human remains to provide victims and victim survivors with answers. Our team is staffed with two Deputy DA Prosecutors and from the Investigations Bureau, a Lieutenant, three Criminal Investigators, a Crime Analyst and an Investigative Assistant. Our team is experienced in utilizing investigative genetic genealogy to solve cases where DNA is present and there have been no matches in CODIS (Combined DNA Index System). Our Office was part of the genealogy team that identified Joseph DeAngelo as the Golden State Killer, the first ever criminal case to be solved through investigative genealogy. Our team has solved many other cases utilizing investigative genealogy, including the “Nor Cal Rapist” who was responsible for sexually assaulting (9) victims over a 15-year period in Northern California. Additionally, the team used investigative genetic genealogy to exonerate a person wrongfully convicted of murder who had served (15) years in prison for a murder he did not commit.

In the vast majority of cases that we solve, it wouldn’t be possible without the help of the public. The process of conducting investigative genealogy can be very complex and can involve constructing several family trees comprising numerous familial lineages that have to be ruled in or out. One way of doing this is by identifying people that are on these different lineages to narrow down where in our family trees to focus the search. Reference testing through cooperation from individuals in the community saves valuable time and greatly increases the odds of solving the case.