INVESTIGATIVE GENETIC GENEALOGY SERVICES

Investigative genetic genealogy (IGG) combines the analysis of genetic testing data (from DNA tests) with traditional genealogical research to generate investigative leads in unsolved violent crimes and unidentified human remains cases, and to help exonerate individuals wrongly convicted of violent crimes.

DNA has been used as evidence in criminal cases since the late 1980s, but IGG has only recently (in the past decade) been used to generate leads for criminal cases.

When working on a IGG case, I use accepted traditional and genetic genealogy research and analysis tools and methods to build family trees with the goal of locating the origin of the unknown DNA profile. Information gathered from a IGG investigation is handed directly to the investigating agency and only used as a potential lead to be considered for additional investigation by law enforcement officials.

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Services include:

INVESTIGATIVE GENEALOGY RESEARCH & ANALYSIS: Once a DNA profile has uploaded to an open-source DNA database (GEDmatch, FamilyTreeDNA), I conduct research and use genetic genealogy tools to identify possible relatives.
TRADITIONAL GENEALOGY RESEARCH & ANALYSIS: Based on information gathered from genetic genealogy research and analyses, I conduct traditional genealogical research and build family trees for each person whose genetic profile has a family relationship with the source of the unknown DNA profile.
IDENTIFICATION OF POSSIBLE DNA CANDIDATES: Based on genetic and traditional genealogical research and analyses, I coordinate with the investigative team to narrow the list of subjects who fit the genetic criteria based on degree of kinship. A list of candidates - or individual candidate - is submitted to the investigative team for consideration as a lead in the investigation, along with a detailed case report. I perform additional genealogical research and anaylsis as required by the investigation.

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DNA Tests

Genetic testing helps connect branches of family trees – and the individuals within those branches. It is vital to locate potential DNA donors in your family tree to further correlate information and data gathered through genealogical research, and to help prove – or disprove – the proposed relationships put forward in your genealogical story/tree.

“These tests provide information about an individual's ancestral roots, and they can help to connect people with their relatives, sometimes as distantly related as fourth or fifth cousins. Such information can be particularly useful when a person does not know their genealogical ancestry…”[1]

There are three primary types of DNA tests:

Autosomal DNA tests (atDNA) target the 22 autosomal chromosomes that a person shares with ancestors and descendants in their genetic family lines. Results generally can be used to determine relationships between people who have shared ancestors in the past 5-6 generations.
Mitochondrial – or mtDNA – testing targets DNA in a person’s mitochondria, which is passed from mother to children. Results can only be used to determine relationships in a direct maternal line because only females pass this DNA along in an unbroken line.
Y-DNA testing targets the Y chromosome in a person’s 23rd chromosome pair (also known as the “sex chromosomes”). Only biological males carry and pass along the Y chromosome, so this testing provides information about a person’s paternal line.

To learn more about your lineage, it helps to identify living persons to approach about taking a voluntary DNA test. When approaching candidate test-takers in my genealogy research (NOTE: I never approach candidates in FIGG cases - only law enforcement officials are authorized to do perform that duty), I abide strictly by the Board for Certification of Genealogist (BCG)’s Code of Ethics, particularly the tenets created “To protect people who provide DNA samples,” as outlined here:

“When seeking DNA from a living person for genealogical research, I will explain

how I would use and share their genetic information and the risks and benefits of that use and sharing;
the possibility and consequences of discovering unanticipated relatives, unknown medical conditions, unexpected ethnic backgrounds, and intentional misinformation about such situations;
options for openness and privacy, how other researchers could or could not access the data; and why complete anonymity and privacy can never be guaranteed.

After providing this information, I will request and comply with the consent, freely given by the person providing the DNA sample or that person’s guardian or legal representative. When working with DNA test results of living people, I will not publish personally identifying information without each test taker’s consent. I will not privately share a match list without the list owner’s consent. If I have the list owner’s consent, I may privately share details of a match without the match’s consent.”[2]

2761658 : February 14, 2020).

[2] Genealogist’s Code of Ethics at Board for Certification of Genealogists (BCG) (https://bcgcertification.org/ethics-standards/code/ : accessed 4 August 2023).

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