Unsolved Sexual Assaults with Suspect DNA

Once law enforcement has been notified of a sexual assault, they promptly collect forensic evidence related to that crime. If the collected DNA is identified as belonging to a potential suspect, it is uploaded to the national CODIS database. This database serves as a nationwide registry of DNA from arrestees and convicted offenders, aiding in potential matches and suspect identification.

However, In many cases, there is no DNA match in the CODIS database. When this occurs and there is no other evidence linking a known suspect to the sexual assault, the case can quickly go cold.

With the recent developments in DNA forensics, particularly in SNP DNA technology and Investigative Genetic Genealogy, the possibility of identifying previously unknown offenders in sexual assaults has become increasingly promising. These technologies have created a dramatic opportunity to identify once-unknown suspects in almost all sexual assaults where suspect DNA has been collected. Investigative Genetic Genealogy combines DNA analyses with genealogical research to help identify these possible suspects, providing invaluable leads in cases where there were previously no leads to pursue.

This process comes at a cost, as only private forensics labs, which charge a fee for their work, conduct this type of testing. The Monterey County DA’s Office Cold Case Task Force is currently collaborating with the California Department of Justice to identify all Monterey County sexual assault cases where potential suspect DNA has been collected, with the hopes of solving as many of these crimes as possible, no matter how long they have been unsolved.