Substantive developments in cold case investigative practices, forensic science, and technology — from investigative genetic genealogy to digital forensics and case prioritization.
Two operationally useful forensic-DNA studies were identified this week. No substantive new ViCAP guidance, cold-case review standard, or family/media-engagement research was published. Studies cover archived medical specimens as antemortem DNA references and accelerated DNA profiling through workflow reconfiguration.
Investigative genetic genealogy (IGG) has emerged as one of the most significant advances in cold case investigation in decades. This article explains what changed, why it matters, how it may assist a cold case investigation, and the practical and legal considerations investigators and supervisors must understand before deploying it.
Three national databases — NamUs, ViCAP, and CODIS — are essential tools for cold case investigators. Each serves a distinct function, and understanding how to use them in combination can surface connections that no single database would reveal alone.
Authoritative Sources
Most agencies have more cold cases than resources to reinvestigate them. A structured solvability assessment framework helps supervisors and investigators allocate limited resources to cases with the highest probability of resolution.