How Genetic Genealogy Is Changing Cold Cases

Investigative genetic genealogy pairs DNA evidence with public ancestry databases to build out family trees and narrow a field of suspects. It is the same broad approach that drew attention in the Idaho student murders investigation.

The method has closed cases that sat untouched for decades, but it also raises real questions about privacy and consent that courts and lawmakers are still working through.

For listeners, the takeaway is simple: the science behind these cases is moving quickly, and understanding it makes the headlines easier to read with a clear eye.