04-26-2018, 08:26 PM
This answers my question about how investigators knew to put surveillance on DeAngelo. It's really interesting and the first time I've seen a suspect identified in this manner.
Sacramento investigators tracked down East Area Rapist suspect Joseph James DeAngelo using genealogical websites that contained genetic information from a relative, the Sacramento County District Attorney's Office confirmed Thursday.
The effort was part of a painstaking process that began by using DNA from one of the crime scenes from years ago and comparing it to genetic profiles available online through various websites that cater to individuals wanting to know more about their family backgrounds by accepting DNA samples from them.
Joseph James DeAngelo was the family member in the family tree who was the right age and fit the profile. That's when investigators put him under surveillance and collected an item he discarded which contained his DNA. They tested the discarded item against the DNA from the old crime scene evidence and verified that he was in fact the rapist/killer.
I have a feeling we'll start seeing other cases solved using the same strategy. If LE has perp DNA and it doesn't match to anyone in the criminal DNA database, they'll start running it against DNA profiles on Ancestory.com and similar popular sites. If any blood relative has submitted DNA to trace their family tree, it's bad news for the unidentified perpetrator.
Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/latest-news/articl...rylink=cpy
Sacramento investigators tracked down East Area Rapist suspect Joseph James DeAngelo using genealogical websites that contained genetic information from a relative, the Sacramento County District Attorney's Office confirmed Thursday.
The effort was part of a painstaking process that began by using DNA from one of the crime scenes from years ago and comparing it to genetic profiles available online through various websites that cater to individuals wanting to know more about their family backgrounds by accepting DNA samples from them.
Joseph James DeAngelo was the family member in the family tree who was the right age and fit the profile. That's when investigators put him under surveillance and collected an item he discarded which contained his DNA. They tested the discarded item against the DNA from the old crime scene evidence and verified that he was in fact the rapist/killer.
I have a feeling we'll start seeing other cases solved using the same strategy. If LE has perp DNA and it doesn't match to anyone in the criminal DNA database, they'll start running it against DNA profiles on Ancestory.com and similar popular sites. If any blood relative has submitted DNA to trace their family tree, it's bad news for the unidentified perpetrator.
Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/latest-news/articl...rylink=cpy