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Genealogy Websites Were Key to Big Break in Golden State Killer Case
New York Times ^ | 4/26/18 | THOMAS FULLER

Posted on 04/26/2018 4:04:33 PM PDT by Blue House Sue

SACRAMENTO — The Golden State Killer raped and murdered victims all across the state of California in an era before Google searches and social media, a time when the police relied on shoe leather, not cellphone records or big data.

But it was technology that got him. The suspect, Joseph James DeAngelo, 72, was arrested by the police on Tuesday. Investigators accuse him of committing more than 50 rapes and 12 murders.

Investigators used DNA from crime scenes and plugged that genetic profile into a commercial online genealogy database. They found distant relatives of Mr. DeAngelo’s and traced their DNA to him.

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; News/Current Events; US: California
KEYWORDS: dna; dnatests; earons; genealogy; helixmakemineadouble; serialkiller
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Technology Wins.
1 posted on 04/26/2018 4:04:33 PM PDT by Blue House Sue
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To: Blue House Sue

Nothing like a for-profit DNA compilation service disguised as a way to discover more about one’s past. Am I right?


2 posted on 04/26/2018 4:06:11 PM PDT by rarestia (Repeal the 17th Amendment and ratify Article the First to give the power back to the people!)
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To: Blue House Sue

Privacy and control over your personal data loses.


3 posted on 04/26/2018 4:07:16 PM PDT by proust ("The rule is, jam tomorrow and jam yesterday, but never jam today.")
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To: proust

“Privacy and control over your personal data loses.”

You have no expectation of privacy when a distant relative provides their DNA to a genealogy website.


4 posted on 04/26/2018 4:09:40 PM PDT by Blue House Sue
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To: rarestia

Odd sort of take on things, isn’t it?

If you haven’t raped or murdered someone, you shouldn’t be worried about commercial DNA services, should you?


5 posted on 04/26/2018 4:14:36 PM PDT by Chainmail (A simple rule of life: if you can be blamed, you're responsible.)
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To: rarestia

So they can trace DNA back to you without a search warrant for DNA. They won’t have no problem with me, family members gave up DNA. In this case it’s a good thing, but road hell was paved with good intentions.


6 posted on 04/26/2018 4:14:39 PM PDT by BushCountry (thinks he needs a gal whose name doesn't end in ".jpg")
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To: Blue House Sue

“You have no expectation of privacy when a distant relative provides their DNA to a genealogy website.”

Yup. Though, in a case like this it only serves as a clue, not evidence itself. The evidence is the match of suspect’s own DNA with that found at the crime scene.

One of my bros is into this stuff and has done a lot of “DNA triangulating” to make connections .


7 posted on 04/26/2018 4:16:04 PM PDT by LouieFisk
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To: proust

He also stayed in that area. I guess they looked for matches in the same area, matched the probable age and ancestry and then found ‘abandoned’ dna he had left in public places, or his trash or whatever. Then they just matched his actual dna to the crime scene dna.

A true evil sicko, he raped women with their husbands watching and then killed both.

Freegards


8 posted on 04/26/2018 4:19:23 PM PDT by Ransomed
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To: Blue House Sue

I have family where the male could not conceive, so they went with a donor. Beautiful little girl resulted, but I know that in 15 years or so she will be curious and want to meet step-”siblings”.

We are girding for potential drama. What if there are dozens, or a few or none? They will all be curious and some type of “re-union” in the 2030s will be the result.


9 posted on 04/26/2018 4:21:35 PM PDT by cicero2k
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To: Blue House Sue

I’m just fascinated by Long Lost Family.

If you’re adopted, sometimes you can get a hit for biological relatives and whoever else might pop up in the family tree.

DNA doesn’t lie.


10 posted on 04/26/2018 4:23:19 PM PDT by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives In My Heart Forever)
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To: Blue House Sue
I personally believe that all citizens should be required to provide fingerprints, corneal pix, DNA, and any other helpful forensic info to the authorities.

Also, everyone should be required, or at least strongly encouraged, to video tape their entire lives and upload the recordings on a continuous basis to the cloud for current or future viewing by the appropriate authorities.

This can only be a help to every individual and society as a whole.

Those engaged in illegal behavior can be found out more quickly before they do themselves and others more harm.

Those engaged in legal but unhealthful behavior can be recommended to the appropriate care providers for counseling and treatment.

Those who are living legal and healthy lives have nothing to worry about as their lives should be lived as an open book.

11 posted on 04/26/2018 4:29:37 PM PDT by who_would_fardels_bear
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To: rarestia

Nothing like a for-profit DNA compilation service disguised as a way to discover more about one’s past. Am I right?
= = =

I think I had better send in some Poodle DNA, as mine.

To head off future problems, you know.


12 posted on 04/26/2018 4:29:42 PM PDT by Scrambler Bob (You know that I am full of /S)
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To: Chainmail

“If you haven’t raped or murdered someone, you shouldn’t be worried about commercial DNA services, should you?”

Of course not. Everyone knows that the technology is perfect and incapable of an error.


13 posted on 04/26/2018 4:31:15 PM PDT by DesertRhino (Dog is man's best friend, and moslems hate dogs. Add that up. ....)
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To: who_would_fardels_bear

I personally believe that all citizens should be required to provide fingerprints, corneal pix, DNA, and any other helpful forensic info to the authorities.
= = =

Cut off their head and send it in, as well.

So they have brain information.


14 posted on 04/26/2018 4:32:38 PM PDT by Scrambler Bob (You know that I am full of /S)
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To: Blue House Sue

“You have no expectation of privacy when a distant relative provides their DNA to a genealogy website.”

You have no expectation of privacy when you rape 12 and kill 50.


15 posted on 04/26/2018 4:33:02 PM PDT by TexasGator (Z1)
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To: Blue House Sue

Just like facebook farming data, folks don’t realize how their voluntary submission of dna will lead to their downfall.


16 posted on 04/26/2018 4:33:38 PM PDT by fruser1
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To: fruser1

The bigger thing to me is that i think the “where your ancestors came from” feature is a scam. I think that;s just the hook to sell people on it.


17 posted on 04/26/2018 4:35:26 PM PDT by DesertRhino (Dog is man's best friend, and moslems hate dogs. Add that up. ....)
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To: DesertRhino

Or, more likely we discover that have a couple more kids than we knew we had...


18 posted on 04/26/2018 4:37:36 PM PDT by Chainmail (A simple rule of life: if you can be blamed, you're responsible.)
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To: Chainmail

“should you?”

Yes you should. DNA testing is not perfect. False positives do occur. People make mistakes, including the lab geeks processing samples.

Unlike Monopoly’s “Bank error in your favor recieve $200”, a test error to your detriment can lead to SWAT descending on your house in the middle of the night.

If you and your dog survive that experience, you still run the risk of civil asset forfeiture.

DNA analysis is a great tool, but many see it as the be all end all, which is a fatal error.


19 posted on 04/26/2018 4:38:17 PM PDT by fruser1
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To: goldstategop

I’m just fascinated by Long Lost Family.

If you’re adopted, sometimes you can get a hit for biological relatives and whoever else might pop up in the family tree.

DNA doesn’t lie.

Yes. In spite of my reservations about the privacy of it all, I’m going to do the DNA thing. My Grandfather was adopted when he was a boy, and we don’t even know his birth name (though we do know he was Swedish). If DNA matches can help us overcome the lack of written records, it seems that might be the best (and maybe only) way to trace our lineage.


20 posted on 04/26/2018 4:40:29 PM PDT by Pravious
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