A first: Genetic genealogy used to convict a killer, resolve 1987 double murder

[Lemon Drop]

Guilty verdict today for Bill Tabott, age 56, in Everett WA for the 1987 murders of a young couple.

"They were found brutally murdered, their bodies dumped in Snohomish and Skagit counties. This was not just a sordid murder case.
This was the first time a suspect found using genetic genealogy has been put on trial.

After the Golden State Killer was nabbed last year, Washington state law officials saw an opportunity. They uploaded the DNA profile of the mysterious man, dubbed “Individual A,” into a genetic database.

Two second cousins popped up, a genetic genealogist perused his family tree, and within days, Bill Talbott of Monroe, Washington, became suspect number 1."


https://kuow.org/stories/verdict-is-in-b...OhpLN4k5NM

In depth story on the case:
https://www.kuow.org/stories/the-horrifi...amily-tree

[N-OS X-tasy!]

Genetic genealogy? Is that akin to a decisive decision?

[N-OS X-tasy!]

On a more serious note: This is a good example of why I will never submit to testing by 23andMe or its ilk -- when combined with the storage of genealogy information about one's family in the, they represent a profound loss of privacy and anonymity.

[rjmacs]

N-OS X-tasy! wrote:
On a more serious note: This is a good example of why I will never submit to testing by 23andMe or its ilk -- when combined with the storage of genealogy information about one's family in the, they represent a profound loss of privacy and anonymity.

It's not you you have to worry about - it's all your relatives making it easier to triangulate in on your DNA!!!

Edit: this is where the genealogy part matters. They don't need YOUR genetic material to figure out who you are. Once they're 'in the genetic neighborhood,' they just use logic and process of elimination combined with genealogical records to figure out who the mystery sample-provider is!

[Ombligo]

This was for a cold case double murder and it may be easy to say that the creep deserved to be caught. But now that it was successful, do you think this crime-solving tool will be limited to such extreme cases?

It could easily become a factor in any case that has DNA evidence.

[testcase]

N-OS X-tasy! wrote:
On a more serious note: This is a good example of why I will never submit to testing by 23andMe or its ilk -- when combined with the storage of genealogy information about one's family in the, they represent a profound loss of privacy and anonymity.

I worked for city, county and state governments for well over 30 years. There is ALWAYS someone in a position of power who knows that they're right, even (especially?) when they're not.


It's just a matter of time before some over aggressive government minion will access stored DNA and plant same to frame help convict someone who should NOT have been convicted. Power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely. :oldfogey:

[RAMd®d]

I'm on the fence, though it really doesn't matter.

I would never submit my DNA to the odd genealogy website.

But my DNA is already a matter of record (job record, not criminal record) so I ether can't commit criminal acts or better be very careful.

That said, have no problem with law enforcement winnowing the suspect field with DNA Triangulation.

Huh. A new acronym – DNAT.

[Lemon Drop]

I'm glad to see Mr. Talbott headed to jail for the remainder of his life. Ultimately it wasn't his cousins who did him in, it was littering. Even though the genetic database led to him as the prime suspect, a detective still had to trail him until they could get a DNA sample to confirm a match with the evidence from the murders.

He finally threw a cup out his truck window, and the detective picked it up.

[Janit]

N-OS X-tasy! wrote:
Genetic genealogy? Is that akin to a decisive decision?

Nope. Classic genealogy relies on written records and oral histories. Genetic genealogy adds DNA biochemistry into the mix.

[MrNoBody]

testcase wrote:
...
I worked for city, county and state governments for well over 30 years. There is ALWAYS someone in a position of power who knows that they're right, even (especially?) when they're not.

It's just a matter of time before some over aggressive government minion will access stored DNA and plant same to frame help convict someone who should NOT have been convicted. Power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely. :oldfogey:

Exhibit #1: Mike Nifong
'nuff said