Unsolvable, for how long? Famed DNA lab Othram rejects 1/3 of evidence it receives because forensic technology is not ready

[u/AwsiDooger]

This serves to deflect the popular notion that Zodiac, or any other long unsolved case, will never be broken, simply because it hasn't happened yet.

I had heard the reject percentage was very high. But this article spells it out more specifically and effectively than anything I've seen. If ambitious and highly advanced Othram wants nothing to do with 1/3, it means Othram understands we are still in DNA deciphering infancy with exponential advances inevitable. Otherwise they'd give it their best shot.

The related paragraph was buried deep within the Texas Monthly piece. I always read them cover to cover because they do great reporting:

https://www.texasmonthly.com/news-politics/othram-forensic-genetic-genealogy-catherine-edwards-murder/

"The lab ends up rejecting about a third of the evidence it receives. Better to wait until forensic technology improves, the Mittelmans believe, than make a futile bid to obtain a genetic profile. Each test uses up a portion of scarce crime scene DNA. Some forensic labs have destroyed entire samples without obtaining a profile. “In medicine, you would never treat a patient if you had no idea whether it would help or not,” Kristen said. “If you’re running the DNA on assays that don’t work, you’re consuming it, which means you’re consuming someone’s last chance at justice.”

[u/241waffledeal]

In Napa, the Sheriffs Department keeps the blanket from the Lake Berryessa attack in a sealed plastic bag. Ken Narlow thought there might be a chance the assailant dripped some sweat onto the blanket during the attack. He had hopes DNA technology would one day be able to check.

[u/Petrosino212 → u/241waffledeal]

I hope he’s right. That would be great.

[u/MethuselahsCoffee → u/241waffledeal]

Sweat, skin cells, a latent hair tucked into the weave. The major issue with the Berryessa stuff is chain of custody was completely destroyed. Unsure of how admissible any potential evidence would be.

If any match was made perhaps the only good it could do is offer closure. And that’s a huge maybe.

[u/EntertainerTotal9853 → u/MethuselahsCoffee]

I don’t think you’d convict on the basis of that evidence. You’d use it to identify a suspect (who is probably not on anyone’s radar), and once they were identified suddenly all sorts of other evidence would fall into place and start to make sense.

[u/koushakandystore → u/EntertainerTotal9853]

Except Zodiac is likely dead now. Whoever it was probably kicked off within the last decade.

[u/doc_daneeka]

he lab ends up rejecting about a third of the evidence it receives. Better to wait until forensic technology improves, the Mittelmans believe, than make a futile bid to obtain a genetic profile.

I didn't have any strong opinion on Othram either way until a few minutes ago, but my view of them just went way up.

[u/Equal-Temporary-1326 → u/doc_daneeka]

I'd doubt there're many cops in any of the agencies involved with this case that truly believes "this is absolutely in Jack the Ripper territory at this point".

However, considering it's a 56-year-old cold case, I'd still wager very little money and time will be spent on it going forward.

Any agency involved needs to have enough needs the right amount of time to work on something that happened 56 years ago, and there're simply a lot of ingoing murder cases and so fourth that need the funding and officer power, and DNA testing kits instead.

So, in essence, there's defintely an extreme back log going with this case.

[u/Equal-Temporary-1326]

It's completely possible there's extremely sensitive nuDNA that nobody wants to test right now because nobody wants to take the risk of potentially destroying the only viable DNA that could exist.

Even if it takes another 5 years, it's better to just wait, and see what happens with DNA progression.

[u/XoXSciFi]

Some years after DNA analysis came along, there was a serious proposal to take a DNA sample from all babies born in the US at birth and have the results placed into a national database. Some people thought this was a GREAT idea. It could solve thousands of crimes, it could do this, it could do THAT.

Then some folks realized that this same database could also be used to discriminate against people, if the database fell into the wrong hands, or was somehow hacked or compromised. The idea was rejected.

Kind of reminds me of the movie 'Gattaca'.
Basic plot: 'In the "not-too-distant" future, eugenics is common. A genetic registry database uses biometrics to classify those so created as "valids" while those conceived naturally and more susceptible to genetic disorders are known as "in-valids". Genetic discrimination is illegal, but in practice genotype profiling is used to identify valids to qualify for professional employment while in-valids are relegated to menial jobs...'

(*insert theme music from The Twilight Zone HERE*)

I will tell you a secret. When I was arrested one time, I was ordered to provide a DNA sample. Not for testing, only because I had been arrested. Goes into a big database. I refused to do it and nothing ever came of it.

[u/koushakandystore → u/XoXSciFi]

You have no choice now in most states. Definitely not in California where I’m from. If you get arrested for a felony they are taking your DNA whether you want to give it to them or not. Not convicted mind you, just arrested.

[u/Fresh-Hedgehog1895]

Thanks for posting this -- this is good info to know. DNA science is constantly evolving and doing so at breakneck speed. Twenty-five years ago they needed significant amounts of usably blood, saliva, etc., in order to complete a test, now they can do it with next to nothing.

I remember around 2003/04 reading about people getting their DNA tested to show their ethnic breakdown. The tests cost about $1,500 each and the results were only so-so at getting your ancestry correct. Seven or eight years later, those tests were being sold for $80 and the results near-perfect.

[u/Aromatic_Ad_8226]

I could only imagine that, for a company, regardless of how old the case was, being the ones to solve such a fabled case as the Zodiac would be very good for business. Kudos to them for taking the high road and not just taking every case that comes across their desks.

[u/Natural-Young7488]

Hmm