- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Crowdfunding Fuels Genetic Genealogy's Surge in Solving Cold Cases
Many law enforcement agencies rely on public donations to pay for the powerful forensic tool, as government funding falls short.
Feb. 21, 2026 at 2:04pm
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
Genetic genealogy has helped solve over 1,600 cases in the U.S. and Canada in recent years, but the high costs of the specialized DNA analysis and database access fees often put the technique out of reach for cash-strapped law enforcement agencies. As a result, many are turning to crowdfunding to cover the expenses, with over 120 cases already funded this way. Experts say this piecemeal approach is unsustainable and more government funding is needed to tackle the backlog of unsolved violent crimes and unidentified remains cases that could potentially be solved through genetic genealogy.
Why it matters
Genetic genealogy has emerged as a powerful forensic tool, helping to crack cold cases and identify unknown victims. However, the high costs associated with the specialized DNA analysis and database access fees mean many law enforcement agencies struggle to afford using this technique. The reliance on crowdfunding highlights the lack of sufficient government funding in this area, which experts say is hindering efforts to clear the backlog of unsolved violent crimes and unidentified remains cases that could potentially be solved through genetic genealogy.
The details
Genetic genealogy relies on uploading DNA profiles to consumer databases like GEDMatch and FamilyTreeDNA, then using traditional genealogical research to build family trees and identify the source of the DNA. But obtaining usable DNA profiles from old, degraded samples can be challenging, and only a handful of private labs in the U.S. have the capabilities to do this specialized work. These labs charge over $1,000 for their services, which many cash-strapped law enforcement agencies can't afford. As a result, crowdfunding has become a common way to cover the costs, with over 120 cases already funded this way according to one expert.
- In 2018, the 'Golden State Killer' was arrested using genetic genealogy, sparking a surge in the technique's popularity.
- Earlier this year, an ongoing tally showed genetic genealogy has been used to solve over 1,600 cases in the U.S. and Canada.
The players
Ashley Sanchez
A homicide detective with the Kern County Sheriff's Office in California who reopened an unsolved 2010 murder case and turned to crowdfunding to pay for the genetic genealogy work.
Juanita Francisco
A 49-year-old bakery owner who was murdered in Bakersfield, California in 2010.
David Gurney
The director of the Investigative Genetic Genealogy Center at New Jersey's Ramapo College, who says government funding for genetic genealogy is "not even scratching the surface" of the need.
Tracey Dowdeswell
A criminology professor at Douglas College in Canada who has been tracking the use of genetic genealogy, estimating that around 120 of the 1,600 cases solved so far were crowdfunded.
David Mittelman
The CEO of Othram, a Texas-based DNA lab that operates the crowdfunding site DNASolves, which has helped fund dozens of genetic genealogy cases.
What they’re saying
“I think it is amazing that members of the public are willing to donate money to help solve these cases, but it's not a sustainable criminal justice system.”
— David Gurney, Director of the Investigative Genetic Genealogy Center at Ramapo College
“Typically, the private labs have access to more sensitive technology, newer technology. They also have the ability to conduct a lot of research and development that our taxpayer-funded labs just don't have the capacity for. But they come with a higher price tag.”
— Kendall Mills, Nonprofit Season of Justice
“You're not gonna clear hundreds of thousands of cases with one company or even 10. What you really need is hundreds of labs working in concert with modern technology.”
— David Mittelman, CEO of Othram
What’s next
The Carla Walker Act, a piece of federal legislation, has been introduced with bipartisan support to provide $10 million in annual grants for law enforcement agencies to pay for genetic genealogy services.
The takeaway
Genetic genealogy has proven to be a powerful tool for solving cold cases, but the high costs associated with the specialized DNA analysis and database access fees mean many law enforcement agencies must turn to crowdfunding to afford using this technique. Experts say this piecemeal approach is unsustainable, and more government funding is needed to tackle the backlog of unsolved violent crimes and unidentified remains cases that could potentially be solved through genetic genealogy.
