- 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
New Castle Today
By the People, for the People
Genetic Genealogy Helps Crack Unsolved Delaware Murder Case
Cutting-edge forensic tool may also aid in Nancy Guthrie kidnapping investigation in Arizona
Published on Feb. 28, 2026
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
Genetic genealogy, the forensic technique that helped identify the Golden State Killer, has also been successfully used by Delaware police to solve a 2016 murder case. Investigators are now considering using the same approach to uncover the identity of the unknown DNA found at the scene of Nancy Guthrie's kidnapping in Arizona.
Why it matters
The use of genetic genealogy in criminal investigations has become an increasingly powerful tool, allowing law enforcement to make connections and identify suspects even when traditional DNA databases come up empty. As privacy concerns around this technology grow, the Guthrie case could set an important precedent for how it is applied, especially in high-profile missing persons investigations.
The details
In the 2016 Delaware murder of Jakeith Latham, police were able to develop a DNA profile from a cigarette butt found near the crime scene, but it did not match any samples in their database. By using genetic genealogy to compare the DNA to public ancestry databases, they were able to narrow down the suspect to 29-year-old Seth Kinderman, who was eventually arrested and pleaded guilty. Investigators in Arizona are now considering a similar approach to identify the unknown DNA found at the Guthrie kidnapping site, as they continue to search for clues to find the perpetrator.
- On December 20, 2016, Jakeith Latham was fatally shot in Delaware.
- In September 2018, DNA evidence from the crime scene was linked to Seth Kinderman.
- Kinderman was arrested on December 5, 2018 and pleaded guilty on June 11, 2021.
- Investigators in Arizona are currently evaluating the use of genetic genealogy to aid the Nancy Guthrie kidnapping case.
The players
Seth Kinderman
A 29-year-old man who was convicted of second-degree murder, attempted robbery, and weapons charges in the 2016 killing of Jakeith Latham in Delaware.
Jakeith Latham
A New Jersey man who was shot and killed in Delaware in 2016 while trying to sell diabetic test strips.
Nancy Guthrie
The mother of 'Today' show anchor Savannah Guthrie, who was recently kidnapped in Arizona.
Savannah Guthrie
The anchor of the 'Today' show, whose mother Nancy Guthrie was recently kidnapped in Arizona.
New Castle County Police
The law enforcement agency that investigated the 2016 murder of Jakeith Latham and used genetic genealogy to identify the suspect, Seth Kinderman.
What’s next
The judge in the Seth Kinderman case will decide on Tuesday whether to allow him out on bail pending his sentencing.
The takeaway
The successful use of genetic genealogy in the Latham murder case demonstrates the power of this cutting-edge forensic tool, which is now being considered for the high-profile Guthrie kidnapping investigation. However, the growing privacy concerns around law enforcement's access to consumer DNA databases will likely continue to be a key issue as this technology becomes more widely adopted.
