The methods used to investigate crime have evolved considerably over time… fingerprint analysis dates back to the 1880s, and the roots of forensic toxicology go all the way back to the first century, but most think of DNA evidence as the most effective tool in the investigator’s tool chest.
The use of DNA evidence is a fairly recent development in the world of criminal investigation, having only become practical in the 1990s, and despite its reputation as ironclad evidence, DNA has its shortcomings and law enforcement has continually pressed to advance investigative techniques even further. With the recent development of genealogical DNA analysis, sometimes known as genetic genealogy, they may have done just that.
Troy Larson is a father, author, and photographer originally from Minot, North Dakota, now residing in Fargo.