In 2001, Orlando bartender and college student Christine Franke was attacked, shot, sexually assaulted and robbed in her own apartment. The evidence showed that she had just walked in the door from work when her assailant struck. DNA was collected from Christine’s person. Her romantic partner told police of a stalker, who was tracked down after an extensive investigation. The DNA ruled him out. After 17 years, police finally turned to the burgeoning new technique, forensic genealogy, which led them to focus on a very large family in Georgia. In this early forensic genealogy case, reference samples obtained from family members via a ruse led to the killer, and obtained justice for Christine, but left the killer’s family feeling manipulated.

. In October, 1981, skeletal remains were found by hunters at an old landfill in Cheatham County, Tennessee on Highway 249 in Ashland City. Forensic anthropologists at the University of Tennessee determined the remains belonged to a young, white female, estimated to be between 14 and 17 years old. She carried no ID, and her arms were missing, presumably taken by scavanging animals, so fingerprinting was not an option. But part of her legs were also missing, and showed signs of being removed with a saw. It was clear to authorities that this young girl, who was dubbed 'Cheatham Jane Doe', had been a murder victim and they set out to determine who she was and who was responsible for her death. Decades later, DNA & genealogy would combine to reveal her identity as Linda Sue Karnes, who had spent time as a teenager in the Montgomery County Girls Home in Clarksville not long before her remains were found. Although authorities now know who she is, it's not clear what led to Linda's murder, or who is responsible.

A stunning double murder shocked quiet, rural Marinette, Wisconsin in 1976. A loving engaged couple went camping in one of the verdant parks in the northern part of the state – and were found dead. David had been shot in the throat; Ellen had been raped and shot to death. The senseless, seemingly random crime double homicide rocked Marinette County, and set determined investigators on a 40 year journey to catch a killer. Despite a good sketch of the suspect, he remained unidentified until forensic genealogy led investigators right to his door – 20 miles from the park where he had slain David and Ellen. Prosecutors put together a case against grandfather Raymand Vannieuwenhoven that was largely based on the DNA – would it be enough for the jury?