The following is a press release written by the folks at: Parabon NanoLabs, Inc.:

Parabon proudly announces the groundbreaking achievement of having helped law enforcement agencies make over 300 positive identifications in cases involving violent offenders and unidentified remains. This milestone includes historic moments – the world’s first conviction resulting from a lead generated by genetic genealogy (via a plea deal), as well as the first jury conviction from a genetic genealogy lead in both the United States and Canada. (1-3)

Approximately 65% of Parabon’s cases involved violent offenders (living or deceased at the time of identification). The closure of multiple cases in 2023 by the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office (YCSO) involving a serial predator provides a glimpse into the types of violent offender cases Parabon tackles. In 1987, Cathy Sposito, a college student, was sexually assaulted and murdered on the Thumb Butte Trail in Prescott, Arizona. At that time, the use of DNA was in its infancy. Because the unknown assailant’s DNA from the murder weapon was mixed with the victim’s, the case went cold. In April 1990 a similar attack occurred on the trail, but this time the victim lived. In 2020 Parabon was asked to analyze DNA from the 1990 case. Through the use of Parabon’s Snapshot genetic genealogy service, Parabon identified Bryan Scott Bennett as a possible person-of-interest. Upon investigation of Bennett, YCSO discovered that he had been tried and acquitted of another attempted sexual assault just a few months after the 1990 attack. After further investigation into Bennett, YCSO obtained authorization for an exhumation of his remains to confirm Parabon’s hypothesis. By directly comparing his exhumed DNA to the crime-scene DNA, his connection to the 1990 assault was confirmed. Noting parallels with Sposito’s case, YCSO had the mixed DNA sample from the Sposito murder weapon reanalyzed using modern forensic methods and then compared to Bennett’s. It was determined by an accredited forensic laboratory that the contributors of the DNA mixture belonged to the victim, Cathy Sposito, and Bryan Scott Bennett, enabling the agency to close the case. 

Parabon’s identification milestone also includes human remains cases. Many such cases have low quantity and/or poor-quality DNA. A notable example is the King County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO) case in Washington involving human remains discovered in 1986, referred to as “Bones 17.” This case was one of the last unidentified victims of Gary Ridgway, known as the ‘Green River Killer’ and one of the most prolific serial killers in the United States. In September 2019, KCSO reached out to Parabon for assistance. Despite only 3.04% of the entire sample registering as human DNA due to the commingling of bacterial and/or plant DNA, Parabon was able to provide DNA phenotype information, which included predictions of the victim’s physical description and ancestry, along with genetic genealogy analysis. The ability to use the DNA was due to Parabon’s implementation of low-coverage imputation along with a proprietary technique to ensure high-quality genetic genealogy matching to distant relatives. This breakthrough bioinformatics technique opened the door to additional genealogy matches in this case, allowing Parabon’s Chief Genetic Genealogist, CeCe Moore, to conduct the analysis. 

With a voluntary DNA sample from an immediate family member, detectives from the KCSO confirmed the identity of human remains as belonging to Lori Anne Razpotnik, who had run away from home in 1982 in her early teens and was never seen by her family again. KCSO held a press conference in December 2023 to announce the resolution of the case.

Since its inception, Parabon’s Snapshot® Advanced DNA Analysis Division, has been dedicated to providing leads to law enforcement around the globe. Reaching the mark of over 300 confirmed identifications is a testament to the expertise of the entire Parabon Snapshot team. By leveraging the latest advancements in DNA processing, bioinformatics, phenotyping, kinship inference and investigative genetic genealogy, the company has significantly contributed to the resolution of complex cases and has established a strong reputation for reliability and excellence within the industry.

“At the heart of our Snapshot division mission is an unwavering determination to help law enforcement obtain justice and provide answers for victims and their families,” said Parabon CEO, Dr. Steve Armentrout. “I am tremendously proud of our Snapshot team for reaching this incredible milestone. It’s a reflection of their relentless dedication and expertise in providing top-notch solutions to our clients.”

For a detailed breakdown of Parabon’s performance metrics for its Snapshot DNA lead generation work, please refer to the accompanying table available in the image section of this release.

For more information about Parabon and its Snapshot services, please visit snapshot.parabon-nanolabs.com.

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(1) State of Indiana v John D Miller (02D06-1807-MR-15); 
(2) State of Washington v William Earl Talbott, II (18-1-01670-31); and,
(3) Ontario Superior Court of Justice, defendant Robert Steven Wright (R v Wright 2019 ONSC 1598)