Prosecuting Violent Cold Cases in Winston-Salem Through DNA Evidence

The Winston-Salem Police Department (WSPD) will utilize this funding to improve justice response through the investigation, solving, and prosecution of unsolved homicides. The core of this project’s approach lies in genetic DNA analysis and forensic investigative genetic genealogy, complemented by investigative integration and prosecution. WSPD will contract with a private forensic laboratory for Single Nucleotide Polymorphism analysis to generate genetic profiles, which will be used by WSPD for in-house forensic investigative genetic genealogy. Throughout this project, the Forsyth County District Attorney’s Office will fully engage with WSPD, regularly meeting with the agency for case review and evidence analysis, discuss investigative strategies, and work together to prepare cases for successful prosecution. The goals for this project are: prosecute violent cold case crimes using DNA testing and genetic genealogy; decrease the number of violent crime cold cases awaiting prosecution using DNA testing and forensic investigative genetic genealogy; promote public safety through case resolution; and improve justice response to those communities in Winston-Salem that have historically been underserved, marginalized, adversely affected by inequality, and disproportionately impacted by crime, violence, and victimization.