Broward Sheriff's Office (BSO) FY24 Prosecuting Cold Cases Using DNA

The Broward County Sheriff’s Office, Criminal Investigations Division Cold Case Unit in collaboration with the Broward County Sheriff’s Office Crime Laboratory, and the support of Florida’s 17th Judicial Circuit Court (in Broward County) will utilize this grant funding for Forensic Genetic Genealogy (FGG) as an investigative technique to prosecute violent cold case crimes where an unknown suspect DNA profile has been developed. A thoughtful and collaborative approach among investigators, laboratory staff, and prosecutors is integral to the decision to pursue this revolutionary technology as this investigative technique may affect the privacy interests of third parties, the consumption of limited crime scene samples, and the integrity and successful prosecution of an investigation. They also acknowledge and are committed to abiding by the U.S. Department of Justice Interim Policy on FGG, as it not only promotes civil rights and equity, but also builds trust between law enforcement and the community by demonstrating full compliance with all regulatory policies. The Broward County Sheriff’s Office Cold Case Unit has identified 13 cold homicides and sexual assaults. These 13 cases were identified as appropriate for FGG based on the nature of the case, suitability for prosecution, and informative value of the remaining DNA sample. The Cold Case Unit has consulted with the Crime Laboratory to determine the quantity and quality or condition of DNA samples remaining from the genomic extracts of the crime scene samples that generated the unknown suspect DNA profiles in the Combined DNA Index System. Funding from this program will increase the capacity to conduct FGG investigations. In addition, this funding will facilitate access to resources for the research and supplemental investigations that develop from FGG findings and thereby increase the number of successful violent cold case crime prosecutions. Even if FGG does not yield an identification, phenotypic and biogeographic ancestry markers may help generate or narrow down a list of potential suspects. Applying FGG to prosecute violent cold case crimes may identify the unknown, suspect DNA profile, apprehend the perpetrator, bring resolve to the victims of violent crimes, and safeguard the citizens of Broward County.