Episode Details

Fort Worth Cold Case detectives solved the murder of 17-year-old Carla Walker after it had gone cold for nearly five decades.

They analyzed old evidence using genetic genealogy and new DNA extraction technology pioneered by Othram, a forensic genealogy lab in the Woodlands, a suburb of Houston. 

Othram matched the DNA to a test submitted to a genealogy site by a member of the killer’s family tree. Othram did not disclose the relative’s name. 

Cold case investigators Jeff Bennett and Leah Wagner identified 78-year-old Glen McCurley, who was among the original suspects. McCurley confessed to them when confronted with the DNA evidence. 

Genetic genealogy was used in the Golden State Killer case, but this was the first time the technology made it to a courtroom.

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