Episode Details

This source details the cold case investigation into the 1999 murder of Minly Sorano, a thirteen-year-old girl from the Bronx who vanished while walking home from school. For over twenty years, the case remained unsolved until Detective Malcolm Ryman utilized familial DNA testing to identify a potential suspect through a relative's criminal record. This innovative technology led investigators to Joseph "Jupiter Joe" Martinez, a resident of the victim's building who had built a public persona as an amateur astronomer. After securing his DNA through an undercover sting operation at a diner, police matched him to evidence found on the victim’s clothing. In a landmark legal victory, Martinez was convicted of murder in 2021, marking the first time New York City successfully used familial DNA to solve a homicide. This resolution provided long-awaited justice for Sorano's family and established a forensic precedent for future cold cases.

This episode includes AI-generated content.