On Monday, police in Indiana said that the murder of a student, committed in 1972, it was finally solved. This case became the latest in a series of unsolved cases that have been brought to an end with DNA analysis and genealogy.
The chief of police of the city of Terre Haute Sean Keane was named as the probable killer of 19-year-old Pamela Milam Jeffrey Lynn Hand. The Hand was killed during a shootout with police in 1978 during the kidnapping attempt.
Charlene Sanford, sister Pamela, said: «It’s been a long 46 years, 7 months and 20 days. Many of us growing up thought that will die before we find out who killed our sister.» «We were pleased to learn that he’s not enjoyed life for 47 years,» she added.
The last time Pamela had seen on the evening of 15 September 1972, when she left the benefit of the Sorority at the State University of Indiana. Her body was later found gagged in the trunk of her car the next night.
Keane told reporters: «we had no witnesses, no description of the suspect». The police believed that the man who was arrested in 7 weeks after a series of sexual assaults on campus, also killed Milam. But they never managed to tie Robert Wayne Austin with the murder of the girl.
Having been engaged in this business in 2008, Keane was able to clear Austin’s name from suspicion using the results of the examination of the DNA found at the crime scene.
Last year, Keane began collaborating with Parabon NanoLabs of Virginia. To try to solve the crime Milam, the company has used DNA tests in conjunction with traditional genealogical methods.
Collaborating with Parabon, kin entered basic data into the database genetic genealogy. Based on the results, CIN held a number of interviews and, together with the genealogist narrowed the possible suspects to one member of one family – Jeffrey Hand. Hand was arrested in 1973 for the murder of a hitchhiker whom he picked up. However, he was released from prison in 1976, being recognized not guilty of murder due to insanity.
Traced the widow Hand and 2 of his sons, Keane got their DNA and sent to the crime lab Indiana. The results showed a 99.9 percent probability that a given DNA matched DNA from the crime scene. When he presented this information to the prosecutors, they decided that this would be sufficient for the issuance of an arrest warrant.
Keane said that when he became police chief in 2008, he gave the other detectives cold case, but thought that it would be unfair not to take a case yourself. He has chosen Milan.
«When I first opened it, I couldn’t stop to read it,» says Keane, adding that his wife does not like it when he scattered all the evidence in their house. «I had no idea that it would take 11 years until we will be able to solve this murder,» he added.
Keane believes that the type of «genetic genealogy», utilized can be a method of disclosure other things that seemed not to be disclosed ever. «I think there are other families waiting for answers,» said Keane, adding that it was «a shame» if the police do not try to test a new technology to open old cases, like the case of Milam.
