Recent Cases Solved by DNA (2024–2025)

In recent years, forensic genetics and genetic genealogy have grown increasingly powerful in solving cold cases. During 2024 and into 2025, multiple long-forgotten crimes in the United States were finally resolved thanks to new DNA analysis techniques. These advances brought not only technical innovations but also deep emotional impact for the victims' families, offering long-awaited answers and long-overdue closure. Here are some key cases that highlight how DNA helped reopen cold cases and deliver justice after decades of silence:

The “Baby Garnet” Case: A Family Secret Uncovered After 25 Years

In the summer of 1997, the quiet community of Garnet Lake, Michigan, was shocked when the remains of a newborn baby were discovered in a camp latrine. For more than two decades, the identity of the mother and the baby’s story remained a painful mystery. Everything changed 25 years later thanks to a simple at-home DNA kit. Jenna, a local young woman, submitted her DNA to a genealogy service out of personal curiosity—unaware that she was about to uncover a hidden family secret. Her profile partially matched that of the baby, alerting authorities. Investigators then identified Nancy Ann Gerwatoski—Jenna’s grandmother—as the mother of the infant. The woman had evaded justice for decades but was arrested in 2022 and charged. For Jenna, discovering her own grandmother was the suspected mother was deeply shocking. Still, her cooperation helped reopen the case and finally bring justice for Baby Garnet. This case illustrates how modern genetic databases can shed light on even the most forgotten crimes, revealing unthinkable truths and healing long-standing wounds.

Phyllis Bailer: Justice After Five Decades

On July 7, 1972, 26-year-old Phyllis Bailer was traveling through Indiana with her 3-year-old daughter when both went missing. The child was found unharmed, abandoned on the roadside. Phyllis, however, had been brutally attacked and murdered. Despite intense efforts, the case went cold. Over fifty years later, modern DNA analysis turned things around. Investigators extracted a viable genetic profile from deteriorated evidence and used genetic genealogy to identify Fred Allen Lienemann as the likely killer. Lienemann, then 25, had a criminal history but had never been connected to the crime. He died decades earlier and thus escaped legal consequences. Still, Phyllis’ family finally had closure. Her now-elderly husband expressed immense relief at learning the truth, and her daughter—who had survived the incident—was able to finally understand what had happened. The Bailer case shows that DNA can speak for victims, even fifty years later, and bring long-awaited justice.

Danielle Houchins: A Stranger Revealed Through Genealogy

In 1996, 15-year-old Danielle Houchins vanished in Montana. Her body was found near a river, the victim of a violent assault. Despite multiple suspects, the investigation stalled. For 28 years, her family waited in anguish. In 2024, persistence paid off. Using preserved evidence and genealogical analysis, forensic experts matched DNA from the scene to Paul Hutchinson, a man with no known connection to Danielle. When police contacted him in July 2024, he exhibited erratic behavior and took his own life within 24 hours. Subsequent DNA testing confirmed a match. For Danielle’s family, the news was a bittersweet relief: the truth finally emerged, though the killer never faced trial. Her younger sister, who had been 12 at the time, said knowing what happened allowed them to heal at last. This case proves that genetic genealogy can solve even the most random crimes—those committed by strangers with no ties to the victim—bringing long-denied answers.

Kathy Halle: Modern Technology vs. a Serial Killer

In spring 1979, 19-year-old Kathy Halle disappeared near Chicago. Her body was later found in a river, but the case quickly went cold. Decades later, suspicions arose that she might be one of the victims of Bruce Lindahl, a serial killer who died violently in 1981. Until recently, no solid proof existed. In 2023, detectives used a cutting-edge DNA collection technique called MVAC, which works like a “wet vacuum” to extract trace DNA even from degraded materials. A profile recovered from Kathy’s clothing matched Bruce Lindahl with astronomical certainty. In 2024, Illinois authorities officially declared the case solved. Although Lindahl had been dead for years, the resolution brought profound relief to Kathy’s family, who had fought for decades to preserve her memory. This case proves that new DNA technologies can rewrite history, bringing even long-dead predators into the light.

Melonie White: The Final Piece After 30 Years

In 1994, 30-year-old Melonie White was found murdered near Lake Mead in Las Vegas. Her case remained unsolved for nearly three decades. In 2024, a volunteer group called the Vegas Justice League funded new genetic tests. Advanced forensic labs identified Arthur Lavery, a local man who died in 2021, as the perpetrator. Though the full details of the encounter remain unclear, the case finally has a name. Melonie’s son, who was just a baby in 1994, now an adult, finally learned what happened to his mother. The White family expressed immense gratitude and peace. This was the ninth case in Las Vegas resolved by genealogical forensics since 2020—a testament to the technology’s growing power to bring answers and accountability, even decades later.