After nearly 50 years, FBI identifies “Lady of the Dunes” murder victim
(arstechnica.com)https://arstechnica.com/science/2022/11/after-nearly-50-years-fbi-identifies-lady-of-the-dunes-murder-victim/Tennessee native Ruth Marie Terry was 37 years old at the time of her murder in the Race Point Dunes of Provincetown, Massachusetts, found on July 26, 1974. Law enforcement was unable to identify the victim, who became known as the "Lady of the Dunes." The identification was finally made via genetic genealogy methods: a combination of DNA testing and profiling with traditional genealogical analysis to trace family trees.
DNA evidence has been used in criminal investigations since the late 1980s.
The last 20 years, however, has seen a sharp rise in commercial DNA testing kits for home use by several different companies. Since 2019, some 30 million people have tested their DNA.
"These genetic genealogical databases are predominantly white people, and hence have a racial bias", says the author of the article, "But nonetheless, they've enabled millions to trace their ancestry, including adoptees, Holocaust survivors, child migrants, and so forth. And they are proving very useful in solving criminal cold cases."
