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Hmm. So it went: <DNA at crime scene -> <magic DNA database> -> <DMV database> -> White Elantra ?? Why didn't they just say "we're looking for this guy", vs "

Hmm. So it went: <DNA at crime scene -> <magic DNA database> -> <DMV database> -> White Elantra ?? Why didn't they just say "we're looking for this guy", vs "we're looking for a white Elantra"? Any time I see LE seemingly making an unlikely breakthrough, I suspect they constructed the apparent evidence to cover up use of illegal mass surveillance tech. e.g. those times when the mass murderer "happens to be pulled over for having a broken tail light".

bryan0 4y ago
I think it was more parallel than that: while we’re running crime scene dna against genealogy dbs, let’s also look for hits on an a white Elantra at the scene. Notice they also said the Elantra was a dead-end last week, so at that point they probably already matched the owner with the dna and knew where they were.
- dboreham 4y ago
  Some more detailed reporting today reveals that you're probably right: they first identified the set of people or vehicles in the area/time. Then they collected DNA and cross-checked the DNA with the set of area/time suspects. That led them to the suspect. Everything after that was just waiting to see if he would incriminate himself further? or perhaps just to make the movie plot more interesting?
superfrank 4y ago
I'm pretty sure the white Elantra was a tip from the public and its discovery wasn't related to the DNA at all. IIRC, a night shift gas station attendant was going through tapes on the night of the murder to see if they could help and something about the Elantra stood out.
- djmips 4y ago
  That story I've heard as well but could it have been planted? It sounds a bit fishy.
  - superfrank 4y ago
    I don't see why it would be. The police have no obligation to share the "why" behind their thinking at this point. They could have just said, "we're looking for a white Elantra" and left it at that. If they lied about where the tip came from that would likely come out during the trial and hurt the prosecution's case. While some people have a moral objection to it, using DNA in the way they did is totally legal. If that was really how they got the tip, they gain little by lying about it, but getting caught in that lie would have a massive downside.
lithos 4y ago
Nah geanolgy websites are very cooperative with law enforcement. Males are extremely trackable with their Y gene since it's guaranteed to pass from father to son, along with the suspect being white (the race with highest level of participation in genetic genealogy, meaning you can find 90% plus indirectly somehow). After you find the family line it's just records work and narrowing down based on region/age/motive. Followed by some dumpster diving on a handful of suspects.
- dboreham 4y ago
  My thinking was: if you put the entire resources of the USG onto the job, how hard is it to find a person who was at a specific location at a specific time, in a city? (even if they have good opsec and didn't carry a cell phone). Also: given same resources, how hard is it to find a White Hyundai Elantra in Eastern Washington/Idaho panhandle? It it were a white F-150, sure that might be hard. But there just aren't many white Elantras in that part of the world.

bryan0 4y ago

I think it was more parallel than that: while we’re running crime scene dna against genealogy dbs, let’s also look for hits on an a white Elantra at the scene. Notice they also said the Elantra was a dead-end last week, so at that point they probably already matched the owner with the dna and knew where they were.

dboreham 4y ago
Some more detailed reporting today reveals that you're probably right: they first identified the set of people or vehicles in the area/time. Then they collected DNA and cross-checked the DNA with the set of area/time suspects. That led them to the suspect. Everything after that was just waiting to see if he would incriminate himself further? or perhaps just to make the movie plot more interesting?

superfrank 4y ago

I'm pretty sure the white Elantra was a tip from the public and its discovery wasn't related to the DNA at all. IIRC, a night shift gas station attendant was going through tapes on the night of the murder to see if they could help and something about the Elantra stood out.

djmips 4y ago
That story I've heard as well but could it have been planted? It sounds a bit fishy.
- superfrank 4y ago
  I don't see why it would be. The police have no obligation to share the "why" behind their thinking at this point. They could have just said, "we're looking for a white Elantra" and left it at that. If they lied about where the tip came from that would likely come out during the trial and hurt the prosecution's case. While some people have a moral objection to it, using DNA in the way they did is totally legal. If that was really how they got the tip, they gain little by lying about it, but getting caught in that lie would have a massive downside.

lithos 4y ago

Nah geanolgy websites are very cooperative with law enforcement. Males are extremely trackable with their Y gene since it's guaranteed to pass from father to son, along with the suspect being white (the race with highest level of participation in genetic genealogy, meaning you can find 90% plus indirectly somehow). After you find the family line it's just records work and narrowing down based on region/age/motive. Followed by some dumpster diving on a handful of suspects.

dboreham 4y ago
My thinking was: if you put the entire resources of the USG onto the job, how hard is it to find a person who was at a specific location at a specific time, in a city? (even if they have good opsec and didn't carry a cell phone). Also: given same resources, how hard is it to find a White Hyundai Elantra in Eastern Washington/Idaho panhandle? It it were a white F-150, sure that might be hard. But there just aren't many white Elantras in that part of the world.