Genetic Genealogy and AI Help Solve 1993 Illinois Cold Case

Investigators in Illinois have utilized advancements in genetic genealogy and artificial intelligence to crack a decades-old cold case. Randy Gail Sperino was murdered in 1993, and her killer remained unidentified for 30 years.

The Madison County Sheriff's Office pursued leads and interviewed numerous individuals after Sperino's disappearance on November 9, 1993, and the subsequent discovery of her body hours later. DNA evidence from the crime scene did not yield a match in standard law enforcement databases, leaving the case unsolved.

In a renewed effort last year, detectives employed investigative genetic genealogy, a technique similar to that used to identify the Golden State Killer. This method involves constructing a family tree based on DNA data shared by relatives in commercial databases. Unlike traditional DNA testing, which requires a direct comparison, genetic genealogy can identify distant genetic relatives of an unknown individual.

The Madison County Sheriff's Office sent genetic evidence to Othram, a company specializing in DNA technology for cold cases. Although the perpetrator's DNA was not directly available, profiles from his extended relatives allowed Othram to identify a male family member. This lead proved instrumental in the investigation.

"That lead broke the case open," stated Captain Tim Lawrence of the Madison County Sheriff's Office. The investigation ultimately pointed to Albert "Buddy" Zigler, 70, who confessed to the murder and was charged in May. Wes Sperino, Gail's son, expressed that he has "finally get[s] closure and [he] finally know[s] who did this."

In addition to genetic genealogy, investigators also leveraged AI to manage the vast amount of evidence collected since 1993. They used a platform called Centerline AI, developed by CentralSquare, to analyze over 2,000 pages of records. The AI assisted in reconstructing timelines and organizing witness information, making the process more efficient than manual review.

"It's so much easier than having a detective have to read through 2,000 pages," Lawrence said. His team could interact with the AI system conversationally. This technology also aided detectives in interviewing Zigler, allowing them to pose questions to the AI to assess the suspect's truthfulness.

However, Captain Lawrence emphasized that technology is "only as good as the investigator," and human intervention remains critical for tracking down and interviewing individuals. Investigative genetic genealogy also has limitations; it cannot solve cases without any DNA evidence. Despite these constraints, the technique is considered more powerful than relying solely on database matches.

Concerns regarding privacy persist with investigative genetic genealogy, as genetic relatives may not have consented to their DNA data being used for law enforcement purposes, even if an individual has opted in. Funding also presents a challenge, with many agencies lacking sufficient resources for such investigations, often relying on public donations or crowdfunding.

While investigative genetic genealogy is employed in countries like Sweden, Denmark, and Australia, it has not yet been adopted in the UK. The Home Office is currently studying its potential implementation there. The UK already possesses a robust DNA database, which provides a high probability of identifying individuals from crime scene DNA, according to Professor Denise Syndercombe Court of King's College London.