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Genealogist Dr. Barbara Rae-Venter, Solving Golden State Killer Case

Tuesday, June 30, 2020 | Sacramento, CA
FBI via AP

This undated photo released by the FBI shows FBI Special Agent Marcus Knutson, left, and Sacramento County Sheriff's Department Deputy Paige Kneeland searching for evidence in the East Area Rapist case at the Sheriff's department evidence room.

FBI via AP

Joseph James DeAngelo eluded the authorities for four decades before he was arrested in 2018 in a Sacramento suburb.

Widely known as the Golden State Killer, DeAngelo pleaded guilty on Monday to 13 counts of first-degree murder and special circumstances, and 13 counts of kidnapping that dated back to the 1970s. 

It was the first high-profile case to be solved with genetic genealogy, which relies on identifying DNA collected at a crime scene by searching for the suspect’s relatives in genealogy databases. Genetic genealogist Dr. Barbara Rae-Venter was among those who helped identify DeAngelo.

We talk with Dr. Rae-Venter about it and how she helped crack the case. 

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