This event has completed.

RGS Novenber DNA Interest Group: To Catch a Serial Killer - A Visual Introduction to Investigate Genetic Genealogy
11-Nov-2025
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM EST

Event Description
To Catch a Serial Killer:  A Visual Introduction to Investigate Genetic Genealogy

Program Description:  Come hear about the intersection of genealogy and true crime! This presentation provides a visual introduction to the Investigative Genetic Genealogy (IGG) process.  A case study, based on an actual current-day serial killer case, will be used to illustrate the core methodology of IGG. The concepts of shared matches, clusters / genetic networks, Most Recent Common Ancestors, and union couples will be explained in the context of zeroing in on a small list of candidate(s) for the unknown perpetrator.  Numerous pictures, diagrams, and screen shots are used to visualize both the forest and the trees (pun intended!) to facilitate the audience’s understanding.

Speaker Bio:   Allan Westreich, Ph.D. has been exploring his genealogy for decades.  More recently, with the advent of genetic genealogy, he has identified even more distant cousins as well as leading a Y-DNA Surname Project to connect separate branches of his paternal line.  And most recently he has been dabbling with Investigative Genetic Genealogy, volunteering with the non-profit DNA Doe Project to help identify Jane/John Does.