Family tree with 2,800 people
One of the DNA match family trees Carter was trying to work through to identify Carmen's killer contained 2,800 people.
Where this was said
Genetic Genealogy Takes Over (2018–2023)
At 39:20 · chapter starts 38:30
While Carter was navigating departmental politics, IMPD quietly sent Carmen's DNA to Parabon NanoLabs in 2018 for a genetic genealogy snapshot. By 2019 they learn the suspect is a Black man — a meaningful narrowing of the field. Carter, now a lieutenant with no genealogical training, begins building family trees from the distant DNA matches Parabon provides; one tree alone has 2,800 people. Progress is painfully slow, working fourth-generation connections. Then Season of Justice steps in with a grant covering 15 hours of genealogical research and a database upload fee. [1] — Ashley Flowers "A great-niece once removed of the suspect uploaded her DNA to 23andMe. That upload, caught by Parabon NanoLabs on June 2, 2023, gave Captai…" 39:40 That modest investment pays off on June 2, 2023, when Parabon contacts Carter — now a captain — with what he would call the magic hit: a great-niece once removed of the suspect had uploaded her DNA to 23andMe, providing the closest genetic proximity yet to their unknown killer.
Genetic Genealogy and the Great-Niece Once Removed
A great-niece once removed of the suspect uploaded her DNA to 23andMe. That upload, caught by Parabon NanoLabs on June 2, 2023, gave Captain Carter what he called the 'magic hit.' Season of Justice had funded just 15 hours of genealogical research — and it was enough.
Season of Justice grant: 15 hours of research
Ashley Flowers's nonprofit Season of Justice funded 15 hours of genealogical research and the fee to upload the suspect's DNA to an additional database, enabling the breakthrough hit.
Parabon genetic genealogy hit: June 2023
On June 2, 2023, Parabon NanoLabs contacted Captain Carter with a breakthrough — a great-niece once removed of the suspect had uploaded her DNA to 23andMe, providing the closest genetic match yet.
The Sheppards Were Always on the List
When analyst Mira Patel traced DNA relatives to two brothers named Sheppard, Captain Carter checked his apartment complex resident list — and both brothers were already on it. He and Mira walked the route in 30 seconds. The laundry room, where Carmen may have crossed paths with her killer, sat between their units.
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