New Orleans Police Department detectives push to solve cold cases with help from the public

Breakthrough DNA Technique Could Help Solve Cold Cases Involving Rape, Murder

The Y-STR technique works by zeroing in on the characteristics of the Y-chromosome which is only present in the DNA of human males.

New Orleans Police Department detectives push to solve cold cases with help from the public

NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — One week after speaking to the mother of Kevin August, New Orleans Police Department detectives hope new attention and a fresh set of eyes will help crack this case. "Having to talk to families day in and day out and not be able to give them updates or give them the answers that they deserve is tough and never really goes away," said NOPD Homicide Detective Jameson Diesburg. Man dead, subject detained in Central City sh…

New DNA-Testing Breakthrough Solves 12-Year-Old Case, May Crack Hundreds More

A groundbreaking forensic technique has led to the conviction of a murderer more than a decade after the crime, and experts believe it could help solve many other cold cases. Scientists have developed a method known as Y-STR analysis, which can detect tiny traces of male DNA even when mixed with a larger amount of female genetic material. This advancement is particularly promising for investigating violent crimes such as murders and sexual assau…