Yep.
And that's what happened here.
Still, glad they caught the guy but it seems that DNA archives are here to stay and only growing. I'm not convinced this is a good trend.
No but it narrows down the suspect list.
It's not trial worthy proof, but depending on how close that relative is and how many matching alleles there are.
“My understanding is that if someone in your extended family has ever used a commercial genetic testing service, that’s enough of a DNA trail for authorities to zero in on a suspect.”
That’s not how the process works. From what I understand from LEO who do this stuff for a living, Ancestry.com, 23 and Me, etc., don’t just turn over its DNA database to LEO with without a warrant, and a warrant will only be issued if LEO already has a suspect. More likely, Kohberger or a close family member voluntarily uploaded DNA sequences to a public site where the DNA is available to anyone who asks.
With that said, the big lead was the tip about the white Hyundai Electra. LEO probably learned from the WSU campus police that an on-campus parking permit was issued to Kohberger, who had a graduate student and office on campus, and from there LEO took a DNA sample from a coffee cup, soda can, etc.
Just a little info on dna. After having a stem cell transplant with my sister as my doner - I now have my sisters dna.
Ever had Bloodwork via your Doc or a Hospital ?
Then you’re in the Database.
The stazi would have drowned themselves in drool to have had the technology in their days.