Even though DNA was first used in 1988 in England, in 1996 it’s use was still in the infancy stage here and there really wasn’t a database of DNA samples.
In 2003 there was still no match in the DNA database. Not until 2021 were they able to make a familial match.
All in all, I can’t blame the cops on this one.
Laundrie on the other hand was a clusterscrew from day one. Real Keystone Kops, Car 54 type bumbling.
That one we CAN blame on the cops.
They should have been able to nail the bastard using then-current forensic science and good old fashioned police work, that was my point. :^)