Getting Started

After solving my first cold case at eighteen in 2019, the youngest individual to ever do so and the first college student to be involved in a cold case investigation, I especially had an eye out for cases in Pennsylvania that potentially had genetic genealogy in play and needed solving. By chance, in my college dorm, I ran across the Marise Chiverella case in early 2020 and I understood from public accounts that testing was being done with not necessarily results thus far.

By chance, I sent an email to the Troop Public Information Officer, and in a now much-repeated meeting in a local college coffee shop in Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania, I discussed the case and argued why I should be given the chance to solve it. I was not given the case but as I now describe, interviewed. I discussed the difficulties of genetic genealogy and low matches, ways around that, and how a case might be approached from different viewpoints. Drawing from thousands of client cases involving biological family, and a cold case solve at that point prior to 2020, I certainly felt prepared to answer these questions from the State Police.

Again, as I say now, thankfully I must have provided the correct answers, as shortly thereafter, I received the information needed to begin work on the case and begam my partnership with the Pennsylvania State Police. It took two years, with some off and on, but working through low matches, building over fifty family trees, having more DNA samples provided, and finding a connection to Hazleton, the Pennsylvania State Police and I were able to identify Marise’s assailant. This underscores the importance of agencies being open to using this technology, and being open to true professionals with a track record of success who can apply this technology, no matter perhaps how unorthodox the proposal. Technology advances, and those advancements can solve cases!

Preserved Evidence, DNA Identification of Unknown Subject from 1964

One of the main reasons why this case stands out, and a reason why it was still able to be solved, is that the Pennsylvania State Police had the wherewithal to collect and store DNA from the crime scene. Their actions in 1964 led to the case being solved in 2022, and without that stored DNA, the introduction and advancement of genetic genealogy would not have been able to assist this case.

Unfortunately, not every case benefits from preserved DNA, especially a case from 1964 or before, which is why in the Chiverella case this was of the utmost importance. Some cold cases just do not have DNA available.

The Chiverella case remains the oldest case in Pennsylvania history to be solved through genetic genealogy and is believed to be top 5 oldest in the world. It was all possible through troopers saving and preserving the DNA sample!

Working Through Low Matches & Inter-Agency Cooperation

This sounds simple in the field and is often said, but perhaps not stressed enough in practice. It is public that some matches involved in this case were not strong and that is why it took time. However, this emphasizes the importance of working through low matches! Relying on potential family historians, continuously searching different ways through different records, trying to find connections to a specific geographic locality, all may assist and did so in the Chiverella case.

The matches were low and part of that two year period where we narrowed in on Forte was a result of continued searching, trying new avenues or different databases, relying on potential family historians, focusing on surnames and/or geographic locations, and much more. Any potential lead that is not nothing is beneficial and that is the approach I took with the Chiverella case to trudge us towards higher centimorgans and ultimately, the perpetrator.

We were able to have luck because the State Police and I did not want to let the case sit, were willing to try and obtain samples, and were willing to think outside the box. Genetic genealogy investigations are often powered just as much by the genealogist as they are the law enforcement team working with them, and the entire team’s dedication to going after the goal. We had a fantastic team together on the Chiverella case and inter-agency cooperation works different for every person on every case. For me, on the Chiverella case, we were a united team that had our lanes – I provided genealogy leads, PSP ran them down, and together we brainstormed. After all, their entire arrangement with me was unique, there was almost nothing to lose. I am very thankful for my investigative partners in Pennsylvania State Police – Troop N!

Always Moving Forward

Like many genetic genealogy investigations, there were twists and turns. Results coming up unexpected. Worrying about misattributed parentage or descendants you cannot fully trace. I think it is important in instances like this, as it was in the Chiverella case, to focus on the data in front of you, the centimorgans in front of you, simply how you can get them higher. Do not worry if so and so had a misattributed child, until you have the data that shows so and so may be your common ancestor in an investigation. I have learned be prepared, but not cross the bridge until I get there!

The common thread is always moving forward, always having a next plan or line of inquiry in mind. Working alongside law enforcement, this is important and was in the Chiverella case. Every time we got an unexpected twist and turn in the form of a new result, bad result, or something similar, it was time to immediately switch gears based on the new data. We did not get stuck in a loop or too bogged down in the details and that is something I so often see in some investigation.

Lessons For All

Lessons involved in the Chiverella case were getting creative with strategies to overcome low matches, working with community members to be creative and get DNA samples, not giving up when a less than expected result comes in or a roadblock occurs, and perhaps most importantly, always focusing on the next potential result as a team. There were countless times during this investigation where a line of inquiry we were pursuing for a month was disproved or we had enough data to give an opinion on it. In the blink of an eye, I would simply move to our next most likely line of inquiry that was needed to solve the case. It was the most beneficial approach and the energy which was needed. 'When you have eliminated all which is impossible, then whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.” – Arthur Conan Doyle

Many hands worked on this case before I was able to provide answers with the amazing Troop N in Hazleton. The Pennsylvania State Police Team consisting of Sgt. Mark Baron, Retired Trooper James Quiroz, and Cpl. Devon Brutosky, deserves immense recognition, as does the Luzerne County District Attorney’s Office for coordinating this partnership. Thank you to Former Det. And Retired Trooper Shawn Williams.

I worked with troopers on this case, as well as one other in a separate part of the state, who after my initial training and work with them later became members of a newly formed Pennsylvania State Police Genetic Genealogy Unit. It is great that public-private partnership brought about an in-house team that is able to solve more cases, not just from the standpoint of a volunteer like I was on the Marise Chiverella case.

What Sets This Apart