New DNA tools help Oklahoma investigators make progress on cold cases

Solving decades-old homicides remains one of law enforcement’s most difficult challenges, but new technology is giving renewed hope to Oklahoma families still searching for answers.

Hunter McKee with the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) joined News On 6 to explain how tools like Rapid DNA and genetic genealogy are helping crack cold cases across the state. He also shared the latest update in a homicide investigation in Okmulgee.

How OSBI is using new technology to revisit unsolved cases

“Sure. Well, you know, when we look at cold cases, as we have discussed before, as the OSBI has brought up, it's extremely challenging. When you're talking about cases from 40, 50 years back, it brings up problems with how you're able to solve these.”

McKee said advanced tools are improving those odds:

• Rapid DNA

“Rapid DNA is one that has just been a tremendous asset and rapid DNA not just a tool or an instrument the OSBI is using but other law enforcement agencies across the state. Rapid DNA can can get a DNA sample in 90 minutes.”

“We're talking about technology like that, about something that's faster and something that when you're dealing with families, people that want these cases solved, they're now looking or they're now getting the opportunity for us to say, hey, listen, there are things about this case we can look back on, and maybe these tools can really help.”

• Genetic genealogy

“Genetic genealogy is another one, and that's something that we've put on our social media page here recently. We've talked about it briefly, but we're going to put out a video series of us kind of talking a little bit more of how that process works.”

“That's another way to where when we get these older cases from the, you know, 70s, 80s, 90s, and we gather what was found from those scenes, we can now use, again, these tools, but specifically with genetic genealogy, there is now a wave of people that we can look back on and see who was in contact with this specific subject, and to see who can we reach out to, who knew this person, who knew maybe what was going on up until that crime occurred.”

OSBI asks for tips after deadly Okmulgee shooting

McKee also addressed a recent homicide in Okmulgee, where a 25-year-old was shot and later died.

“Yeah, so I can say that again that that person was shot and killed like you'd mentioned. We are still working on leads right now. We're hoping to find that that suspect involved as quickly as possible. We are asking for the public's help in this case. We put it on our Facebook page. If anybody was in that area or knows maybe what had occurred or what led up to the shooting, please reach out to the OSBI. We will have our tip line on social media.”

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