California investigators were able to track down “Golden State Killer” suspect Joseph James DeAngelo using a relative’s genetic information stored in genealogical website databases, the Sacramento district attorney’s office confirmed to HuffPost on Thursday. Asked by reporters where officials had obtained DeAngelo’s DNA, Schubert would say only that they used a “discarded DNA sample.” More information, she said, would be forthcoming. On Thursday, Chief Deputy District Attorney Steve Grippi confirmed reports that investigators used DNA collected from one of the crime scenes decades ago and compared it to genetic profiles on genealogical websites. “It’s our policy to resist law enforcement inquiries to protect customer privacy,” the spokesperson said in a statement to HuffPost. “23andMe has never given customer information to law enforcement officials.

Source: Huffington Post April 27, 2018 00:11 UTC