Cold cases, especially those involving death or murder, can be very difficult for families. Families wait years or decades for an explanation of what happened to their loved ones and those who hurt them, and the lack of resolution is emotionally and mentally exhausting. However, in November 2022, thanks to genetic or DNA identification and technological advances, two families finally have an answer after nearly four decades of frustration and despair.
The Fifth Estate film Cold Case Ghost describes how the Toronto Police Service finally found the suspects in the 1983 attack and murder of two women, Erin Gilmour and Susan Tice. Susan Tice, an separated mother of four who recently moved to Toronto from Calgary, works as a social worker working with children in need. Erin Gilmour, on the other hand, is a 22-year-old aspiring fashion designer and the daughter of famous mining tycoon David Gilmour. DNA was found at both crime scenes after the lives of two women were tragically cut short by the sexual assault and stabbing of the same unidentified assailant.
By 1983, scientists had a good understanding of the structure of DNA. However, it was not until a decade later, in the early 1990s, that British police began using DNA profiles in criminal investigations. Even so, it’s a relatively new technology and not widely used in crime detection.
However, as technology improves and the cost of DNA testing falls, it is increasingly being used by law enforcement agencies around the world to identify suspects and solve crimes. However, as crime labs build up databases of known criminals, it will take time for it to become more mainstream. But the proliferation of its own DNA kits sets it apart. Today, more ordinary people, not just those who are arrested, have their DNA information in global databases.
In the end, authorities solved the Toronto crime with a “genetic family tree.” This is a field that combines genetics and genealogy techniques to trace a person’s ancestry and family history through DNA analysis. Usable DNA samples were obtained from both crime scenes, but there were no direct matches to known individuals in the criminal or ex-offender database. Toronto investigators used genetic genealogy techniques to identify the suspect or find clues that might help identify him, including people related to the suspect or a common ancestor.
While some critics have raised concerns about the accuracy of at-home DNA testing and issues related to privacy and civil liberties, justice has prevailed for the Gilmour and Theis family, who are now ending a very traumatic period in their lives.
Directed by: Ronna Syed
