How a genetic genealogist helped solve Roxanne Wood's "unsolvable" murder | Forensic Files

this week 48 Hours on a Cold Case murder that stumped investigators for nearly 35
years Roxanne wood was found dead in her Michigan home back in 1987. DNA from the
crime scene was preserved but there wasn't enough evidence to charge any suspects decades later a genetic
genealogist helped investigators find the Killer by constructing a family tree 48 Hours correspondent Peter Van Sant
reports in February 1987 Terry Wood came home from a night of bowling to discover his
wife Roxanne dead on the kitchen floor she was bleeding profusely from her neck detective first lieutenant Chuck
Christensen says Roxanne had been sexually assaulted and her throat was slashed DNA was preserved but given technology
limits at the time not much could be done with it 34 long years passed without a real lead I was starting to
lose hope then in 2021 investigative genetic genealogist Gabriella Vargas got to work on the Cold Case though only a
scant amount of DNA was left Vargas was confident I believed that this case was extremely solvable I believe that I
could solve it incredibly Vargas identified a suspect in just four days his name Patrick Gillum but before an
arrest could be made investigators had to be sure gillum's DNA matched the DNA left at the scene I'm Ryan cotty and I
am a trooper with the Michigan State Police caughty went undercover following Gillum we noticed that he was a smoker
it's a great source of DNA cut and his team witnessed Gillum flick a cigarette butt out his window as he drove you're
rubbing your hands you're going this is going to be that final piece of the puzzle that you had talked about right
yes they were in for some bad news it wasn't a match it's possible the butt picked up on a busy street wasn't the
one that Gillum tossed so Katie followed him again I saw him throw his cigarette
which was right right in about this area so it was a great situation because the
cigarette was by itself investigators held their breath until the results from this butt came back it was a perfect
match DNA had identified a killer but could investigators get him to confess Why didn't it match the first time so I
think because he was following a vehicle and the it was a busy road it might have
been the wrong cigarette right that's why he said it was a loan yeah he was very happy about that catching a little
bag as well so

In 1987, Roxanne Wood was found dead in her Michigan home and for nearly 35 years her murder case sat cold. "48 Hours" correspondent Peter Van Sant previews their report on the genetic genealogist who helped find the killer in just four days.

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Brief Summary

Roxanne Wood's 1987 murder was solved in 2021 using DNA and genetic genealogy.

Key points

Cold Case Murder Solved After 34 Years. Investigators finally identify a suspect in the murder of Roxanne Wood, thanks to genetic genealogy.
The Cigarette That Led to a Match. A cigarette butt becomes crucial evidence in confirming the killer's identity.

Episode highlights

Episode quotes

I believed that this case was extremely solvable.

Gabriella Vargas on her confidence in solving the case.

1:14WatchNov 11, 2022

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