How $750 and Forensic Genealogy Solved The Phoenix Canal Murders

The $750 Forensic Genealogy Expense

• 💡 A key turning point in the Phoenix Canal Murders investigation was the decision to hire a forensic genealogologist.
• 💰 The expense for this service was $750, which required significant deliberation and approval through the chain of command due to government bureaucracy.
• 🎯 The forensic genealogologist's role was to potentially identify the surname of the killer by analyzing genetic information.

Overcoming Bureaucracy for Approval

• ⚠️ The police department, known for its lack of nimbleness, faced challenges in getting the expense approved quickly.
• 🤝 Investigators considered unconventional methods to cover the cost, including a volunteer offering to write a check or taking up a collection.
• 🗣️ Convincing upper management involved explaining that this was an innovative approach with nothing to lose but the allocated budget.

Identifying the Killer's Surname

• 🔍 The forensic genealogologist, described as brilliant, was able to determine a surname from a sequence of numbers.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 The surname identified was Miller, which significantly narrowed down the suspect pool.

Locating Brian Miller's File

• 🕵️‍♀️ With the surname Miller, detectives worked from both ends of the alphabet to identify potential suspects.
• 📂 The investigation led to the file of Brian Miller, who was predicted to be a likely match.
• 🤯 Upon reviewing Brian Miller's file, the lead investigator experienced a shocking realization, indicating a significant breakthrough in the case.