How Othram Labs Used DNA Genealogy to Identify Bryan Kohberger

The Idaho Murders and the Knife Sheath

• 🔪 A crucial piece of evidence in the King Road murders was a knife sheath found near Maddie Mogan's body, containing DNA.
• 💡 This DNA did not match any known offenders in CODIS, prompting the use of investigative genetic genealogy.
• ⏳ Time was critical as the suspect was still at large, and the case was a high-profile, active investigation.

Othram Labs' Role in the Investigation

• 🧬 Othram Labs, a Texas-based company specializing in investigative genetic genealogy, was contracted to analyze the DNA.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Kristen and David Mittelman of Othram worked to build family trees from the DNA, eventually identifying a family with Italian heritage in Pennsylvania as a likely match.
• 🎯 This genealogical work provided law enforcement with a pool of potential suspects for targeted testing.

Bryan Kohberger's Identification and Arrest

• 🕵️ The FBI took over the family tree search on December 10th, 2022, and nine days later, identified Bryan Kohberger as the source of the DNA.
• 🚗 Kohberger matched the description provided by a roommate, owned a white Hyundai Elantra, and had cell phone data placing him in Moscow, Idaho, around the time of the murders.
• ⛓️ He was arrested on December 30th, 2022, in Pennsylvania and later pleaded guilty, receiving four consecutive life sentences.

The Impact of the Gag Order and Public Perception

• 🤐 A gag order prevented Othram Labs and others involved from discussing the case publicly until mid-July, causing frustration.
• 🗣️ Misinformation circulated on social media, particularly regarding the amount of DNA on the sheath, which was described as "trace" but was actually a large quantity.
• 📰 The lack of public information and the gag order made it difficult to correct false narratives, which hurt the families involved.

Advancing Investigative Genetic Genealogy

• 🌟 Stacy Chapin, Ethan Chapin's mother, and Kristen Mittelman are advocating for greater accessibility and public awareness of investigative genetic genealogy technology.
• 🤝 They believe that earlier public knowledge of Othram's findings could have eased public anxiety and quieted social media speculation.
• 🚀 The goal is to create a precedent and funding for using this technology in real-time investigations to prevent future crimes.

The Chapin Family's Resilience and Legacy

• ❤️ Stacy Chapin shared her profound connection with Kristen Mittelman, stemming from a hug at CrimeCon 2023, which provided solace during dark times.
• 🎓 The Chapin family founded the Ethan Smiles Foundation in Ethan's memory, awarding scholarships to 83 students totaling $105,000.
• 💪 Despite their immense loss, Ethan's siblings, Maisie and Hunter, returned to the University of Idaho and graduated with honors, demonstrating remarkable resilience.