Ramapo College Students Use Genetic Genealogy to Solve 10-Year-Old Cold Case

Solving a Decade-Old Cold Case

• 📌 The remains of Maria Kones Garcia, who vanished in 2014, have been identified after a foot found in the Delaware River in 2017 yielded no other evidence, turning the case cold.
• 🔍 In 2023, the New Jersey State Police collaborated with Ramapo College of New Jersey's Investigative Genetic Genealogy Center to bring new life to the investigation.

The Role of Investigative Genetic Genealogy

• 🧬 Students in a 15-week certificate program analyzed the genotype profile from the victim's bone remains.
• 💻 This profile was uploaded to genealogy databases, where researchers worked to reconstruct family trees and identify common ancestors.
• 💡 A breakthrough occurred when a student researching the family discovered a Facebook post of a missing person, directly linking to Kones Garcia.

Ramapo College's Genealogy Program

• 🎓 The program attracts a diverse group, including law enforcement professionals, retirees, hobbyists, and stay-at-home parents, all interested in learning investigative genetic genealogy.
• 🎯 The primary goal of the students is to provide closure to the loved ones of missing individuals.
• 🏫 Beyond the certificate program, the center also offers a one-week boot camp in Mahwah, New Jersey.

Impact and Successes

• ✅ The center has a track record of solving numerous other cases and has been instrumental in exonerating wrongfully incarcerated individuals.
• 🌟 The ability to provide answers to families is described as a profoundly rewarding experience for both students and instructors.