Behind some of the most challenging police investigations are questions that have gone unanswered for years.<\/p>\n
Brock University Political Science graduate Stephen Smith (BA ’95) helps detectives pursue answers through investigative genetic genealogy (IGG), a field that combines DNA analysis with family-tree research to help identify unknown human remains or leads in homicide and sexual assault investigations where conventional DNA matching has not produced results.<\/p>\n
As a Detective Sergeant with the Toronto Police Service\u2019s (TPS) Homicide and Missing Persons Unit \u2014 Cold Case Section, he works on investigations that use emerging forensic techniques to advance cases that have remained unsolved.<\/p>\n
Smith shared insights from his career alongside his colleague, forensic officer and Detective Constable Aimee Lukings, during an Oct. 19 event hosted by the Faculties of Applied Health Sciences, Mathematics and Science, and Social Sciences.<\/p>\n
During his talk, Smith discussed the cold case of a nine-year-old girl who disappeared from Queensville, Ont., in 1984. At the time, investigative tunnel vision resulted in the wrongful conviction of an innocent man. DNA evidence eventually exonerated him in 1995, but the case remained unsolved.<\/p>\n
Smith recounted that investigators revisited the evidence, including four skids of paper files. Using IGG and a DNA sample from preserved autopsy blood, they honed in on two family trees in Belleville, Ont., ultimately identifying the likely killer<\/a>. The breakthrough demonstrated how preserved forensic evidence and advances in DNA analysis can help decades-old investigations.<\/p>\n Smith said every scientific advance makes it possible to crack previously unsolvable cases.<\/p>\n \u201cKeeping pace with scientific advances is one of the biggest challenges \u2014 and exciting learning opportunities \u2014 of my job,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n He emphasizes that the ability to assess information, weigh options and make decisions under pressure has been critical to his success. Smith credits the skills he developed while at Brock with building a foundation for his future career.<\/p>\n \u201cThe skills that you learn while getting a degree \u2014 writing, analytical reasoning and reflecting critically \u2014 they are all applicable to policing,\u201d he said.\u00a0\u00a0<\/sub><\/p>\n