TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced a new statewide initiative aimed at helping law enforcement agencies crack unsolved cases by leveraging advanced forensic DNA testing and genetic genealogy.
The program, led by the Office of Statewide Prosecution, is a partnership with Othram, a firm that specializes in human identification through cutting-edge DNA analysis. The effort is designed to proactively identify cases across Florida that could be solved using existing biological evidence.
“For too long, many victims and their families have been left without answers,” Uthmeier said in a statement, adding that the partnership will strengthen efforts to bring closure to families who have waited years for justice.
State Sen. Ana Maria Rodriguez said the initiative represents a meaningful step forward in delivering accountability. “We owe it to every victim, every family, and every community to pursue the truth—no matter how much time has passed,” Rodriguez said.
Officials with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement emphasized that advances in forensic science are opening new doors in long-stalled investigations. Special Agent in Charge John Vecchio said investigators remain committed to exhausting every lead in pursuit of answers.
Othram founder David Mittelman noted that many cold cases went unsolved not due to a lack of evidence, but because earlier technology could not fully analyze available DNA. By combining traditional databases like CODIS with modern genetic genealogy tools, investigators can now generate leads even without an existing suspect or match.
The initiative will initially focus on three multi-jurisdictional homicide investigations, including:
- A 1970s murder case connected to Broward and Miami-Dade counties
- A late-2000s double homicide in the Miami Gardens area
- An early 1980s homicide in Central Florida
While details remain limited due to ongoing investigations, officials say the goal is to provide local agencies with new investigative leads using technology that was unavailable when the crimes were committed.
Florida currently has more than 21,000 unsolved murder cases and nearly 900 cases involving unidentified human remains. Officials believe advanced DNA analysis and forensic genetic genealogy could play a critical role in resolving many of them.
Unlike traditional cold case efforts that rely on individual case submissions, the new initiative is designed to operate proactively on a statewide scale—identifying cases where biological evidence may still yield answers.
The partnership is expected to expand beyond homicide cases to include serial sexual battery investigations, further enhancing Florida’s ability to pursue justice for victims of violent crime.
