How discarded chewing gum helped convict a serial rapist of two cold case murders – CTV News

It sounds like something ripped straight from a procedural drama—a discarded piece of chewing gum, tossed carelessly onto a sidewalk years ago, becoming the smoking gun that closes a decades-old murder investigation. While the recent headlines coming out of the CTV report highlight a specific victory in the fight against serial offenders, the ripple effects of this forensic breakthrough are felt far beyond a single jurisdiction. For those of us here in Chicago, a city where the archives of the Chicago Police Department are heavy with cold cases that have haunted neighborhoods from Englewood to the Gold Coast, this isn’t just a curious news story. It is a signal that the “unsolvable” is becoming solvable.

The science at play here is a sophisticated evolution of what we call “Touch DNA.” In the early days of forensic profiling, investigators needed significant biological samples—a pool of blood or a large clothing stain—to build a profile. Today, the threshold for a viable sample has plummeted. We are now operating in an era where a few epithelial cells trapped in the polymers of a piece of gum, or a smudge on a door handle, can provide a complete genetic blueprint. When you combine this sensitivity with the rise of investigative genetic genealogy (IGG), the walls are closing in on offenders who thought time had erased their footprints.

The Shift from Traditional Forensics to Genetic Genealogy

The real game-changer isn’t just the ability to find DNA on a piece of gum; it’s what we do with that DNA once it’s sequenced. For years, law enforcement relied almost exclusively on CODIS (the Combined DNA Index System), which only works if the suspect’s profile is already in the government database. If the perpetrator had never been arrested for a felony, the DNA was a dead end. However, the shift toward using public-facing genealogical databases has flipped the script.

By uploading a crime scene profile to these databases, investigators can find third or fourth cousins of a suspect. From there, forensic genealogists build out massive family trees, narrowing the search to a specific branch of a family and eventually a single individual. In a metropolitan hub like Chicago, where the population density is high and familial ties are often deeply rooted in specific wards, this method is an incredibly potent tool. The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office has seen a similar trend nationally, where the “cold” nature of a case is no longer a shield for the guilty.

The Institutional Infrastructure of Justice in Illinois

To understand how this translates to our local streets, one has to look at the interplay between the FBI Laboratory and the Illinois State Police (ISP) forensic labs. The process of extracting DNA from degraded samples—like old gum or weathered fabric—requires high-resolution sequencing that isn’t available in every precinct. When the CPD re-opens a cold case, the evidence often undergoes a rigorous chain of custody transition to these specialized facilities. The precision required is staggering; a single contaminant from a modern-day technician could ruin a sample from 1992.

the legal landscape is shifting to accommodate these breakthroughs. Defense attorneys are now challenging the “privacy” aspect of genealogical searches, arguing that searching a relative’s DNA to find a suspect constitutes an unreasonable search. This creates a tension between the right to privacy and the right of victims’ families to achieve closure. For those navigating the complexities of the legal system, seeking specialized legal guidance for cold cases is becoming a necessity rather than an option.

The Human Cost of the Cold Case Backlog

Beyond the vials and the sequencers, there is a profound psychological weight to these cases. In Chicago, the “cold case” isn’t just a file in a cabinet; it’s a void in a family’s history. When a serial offender is caught via a piece of gum or a stray hair, it doesn’t just solve one crime—it often triggers a domino effect. Once a suspect is identified through one piece of evidence, investigators can go back to other unsolved crimes with a specific target, often leading to a cascade of arrests.

This “macro-to-micro” effect means that a breakthrough in a small town in Canada or a suburb in Ohio can provide the tactical blueprint for how the CPD handles its own backlog. We are seeing a trend where agencies are prioritizing “high-yield” evidence—items that were previously ignored but are now known to hold viable DNA. This means that evidence lockers that were once seen as warehouses for the forgotten are being reimagined as goldmines of genetic data.

Navigating the Aftermath of Forensic Revelations

Given my background as a news editor covering policy shifts and domestic affairs, I’ve seen how these sudden legal breakthroughs can upend lives—both for the victims seeking peace and the families of the accused. If you or a loved one are impacted by a reopened investigation or are seeking to push a cold case forward in the Chicago area, the path forward isn’t always clear. You cannot simply walk into a precinct and demand a genetic genealogy search; Notice protocols, budgets, and legal hurdles to clear.

If this trend impacts you in Chicago, here are the three types of local professionals you need to ensure you are navigating the system effectively:

Cold Case Legal Strategists

You don’t just need a general practitioner; you need an attorney who specializes in post-conviction relief or cold case advocacy. Look for professionals who have a proven track record of interfacing with the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office and who understand the specific statutes of limitations and evidence laws in Illinois.

Private Forensic Consultants

While the state handles the primary lab work, private consultants can help families understand the technical feasibility of testing old evidence. Look for consultants who are certified in forensic biology and can provide an independent analysis of whether a sample is likely to yield a profile before you spend thousands on legal petitions.

Trauma-Informed Victim Advocates

The reopening of a case after twenty years is a violent emotional event. Seek advocates who are affiliated with recognized non-profits or government agencies. The key criterion here is “trauma-informed care”—professionals who can bridge the gap between the clinical nature of a police investigation and the emotional needs of the survivors.

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