Cincinnati police to offer free DNA kits for cold cases, but privacy concerns remain
Cincinnati police to offer free DNA kits for cold cases, but privacy concerns remain
Publish Date: 2026-06-01 16:34:00
Source Domain: www.fox19.com
CINCINNATI (WXIX) – Cincinnati police plan to offer residents free DNA kits this summer to help solve cold cases using forensic genetic genealogy, the same technique that caught the Golden State Killer.
The department says the technique already cracked a local cold case. Police say the kits will be free and completely voluntary, with details still being finalized.
How the program works
Forensic genetic genealogy matches crime-scene DNA to profiles people have voluntarily submitted to public databases. Police say the goal is to solve cases faster and bring families closure.
Cincinnati police have not announced which databases they will be pulling from.
“Those families that are left behind — they want to do something active,” a police official said. “Becoming a genetic witness allows people to do that. These databases are only as good as public cooperation, but it’s entirely on them to opt in. This isn’t something they’ll be forced to do.”
Police say the information will be private and confidential, will not be involved in any court process and, because it involves ongoing investigations, is not open to public record.
Privacy concerns
Residents say unanswered questions are standing between them and handing over their DNA.
“I just don’t know what happens to it after they have my information — who all gets it, what are they going to do with it other than solve cases,” one resident said.
Tech expert Dave Hatter says without federal protections or strong state laws, the risks are real.
“I appreciate what they are trying to do and what direction they are taking,” Hatter said. “But unless you have a full understanding of where that data is going to go, who has access to it, is it covered under a law like HIPAA, could it be sold to another third-party company, what happens if the data is breached? You can get a new password, you can’t get new DNA.”
Some residents said they are not willing to participate.
“As long as the police are in charge of it,…
