Citation

Caglià A, Stefanoni P, La Rosa A. Forensic Sci. Int. Genet. Suppl. Ser. 2011; 3(1): e230-e231.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2011, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.fsigss.2011.09.001

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

In recent years considerable progress in the field of forensic science (latent prints, ballistics and biology) have occurred, causing the reopening investigation of old unsolved murders, called "Cold Cases", especially when findings can still be analyzed and/or re-analyzed taken into account new technologies and new scientific methodologies.

The UDI working group (Unsolved Crimes Unit) of the Italian National Police, which collects scientific and technical expertise and investigators, deals to assess which unresolved cases could be selected in relation to new investigative hypotheses or/and in the presence of not analyzed samples.

During last two years about 30 cases, occurred between 1985 and 2005, were selected.

In particular, in eight cases the DNA analysis led to the identification of one or more genetic profiles that are considered of great interest from the investigative point of view, allowing the identification of the murderers in three different cases.