Tampa, Fla. — A Florida man was charged with sexual battery in relation to a cold case that happened in 2007. Police used genetic genealogy testing to find Jared Vaughn, 44, after he submitted his DNA to the genealogy website, FamilyTree.
In 2007, a woman was assaulted after a man offered to drive her home. At that time, a sexual assault kit was done to try and identify the woman's attacker, officials said.
A crime lab used GEDmatch and FamilyTree's DNA databases to identify Vaughn as a possible suspect, according to authorities. A warrant was obtained and officials gathered a swab from Vaughn, to confirm that his DNA matched what was in the kit.
Police have used DNA from online genealogy sites to solve dozens of cold cases, according to Pew Research.
According to a survey from June, 48% of people said they were OK with DNA testing companies sharing data with police. A third said it was unacceptable, and 18% were unsure.
The website officials say Vaughn used, FamilyTree, only allows law enforcement to use its site to solve homicides, sexual assault or abduction cases.
Experts say that even if someone did not use a genealogy website, their DNA could still be retrieved. Someone's third cousin's DNA profile on FamilyTree could be used by law enforcement in an investigation, according to Nia Bala, a senior attorney at the Policing Project at New York University Law School.
"I click the box and say, yes, law enforcement can use my information. That feels above board," she told Slate. "But what about my third cousin? Do they know that their information essentially is out there as well, because my DNA and their DNA are linked?
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