Emma Tilley: Investigative genetic genealogy
Emma Tilley: Investigative genetic genealogy
Author
In 2018, Californian police finally identified and arrested a serial rapist and murderer –known as the Golden State Killer – thanks to a pioneering technique called investigative genetic genealogy (IGG).
Around the same time, The DNA Doe Project was founded in America, with a mission to identify bodies or body parts, also using IGG.
IGG combines DNA analysis with genealogical research to identify suspects or victims in criminal investigations and to identify human remains.
Its use had caught the attention of Dr Emma Tilley, who went on to apply for a Churchill Fellowship to learn more about how investigative genetic genealogy can provide a resolution for families of the unidentified and to solve crimes.
Inspiration for Churchill Fellowship
Emma was a volunteer (and is now an ambassador) for Locate International, a charity dedicated to locating missing people and identifying unknown individuals.
Through this, Emma also participated in the podcast series, Missing, and Channel 4’s The Body Detectives.
A lecturer at the University of Staffordshire, Emma embarked on a PhD, exploring cross–matching missing persons and unidentified remains.
“I heard about IGG being used in other countries, but while it has been piloted in the UK by the Home Office and the Metropolitan Police, it is still under wraps with little information sharing.”
Aware of organisations like the DNA Doe Project, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in the USA, and the use of IGG in solving cold cases, Emma used her 2020 Fellowship to learn more.
Investigative genetic genealogy uses abroad
Emma visited Sweden, Canada, and the USA. In Toronto, police believe where there is DNA, IGG is capable of solving their backlog of ‘cold’ murder and sexual offences. In Sweden, IGG was used to solve a 20–year–old double murder, which now features in a Netflix drama. In California, police reference the Golden State Killer case as an exemplar of IGG, highlighting its potential to save hours of police time.
“Using the knowledge and connections I gained during my Fellowship, I’ll continue to champion the use of IGG in the UK.”
IGG in the UK
Because Emma was awarded her Fellowship during Covid, she didn’t complete her travels until late 2024.
Her subsequent report is already gaining her a public voice and led to an invitation from Baroness Helena Kennedy of The Shaws to present at the House of Lords.
“I’m a strong supporter of introducing investigative genetic genealogy in the UK. There are currently around a thousand unsolved cases involving unidentified bodies or partial remains and IGG has the potential to offer long–awaited answers to families who’ve lived with uncertainty for years – sometimes decades. Some of these families are ageing, and time is of the essence.”
Emma acknowledges the ethical considerations involved in implementing IGG, particularly in a country like the UK where privacy is a deeply held value. “It’s not that the UK isn’t ready – it’s that we need to take the time to do this in a way that respects those values. With the right regulatory safeguards, public engagement, and transparency, I believe IGG can be introduced ethically and responsibly.”
She hopes to see IGG used in a wide range of cases, not only for identifying the deceased, but also to help solve violent crimes and provide justice for victims and their families.
“Using the knowledge and connections I gained during my Fellowship, I’ll continue to champion the use of IGG in the UK.”
Around the same time, The DNA Doe Project was founded in America, with a mission to identify bodies or body parts, also using IGG.
IGG combines DNA analysis with genealogical research to identify suspects or victims in criminal investigations and to identify human remains.
Its use had caught the attention of Dr Emma Tilley, who went on to apply for a Churchill Fellowship to learn more about how investigative genetic genealogy can provide a resolution for families of the unidentified and to solve crimes.
Inspiration for Churchill Fellowship
Emma was a volunteer (and is now an ambassador) for Locate International, a charity dedicated to locating missing people and identifying unknown individuals.
Through this, Emma also participated in the podcast series, Missing, and Channel 4’s The Body Detectives.
A lecturer at the University of Staffordshire, Emma embarked on a PhD, exploring cross–matching missing persons and unidentified remains.
“I heard about IGG being used in other countries, but while it has been piloted in the UK by the Home Office and the Metropolitan Police, it is still under wraps with little information sharing.”
Aware of organisations like the DNA Doe Project, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in the USA, and the use of IGG in solving cold cases, Emma used her 2020 Fellowship to learn more.
Investigative genetic genealogy uses abroad
Emma visited Sweden, Canada, and the USA. In Toronto, police believe where there is DNA, IGG is capable of solving their backlog of ‘cold’ murder and sexual offences. In Sweden, IGG was used to solve a 20–year–old double murder, which now features in a Netflix drama. In California, police reference the Golden State Killer case as an exemplar of IGG, highlighting its potential to save hours of police time.
“Using the knowledge and connections I gained during my Fellowship, I’ll continue to champion the use of IGG in the UK.”
IGG in the UK
Because Emma was awarded her Fellowship during Covid, she didn’t complete her travels until late 2024.
Her subsequent report is already gaining her a public voice and led to an invitation from Baroness Helena Kennedy of The Shaws to present at the House of Lords.
“I’m a strong supporter of introducing investigative genetic genealogy in the UK. There are currently around a thousand unsolved cases involving unidentified bodies or partial remains and IGG has the potential to offer long–awaited answers to families who’ve lived with uncertainty for years – sometimes decades. Some of these families are ageing, and time is of the essence.”
Emma acknowledges the ethical considerations involved in implementing IGG, particularly in a country like the UK where privacy is a deeply held value. “It’s not that the UK isn’t ready – it’s that we need to take the time to do this in a way that respects those values. With the right regulatory safeguards, public engagement, and transparency, I believe IGG can be introduced ethically and responsibly.”
She hopes to see IGG used in a wide range of cases, not only for identifying the deceased, but also to help solve violent crimes and provide justice for victims and their families.
“Using the knowledge and connections I gained during my Fellowship, I’ll continue to champion the use of IGG in the UK.”