Genetic genealogy helps solve Colorado cold case 50 years later

A Colorado family finally got the closure they needed after genetic genealogy was used to help identify the alleged killer of Nancy Anderson more than 50 years after her murder.

[@michellebwilson2610]

Killer was deputy attorney general….wow, the implications.

[@jenkor513]

Hollywood rapist was the detective investigating his own cases...

[@sanebooks]

Yeah, I had the same thought. Crazy. Horrific.

[@lightyagami3492]

Makes you wonder how many cases were improperly handled.

[@ShellyCline]

Yeah, that part blew my mind. If anyone could understand the gravity of the wrong he had done, it would have been him. Guessing he didn't care.

[@amandagardner565]

@@lightyagami3492 it makes me wonder how many other women he offed and locked up some innocent guy instead.

[@kiechawnbush8162]

I am glad that the family got some closure. I love it when these old cases get solved. Thank God for DNA. My dad was murdered in 1983. The man who was accused of murdering him got away with it. It makes me angry that there was no justice.

[@LeoLover-l9e]

I’m so sorry 😢

[@CharlesStewart-f4b]

My condolences. But he will answer to GOD one day. Recieve Eternal punishment.

[@hoptoi]

I’m very sorry!

[@CJG1419]

So sorry!

[@neeneediamond2959]

He won't get away from the Judgement Seat of God.

[@deeheart9988]

Cece is my cousin. She's good at solving cases. So proud of her. I found out she was my cousin through dna testing. 😊

[@kristenjoyce2180]

I think she's a genius! I love watching all her amazing work and the peace she brings to so many!!

[@Tryp-j9d]

@@deeheart9988 I found THREE cousins, after EACH won huge lottery jackpots!

[@ShellyCline]

She is one smart lady. The idea to try looking for Romanian or Italian names was genius. It's even more incredible that it paid off. I mean, wow!

[@CatFurniture974]

You 100% should be proud of her! She’s a heroine. Bringing closure to so many families even if a murderer can’t be charged (because he died, like this guy).

[@nopenope9118]

That’s so cool that you found out she was your cousin through a DNA test! She’s incredible and has helped to bring peace to so many families.

[@janataylor5520]

My DNA was used to solve a horrific assault case. I was happy for CeCe to use mine to bring justice!

[@jtidema]

How cool. I opted in on the GEDMATCH legal question for this reason. I think families of people who are murdered or 'go missing' deserve the closure genetic genealogy can give.

[@banksuvladimir]

Lol so one of your family members did a little mischief huh

[@paullentz1972]

@@jtidema Screw that. I'm not helping FASCIST PIG Cops using my DNA to potentially catch distant relatives.

[@ManiyaVinas]

@@jtidema I feel like the laws need to be more loose around that, especially with cold cases it should be possible to try to compare it to all the data instead of the opt-in ones

[@DebraGill]

Deputy AG? That’s terrifying!

[@moonhunter9993]

Yes, did you see his face in the mug shot. He was shocked. He never thought he'd get caught.

[@AnneAlready]

Absolutely!!

[@CatFurniture974]

That struck me too. To murder someone and then go on to be a deputy AG takes some immunity or chutzpah or both.

[@RuthlessHeathen]

Yes. There are plenty POS in high places, making decisions that affect all of us.

[@pennybourban3712]

He must have been a true comic book villain. Good guy in public but truly evil.

[@juju1896]

Cece Moore is a genius. I’ve followed her work for years.

[@carolalexander1429]

C.C. Moore. Brilliant work. Excellent!

[@Christophertracy09]

She most likely knew she had a creepy stalker but maybe didn’t give her family all the details, as the sister said she was acting scared and thought something might happen to her. Bet she knew that creep.

[@Emily-cw7tj]

@@Christophertracy09 if he was stalking her that's probably how she was able to learn more about him whether she wanted to or not.

[@humantacos9800]

You don’t stab strangers 63 times.

[@Emily-cw7tj]

@@humantacos9800 that's what I was thinking too!

[@debbralehrman5957]

So glad that this family has some answers.

[@22lyric]

Can you imagine all the people that CeCe has helped? Hope she has a long happy healthy wonderful Life!

[@RicheeBe]

All his cases need to be REOPENED and thoroughly investigated!!!!!

[@ValleyoftheRogue]

The killer used to come in to the law library where I worked in Reno years ago. Who'd have thought?

[@mangot589]

My hands down favorite DNA solving is “the boy in the box”. I’ve followed this story since I was a teen. (I’m 64). Now, he has a name, and hopefully his story will be told. If not, at least he’s not just the boy in the box anymore. Amazing story.

[@rev.dr.davidcole8915]

Incredible detective work...

[@tootsla1252]

I love this! The world owes many thanks to Nobel Prize winners, James Watson and Sir Francis Crick, who discovered the structure of DNA in the 1950’s, and not to forget that a woman, Rosalind Franklin, made groundbreaking contributions to that, but died before the Nobel prize was awarded. End of science nerd rant.

[@regina1292]

And Rosalind Franklin. Her work provided crucial data to Watson and Crick. Extra science nerdness! 😁

[@davidb2206]

Then Dr. Watson was kicked out of Harvard by political correctness for stating the obvious and proved scientific FACT that male and female brains are biologically different.

[@VanillaMacaron551]

Wow. If they already solved 70 murders this way (I think you said that was just in Colorado) imagine how many more are to come. Quake in your boots, vile murderers. Am I the only one who was shocked to see that killer from Honolulu went on to hold a very senior government position in another state? I guess we'll have to wait for one of the true crime channels to unfurl the details on that. He just murdered that one woman (presumably they were in a relationship, or ex) and went on to live a normal life?? Wtf? Did he have a guilty demeanour through life, or bold as brass? So much more to know. RIP to the victim and sorry to the family.

[@d.t.r.8036]

I doubt he was in a relationship with her because if he had been, then they'd already know to check his DNA against that found on the towel and wouldn't have needed CeCe's genetic genealogy skills to get his identity as a suspect, to then do a formal DNA comparison. Those closest to a victim are always the first investigated, if for no other reason than to eliminate them and preclude them from being useful red herrings by the defense in court. Unfortunately we won't be able to solve as many cold cases with genetic genealogy as we'd like to --- simply for the reason that it is a lot less likely to find any genetic material surviving on pieces of evidence for crimes committed before the science of DNA became a thing. For example, in my own family tree there is a death that was labeled a suicide that I strongly believe was actually a murder -- but it happened before 1900 and I have no reason to believe the clothing of the deceased was kept by the coroner, or if it was, that it has been stored in conditions that would have preserved the genetic material rather than it deteriorating, as all things organic do at some point. There are other potential obstacles too with very old cases. However, the odds are in favor of genetic genealogy being able to close a majority of such cases committed in the past 40 or so years --- but only if it is utilized as an investigative tool in those cases.

[@moonhunter9993]

No guilty conscience because he was a sociopath. But did you see his shocked look on the mug shot. He didn't think they'd ever catch him.

[@resourcedragon]

@@d.t.r.8036: I'm not necessarily a believer in premonitions, I think poor Nancy may have had some sort of evidence but not enough that she could really talk about it or perhaps she'd seen or heard (or smelled?) something that she didn't think anyone would believe. Or perhaps there had been a relationship between the two of some sort but either Nancy hadn't thought it worth mentioning to anyone (e.g. from her point of view she'd waved "hello" to a neighbour once or twice) or she was embarrassed to mention it. This case does make me wonder if she were his only victim, if they had indeed been strangers then that suggests to me that there is a good chance there were other victims.

[@LorettaGrace-kf7kh]

Fantastic detective work! Amazing!

[@fredgervinm.p.3315]

My Aunt did the Genealogy thing years ago and I remind my cousin every chance I get, They are coming for you...

[@MaryEastBay]

Fred--absolutely hilarious! I come from a large family. I’m going to use this! Thank YOU!

[@zrrifle.]

Read an article where Chirila stated his arrest was "unconstitutional." Then he attempted suicide. He was one evil looking dude for sure.

[@khughes1963]

Chirila was a lawyer and DA which is even worse.

[@suwaidajalal]

Cece Moore is such a hero. This stuff is difficult

[@leonaheraty3760]

God bless you, CeCe. You're doing God's work. At least Nancy's family has closure. This evildoer will face God's judgement. May Nancy's Soul find peace and love in Heaven. 🙏💗

[@d.t.r.8036]

Genetic genealogy is NOT a technology --- it is a technique that combines the use of advances in DNA tech and genetic science with good old fashioned genealogical research techniques. Beyond that, great story and I'm so glad the family got the answers they sought. I'm glad he knew he had been found out before he died, even though the charges were tossed upon his death.

[@JW-qz4jl]

I don’t think the new part was looking for folks with Italian last names to help solve the case, usually she makes a tree

[@MeMeDaVinci]

No need to be disagreeable. DNA testing is a technology because it uses scientific tools, created by computer programming, to decipher the biological make up on the cellular level. That could not be done in the infancy of DNA testing. The rest comes in with what CC did to sleuth the rest of the story...

[@Tryp-j9d]

@@d.t.r.8036 What about making a $6 million man???

[@jenniferg749]

What a gift Cece and the other woman give families who want to solve their loved ones murders and put the murder to rest. Amazing work!

[@danamccarthy5890]

This presenter's voice is GRATING and so affected its a wonder she can get one word out. ACK!😬

[@kimbrown419]

Something to be thankful for on this Thanksgiving day!!

[@OCRay1]

This awesome process of finding criminals of cold cases must have so many of these people terrified that their past crimes will be solved. That’s nice to think about.

[@RuthlessHeathen]

"That’s nice to think about." Indeed it is!

[@Lizzy514]

Hey my late husband back in his wild days, dealt drugs to an AG and a Superior Court judge.

[@PtolemyJones]

Technology and science are amazing.

[@winternightsky6945]

It's wild to think of how many vile unstable creatures living a good/financially appeasing lifestyle after committing horrible crimes. He violently took a life and went on to live an ok life with serving jail time.

[@julesleg]

Are they going to do this for Jon Benet Ramsey? Thought that's what they wanted to do but haven't heard anything more.

[@texasmimi5566]

Boulder's police chief is refusing to have the DNA found on her analyzed. This is a recent story online where her father was interviewed. I cannot imagine what cover-up is still going on and why it is continuing. This case is old enough that many involved in the "Keystone Kops" investigation are prolly long gone.

[@allangibson8494]

They did the testing but haven’t found a match as of September 2024. It did totally exclude the immediate family however. That puts the offender in the 10% of the US population that haven’t had even a distant family member take a DNA test in a publicly available database.

[@resourcedragon]

@@allangibson8494: If they've got DNA from the suspect, wouldn't that give them at least enough to be able to rule other people in or out of the investigation. You can make a good guess at things like height, eye, skin and hair colour and hair texture, as well as a raft of other features, from DNA analysis. You can certainly get the offender's sex.

[@kenna163]

they don't have dna they could test. and everyone knows it was someone in her family

[@RuthlessHeathen]

Mighty mighty and truthful DNA. Humanity's salvation.

[@josuzajsk398]

My father was also killed by his own employees in 1970 ..... 😭😭😭😭 he used to have a small Grocery store

[@rivaridge7211]

I am so sorry for the loss of your Dad. Were the killers fully punished?

[@manfrummt]

Solved By DNA. Good job!

[@vinzanity68]

That killer became attorney general of a US state?😮

[@resourcedragon]

Assistant attorney general. Well, look into Roy Moore's past. And you've just elected yourselves a sex offender with 34 felony convictions for _other_ offences for president.

[@beverlyreiner-baillargeon6205]

Amazing absolutely amazing 👍👍

[@johnnyrats7083]

CeCe Moore is such a great human being 🙏

[@felixcat9318]

Fantastic work!

[@BernardProfitendieu]

but what was the connection between Nancy and Tudor? he didn't just randomly walk into her apartment, there must be someone in Hawaii from that era that remembers their story

[@Bonobanos]

at the time of her murder, he was a graduate student in honolulu where she lived. with no details from her family aside from the fact that nancy was scared something would happen to her, and this not being some premonition she was having but rather a bad feeling about a guy (the killer), they must have known each other and he killed her in a personal and violent way (stabbing rather than a shooting) so he was angry and perhaps was rejected by her. i wish the case had gone to trial.

[@debbiefreeman9481]

@@Bonobanos I was thinking, just stay home with your family, don’t go back.

[@resourcedragon]

@@debbiefreeman9481: Even when people say that they have a bad feeling about something, they can and do still underestimate the danger. Murder is relatively rare. And she may have had a job in Honolulu, all sort of things.

[@mwebb3014]

I wonder if her Hawaii roommate is still living and could provide some insight into their relationship?

[@nitroone6772]

Attorney General!

[@manfrummt]

Parabon Nano Labs and CeCe Moore - good job!

[@lauraleigh5562]

I hope they can solve jon benet Ramsey case

[@oldschool6558]

And little Amy Mihaljevic of Bay Village Ohio. 😥

[@riverrun3995]

A deputy AG is scary.

[@turtledove1054]

Do they know if she knew him and did he do other crimes?

[@stanksalvala]

He was apparently arrested for attempted rape at 50 and was associated with a business that did money laundering for brothels. Nevada is corrupt, and he was a part of the corruption.

[@melvinshine9841]

I'm going to guess she did know him, or he knew her far more than she liked. Murder victims, particularly women, are far more likely to have been killed by someone they knew than total strangers. The 63 stab wounds they mentioned are serious overkill, which is often a sign of some kind of personal connection to the victim. My guess, is that he was pursuing her, or thought he they were in a relationship, she wanted nothing to do him, and he decided that no one can have her if he can't. Hopefully, it's just a one off thing, and there aren't other victims of his that we don't know about.

[@Emily-cw7tj]

@@melvinshine9841 I was really hoping for that conclusion too

[@ljsoar6139]

@@melvinshine9841 It's all guesswork now unless someone bothers to track back what the man was doing at that time in the 70's. If he was married and on a career path it might even be that she was his other girl and was going to speak to his wife. That would also fit with all the secrecy and the multiple stab wounds but as I say, just guesswork.

[@margretsims1322]

What a wonderful idea Cece had with looking through the phone book.........I have to tell you someone was easier to find with the old phone numbers, rather than nowadays with cell phones.

[@michellebwilson2610]

Found him in the PHONE BOOK. Damn!

[@Tryp-j9d]

Listed under “STILL WANTED.”

[@mbww8572]

@@Tryp-j9d ha!

[@Emily-cw7tj]

@@Tryp-j9d 😂🤣

[@leah6820-y9v]

Science is incredible.

[@BernardProfitendieu]

from Hawaii News Now, December 7, 2024 article about the perp's death: "The autopsy report showed sepsis caused by a urinary tract infection is what killed him, but there were other contributing factors: tongue cancer, diabetes, a heart condition and kidney stones" at least he died in pain

[@marmeone]

I remember this case. I got married the same year this girl waa murdered. We are from Hilo originally. But back in those days, there weren't very many murders and the ones that did occur, were well-publicized. So, we never forgot. So happy they finally caught him.

[@vsanchez7158]

Wow. Just wow.

[@funwithFred]

Too bad we don't have phone books anymore.........but brilliant idea for that time period.

[@CharlesStewart-f4b]

Most libraries keep old copies.

[@GrainneDhub-ll6vw]

I live in a rural area--we still have phone books!

[@CharlesStewart-f4b]

@@GrainneDhub-ll6vw My Mrs still keeps our last YELLOW PAGES.

[@lemondropkid6175]

City directories go back to the 19th century, great for family research. They usually list homeowners, occupations, family members.

[@CharlesStewart-f4b]

@lemondropkid6175 YES,,Those Directories!

[@IronSikh44]

Going through the phone book. Genius!

[@SerendipityNJ]

Now, this is some good science!

[@VictoriaEHugh-ey7js]

Jon Benet! Get him...

[@momsterzz]

This murder became an attorney general in Nevada? Did I hear that right??

[@AnaK-kx4lr]

Yes

[@bluegrasshack3810]

11/29/24: You mean murderer?

[@jonathanleonard1152]

It is best to not carry someone else’s guilt. Better to forgive and let go. Particularly in this case as the perp cannot do it again.

[@Tryp-j9d]

There is NO SUCH THING as “fast forwarding a few DECADES.”

[@kellyjostad4900]

Sure there is. I was 25 last week, now I’m nearly 55.😁

[@margaretcarr6387]

The look on his 😂face is priceless.

[@GayaGreen]

Good job...

[@thevocalcrone]

actually that is not a solved of the unsolvable.. they know who did it.. what was his motive? why?? thats a LOT of stab wounds.. did she reject him?

[@eightw5783]

There must've been a whole lot more detective work that went into this case that isn't shown; simply putting somebody at the scene of a crime doesn't prove much beyond that fact.

[@puncheex2]

well, it was someone on the scene who bled into the towel found at a knife murder scene. That's just a bit more. And then they investigate other evidence, like his possessions, what acquaintances know, and so on. They have to convince a jury.

[@andylowe2725]

Fantastic!!!!

[@shellyminton2524]

Love the intro !!

[@NiNitosix]

CeCe is irreplaceable!

[@RoverWaters]

Imagine today an average teenager just moving to Honolulu 🤑

[@painetdldy]

SOLVE JONBENET

[@ediecerniglia-witner5297]

My thoughts, exactly

[@BernardProfitendieu]

she can get in line with everyone else

[@hosephine1]

⁠

[@hosephine1]

@@BernardProfitendieuher murder has the possibility of a living murderer that can be punished. Trumps dead men being found who committed murders 50-80 years old, don’t you think?

[@catzanddogz7517]

You mean that little boy who was staged as a beauty queen by his now dead mother? The mother who wrote the ransom note?

[@juliej5917]

Too bad he lived free for so long, but the family at least has answers. Modern science is amazing, and all these criminals must have a lot of anxiety IF they follow science.

[@alleaufihreposition]

I don't understand why the police isnt able to solve the case when a normal person like CC is able to do that.

[@puncheex2]

It takes skill in genealogy mixed with an expert detective's intuition. Not everyone is born with it.

[@jamesbernsen3516]

If the DNA had come back Japanese or Chinese, they would have had a zero percent chance of finding this guy in Hawaii. Or if the case was in Jersey and they found DNA from Sicily, the same thing.

[@SamStone1964]

It all depends on the suspect's closest matches in the DNA databases.

[@karenkrejci1187]

Did they put his DNA in the system, just in case he's done more?

[@katesleuth1156]

That’s a lot of work, going through the phone book.

[@JesusIsKing91276]

Have they worked on jonbenét ramsey case? That's one I've been waiting for.

[@annm4833]

That's a good point. Her case would be very interesting to use that testing on.

[@deeheart9988]

I think her case was solved

[@lisaapp839]

@@deeheart9988It is still an open murder case.

[@Lauren-vd4qe]

@@deeheart9988 not officially; but her brother was the only one with motive. its speculated that during a spat with his sister, he struck her really hard on the head with a large solid flashlight. the indentation on her fractured skull matched the curved end of the flashlight perfectly. but the police cant prove he did it, and he wont admit it. the mom passed away, and the son and the father now rarely speak to each other and live far away from each other, thats pretty odd, if he DIDNT do it, eh!! the violence killed the daughter and the stress of it plus concealing it from the police killed the mother.

[@retirementbootcampoff-grid237]

​@@Lauren-vd4qe Agree with your comment as to how Jon Benet died, and parent's motive for concealing the circumstances. Sad case.

[@cristinareid9923]

appalling poor lassies and look how high up he was did it frightene him off killing others or are ther more not found

[@mpalmer7800]

Imagine he got to live out his full life plus holding a huge government job!!! What a despicable man

[@erod5531]

Hoping they can solve the Ramsey case this way.

[@scalylayde8751]

I wish they mentioned if there was other evidence against him, because DNA, especially old DNA from a messy crime scene, is not infallible. I want families to have closure as much as anyone but I also want the people actually responsible for these crimes to be the ones who are found.

[@trebleclef3886]

why aren't they working on JonBenet case?

[@Emily-cw7tj]

So why did he kill her? Why did he do it?

[@BernardProfitendieu]

yes, this is only half the story - how did those 2 know each other?

[@Emily-cw7tj]

@BernardProfitendieu I'm wondering that too.

[@nmartin5551]

You must not follow crime very closely if you cannot figure out that there are so many people (primarily men) who kill victims because of their own personal power and control needs. Stalkers don’t need to actually know their victims. Likewise murderers don’t either.

[@melvinshine9841]

The most likely motive is that he wanted his version of a "relationship", she didn't, and he made the selfish decision that if he can't have her then no one can.

[@BernardProfitendieu]

@@melvinshine9841 nice theory - I think I saw it in the library in the Fiction section. Would be nice to know the true motivation, not the speculation of an internet rando.

[@anamariecameron7874]

this needs to be used to help

[@Fat12219]

Over 50 years 😮

[@dianapaxton6373]

Why did it take so many years before this went to trial?

[@CharlesStewart-f4b]

Only drawback? Imagine being a living relative NOW. Of someone in your extended family was a Vile killer?

[@GrainneDhub-ll6vw]

Considering how far genetic genealogy testing can trace family relationships (I've heard of cases where the common ancestor was back in the 1700s), it's almost certain that everyone on earth is distantly related to a killer. I'm sure I am--I may not know that person but if I traced out my family tree far enough, I'd find someone. Not a big deal.

[@CharlesStewart-f4b]

@@GrainneDhub-ll6vw Oh overall I agree,lol. That Adam n Eve or 6° of Seperation,lol. My Mrs did my ancestry ,genealogy book. Then kids did a DNA kit thing for me. I thought I was Kentucky Hillbilly Appalachian. English/Scottish. Turns out Im part VIKING! WOO HOO.I loved learning that.

[@GrainneDhub-ll6vw]

@@CharlesStewart-f4b You could be both. A lot of English and Scots people test Scandinavian because the north of England and all of Scotland had a lot of Scandinavian settlement.

[@JW-qz4jl]

Yeah what if he had kids, and to find out your dad was a killer

[@lightyagami3492]

​@@JW-qz4jlEven worse finding out you should have never existed because a parent committed a serious crime before you were conceived.

[@SkreetGil]

How do you stab someone to death (63 stab wounds) and just go about your life? What a monster.

[@faisalahmad3309]

Prayers 🤲

[@ashelywebb5612]

Work on the jonbennet's case please

[@lisalawson7195]

What an absolute creep.Yuck.😮

[@conniebarkdull6900]

Why dont they use this on Jonbonnet case? They claim to have the DNA, but no matches. Why aren't they using the familiar DNA techniques to trace it to family members of the killer.

[@iamsherlocked345]

They trampled over that crime scene so much … I wonder if anything meaningful evidence wise was left. I’ve always felt because of that we won’t even find out who killed her

[@conniebarkdull6900]

@iamsherlocked345 recently heard that they do have DNA of an unknown male. It has been in the system for 20 years with no match. If this is true. The case could be solved.

[@jbirish2144]

Shame! Put his filthy name all over the media.

[@SuperDragonWagon]

Well he died he is punished somewhere somehow

[@elizabethwelch2976]

Still waiting to hear resolution for Jean Benet Ramsey…. Colorado!

[@heather-cz8yk]

The murderer was Deputy Attorney General in Nevada and the murdered girl had more than 5 dozen wounds on her from stabbing. Psychopath who had made his way up. Nancy was killed so young. So many of these horrific cases. Femicide.

[@myunknownland9272]

Hell is a hugeplace and no escapeafter 20 years!!!

[@welcometomydishes4793]

Please, solve the ramsy’s case , that poor little girl who was murdered in Colorado.

[@bluegrasshack3810]

11/29/24: RAMSEY

[@jeancassup8878]

No statue of limitations?

[@sharonrose50]

No there isn’t one on murder.

[@BernardProfitendieu]

statute

[@puncheex2]

For murder? No.

[@TopHotDog]

Just tells you, anyone can kill. Anyone can be a murderer. No one is above suspicion.

[@abigailrose3745]

I bet this could solve Jonbenet Ramsey's case. RIP Nancy

[@YAH-1]

RIP Nancy 🙏🏾💐🕊️💜

[@oldschool6558]

Hopefully Amy Mihaljevic and Jon Benet Ramsey will get their justice soon.

[@sonna2240]

It all started in California with the Golden State serial.killer case, and that has led to the rest of the country following suit. That's why Colorado is able to solve these cold cases today. Give credit where credit is due.

[@SamStone1964]

The Golden State killer was not the first case genetic genealogy solved.

[@sonna2240]

The first widely recognized case where genetic genealogy was used to identify an assault suspect is the Golden state killer and law enforcement across the country as I previously stated followed suit. Look it up!

[@puncheex2]

It started farther back than that. The Golden State murderer was a high-profile case that caught national attention.

[@lisarm100]

I have soooooo many questions