Texas Missing Persons DNA Database

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Texas Missing Persons DNA Database
DNA Identity Laboratory
UNT Health Science Center at Fort Worth
Stephen P. Gammon, MBA sgammon_at_hsc.unt.edu (817)
735-0188
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Summer of 2001 the 77th Texas Legislature passed
SENATE BILL 1304
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Creation of Missing Persons DNA Database at
UNTHSC-FW
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HIGH RISK MISSING PERSON

• Abducted by a stranger
• Unknown or suspicious circumstances
• Greater than 30 days
• Less than 30 days

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Requirements of Senate Bill 1304

• Establish a DNA Database for Missing or
  Unidentified Persons at the University of North
  Texas Health Science Center.
• The database must contain only DNA genetic
  markers appropriate for human I.D.
• The results of a DNA analysis must be compatible
  with the FBIs CODIS system
• Develop standards and guidelines for the
  collection of DNA samples

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Requirements of Senate Bill 1304 continued

• Duty of law enforcement agency to notify
  appropriate persons regarding provision of
  voluntary DNA samples.
• Develop a standard release form for voluntarily
  providing DNA samples to be tested and entered
  into CODIS.
• Develop a model DNA collection kit for law
  enforcement agencies.
• Create an advisory committee to impose priorities
  for backlog cases giving the highest priority to
  children.

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Who is Over The Missing Persons Database and DNA
Identity Laboratory?

• Arthur Eisenberg, Ph.D., a world-renowned
  molecular biologist.
• Consultant to the FBI on DNA Identity testing
• Past chairman of the United States DNA Advisory
  Board.

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The Science of DNA

• Missing Persons DNA Database

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DNA, or Deoxyribonucleic Acid, is Responsible
for Transmitting Hereditary Characteristics
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There are Two Kinds of DNA in Human Cells


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Humans Contain 23 Pairs of Chromosomes

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Nuclear DNA Testing Analyzes Regions on
Chromosomes Containing Short Tandem Repeats
(STRs)
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Alleles - The Various 4 Base Pair Repeat
Possibilities at a Genetic Locus. They are the
Key to Each Individualized DNA Profile
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13 Markers at Different Locations (Loci) are used
with Nuclear DNA Testing






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Designated Marker Found at the Same Location on
Both Chromosomes of the Pair

• D3S1358 D3S1358

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One of the Chromosomes of the Pair gets its DNA
from the Mother and the Companion Chromosome gets
its DNA from the Father






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What A DNA Profile Looks Like
D3S1358 14,16 D13S317 11,12
vWA 14,19 D7S820 10,10
FGA 21,21 D16S539 12,13
D8S1179 11,15 THO1 7,9
D21S11 30,32 TPOX 8,12
D18S51 15,17 CSF1PO 11,13
D5S818 12,12 Ameloginin X,Y
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Mitochondrial DNA
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MITOCHONDRIAL DNA
Hairs Bones Teeth
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Mitochondrial DNA Maternal Inheritance
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Mitochondrial DNA is in a Circular
Form
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Base Pairs are Located at Positions 1 through
16,569

• A
• T
• C
  T
• G
  A
• C G
  G C
• A
  C
• T
  G
• A
• T

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CONTROL REGION
HV2
HV1
16024 16365
73 340
approximately 600 bases
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Mitochondrial DNA Sequence
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Data Entered Into CODIS

• Fragment Sequence
• 16024-16365 16189C
• 16024-16365 16223T
• 16024-16365 16278T
• 16024-16365 16294T
• 16024-16365 16309G
• 73-340 76G
• 73-340 146C
• 73-340 195C
• 73-340 263G
• 73-340 309C

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Where is the DNA information stored so that we
can use it for identifying Missing Persons?
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COMBINEDDNAINDEXSYSTEM
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CODIS DNA Databases
Provides a means for crime laboratories
throughout the country to electronically compare
DNA profiles
Convicted Offenders Forensic Crime Scene
Samples Unidentified Human Remains Missing
Persons Direct Reference Samples Family Reference
Samples
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CODIS HAS THREE LEVELS
National DNA Index System (NDIS) - maintained by
the FBI State DNA Index System (SDIS) - each
state has one designated SDIS (Texas DPS in
Austin) Local DNA Index System (LDIS) - each law
enforcement system participating in CODIS
maintains an LDIS database that receives
pertinent information from its local lab
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CODIS Architecture
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How Reliable Is DNA Testing

• The DNA testing method is the most advanced and
  accurate method for identity testing today!
• With good specimens, the nuclear DNA testing
  method has the power to determine the probability
  of identity with an accuracy significantly
  greater than 99 percent!

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How Long Will the Process Take?

• The process of identifying a missing person can
  be quite lengthy. It is even possible that not
  every missing person will be identified. To
  maximize the chance for a successful
  identification, full cooperation of the missing
  persons family is required.

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Limitations of DNA Analysis for the
Identification of Missing Persons?

• Severely degraded human remains in which no
  usable DNA can be obtained
• No living relatives available for DNA comparisons
• Lack of availability of direct reference samples

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Sources of Missing Persons Direct DNA Reference
Sample

• Medical Specimens
• Bone marrow donor sample
• Biopsy sample
• Newborn screen bloodspot

Direct Reference Samples are the Most Useful for
Identification
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Other Potential Sources of Direct Reference
Samples continued

• Personal Effects
• Toothbrush
• Hairbrush

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Personal Effects from a Missing Person

• It is very important that the personal effects
  were used only by the victim, or rarely used by
  anyone else. For example, a hairbrush used by the
  entire family would not be a good source of DNA
  from the victim. A toothbrush, or other items
  containing saliva are often good sources of DNA.

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Sources of Family Reference Samples

• Close Relatives
• Biological parents of the missing person
  (Mothers sample is the most important for
  mitochondrial DNA testing)
• Children of the missing person
• Brother of the missing person
• Sister of the missing person

Family Reference Samples (Useful)
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Sources of Family Reference Samples continued

• Other Relatives
• Maternal aunts
• Maternal uncles
• Maternal cousins
• Half sisters
• Half brothers

These Family Reference Samples may be Useful
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The Duty of Law Enforcement Agencies

• After a report of a high-risk missing person is
  filed it is the duty of local law enforcement
  agencies to inform a parent or appropriate
  relative that they may provide
• A DNA sample of their own for analysis or
• a personal article belonging to the high-
• risk missing person.
• DNA Samples and personal articles should
• always be provided on a volunteer basis.

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Family Reference Sample Collection Kit Contents
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Evidence Submission Form
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Contact Information for the Missing Persons
Database
Texas Missing Persons DNA Database Toll-Free
Hot-Line 800-763-3147 Missing Persons
Clearinghouse Toll-Free Hot-line 800-346-3243
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What other services are provided by the Missing
Persons Database

• Fliers
• Brochures
•   Community Out-reach Programs
• Sample Collection Kits and Training
• Education and Public Awareness
• Liaison Between the General Public
• and Law Enforcement Agencies
• Anthropological Services Required for
• Skeletal Remains

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Reporting a Missing Person

• A missing person report should be filed with the
  local law enforcement agency having jurisdiction
  over the place where the individual was last seen
  or the place where the individual was last known
  to reside.

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Reporting a Missing Person

• Under Texas law there is no waiting period before
  a record of a missing person can be filed.
• Law enforcement agencies must immediately enter a
  record of a missing child into the National Crime
  Information Centers (NCIC) Missing Person File
  (Article 63.009, Code of Criminal Procedures).

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Process That Occurs Once a Missing Persons
Report is Filed

• First the case is reviewed to determine high
  risk
• Relatives Contacted
• Collection Kits Distributed
• Samples Collected Submitted
• Samples tested entered into CODIS
• Indexes searched matches identified

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Who Pays for These Services

• All of these services are offered to our Texas
  Law Enforcement Officials and Citizens at no
  charge.

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Travis County Exhumation

• In February of 2004, we were involved in the
• exhumation and identification of Shelly Jo
• Jones.
• She was a young woman reported
• missing from the Georgetown, Texas area
• in the mid 1980s. Partial skeletal remains
• were found around Lake Travis two years
• after she was reported missing.
• Her remains were buried in a paupers
• grave in the Travis County International
• Cemetery.

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Part of the legislation included our directing
exhumations when necessary
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UNIDENTIFIED HUMAN REMAIN SAMPLE F-2248.1 MP
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UNIDENTIFIED HUMAN REMAIN SAMPLE F-2248.1 MP

• DNA was extracted from item F-2248.1 and
  portions of this DNA sample were amplified for
  human mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) in regions HV1
  and HV2. A complete mtDNA profile was obtained
  as well as 12 of the 13 nuclear DNA genetic
  identity markers.

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CODIS Search Results within Missing Persons
Profiles

• All of the data from the remains sample
  (F-2248.1) was then entered into the Texas
  Missing Persons Unidentified Remains Index . A
  search was conducted against the Family Reference
  Sample Index and a putative match was made
  between the remains sample and Eleanor Clarks
  reference sample.

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Mitochondrial DNA Results
Fragments Putative Mother Remains
16024-16150 16140C 16140C
16168-16365 16183C 16183C
16168-16365 16217C 16217C
16168-16365 16140C 16140C
73-340 73G 73G
73-340 263G 263G
73-340 309.1C 309.1C
73-340 315.1C 315.1C
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Nuclear DNA Results
Genetic Locus F-2244.1 Putative Mother F-2248.1 Unidentified Remains Maternity Index1
D3S1358 16,16 13,16 1.88
vWA 16,16 16,16 2.78
FGA 20,21 NR NR
D8S1179 14,16 14,14 2.03
D21S11 29,30 29,30 1.98
D18S51 16,16 15,16 4.32
D5S818 9,12 9,11 4.61
D13S317 8,15 9,15 20.30
D7S820 10,12 8,10 0.82
D16S359 9,11 11,12 0.79
THO1 6,7 6,7 1.82
TPOX 11,12 8,12 2.68
CSF1PO 10,13 10,11 0.99
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Match Results

• The Probability of Maternity in this evaluation
  is 99.9962.

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Cold Hit

• In May of 2004 during a routine search of the
  CODISmp database a mtDNA match was made between
  the remains from Johnson County and the reference
  sample from Donna Williamsons mother.

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Donna Williamson, a 19-year-old North Richland
Hills woman, had last been seen in August 1982.
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First Cold Hit for TMPDD

• This cold hit was made possible due to
• the recent implementation of new
• CODISmp software.
• Two separate cases were being worked
• involving a missing person from the
• North Richland Hills Police Department
• and skeletal remains found by the
• Johnson County Sheriffs Office.

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COLD HIT

• Skeletal remains found by the Johnson County
  Sheriffs Office in 1992 were sent to the Tarrant
  County Medical Examiners Office. They remained
  in storage there for the next 11 years.
• Last year, upon hearing about our facility,
  Detective Mark Thompson with the Johnson County
  Sheriffs Office arranged to have a sample from
  those remains sent to the TMPDD for DNA testing
  and CODIS entry.

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COLD HIT

• Again, last year after hearing about our
  facility, Detective Rica Garcia, of the North
  Richland Hills Police Department, arranged to
  have the DNA from the mother of Donna Williamson
  collected and sent to the TMPDD for testing.

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COLD HIT

• Over the next few months, testing was performed
  on many cases including these two.
• A routine search of the database yielded a match
  with a high probability of maternity.
• The TCME checked dental records and the match was
  confirmed.

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The Value of CODISmp

• Without the CODISmp software,
• there would have been no
• mechanism to automatically unite
• these two sets of samples.

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Cold Hit

• The case was ruled a homicide by the TCME. Dana
  Austin, a forensic anthropologist with the
  Tarrant County Medical Examiners Office
  indicated that it appeared from the remains that
  Donna Williamson died a very violent death. It
  appeared that Donna had struggled to defend
  herself against someone who had attacked her with
  a knife.

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Who Murdered Donna Williamson?

• 22 years later
• "There are new leads in this case," said Johnson
  County sheriff's detective Mark Thompson. "It's
  going to be hard, but we're not giving up. We
  haven't given up to this point."

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Melva Lynn Hudgens

• A bullet-riddled body was found in April 1978 in
  a creek bed on Farm Road 156 north of Krum in
  Denton County, Texas. The body could not be
  identified and was classified as a Jane Doe.
  Authorities buried the body in a pauper's grave
  in Oakwood Cemetery in Denton.

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Melva Lynn Hudgens

• Through the years, Melvas mother, Florella
  Bashaw refused to let the investigation die. In
  September 2003, she persuaded local sheriff's
  deputies to reopen the case.
• Under-Sheriff Donnie Smith of the Beckham County
  Sheriff's Office, which serves Elk City, Oklahoma
  initiated the process.

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Melva Lynn Hudgens

• At Bashaw's request, officers with the Beckham
  County Sheriff's Office put Melvas information
  on the Doe Network Web site.
• That was the turning point

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Melva Lynn Hudgens

• In October of 2004, Don Britt and Allen Gibson,
  investigators with the Denton County Sheriff's
  Department, learned of the Doe Network Web site.
• "If it wasn't for this site, I would never have
  known who she is," Britt said.

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Melva Lynn Hudgens

• Late last year Britt and Gibson began searching
  through the Doe Network website and found
  information that pointed to Melva Lynn Hudgens.
• Britt then contacted the Beckham County Sheriff's
  Office. Florella Bashaw looked at photographs
  taken when the body was found in 1978 and
  believed that they had found her daughter.

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Melva Lynn Hudgens

• Britt had the body exhumed and requested DNA
  testing. An un-restored molar from the remains
  and a reference sample from Florella Bashaw were
  sent to the TMPDD.
• DNA testing was performed and the results
  indicated that there was a high probability that
  Florella Bashaw was the biological mother of
  Melva Lynn Hudgens, the girl whose remains had
  been buried in 1978.

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Melva Lynn Hudgens

• On February 8, 2005, the Tarrant County Medical
  Examiner's Office positively identified the
  body of Melva Lynn Hudgens of Elk City, Oklahoma.
  

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Melva Lynn Hudgens

• At a news conference in Denton, Britt said that
  having an identification could be the break they
  need to solve the slaying.
• "This is a 27-year-old case, but it's a brand new
  investigation now and we're approaching it from
  that standpoint," he said.
• Britt believes that they now have some very solid
  leads in the murder of Melva Lynn Hudgens

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Success of the Program

• Success is dependent upon many factors including
• Support of Law Enforcement Officials
• Support of the Legislature
• Support of MPCH
• Support of Victims Assistance Groups
• Support of the General Public
• Support of our Institution Staff