Astrea Forensics

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Astrea Forensics applies ancient DNA methods and whole genome sequencing to rootless hair and other degraded sample types to generate SNP profiles that investigators can use to find leads via genetic genealogy and solve cold cases.

12/07/2024

Two game wardens found her body under a tarp and brush near Ridge and Tomstown Roads in Union Township on Oct. 10, 1973. The area is about 47 miles from where she lived.

This case is a milestone. It was the case that led to the founding of Astrea Forensics. And is one of the first uses of ...
10/11/2024

This case is a milestone. It was the case that led to the founding of Astrea Forensics. And is one of the first uses of the breakthrough technology for sequencing rootless hair DNA for IGG purposes. Good luck on the search.

The DNA Doe Project has partnered with the New Hampshire State Police to take a fresh look at the case of a little girl who was the daughter of serial killer Terry Rasmussen.

Read more here: https://dnadoeproject.org/case/bear-brook-jane-doe-2000/

Investigative Genetic Genealogy research is always provided pro bono at the DNA Doe Project - since this case already had an existing DNA profile, our team of 6 experts got started immediately.

Teamwork! With a little help from whole genome enrichment, whole genome sequencing and SNP imputation.
05/01/2024

Teamwork! With a little help from whole genome enrichment, whole genome sequencing and SNP imputation.

A cold case murder mystery out of midtown Manhattan is now closer to being solved. The victim, who had been classified as a Jane Doe after she was killed five decades ago has been identified through one of her relatives, who died on 9/11. On West 46th Street between 8th and 9th avenues in Hell’s K...

Some details about a “current” cold case. Luckily our methods showed that the DNA from the hair strand was well preserve...
02/19/2024

Some details about a “current” cold case. Luckily our methods showed that the DNA from the hair strand was well preserved. We can do our part to help identify this little one.

UPDATE: 1971 Cold Case Homicide Involving a Newborn


Investigators have gotten one step closer to solving Rowan County’s oldest documented unsolved murder. Hair evidence recovered from the forgotten case file of an unidentified murdered infant discovered on March 20, 1971, underwent testing at Astrea Forensics, a private laboratory in California who specializes in processing hair for DNA. Preliminary results proved that DNA is still present in the hair, allowing further testing to be done to hopefully help in identifying the victim.

Detectives have not been successful in locating anyone in the community who remembers helpful details in the case, however they have identified the exact spot at which the baby was found. In 1971, the property located at 1015 Dunns Mountain Road just outside of Granite Quarry was the site of an abandoned quarry. The dirt road that led to the quarry was used by some as a trash dumping site, which is where the infant’s body was located. Detectives identified the person who located the body as Arthur Joe Trexler who passed away in 1984 at the age of 76. Today, the property is owned by Piedmont Diving and Rescue Association and the quarry location is used as a diving facility.

Details of the death are gruesome and outlined in the medical examiner’s report. In it, Dr. Elizabeth Mayrand, the Medical Examiner for Rowan County at the time, listed the cause of death as a stab wound to the head. On all official records, the African American infant was named “Unknown Baby Girl Found in Trash Dump”. Her remains were held at the medical examiner’s office for a year, and she was cremated on March 21, 1972 at Rowan Memorial Hospital, a common practice in the 1970’s. Investigators with the sheriff’s office have named the girl, “Baby Eva”, in order to put a name to the case. The name was derived from the Christian Bible’s Eve, which in Hebrew means “life”. With the name, the sheriff hopes to give her back at least symbolically what was tragically taken away from her shortly after birth.

Detectives are being assisted by agents with the North Carolina SBI’s Cold Case Investigation Team who are funding the DNA testing. For now, they’ll have to wait on further results from Astrea’s analysts before progressing with the case. If anyone has any information to aid in the investigation, please contact Lt. Ryan Barkley at (704-216-8711).

From 3.5 cm of rootless hair evidence on Nellie Hicks’s body, our lab produced a SNP profile for investigators who linke...
02/12/2024

From 3.5 cm of rootless hair evidence on Nellie Hicks’s body, our lab produced a SNP profile for investigators who linked it to a second murder, and an identification of the perpetrator.

1972 SEXUAL ASSAULT AND MURDER OF NELLIE HICKS SOLVED WITH GENEALOGICAL DNA: SUSPECT IDENTIFIED AS SERIAL SEXUAL/HOMICIDE OFFENDER

Newark, California (Thursday, February 8, 2024)
After nearly 52 years of persistent investigative work, the Newark Police Department has announced that Fred Bernard Farnham is believed to be responsible for the r**e and murder of then 59-year-old victim, Nellie Hicks.

On May 10, 1972, Mrs. Hicks was found by her son deceased inside their home. Evidence suggested the suspect entered the Newark residence through a rear door. It was later determined by investigators that Mrs. Hicks was a victim of sexual assault and died as a result of blunt force trauma.

The evidence collected during the initial autopsy was later determined to contain DNA from Farnham. This was a time when DNA technology did not yet exist. Through the decades, detectives continued to investigate, using new investigative technologies as they were developed.

Hayward Police Department has also announced the identification of Farnham as the suspect in a sexual assault/murder that occurred in 1979 in their jurisdiction. Following the murder of Hayward resident, Theresa Pica, it was immediately believed the two incidents were connected based on their similarities. Ongoing collaboration from both agencies took place as each case was continuously investigated before being linked through DNA evidence.

The investigation experienced a breakthrough in December of 2023 when detectives received assistance and resources from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Genealogical DNA technology was utilized and identified Farnham as the man believed to be responsible for the r**e and murder of Mrs. Hicks.

In 2007, Farnham died at a hospital in Oregon at the age of 73. Available records indicate that Farnham was a resident in Santa Clara County and there is no information to believe he was ever a resident of Newark.

Farnham’s criminal records revealed he had several prior r**e convictions and served time in prison. If still alive, Farnham would be considered a serial sexual/homicide offender, as he was found to be responsible for a number of sexual assault incidents in the greater Bay Area through the years.


Based on the fact Farnham is believed to be responsible for two r**e and murder incidents and his extensive criminal history, we have reason to believe there could be more incidents in other cities with unsolved cases. We have requested any law enforcement agencies who believe they have similar cases to contact Hayward Police Detective Robert Purnell at 510-293-7176.

The Newark Police Department would like to thank the FBI, Hayward Police Department, and Astrea Forensics in Santa Cruz for their partnership and assistance with this investigation.

We also want to commend the numerous men and women at the Newark Police Department who have spent countless hours, working tirelessly, to bring justice for the family of Mrs. Nellie Hicks.

The Newark PD Case number is # 72-02055

11/05/2023

IN-KIND CHAMPION
Astrea Forensics is coming alongside NCMEC for another year to provide pro-bono DNA resources to missing and unidentified child case work. Their valuable resources and shared mission of restoring hope helps to resolve a greater number of these challenging cases!

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