Recent Charles Collier Cold-Case Identification was Result of High-Tech DNA Testing

Pensacola, FL (Newsradio 923.) -- Last week we learned that a breakthrough was made in a local cold case when a man found dead behind a business on Palafox Street in 1989 was identified by DNA analysis. That was made possible by a privately-owned lab with one of a kind technology.

"It's a new form of advanced DNA testing; we're actually the first lab in north America to exclusively do human identification from forensic evidence," says Dr. Michael Vogan from Othram. "We work with law enforcement at the local, state, and federal level to help them identify human remains or suspect DNA when traditional investigative measures do not reveal an identity."

The Othram lab can identify relatives as distant as a sixth cousin. They are able to submit DNA samples consumer databases with millions of samples -- and that's what led to the identification of Charles Collier last week. Vogen tells Newsradio that traditional DNA testing only identifies 24 markers, but Othram's can identify hundreds of thousands, sometimes up to a million markers.

"So then we can take this profile and use it with a number of tools," Vogen says. "We can do a one-to-one test with potential family and confirm relationships... or use it for forensic genealogy purposes."

For those interested in DNA testing and cold case mysteries, Othram has a website with all their latest cases at DNASolves.com.