SAN DIEGO (NEWS 8) - In 2007, 39-year-old Jodine Serrin was living alone in her Carlsbad condo when she was raped and strangled. Ten years later a snapshot of what her killer could look like has been released. <\/p>\n
Investigator Tony Johnson works cold cases withthe San Diego County District Attorney's office. <\/p>\n
\"It is very important to resolve these cases because somewhere out there is a family. We have DNA, but the DNA has no hit in the database,\" he said. <\/p>\n
Johnson and Carlsbad police have not given up on solving Serrin's murder, but the case has hit a dead-end. <\/p>\n
On the ten year anniversary of Serrin's murder, CBS News 8 reported investigators announced they would use a new tool called DNA Phenotypingto help catch the killer. <\/p>\n
Johnson called it \"a game changer.\" <\/p>\n
Parabon Nanolabs, based in Virginia, is one of the first of its kind. Researchers have produced several snapshots of suspects based on one nanogram of DNA. <\/p>\n
In Costa Mesa, a killer was identified. In North Carolina, a murderer pleaded guilty. <\/p>\n
Dr. Ellen Greytak, director of Bioinformatics at Parabon, explained the sophisticated software has only been available for two-and-a-half years. <\/p>\n
The software sifts through tens of thousands of genetic variants to simulate a face based on hair, skin, eye color, freckles, ancestry and quantifying faces with levels of confidence. <\/p>\n
\"The goal is exclusion. Phenotyping treats DNA like it's a blueprint and it contains all of the information of that person and actually uses that DNA to generate leads and narrow a suspect list,\" said Dr. Greytak. <\/p>\n
The snapshot creates what the suspect would look like at age 25 and average weight. <\/p>\n
Critics, however, argue this could encourage profiling. <\/p>\n
\"This is not for identification. The goal is not to produce a composite that look like only one person in the world,\" said Dr. Greytak. <\/p>\n
Investigators said that since the snapshot was released in February, they have received confidential leads in Serrin's case - giving her family hope. <\/p>\n
\"I can walk now to her grave and say, 'Jodine, I'm still trying'\" said Jodine's father. <\/p>\n
In Jodine Serrin's case, investigators said the DNA Phenotyping cost them $7,000. <\/p>\n
While the technology may not be admissible in court, District Attorney investigators said just like a tip they receive, it can be a lead or a guide for them in a case. <\/p>\n
There is a $52,000 reward in the Jodine Serrincold casemurder. If you know anything or anyone who may resemble this man, call Carlsbad Police. <\/p>\n
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Original post: SAN DIEGO (NEWS 8) - In 2007, 39-year-old Jodine Serrin was living alone in her Carlsbad condo when she was raped and strangled. Ten years later a snapshot of what her killer could look like has been released. Investigator Tony Johnson works cold cases withthe San Diego County District Attorney's office. Continue reading
\nDNA Breakthrough: Using DNA snapshots to reveal cold case killers - CBS 8 San Diego<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"