Othram Labs Solved 13 Georgia Cold Cases

The firm used familial DNA analysis to clear historic cases as part of a state-funded initiative.

Updated on Sept. 18, 2026 in Life Sciences

Isometric editorial illustration of a geometric double helix and interconnected strands, representing forensic genetic analysis for cold case investigations. — Othram Labs utilized familial DNA analysis to successfully close 13 cold cases in Georgia, supporting a state initiative to address a significant backlog of historic investigations. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Othram Labs has successfully identified individuals in 13 cold cases in Georgia by leveraging familial DNA analysis. The investigations involved coordination between the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the FBI, and the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office.

Why it matters

The adoption of advanced genetic testing addresses a massive backlog of roughly 12,144 cold cases in Georgia dating back to 1980. This shift marks a move toward using commercial genealogical databases to generate leads where traditional forensic methods fail.

Traditional forensic testing relies on 20 DNA markers, which are often insufficient if a suspect is not in the FBI CODIS database. Othram Labs generates profiles using hundreds of thousands of genetic markers to match samples against broader genealogical databases.

The players

Othram Labs

A private laboratory specializing in forensic genetic genealogy that identifies suspects by matching DNA against genealogical databases.

Georgia Bureau of Investigation

The state agency responsible for overseeing criminal investigations and coordinating efforts to clear the state's cold case backlog.

The details

Othram Labs — a private company based in Woodlands, Texas — uses genealogical databases to identify biological relatives, allowing investigators to build a family tree to narrow down suspects. This process bypasses the limitations of the FBI's CODIS database, which only contains profiles of previously convicted individuals. By analyzing these high-density marker sets, the lab can find matches even for distant relatives of the perpetrator.

1980: Beginning of cold case records in Georgia.
June 6, 2019: Newborn found alive in Cumming.

The Tech Race

This effort follows the institutionalization of forensic genetic genealogy as a standard investigative tool under the Coleman Baker Act. It signals a move away from relying solely on government databases toward high-cost private processing, which typically runs $5,000 to $7,000 per case.

The state-funded expansion of the cold case unit may increase the likelihood that dormant investigations involving families are reviewed under the Coleman Baker Act. While processing is currently restricted to select law enforcement requests, the initiative could potentially impact thousands of Georgia families awaiting answers.

The takeaway

The successful application of high-density DNA sequencing in these 13 cases suggests that the backlog of 12,144 cold cases is now technically actionable. Stakeholders should monitor the outcomes of the four currently active investigations as a benchmark for the program's long-term effectiveness.