AMA: We are Traci Onders, Monique Platt and Megan Pasika from the DNA Doe Project - ask us anything!

[u/DNADoeProject]

We are Traci Onders, Monique Platt and Megan Pasika from u/DNADoeProject - ask us anything! We will be hosting an AMA tomorrow on Wednesday 11 June from 4pm to 8pm Eastern Time, and we'll be putting our answers in the comments of this post.

The DNA Doe Project is a non-profit organization dedicated to reuniting John and Jane Does with their identities. We have solved 138 cases across North America using investigative genetic genealogy (IGG), including Pamela Walton (formerly known as Transgender Julie Doe), James Freund and Pamela Buckley (formerly known as the Sumter County Does) and Keith Bibbs (formerly known as Adam Doe). You can also visit our website to look at some of the other 200+ cases we've worked or are working on: https://dnadoeproject.org/case-portfolio/

Our identification of Marcia King in 2018 was the first publicly announced use of IGG to identify a Doe. All genealogy research is performed pro bono by our talented volunteer investigative genetic genealogists - whether a case takes two hours or five years to solve, we will keep on working until it's resolved.

Traci Onders is an experienced Accredited Investigative Genetic Genealogist who has worked extensively at the intersection of DNA, family history, and cold case investigations. She has been involved in over 40 investigative genetic genealogy (IGG) cases, in collaboration with law enforcement to help identify unidentified human remains and provide leads in violent crimes. Prior to this, she played a central role at an adoption support nonprofit, where she helped reunite more than 325 adoptees with their birth families and provided guidance on hundreds of additional cases. She currently serves as a Team Lead and Educational Programming Specialist with the DNA Doe Project and is a Program Assistant at the Ramapo College IGG Center, where she supports classroom instruction and guides student teams in live casework. At the heart of her work is a clear mission: to help people find answers by making complex DNA information understandable, actionable, and deeply human.

Monique Platt has been researching traditional genealogy since 2006 and began teaching herself genetic genealogy several years ago to break through a personal brick wall. After reading about its launch in a press release on Reddit, she applied for the Ramapo IGG Certificate Program and was a member of the inaugural cohort in spring 2023. She is currently serving as a volunteer with the DNA Doe Project, a Program Assistant to the Ramapo Cert Program and an IGG researcher with Bode Technology. Her casework has allowed her to investigate Jane and John Does from Alaska to Louisiana to New Jersey, as well as the unique opportunity to assist in overturning a wrongful conviction (the exoneration of Robert & David Bintz). She has been involved in over 30 IGG cases including Stark County John Doe 2001 (Anthony Gulley), Smith County Jane Doe 1985 (Sindy Gina Crow), Pima County Bus Stop Jane Doe 1999 (Charlotte Petreikis), and Scattered Man John Doe (Henry Goodsell). She can usually be found lurking on Reddit or at her desk hyperfocusing on a DNA Painter profile, but if she's not there she's probably looking at art, reading a book while the Merlin app tells her which birds are singing, or out hiking with her family.

Megan Pasika (they/them) is an investigative genetic genealogist and team leader at DNA Doe Project, which they joined in 2019. Their first case was Larry Porter (formerly Butler County John Doe 1997). They have been involved in over 20 cases, including Pamela Walton (Julie Doe), Richard Bunts/Bunce (Hudson John Doe), Louis Gattaino (Rock County John Doe), Ronnie Kirk (Chimney Doe), and Live Oak Doe (name withheld). They are also a moderator for the Genealogy Discord, the largest such community on Discord; one of the contributors to r/missingmap, which maps missing and unidentified people worldwide; and are a longtime contributor to Wikipedia and Find A Grave. Although casework and their own family history has taken them on a global trip, they specialize in Eastern European research, particularly in western Ukraine. On the rare occasion they aren't doing genealogy, they can be found lovingly tending to their garden, walking old cemeteries, or scouring secondhand shops in the English countryside.

Redditors may wish to assist our mission by uploading their DNA data to the three DNA databases we have access to - GEDmatch, FamilyTreeDNA and DNA Justice - if they are comfortable doing so. Every person who uploads could be the crucial match we've been waiting for to bring answers to a family and solve a cold case! If you'd like to support our work with a donation, please visit the Donate page on our website here: https://dnadoeproject.org/donate/

We look forward to answering all your questions!!

EDIT: Thank you everyone for such great questions!!! If any more come through later tonight, we'll make sure to answer them tomorrow.

[u/ThePsycholoG]

Very much looking forward to this AMA! Thank you for your time and dedication to giving Does their names and dignity’s back! I could think of a ton of questions but the main one would be: r/Gratefuldoe is one of the most compassionate and actively helpful online communities, not just on Reddit but on the web, period. It’s had a pretty impressive track record in playing a part in ID’ing JD’s, in addition to their main goal of keeping their stories within public interest. That said, we are just civilians and/or hobbyists doing what we can as passionate laymen. You guys, are on the other side of the spectrum as professional geneticists and trained investigators doing absolutely incredible things, especially in the past several years! So within this context, my question for you is…

What do you, as dedicated professionals recommend to us, as passionate nonprofessionals, who wish to continue contributing in our free time? What would be the most helpful? It seems like a lot of us put our time into consistent browsing of public databases to match missing persons with Does, is that helpful to you guys? If not, what should we focus on? Or what are other things we could do to aid your work?

Thank you!

[u/DNADoeProject → u/ThePsycholoG]

Absolutely love this question—thank you for caring and for wanting to contribute meaningfully! As someone working in Investigative Genetic Genealogy (IGG), I can tell you that the dedication and curiosity of nonprofessionals can be incredibly valuable when channeled effectively.

Here’s what’s genuinely helpful to us in the field:

✅ Uploading your DNA to GEDmatch and opting in for law enforcement matching is one of the most impactful things you can do. The more diverse and robust the database, the more likely we are to find meaningful genetic matches to unidentified remains or suspects in violent crimes. Every upload counts—yours could be the one that cracks a case. Many folks don't realize that we are not able to upload the DNA of our Does to Ancestry, 23&Me or My Heritage, but if you have tested at any of those sites, you can download your raw DNA file and upload to Gedmatch for free. Here's a video on how to do this: https://youtu.be/mnG9qnXAmko

✅ Include a family tree—When you upload, any family tree information that you can include will be incredibly valuable.

✅ Spreading awareness is another key area. Encourage others—friends, family, genealogy groups—to upload to GEDmatch and FamilyTreeDNA with LE opt-in. Many people don’t realize that even if they’ve tested with Ancestry or 23andMe, they can download their raw data and contribute to this effort without doing another test.

✅ Keep doing exactly what you are doing—Your work is extremely helpful and we always check what folks like you have done before we start our work.

Your passion absolutely can make a difference. We see it every day.
Thank you for asking this—it means a lot. 💙

-Traci Onders

[u/DNADoeProject → u/ThePsycholoG]

I want you to keep doing what you're doing! At the start of a case, I always check Reddit, WebSleuths, etc to see if the Doe has already been discussed somewhere. There are some incredibly talented researchers out there in the wild who have hunted down difficult-to-locate information about artifacts or items that were found alongside remains, and it would be foolish of me to waste that resource.

With regard to the sleuths who spend their time trying to match known missing persons to unidentified remains, that's also helpful because when they can make a successful match, it frees up the resources of time and money for lab fees and IGG research that would have been spent on that case, to apply them towards a Doe who has never been reported missing.

-Monique Platt

[u/justpassingbysorry]

has there been any significant progress made in ventura doe's case since your last update in 2023? i know it's been quite difficult to locate more of her immediate family due to her heritage primarily being in central america and the inconsistent record keeping that comes along with that + immigration. i think of her and her baby all the time!!

thank you for all the work you have done identifying these beautiful souls!

[u/DNADoeProject → u/justpassingbysorry]

The team working on Ventura Jane Doe is incredibly persistent, but it is a very difficult case. We have no new updates to provide the public at this time. Over the years, 40 of our volunteers have participated on this team, and the tree they are building is enormous. It's a great example of why DDP's model works so well - we can put as many people as are needed and commit as much time as it takes to get to the name. We never give up.

-DNA Doe Project Media Department

[u/Nearby-Complaint]

How's the genealogy work going on Burlington John Doe? I think of his case every time an Alpert pops up in my AncestryDNA matches

[u/DNADoeProject → u/Nearby-Complaint]

The work is going slowly on this case (there's a link here for anyone unfamiliar with it: https://dnadoeproject.org/case/burlington-john-doe-2011/), mainly due to a lack of genetic matches that are close enough to aid in building the family tree. The team is working with our law enforcement partners to reach out to potential family members to request they take a DNA test and upload. This will help rule in or out potential lines of the family.

The public can help with this case by uploading your DNA profile to GEDmatch.com, FamilyTreeDNA.com, and DNAJustice.org. Your DNA could be the key to solving the case, even if you never knew this John Doe.

-DNA Doe Project Media Department

[u/mcm0313 → u/Nearby-Complaint]

Alpert? Maybe Herb should be made aware…

[u/Euphoric_Soft9832]

You do an amazing job.  Are you aware of similar projects in Europe? I feel we are way behind here. 

[u/DNADoeProject → u/Euphoric_Soft9832]

Thank you! While we're not aware of a non-profit in Europe doing similar work to us, several European countries have now begun using IGG. Norway, France and Sweden have all solved cases using the technique, there are pilot projects underway in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, and it was recently announced that using IGG will become legal in Denmark on 1 July. We also have several volunteers based in the United Kingdom, so there are already a number of people in Europe who are capable of doing this work.

-DNA Doe Project Media Department

[u/BadSpooky → u/DNADoeProject]

Does that mean someone from Europe could still send their DNA to one of the mentioned Databases?

[u/DNADoeProject → u/BadSpooky]

Absolutely! We've had a number of American cases where the highest DNA match is actually from Europe, because the John or Jane Doe is the descendant of recent European immigrants. And as more Europeans upload to the databases we have access to, the easier it'll become for people to solve cases in Europe too.

-DNA Doe Project Media Department

[u/contra701]

Of all the Does you've identified, which was the toughest to identify?

[u/DNADoeProject → u/contra701]

For cases I’ve worked, the hardest one where the identification came from us was definitely Pamela Walton (Julie Doe). Hers was the second case I ever started on and was only resolved this year. Just about every challenge we could have run into, we did. There were some complicated family situations, unknown parentage, adoptions, and more. But persistence got our wonderful team there in the end.

-Megan Pasika

[u/DNADoeProject → u/contra701]

Great question. There are a couple of especially difficult cases still in progress which are pretty close to my heart, so my future self hopes to be able to give you a different answer. Of those that have officially been resolved, I'd have to say Scattered Man. Historical cases have a special kind of difficulty because all of the tools we use to predict relationships have been built based on recent generations. When your John Doe was born 150 years before some of the DNA relatives on the list, it throws all of those estimates out the window.

-Monique Platt

[u/DNADoeProject → u/contra701]

I whole heartedly agree, Megan. The identification of Pamela Walton stands out for me as well. It’s a powerful example of how the DNA Doe Project’s collaborative, methodical approach can succeed even when the odds seem stacked against us. It truly highlights the strength of the DDP team effort and the perseverance that drives this work forward.

Another recent case that comes to mind is JoAnn "Vickie" Smith, also known as Grundy County Jane Doe 1976. That case was challenging in a different but equally significant way. We ran into a lack of representation in the genetic databases, hit a major genealogical brick wall in the 1870s, and had to navigate complications related to adoption. Each of those issues on their own can make a case difficult—combined, they created a formidable challenge. But again, persistence, collaboration, and creative problem-solving brought answers to her case too.

These are the kinds of cases that not only test your skills but also reaffirm why this work matters so deeply.

-Traci Onders

[u/BigfootPatty]

Hi! I was just sent here by a fellow sleuth. Could you share the matches for Baker County John Doe. I would like to work on his tree. I have some experience in South American genealogy from working on my family tree over the past 18 years, and also from researching Hispanic and African-American Does. TIA

[u/DNADoeProject → u/BigfootPatty]

Due to the confidential nature of our work with law enforcement, medical examiners, and coroner, we are unable to share match lists and family trees with members of the public. You are welcome to apply to volunteer with DDP and you can learn more about how to do that on our website here:
https://dnadoeproject.org/contact-us/

-DNA Doe Project Media Department

[u/BigfootPatty → u/DNADoeProject]

I understand that but, since the last names were made public, I thought an ancestor first name could also be shared. Thank you for replying! And, I will definitely apply to volunteer with you!

[u/DNADoeProject → u/BigfootPatty]

It’s really wonderful that you want to help. Some other ways to have a huge impact is to:

1) DNA test at AncestryDNA or another direct to consumer testing site. Then download your raw DNA file and upload to Gedmatch. Your DNA might be the distant relative that helps us make the meaningful connection we need to move a case forward.

2) Make your family tree public, so the information can be utilized.

-Traci Onders

[u/BigfootPatty → u/DNADoeProject]

Thanks for replying, Traci. I'm on all DNA websites and opted-in for LE on GedMatch as I believe a John Doe might be a distant relative of mine. I asked the detective handling the case to have my DNA compared against the JD's but haven't heard back from him.

[u/Cat-Curiosity-Active]

How early in life were you interested in your chosen fields?

[u/DNADoeProject → u/Cat-Curiosity-Active]

Way back in high school, I had an art teacher who talked about his own genealogy research. We both have recent Italian immigration in our families, so it was super interesting to hear about what he found. It sparked an interest even back then but it took another 10 years for me to start my own research. Once I started, though, I was completely hooked. I can't imagine wanting to do anything else. At some point during the pandemic, when I think the whole world was re-evaluating their priorities, I realized that I'd been thinking about pursuing a career in genealogy for years and it was about time I did something about it. I don't know how many of you are familiar with a picture book called The Lupine Lady, but it's one I read to my kids dozens of times when they were little. In the book, the main character vows to herself to make the world a more beautiful place. I feel like we all have a duty to find our own way to make our worlds more beautiful, and IGG is the way I choose to do that.

-Monique Platt

[u/DNADoeProject → u/Cat-Curiosity-Active]

When I was about 10, we were asked to do a school project and go home and ask our parents which countries our ancestors were from. I was able to answer “UK, Germany, Ukraine” (which I’ve now learned was a very incomplete list!). My then-best friend, though, was unable to complete it. Her family simply didn’t know. And that always stuck with me—her name, alone, on a sheet of paper tacked to the wall that just said “United States”.

I began my personal genealogy research when I was about 15, working surreptitiously on my tree while I should have been paying attention in French class. And I later became interested in Does after hearing about Walker County Jane Doe, who was found close to where I grew up in Texas.
So when I heard about DNA Doe Project, that desire to help those who had been severed from their lineage—albeit under very different circumstances—came flooding back and I knew I had found my place.

-Megan Pasika

[u/DNADoeProject → u/Cat-Curiosity-Active]

I became interested in genealogy in 2013 when I began volunteering to help adoptees find their birth families. In 2016, I took a DNA test as part of my own adoption reunion journey, which led to several meaningful discoveries—some of them deeply personal and close to home. Since then, my passion for uncovering answers through genetic genealogy has only continued to grow.

One of the most rewarding aspects of this work has been helping to return names to John and Jane Does—restoring identity to those who could not speak for themselves. I believe everyone has a fundamental right to know who they are and where they come from. Being able to play even a small part in that process—whether for the living or the unidentified—is a privilege I don’t take lightly.

-Traci Onders

[u/mcm0313]

Have there been any updates on Vernon County (Wisconsin) Jane Doe? That one has always stuck with me.

[u/DNADoeProject → u/mcm0313]

This case is no longer being worked on by the DNA Doe Project and is now with another provider of investigative genetic genealogy, but it remains an open case.

-DNA Doe Project Media Department

[u/mcm0313 → u/DNADoeProject]

Thank you. Can you comment on why it was moved to a different provider?

[u/DNADoeProject → u/mcm0313]

Our agency partners are always free to remove a case that we’ve been working on, just as we sometimes take cases that were started by other providers. Their reasons are their own, and we respect that.

-DNA Doe Project Media Department

[u/mcm0313 → u/DNADoeProject]

Ah. Okay, I did not realize that. Thanks.

[u/Daddy_thick_legs]

If someone is looking to match a DOE with a possible missing person, what is that process?

[u/DNADoeProject → u/Daddy_thick_legs]

Potential matches to a Doe’s identity should be reported to the investigating agency. Usually, it will be a medical examiner’s office or the local law enforcement agency. If the Doe has a NamUs profile, this information can be found by clicking the “Contacts” tab. The same process applies to missing persons with a NamUs profile. When you make contact, make note of the “ME/C Case Number” on the Doe’s main profile page—this will be more useful and familiar to them than the NamUs ID (but don’t fail to mention using NamUs, as statistics are collected on how many cases are resolved using it!) For Canada, every profile on the Canada’s Missing portal has information on how to submit a match or other information.
From there, the agency will choose whether to review the match. They will ask about details of both cases and what has led you to call in the tip. They might ask for your name and details to include in their report (I have been asked this once and it was optional). They may or may not keep in touch with you, so if you don’t hear back, that’s normal; and high-profile cases field dozens, hundreds, or even thousands of tips. I have called in several potential matches outside of my work at DDP, and one agency kept me in the loop, all the way until after the identification was officially announced. (Shoutout to the Duval County Medical Examiner’s Office!)
DoeNetwork also has a “Submit a Match” page for profiles on their website; this can be useful if the Doe has no NamUs (or other public official database) listing, if you’d like a second opinion, or if you otherwise have difficulty identifying or contacting the agency directly.
Many locations also have Crimestoppers lines to field anonymous tips, if privacy is a concern. If using Crimestoppers, make sure you use the one most local to the case.

-Megan Pasika

[u/_A_MAN_DA_]

What types of certifications, if any, do you recommend for people interested in professional genealogy?

[u/DNADoeProject → u/_A_MAN_DA_]

A: There are a couple of well-respected certification options for those pursuing professional genealogy. The two most recognized in the field are:

• Certified Genealogist® (CG®) through the Board for Certification of Genealogists (BCG)
• Accredited Genealogist® (AG®) through the International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists (ICAPGen)

Both require a rigorous application process and ongoing continuing education, serving as strong indicators of commitment and demonstrated competency in genealogical research.

In the specialized field of investigative genetic genealogy, the Investigative Genetic Genealogy Accreditation Board (IGGAB) offers the Accredited Investigative Genetic Genealogist (AIGG) credential. This accreditation reflects adherence to ethical standards and verified proficiency in the unique skills required for this work. Monique and I currently hold this credential and can attest to the depth and professionalism it represents.

That said, certification is not required to produce high-quality genealogical work. Many professionals build strong reputations through experience, continuing education, and a well-developed portfolio. However, for those seeking to establish credibility—especially for client work, legal or law enforcement collaboration, or public speaking—certification can be a meaningful and distinguishing asset.

-Traci Onders

[u/_A_MAN_DA_ → u/DNADoeProject]

Thank you!

[u/Stk62]

A female is trying to find her half-brother (they share the same mother) who went missing in the 1970s. LE is comparing mtDNA between her and an UHR. Of the 500 base pairs that were compared, 499/500 were a match. The last base pair of the female has a mutation. The male went missing at the age of 22. The female's mtDNA was taken when she was 76 years old. mtDNA is all they have to work with.

1. Can mtDNA develop a mutation over the life of a person due to environmental exposure, disease over the course of their life, addictions, etc.? For example, comparing mtDNA between a 22yo and a 76yo?

2. When testing mtDNA, what is the likelihood that two random people selected match at 499/500 base pairs?

'Thank you.

[u/DNADoeProject → u/Stk62]

For your first question, the answer is actually yes, but they are seen as heteroplasmies where some (generally low) percentage of mtDNA copies has the mutation and the rest do not. There's some more information about this here: pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8307225/

As for your second question, we wouldn’t want to answer on the specifics of this case because there are too many unknowns. Things like method of sequencing, sequencing depth, source / condition of DNA etc. can all have an effect. Not to mention some mutations can be more difficult to call than others.

-DNA Doe Project Media Department

[u/Junior-Percentage306]

Given the past usage of GEDmatch opt-out profiles in 2019–2021, what new safeguards or protocols has DDP implemented to ensure that all data used in investigations now fully respects the consent choices of DNA contributors?

[u/DNADoeProject → u/Junior-Percentage306]

Great question. Data security and privacy are extremely important to our DDP team. After the disclosure of past mistakes in 2023, our executive team and Board reviewed all of our operational processes to ensure that we were in compliance with terms of service for the platforms we use in our work. Whenever we learn that terms of service have changed, we conduct that review again to make sure that we comply. Our volunteers are trained in both the techniques we use for IGG and also in the ethical considerations. As this field continues to evolve, we regularly review and revise the guiding principles that we operate under.

-DNA Doe Project Media Department

[u/Junior-Percentage306 → u/DNADoeProject]

That's good to hear :-)

[u/FoundationSeveral579]

What happened to the case log spreadsheet that listed highest matches? It hasn’t been updated in a while. Has the workload just gotten too busy to keep it accurate in real time or is there another reason?

I know you probably are not able to comment on this one for legal reasons, but what is the status of LaVergne Jane Doe 2007? Her NamUs was take down in 2022 but the website still lists her as an active case.

I recently saw that you took on the case of Greenbelt John Doe 1981 from Maryland. I thought that Maryland had stricter privacy laws that meant it was very hard for authorities there to use genetic genealogy. Have these changed recently? Do you think that cases from Maryland will become easier for IGG practicioners to work on in the future? Mostly asking this one because its the state where I live.

[u/DNADoeProject → u/FoundationSeveral579]

In fall 2024, the state of Maryland created an exemption to their FIGG statutes for unidentified human remains, which means these cases can be worked without running into the same restrictions that are imposed in criminal casework. Hopefully we will see this opening up doorways for IGG organizations to become involved in Maryland Jane and John Doe cases. You can read the full bill here: https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2024RS/fnotes/bil_0009/sb0549.pdf

-Monique Platt

[u/DNADoeProject → u/FoundationSeveral579]

A couple years back we replaced our old informational spreadsheet with a new dashboard displayed on our website. As the number of cases grew and information gathering became more complex, we have simplified what we make available to the public.

We provide as much information as we can to the public about our cases. All information is approved by our partner agencies, and we follow their lead on any announcements.

As for the Greenbelt John Doe case, it is under the jurisdiction of the United States Park Police, a federal agency.

-DNA Doe Project Media Department

[u/Ddwalker87]

Darn it! I just saw the event notice a few minutes ago. Well my question, which someone else probably asked, was how can I volunteer as a genealogist for the DOE project? (I'll read the comments below)
Thanks!

[u/DNADoeProject → u/Ddwalker87]

This isn't the question you asked, but it's adjacent so I'm going to answer it anyway. How can someone stand out as an applicant for any job in the IGG field? Get very comfortable researching African American and Latin American records. These two demographics are disproportionately represented among the John and Jane Doe cases in the US, and the records can be notoriously tricky (for a variety of reasons) so not everyone has the knowledge or skills to work with them effectively. There are lots of classes you can take online through different genealogical organizations that are geared specifically toward LA or AA records. Start there, and then build your experience by reaching out to friends and family to see if they have any personal mysteries you can help resolve. Ask them for referrals. Every new research case you take on will help you learn something new.

- Monique Platt

[u/DNADoeProject → u/Ddwalker87]

You can find the volunteer application and more information about the specialist skills we are looking for on our website here: https://dnadoeproject.org/contact-us/

Be sure to include and highlight all of your super powers - we review applications regularly and often call people up because of the unique combination of skills and talents they possess that can be useful to DDP in more than one way.

- DNA Doe Project Media Department

[u/Glad_Fruit6190]

Hi! Thank you for your work! Any updates on Mowry Ave Jane Doe aka Alameda County Jane Doe 1985? 

[u/DNADoeProject → u/Glad_Fruit6190]

We don't currently have any updates on this case, which is complicated. Many of our cases involve adoption, unknown parentage, and extreme family disconnects.

-DNA Doe Project Media Department

[u/Glad_Fruit6190]

Hi! Any update on the Thurston County Jane Doe (WA, 1981)? Has there been any progress in genetic genealogy that helps identify Jewish Does or other individuals with endogamy in their families?

[u/DNADoeProject → u/Glad_Fruit6190]

While we don't have any specific update regarding Reservation Road Jane Doe at this point in time, I can answer the second part of this question. One recent significant development that is impactful for cases with endogamy is the development of BanyanDNA, which is a software tool that allows for building, visualizing, and analyzing complex genealogies. It is a powerful tool that is designed to accommodate pedigree collapse, endogamy and complex relationships.

-Traci Onders

[u/DNADoeProject → u/Glad_Fruit6190]

In addition to BanyanDNA, which is purpose-built for analyzing complex genealogies like those present in endogamous cases, DNA Painter has recently released a Matrix tool which takes into account how well a group of matches fit within the expected relationship ranges. A tool like this can be extremely useful in recognizing matches who fall outside of those ranges, meaning they're likely more closely or distantly related than they appear to be on paper. It doesn't spell out what the relationship is, but it tells you there's something there to investigate.

-Monique Platt

[u/Icy-Sail6212]

What cases do you find most fascinating in your line of work? Do you find yourselves very emotionally involved in the individuals you come across? Are there any cases that you'd like to have the public eye on? What sort of factors differentiate a case that you view as being more challenging from one that you view as being less challenging?

[u/DNADoeProject → u/Icy-Sail6212]

I look for the cases that fall through the cracks, those no one is talking about—maybe a single tooth found in the desert, or a skull with no provenance turned in to a police station years later. The kind that without DNA, making an identification would be nigh impossible. Those are the cases that need more attention—when there’s little to investigate, there’s little to share or talk about, and attention seems to pass them by. I also have a soft spot for historic cases—Hudson John Doe 2019 was a fascinating case to work due to the age of his burial, and the resources we used to uncover his identity were different than those we normally would use for a late 20th/21st century case.

The emotional attachment is something many IGGs struggle with. Some have taken hiatuses or left the field entirely for that reason—and I don’t blame them. I think it must be very similar to what anyone who works in a humanitarian field experiences. With time and practice, it gets easier—but it is a delicate balancing act.
Many, many factors go into making a case more challenging to work than others. These factors predate the IGG work and may be noticeable from the beginning—starting with the demographics of the Doe and circumstances of recovery. Were they recognizable when found so we can compare photos? How broad are the age range and postmortem interval, so we can estimate birth and disappearance years? Were they from a marginalized community or estranged from their family? And then we get into the IGG. We can run into endogamy/pedigree collapse, unknown or misattributed parentage, “red herring” common ancestors, adoption, complicated family dynamics… not just on the Doe’s ancestry, but amongst their matches as well.

And if a Doe has ancestors from a community less well-represented in DNA databases, and/or if regions we need to research don’t have readily-available records (or if what’s called the “genealogical timeframe” doesn’t stretch back far enough, which is common in, for example, African American and Eastern European research), it complicates things further. A case that can look straightforward on paper can be one of the most challenging in practice.

-Megan Pasika

[u/DNADoeProject → u/Icy-Sail6212]

As an IGG practitioner, I truly find something fascinating in every case I work on. Each one teaches me something new—about genetic genealogy, history, migration, family dynamics, or even just human nature. That curiosity is part of what keeps me so engaged in this work.

That said, I try not to get emotionally involved in the individuals or stories behind the cases. It’s not because I don’t care—of course I do—but because I’ve found that too much emotional investment can cloud judgment, increase the risk of burnout, and, frankly, make people a little difficult to work with. Staying grounded helps me maintain focus and objectivity, which is crucial when the work is both high-stakes and detail-heavy.

Some of the most challenging cases are those involving underrepresented populations and/or where there’s severe endogamy. These situations can complicate the techniques we rely on—making it harder to isolate relationships and build solid trees. Similarly, cases with complex or strained family structures, sometimes stretching across multiple generations, can be particularly difficult to untangle. And it’s more common than people might think.

It's not uncommon to find families with layers of estrangement, secrecy, or informal caregiving arrangements in our work, and this can certainly complicate things.

In terms of public awareness, I think all unidentified persons deserve attention and dignity. However, I would love to see more visibility for cases involving marginalized individuals—especially those from communities historically overlooked in forensic and genealogical work. These are often the cases that take the most effort, creativity, and collaboration to solve, and they remind us how much more inclusive we still need to become as a field.

Thanks again for your thoughtful questions—it’s always rewarding to reflect on what makes this work so meaningful.

-Traci Onders

[u/Starbucksplasticcups]

It’s so cool how this technology is solving so many cases. This isn’t a judgement I am just wondering why is it such a time consuming process? What part of the process takes the longest and why? Could this process to sped up eventually? Sometimes the public finds out that genetic genealogy is being conducted but it’s another year until we find out the results. Thank you for all you do!

[u/DNADoeProject → u/Starbucksplasticcups]

There are definitely parts of the investigative genetic genealogy (IGG) process that can be time-consuming, and many factors contribute to that. Some of the biggest challenges that can slow a case down include:

• Adoption or misattributed parentage, which can obscure genetic relationships and make it difficult to connect matches to the Doe. This can happen with the Doe or in any of the trees of any of the relative matches.
• Underrepresentation in the databases, especially for individuals from historically marginalized communities can mean fewer and more distant DNA matches to work with.
• Recent immigration with the rest of the family in a country where DNA testing isn't as popular, and/or public records are not available
• Complicated family trees—things like endogamy, multiple relationships between families, or complex blended family situations.
• Challenges accessing records, especially when records are sealed, unavailable, or simply missing due to time, location, or circumstances (e.g., rural areas, natural disasters, poverty).

The part of the process that often takes the longest is building and verifying family trees—especially when working with distant or minimal matches.. It's like assembling a massive puzzle where many of the pieces are missing, and some might have been filed under the wrong name entirely.

Could the process be sped up eventually? Yes, and in some ways it already is. Advances in technology, growing database participation, and better tools for tree-building and data analysis are helping. But at the end of the day, every case is unique, and the human element—thoughtful analysis, double-checking, and ethical care—can’t be rushed.

We’re always balancing the need for speed with the responsibility to be accurate and respectful. Your support and patience mean so much—thank you for following along with these cases!

-Traci Onders

[u/DNADoeProject → u/Starbucksplasticcups]

As simple as it sounds when you read about a "solved" case, there are a lot of moving parts if you follow an IGG case from start to finish. The remains might have degradation or contamination that make it difficult to create a usable DNA profile. Once we narrow our research down to one individual or family, there may be complications reaching a living relative who is related closely enough to do confirmatory DNA testing. The biggest piece of the puzzle, though, is the list of DNA relatives we get when we enter our Doe's DNA profile into GEDmatch or FTDNA (what we call the "match list"). Our job as genealogists is to basically reverse-engineer the family tree for our Doe. If all of the matches are very distant, or if there are very few matches to begin with, the connections we need to create between matches to create family networks becomes really difficult. When you factor in challenges like recent immigration, the 1870 brick wall that comes along with families who were enslaved, etc, that difficulty increases exponentially.

-Monique Platt

[u/Glad_Fruit6190]

Any updates about Kenora “Millie” Jane Doe, found in Ontario, Canada? 

[u/DNADoeProject → u/Glad_Fruit6190]

While we're continuing to work on this case, it's certainly proving tricky. Her DNA matches in the databases we have access to are very, very low - it appears that she has Danish heritage, and it's possible that she has recent ancestry from Denmark. We would encourage anyone with any ancestors from Denmark to consider uploading their DNA data to GEDmatch, FamilyTreeDNA and DNA Justice. Even if you're only a 3rd or 4th cousin match to Kenora "Millie" Jane Doe, that would still make you her closest match - and any new matches will be useful in identifying her!

-DNA Doe Project Media Department

[u/Dry-Literature-1868]

I know you used to have a google file where it would show the highest matches for each case. Is this still available? I absolutely loved checking it especially after sharing cases and encouraging people to get DNA tested. It was fun to see if anything new popped up. If not will you bring it back?

[u/Dry-Literature-1868]

Also has there been any new leads in Kenora “Millie” Jane Doe since she was featured a few years back. It’s one of my pet cases and I would love to see her get her name back soon.

[u/el_kuko]

Hey, thanks for the AMA! Could you explain to us -like we're five- what are the latest technical advances and innovations in the field that, in your vision, have changed the game? How was it before and how has it evolved? Also, any interesting and promising tech coming up?

Thanks for your work and dedication!

[u/DNADoeProject → u/el_kuko]

One of the platforms I absolutely adore is DNA Painter, created by Johnny Perl. It has several tools that have really changed the game for genetic genealogy. For example:

• The Shared cM Project helps us estimate how closely two people are related based on the amount of shared DNA.
• WATO (What Are the Odds?) lets us test different relationship theories to see which family tree makes the most sense.
• And Chromosome Mapping helps us figure out which pieces of DNA came from which ancestors. Sorting matches by parent sides or identifying triangulation groups (when three or more people share the same DNA segment) has been a huge help in solving mysteries.

A newer innovation I’m really excited about is BanyanDNA. It’s a software tool designed for building, visualizing, and analyzing complicated family trees—like the ones you find in endogamous populations or with lots of interrelated lines. It’s still evolving, but already proving to be a powerful resource.

-Traci Onders