How DNA and Family Trees Help Find Cold Case Killers | Dr Colleen Fitzpatrick

Dr Colleen Fitzpatrick explains how genetic genealogy uses DNA to identify unknown individuals and help solve long-standing cases. She was among the pioneers who saw how DNA analysis and family history could be combined in a new way.In this conversation, Colleen shares the story behind her work: growing up in New Orleans, studying nuclear physics, and developing an approach that has since changed how investigators identify people lost to history. We discuss the challenges of cold cases, the science behind her discoveries, and the human impact of helping families find answers — or, as Colleen puts it, release from years of speculation.She also reflects on what it means to be a pioneer in a field that has grown far beyond its beginnings, and why she remains committed to helping people.Subscribe to The Growth Time Machine for conversations about the lives and experiences behind people’s work. What surprised you most about Colleen’s story? Let me know in the comments.#ColleenFitzpatrick #GeneticGenealogy #ForensicGenealogy #DNA #ColdCases