Genetic genealogy and AI help solve three-decade-old murder case

The 1993 killing of Randy Gail Sperino was cracked after detectives used DNA ancestry techniques and artificial intelligence to analyse evidence

By LineZotpaper

Published22 October 2026

Read Time2 min

Investigators in Illinois have used a combination of investigative genetic genealogy and artificial intelligence to charge a suspect in the 1993 murder of Randy Gail Sperino, a case that had remained unsolved for more than 30 years. Albert Zigler, 70, was charged in May after a Houston-based DNA firm helped identify him through distant relatives' genetic data, and an AI platform helped detectives sift through thousands of pages of evidence.

The body of 34-year-old Randy Gail Sperino was found hours after she was last seen getting into a pickup truck in Granite City, Illinois, in November 1993. Blunt force trauma was the cause of death, but standard DNA database checks returned no matches. For three decades, Madison County Sheriff's Office detectives chased leads and interviewed hundreds of people.

Last year, the team turned to Othram, a company that uses DNA technology to identify suspects in cold cases. Othram applied investigative genetic genealogy, a technique that can identify distant relatives of an unknown individual using DNA profiles submitted by extended family members on ancestry platforms. Captain Tim Lawrence of the Madison County Sheriff's Office said the lead "broke the case open."

The detectives also used an AI platform called Centerline AI from CentralSquare to analyse more than 2,000 pages of records, reconstruct timelines and organise witness information. Lawrence said the AI allowed his team to interact like a chatbot and helped them assess whether Zigler was being truthful during interviews. He cautioned that the technology is "only as good as the investigator," and that detectives still need to "go track people down and talk to them."

Othram's chief executive David Mittelman said DNA technology cannot solve every case, but is "a lot more powerful" than relying on a chance match in a database. Privacy concerns remain, however. Professor Denise Syndercombe Court of King's College London noted that while one person may consent to their DNA being used, genetic relatives may not have given consent. The technique is used in Sweden, Denmark and Australia, but not yet in the UK, where the Home Office is conducting a study into its adoption. Existing UK DNA databases already provide a 65% chance of identifying a person from crime-scene DNA, Syndercombe Court said.

The Sperino case was funded through donations, highlighting a lack of funding for such work. Mittelman said every law enforcement agency wants to use the technology but funding is limited.

Analysis

Why This Matters

This case demonstrates how advanced DNA analysis and AI can solve decades-old violent crimes, offering closure to families.
Investigative genetic genealogy raises privacy questions about the use of genetic data from relatives who have not consented.
The technique is gaining traction globally but remains limited by funding and legal frameworks.

Background

Investigative genetic genealogy first gained attention in 2018 when it helped identify the Golden State Killer. Companies like Othram build family trees from crime-scene DNA and public records such as obituaries and census data. The method has been used to solve thousands of cases, especially involving unidentified remains and cold homicides. AI tools are increasingly used to manage large volumes of evidence.

Key Perspectives

Othram and law enforcement: The technology is a powerful new tool that can break cases open when standard databases fail. It requires careful investigative follow-up. Privacy advocates: There are significant ethical concerns about using genetic data without explicit consent from all relatives who may be identifiable through the process. UK forensic experts: The UK's existing DNA database is already highly effective, but adopting investigative genetic genealogy could help solve additional cases. The Home Office is reviewing the possibility.

What to Watch

Funding sources for cold case DNA analysis, including crowdfunding and government grants.
The UK Home Office's decision on whether to adopt investigative genetic genealogy.
Further legal challenges or regulatory changes around the use of consumer ancestry data by law enforcement.

Sources

The tech helping crack decades-old cold cases · BBC News

Checked

12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 8 supported.

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SupportedInvestigative genetic genealogy and AI helped crack the 1993 murder case.BBC News: “The AI helped them reconstruct timelines and organise witness information.”
Partly supportedAlbert Zigler was charged in May after Othram used relatives’ genetic data to help identify him.BBC News: “While the suspect's own DNA profile wasn't available, profiles submitted by his extended relatives allowed the company to identify a male family member. ... It was a crucial clue that led the detectives to Albert "Buddy" Zigler, 70 ... He was charged in May this year.”
SupportedLawrence said the lead “broke the case open.”BBC News: “"That lead broke the case open," said Captain Tim Lawrence of Madison County Sheriff's Office”
SupportedCenterline AI analysed more than 2,000 pages of records and helped reconstruct timelines and organise witness information.BBC News: “They used a platform called Centerline AI, from Florida software company CentralSquare, to analyse more than 2,000 pages of records and identify evidence for the DNA testing that helped to break the case. The AI helped them reconstruct timelines and organise witness information.”
SupportedLawrence said detectives used the AI to help assess whether Zigler was being truthful during interviews.BBC News: “Detectives were able to ask questions of the AI to help "figure out if Zigler was being truthful", says Lawrence.”
SupportedLawrence said the technology is “only as good as the investigator.”BBC News: “But the technology is "only as good as the investigator," says the captain.”
SupportedLawrence said detectives still need to “go track people down and talk to them.”BBC News: “There comes a point, he says, "where you leave the technology behind and you have to go track people down and talk to them."”
Partly supportedOthram used profiles submitted by extended relatives on ancestry platforms to identify the suspect.BBC News: “While the suspect's own DNA profile wasn't available, profiles submitted by his extended relatives allowed the company to identify a male family member.”
Partly supportedThe UK DNA database gives a 65% chance of identifying a person from crime-scene DNA.BBC News: “"We have such an efficient DNA database that if you can get any DNA out of a crime scene, you've got over a 65% chance of putting a name to that person, which is enormously powerful," she says.”
Not in the sourcesThe Sperino case was funded through donations.BBC News: “Sometimes cases are funded through donations or crowdfunding. Othram operates a website listing cases that members of the public can help fund.”
SupportedInvestigative genetic genealogy is used in Sweden, Denmark and Australia, but not yet in the UK.BBC News: “While investigative genetic genealogy has been adopted in countries such as Sweden, Denmark and Australia, it is not yet used in the UK.”
SupportedMittelman said DNA technology cannot solve every case and is “a lot more powerful” than relying on a chance database match.BBC News: “"It can’t solve every case. If you have no DNA, you can’t really use this technique." ... "But this technique is a lot more powerful and a lot more likely to yield identities than having to rely on the chance that you find a match somewhere in a database," he adds.”