Genetic genealogy and AI help solve 1993 cold case
Investigators have identified Albert “Buddy” Zigler as the suspect in the 1993 killing of Randy Gail Sperino, after decades without a DNA match. Genetic genealogy pointed detectives towards one of his male relatives, and Zigler later confessed, giving Sperino’s family long-awaited answers.
The investigation also used AI software to organise more than 2,000 pages of records, reconstruct timelines and sort witness information. The case illustrates how genetic data from relatives and tools for managing large volumes of evidence can help cold-case teams find leads, though DNA still needs follow-up investigative work.
- Genetic genealogy helped identify a suspect in a 1993 murder.
- The suspect confessed after detectives tracked him down.
- AI organised more than 2,000 pages of case records.
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Originally published by BBC Technology as “The tech helping crack decades-old cold cases”.