To Solve a Cold Case, French Police Bent DNA Privacy Law
Summary
This episode examines how French police solved the "Predator of the Woods" cold case by bypassing strict privacy laws to use U.S. genetic genealogy databases. Host Jessica Mendoza and correspondent Matthew Dalton discuss the tension between Europe’s data protection norms and the effectiveness of DNA testing in catching serial offenders. The story highlights the arrest of suspect Bruno Lambrich-Gonsalvo and the ongoing legal debate over legitimizing this investigative technique in Europe.
Topics discussed
The Predator of the Woods: France's Notorious Cold Case
Show Intro and Sponsor Messages
How Genetic Genealogy Solved the Golden State Killer
US vs. Europe: Privacy Laws and DNA Databases
French Police Seek FBI Help to Crack the Case
Sponsor Messages: Optum and KeyBank
Identifying the Suspect Through Family Trees
Narrowing Down Suspects and Arresting Bruno Lambrich-Gonsalvo
Suspect's Suicide and Legal Challenges
Legal Aftermath and Future of Genetic Genealogy in Europe
Listen ad-free on Castria