Earlier this week, GTH-DNA revealed the six finalists for the 2023 DNA Hit of the Year, including two U.S. entries—the identification of a burglary ring that escalated to the murder of a member of the U.S. Coast Guard and the identification of a serial killer who terrorized Denver in the 1970s.
The DNA Hit of the Year program, now in its seventh year, is a global program established to demonstrate the power of forensic DNA databases to solve crime and identify missing persons. Every year, GTH-DNA partners with a group of international judges to determine which submitted case will be recognized as the official hit of the year—but this year was different.
At the HIDS Conference on Tuesday, GTH-DNA surprised everyone by revealing all six finalists would be considered the 2023 Hit(s) of the Year.
In addition to recognizing the incredible work forensic scientists and investigators perform, another goal of the DNA Hit of the Year program is to showcase the benefits of a forensic DNA database, when constructed correctly and ethically. This fact was highlighted—even more than in years past—by two specific Hit of the Year cases submitted from outside the United States.