Crime Junkie
Crime Junkie
"The thing that got me and now Fort Wayne City also was working with us. We had a group that met every, tried to meet every month or two at our post in Fort Wayne, a couple Fort Wayne City detectives who were on his case for years." — Captain Kevin Smith
"We've got the Golden State Killer doing this, we got the guy in Pennsylvania, and now the third one, big one in the nation, we got the April Tensley, and then a few weeks later, the one in Wisconsin, and now there's been a couple more, and then the, another one here in Indiana, but it was really rolling." — Captain Kevin Smith
"We're going to do both because it, why not? But this really looks good. We'll see so that, you know, three days later, we had guys doing trashables and had his name ever come up before? Never." — Captain Kevin Smith
This episode of Crime Junkie features an in-depth interview with Captain Kevin Smith of the Indiana State Police regarding the resolution of the April Tinsley cold case. Captain Smith, who has dedicated a significant portion of his 31-year career to investigative work, details the 30-year pursuit of the killer. He explains how the Tinsley case, a high-profile abduction and murder of an 8-year-old girl in 1988, remained unsolved for decades despite extensive media coverage and numerous leads. The conversation highlights the critical role of DNA technology, particularly the advent of genealogical DNA analysis, in finally identifying the perpetrator, John Miller, in 2018.
Captain Smith elaborates on the evolution of investigative techniques, contrasting traditional detective work with the capabilities offered by modern forensic science. He recounts the initial involvement of Parabond Nanolabs in 2008, who offered phenotype (snapshot) analysis based on DNA. The discussion then pivots to the broader concept of genetic genealogy, spurred by a personal anecdote about Susie Hope, an "Angola doorstep baby" who successfully located her birth parents through a genealogy website. This experience inspired Captain Smith and his team to explore the application of such databases for law enforcement purposes.
The interview delves into the meticulous process of employing genetic genealogy, including the legal considerations, the challenges of obtaining usable DNA samples, and the collaboration required between different agencies. Captain Smith shares the story of how the case was ultimately solved through a trash pull and subsequent DNA match to John Miller, emphasizing that his name had never appeared on any suspect list prior to this forensic breakthrough. The episode underscores the profound impact of genetic genealogy on cold case investigations, offering a new pathway to justice for victims and their families, and setting a precedent for future investigations.