How did NSW police solve cold case sexual assaults using DNA?

NSW police used forensic investigative genetic genealogy to compare DNA profiles from multiple crime scenes, identifying familial connections to apprehend Robert Wayne Kwan for assaults over 30 years ago.

What is forensic investigative genetic genealogy (Figg)?

Figg is a DNA technology that examines hundreds of thousands of genetic markers to identify familial connections, allowing law enforcement to solve serious crimes by comparing profiles against public genealogy databases.

Is this the first time NSW police have used this DNA technology?

Yes, this marks the first arrest triggered by forensic investigative genetic genealogy in New South Wales.

Home / Crime and Justice / DNA Tech Cracks 30-Year-Old Cold Case

DNA Tech Cracks 30-Year-Old Cold Case

12 Feb

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Summary

New DNA technology led to an arrest for assaults over 30 years ago.
Forensic investigative genealogy compared DNA to find familial links.
This marks the first arrest using this technology in New South Wales.

Sex crimes detectives in New South Wales have utilized cutting-edge DNA technology to apprehend an elderly man for alleged sexual assaults spanning more than 30 years. This marks a significant first for NSW police in leveraging forensic investigative genetic genealogy (Figg).

Robert Wayne Kwan, 77, was arrested in South Kempsey on the NSW north coast and subsequently faced court on multiple sexual assault and kidnapping charges. Police allege Kwan was responsible for three separate attacks between 1991 and 2002, involving victims of various ages.

The Figg technique, similar to that used to identify the Golden State Killer, examines hundreds of thousands of genetic markers to find distant familial connections, far exceeding traditional methods. By comparing crime scene DNA against public genealogy databases like GEDmatch PRO and FamilyTreeDNA, NSW detectives were able to link three cases to a single male profile.