Ramapo College Investigative Genetic Genealogy Center

06/03/2026

Bootcampers, it's time to get serious - IGG bootcamp is less than 3 weeks away! If you've attended IGG bootcamp in the past, share your favorite aspects of the experience below in the comments! 👇

06/02/2026

Waving hi from "down under"! In May, two of our team members hosted a bootcamp in Sydney, Australia in collaboration with the University of Technology Sydney and the New South Wales Police Force. We can't wait to share what was accomplished by this great group of bootcampers!

06/01/2026

Many have asked on our posts - what makes Mohave County Jane Doe's case so difficult to solve? Here are a few reasons why cases involving the Ashkenazi Jewish population can be so difficult to solve:

1) Endogamy. Due to cultural practices and isolation of the population over many generations, there are observable differences in DNA relatedness in Ashkenazi Jews which can make it difficult to interpret relationships.

2) Language barriers and naming practices. The Jewish Diaspora involves dozens of countries and languages, requiring specialty researchers to interpret records.

3) Lost records and family separation. Due to atrocities committed against the Jewish people during the Holocaust and other events, many records were lost or destroyed and many families were separated, making it difficult to trace the lineage of modern Ashkenazi Jews.

The article below from FOX 10 Phoenix includes more information about the case of Mohave County Jane Doe.

Investigative genetic genealogy revealed a Mohave County Jane Doe found in 1989 has 96% Ashkenazi Jewish DNA.

05/28/2026

Our biggest collaboration ever with DNA Justice is happening this weekend! If you're attending CrimeCon in Las Vegas, be sure to stop by the Sherry Black Foundation booth to learn more about how to upload your DNA profile to help solve unidentified remains cases. After you've uploaded to DNA Justice, check your email to see if case(s) you match are any of our six featured cases in this graphic. Your DNA could be the key to solving a case!

05/27/2026

Oops, we got this one wrong! Thanks to all of those who let us know our date was wrong in our social media post last week for the know-before-you-go Webinar! The correct date is Wednesday, June 17. Click here to register: e3a4da7d-dfb8-4098-95aa-3b1b9250265a@6f6794c8-78c0-429e-bd54-25839339a05f" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/e3a4da7d-dfb8-4098-95aa-3b1b9250265a@6f6794c8-78c0-429e-bd54-25839339a05f

05/26/2026

On November 3, 1986 approximately four miles west of Interstate 25, in the Midway Ranch area South of Colorado Springs the skeletal remains of an adult male were recovered. The man was believed to have been 5’4” to 5’7” in height, 30 to 40 years of age, and was wearing blue Calvin Klein Jeans and a blue/green sweatshirt at the time of his death. His cause of death was determined to be a gunshot wound. Traditional means of investigation failed to identify the man, and he became known as Colorado Springs John Doe.

In 2025, the Ramapo College Investigative Genetic Genealogy Center was consulted by the El Paso County EPC Sheriff's Office Sheriff’s Office Investigations Division Cold Case Unit to conduct investigative genetic genealogy to identify John Doe. Teeth belonging to John Doe were sent to Astrea Forensics for DNA extraction and SNP analysis, which resulted in the successful generation of a genotype profile for John Doe.

After several weeks of research, IGG staff members at Ramapo developed an investigative lead in the case: the identification of Peter Joseph Paskovich Jr. as the possible identity of Colorado Springs John Doe. Detectives from the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office in collaboration with the Colorado Bureau of Investigation confirmed the identity of Mr. Paskovich in April 2026.

More details about this case are available through the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office: https://epcsheriffsoffice.com/1986-homicide-victim-identified-after-nearly-40-years/

05/23/2026

The countdown to is in full swing, and it's almost time for our annual Know-Before-You-Go webinar! Whether you're a seasoned RIGG attendee or a first-timer, be sure to swing by to learn about what to expect when you arrive on campus for RIGG. Register here: e3a4da7d-dfb8-4098-95aa-3b1b9250265a@6f6794c8-78c0-429e-bd54-25839339a05f" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/e3a4da7d-dfb8-4098-95aa-3b1b9250265a@6f6794c8-78c0-429e-bd54-25839339a05f

05/21/2026

Last week our director David Gurney spoke during a panel on IGG at the Quattrone Center for the Fair Administration of Justice Spring Symposium. We look forward to seeing IGG utilized more frequently for miscarriages of justice as it continues to be adopted around the world.

05/21/2026

Big thanks to Popular Mechanics for their coverage of the Henry Goodsell -- this one is one of the most profound unexpected twists we've encountered in a case! https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/archaeology/a71295429/henry-goodsell-new-jersey-skull-bones/

05/19/2026

Thank you to Gabulosis for covering the case of Rebecca Mallekoote, formerly known as Becca Doe. Check out Gabby's video here! https://youtu.be/-uIsAIupRr8?si=E8GpXOtbnVB2X2fd