For Immediate Release s416

MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY FACT SHEET

BUREAU OF CRIMINAL APPREHENSION GATHERING DNA FOR UNIDENTIFIED REMAINS PROJECT Family members whose loved ones are missing are urged to contact the Bureau of Criminal Alcohol Apprehension (BCA) as part of its effort to learn the identities of more than 100 sets of unidentified and Gambling Enforcement human remains in Minnesota. Many of these people were discovered decades ago when DNA testing was not available. Oftentimes, when attempts to identify remains were unsuccessful, they would be Bureau of Criminal Apprehension kept at a medical examiner’s office – sometimes for decades – or were buried unidentified. Forensic testing capabilities now available allow BCA scientists to derive DNA from old remains and those in Driver and Vehicle Services poor condition. The BCA needs family member DNA samples to compare with DNA collected from unidentified remains. Emergency Communication A National Institute of Justice grant is covering the cost of this effort. Without the participation of Networks family members, this effort cannot succeed. Homeland Security and Emergency What happens to the DNA? Management Unidentified remains DNA – The DNA obtained from the remains is entered into the FBI’s Combined Minnesota State Patrol DNA Index System where it is compared with family member samples from within Minnesota and across the nation. Office of Communications Family member DNA – DNA provided by people whose family members are missing is entered into Office of the database for comparison. If an immediate match is not made, the data is available to match against Justice Programs future entries. Office of Pipeline Safety How is DNA collected?

Office of Unidentified remains DNA – The BCA uses state of the art Nuclear and Mitochondrial DNA testing Traffic Safety capabilities to extract DNA from the remains. In addition to DNA data, descriptive information about State Fire Marshal missing and unidentified individuals (gender, age, race, circumstances if known) is entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System – a public database containing information about missing and unidentified persons.

Family member DNA – The process takes seconds and is a simple swab of the inside of their cheek. DNA collected from family members are only used for comparison to the DNA from unidentified remains and are not checked against any state or federal law enforcement databases.

Facts about the BCA’s Unidentified Remains Effort  At least 100 sets of human remains have been located in Minnesota thus far, but more are believed to exist.

 In some cases, specific details regarding how the remains were recovered is unclear. (more)

444 Cedar Street, Suite 155 • Saint Paul, Minnesota 55101-5155 • http://dps.mn.gov Facts about Unidentified Remains – the National Picture  According to National Institute of Justice, 40,000 sets of unidentified remains are held in medical examiners offices across the nation.

 Only about 15 percent of unidentified remains have been entered into the FBI’s National Missing Persons DNA Database.

 Without the DNA from the missing person or their family members, these individuals may never be identified. Facts about Minnesota Missing Persons  225 Minnesotans have been missing more than a year.

 At any given time there are more than 550 missing Minnesotans.

 More than 11,000 people are reported missing in Minnesota each year.

 Public information about missing and unidentified persons (gender, age, race, circumstances if known) is kept in the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System, or NAMUS, and is available at www.namus.gov. What happens to the DNA?

 Unidentified remains DNA – DNA obtained from the remains is entered into the FBI’s National Missing Persons DNA Database where it is compared with family member samples from within Minnesota and across the nation.

 Family member DNA – Profiles derived from DNA provided by family members of missing people are entered into the same database for comparison. If an immediate match is not made, the data is available to match against future entries.

How is DNA collected?

 Unidentified remains DNA – The BCA uses state of the art Nuclear and Mitochondrial DNA testing capabilities to extract DNA from the remains.

 Family member DNA – The process takes seconds and is a simple swab of the inside of their cheek. DNA collected from family members are only used for comparison to the DNA from unidentified remains and are not checked against any state or federal law enforcement databases.

About the Minnesota Department Public Safety The Minnesota Department of Public Safety (DPS) comprises 11 divisions where 2,100 employees operate programs in the areas of law enforcement, crime victim assistance, traffic safety, alcohol and gambling, emergency communications, fire safety, pipeline safety, driver licensing, vehicle registration and emergency management. DPS activity is anchored by three core principles: education, enforcement and prevention. About the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension The BCA provides investigative and specialized law enforcement services to prevent and solve crimes in partnership with law enforcement, public safety and criminal justice agencies. Services include forensic laboratory analysis, criminal histories, investigations and criminal justice training. ###