DNA & Cold Cases: Getting Away With Murder

Recorded on location at the 2022 Conference on Crimes Against Women, each episode in this bonus series will deepen our understanding of DNA testing, how it supports cold case investigations and prosecutions, and what's ahead for crime solvers around the globe.

Can someone get away with murder in the 21st century? Advances in DNA testing, forensic genetic genealogy and forensic investigation are making it more difficult to do so, and applying these advances to homicide investigations is significantly reducing the time it takes to catch a killer. Forensic psychologist, Dr. Lawrence Simon, explains the critical work of investigators who pursue cold cases, serial killings and other crimes committed by deviant offenders, and how they benefit from collaboration with experts from around the world via The Vidocq Society and the Cold Case Foundation, where he is a collaborator. Dr. Simon walks us through the importance of old-fashioned detective work combined with cutting-edge technology, DNA evidence and luck - all of these playing vital roles in making it less likely for someone to get away with murder. Dr. Simon has spent over a decade working on complex crimes against persons cases and is a vital member of major cold case task forces, assisting investigators on high profile serial homicides. At the 2022 Conference on Crimes Against Women, Dr. Simon presented 3 sessions of his highly popular topic, "Sexual Deviant Killers." This is his second appearance on the Podcast on Crimes Against Women.