Using Innovation to Solve a Cold Case Part 1

In this new series of All Things Crime, Jared Bradley is joined by Olivia McCarter, a genealogy analyst for the Mobile County Sheriff's Office, JT Thornton, a Sergeant with the Mobile County Sheriff's Office, and Danny Hellwig, the Director of Laboratory Development for Intermountain Forensics, to discuss a unique cold case that was solved using dental mold DNA.

In 1976, a Jane Doe was discovered in Grand Bay, Alabama in 1976, with a gunshot wound to the back of her head and mutilated hands. Despite extensive efforts to identify her, the case remained unsolved for years. It wasn't until the dental mold was sent for testing that a breakthrough occurred, finally revealing her identity as Ada Fritz.

Through their investigation, the team discovered a connection between Ada Fritz's murder and Henderson James Williams, a notorious criminal with a violent past. Williams had been arrested for murder in 1973 but inexplicably released after just 28 days in jail.

One of the highlights of this case is the significant role played by dental mold DNA analysis. By utilizing this innovative technique, investigators were able to definitively identify the Jane Doe as Ada Fritz. The dental mold provided a crucial link to her identity, enabling closure for her family and bringing long-overdue justice.

The Ada Fritz case serves as a reminder of the possibilities that arise from applying innovative forensic techniques to cold cases. Through cooperation, tenacity, and the utilization of dental mold DNA analysis, investigators were able to bring closure to a decades-old mystery. This remarkable achievement underscores the importance of continually pushing the boundaries of forensic science to seek justice for victims and their families.

Takeaways:
1. Persistence and a fresh perspective can reignite cold case investigations.
2. Collaboration between law enforcement agencies and forensic experts is essential.
3. Dental mold DNA can be a powerful tool in forensic investigations.

Resources:
1.) M-Vac, Dental Mold and Genealogy Help Restore Ada Fritz’s Name After 47 Years

Connect:

Danny Hellwig
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-hellwig-a051472b
Website: https://www.intermountainforensics.com

Olivia McCarter
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/olivia-mccarter-7a5629162
Website: https://www.moxxyforensics.com

JT Thornton
Website: https://www.mobileso.com

Jared Bradley
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaredvbradley

https://www.m-vac.com/

All Things Crime is a new, comprehensive video series that will explore every aspect of crime and the ensuing investigation, one video interview at a time. The host, Jared Bradley, is the President of M-Vac Systems, which is a wet-vacuum based forensic DNA collection system, and has experience traveling the world training all levels of law enforcement and crime lab DNA analysts in using the M-Vac to help solve crime. Along the way he has met people from all walks of life and experience in investigating crimes, so is putting that knowledge to use in another way by sharing it in these videos.

If you are interested in more videos about the M-Vac, DNA, and investigations, also check out the M-Vac's channel https://www.youtube.com/@UC4TgqlFFXuAoTPD-QkDKyog

🛑 🚔 THIS VIDEO IS PROTECTED UNDER COPYRIGHT LAWS, AND VIOLATORS WILL BE PROSECUTED! DO NOT REMOVE TIR WATERMARKS, AND PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU CREDIT AND LINK THE SOURCE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR UNDERSTANDING!

#coldcase #AllThingsCrime #dna