Y-STR technique solves cold cases, including 2013 murder

A new DNA-testing technique could help solve many unsolved crimes, particularly rape and murder cases. This method, called Y-STR, focuses on the characteristics of the Y-chromosome. This chromosome is found only in men, making it useful for cases where male DNA is involved. The technique helped authorities catch a killer 12 years after the murder of Una Crown, an 86-year-old woman in Cambridgeshire. Crown was found dead in her home in January 2013. David Newton was released after being arrested that same year, but was charged in April 2024 due to new evidence from Y-STR testing. This testing matched Newton’s DNA to material taken from Crown's fingernails. In February 2025, he was found guilty and sentenced to life in prison, with a minimum of 21 years before he can be considered for release. Y-STR can identify male DNA even when it is mixed with female DNA, unlike the common DNA-7 method. Dr. Debbie Sharp from the Forensic Capability Network (FCN) believes Y-STR could solve many more cases of violence against women and girls. Currently, to find out who a Y-STR profile belongs to, police have to test known suspects or conduct large screening programs. Dr. Sharp is leading a project called "Swab Out Crime" to increase the database of Y-STR profiles. So far, 4,000 samples have been collected but the project needs at least 6,000 more. Participants do not have to provide personal details, only information about their ethnicity and place of birth. The goal is to create a searchable database that could link crime scene DNA with potential suspects.