Prompt Cast
Unintended Consequences of DNA Tests: The Case of Joseph Newton Chandler III
TLDR Joseph Newton Chandler III lived under a stolen identity for over 20 years, but through a new method of DNA analysis and the GEDMATCH database, genealogists were able to uncover his true identity as Robert Ivan Nichols, potentially linking him to the Zodiac killer and aiding in the investigation of other violent crimes.
Timestamped Summary
00:00
A man is found dead in Ohio, having lived under a stolen identity for decades, and his case highlights the unintended consequences of DNA tests.
04:24
Joseph Newton Chandler III lived under a stolen identity for over 20 years, had no DNA or fingerprints available, and had a strange and suspicious life, including having a suitcase packed and ready to go at all times and telling people he was being pursued.
09:23
Pete and his team found DNA evidence from the medical records of the man they were investigating, and they were able to use a new method of DNA analysis to find a network of related people that eventually led them to the mystery guy.
13:49
Using a new method of DNA analysis and the GEDMATCH database, Margaret and her team were able to create a network of related people and build a family tree that eventually led them to a potential mother and father for the mystery dead guy, with the discovery of a fourth son who had no death date.
18:15
The armchair genealogists discovered that the mystery dead guy, Joseph Newton Chandler, was actually Robert Ivan Nichols, who had been living under a stolen identity for decades.
23:04
The team of genealogists discovered that the mystery dead guy, Joseph Newton Chandler, was actually Robert Ivan Nichols, and they found photos, addresses, and a marriage notice about him, but they still needed to find out why he lived under a stolen identity and why he always had a suitcase packed and ready to go.
27:19
Robert Ivan Nichols, Phil's dad, was a quiet and reserved man, possibly due to the traumatic experiences he had during World War II, which led to the breakdown of his marriage and his eventual disappearance from his family's life.
31:50
Robert Ivan Nichols, a military vet who stole the identity of a dead boy and moved around the country, may have been the notorious Zodiac killer, as there are similarities between him and the police sketch of the killer, and his correspondence puts him in California at the time of the murders.
36:48
DNA from crime scenes has been uploaded onto a public genealogy site, Jetmatch, and has already helped find new suspects in at least 20 violent crimes.
