State police are calling on families with missing loved ones to participate in a DNA collection Saturday to help identify human remains found in the state.
The DNA search for missing people is aimed at families whose relatives are missing. It will take place on Saturday, September 16, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the University of New Haven.
State police said the DNA search is intended for families closely related to the missing person, including parents, siblings and children. The closer the relationship to the missing person, the better the chances of identification, it said.
The University of New Haven, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, the Connecticut State Police and the Department of Emergency Services & Public Protection Division of Scientific Services are hosting the drive to help families with missing loved ones who have not yet submitted a DNA sample. can help in the operation A missing person and an unidentified Combined DNA Index System – or CODIS – database can do this.
State Police said if unidentified human remains are found, a sample is sent to the Division of Scientific Services for testing and then entered into CODIS. If a sample from a family member has already been entered into CODIS, a connection can be made to the unknown remains.
State Police said the DNA will only be used to identify the unidentified human remains and missing persons samples that are in the DNA database or will be entered in the future.
DNA samples collected during the trip are submitted to the Division of Scientific Services for testing and then entered into CODIS. The missing persons case is also entered into the national missing and unidentified persons system.
State Police said free family tree DNA ancestry kits will also be available for family members who want to pick one up. The services are free of charge.
The ride will take place at the University of New Haven’s main entrance at 300 Boston Post Road in West Haven.
State Police also encourage anyone who has a missing family member to file a report with the local police department in the city where the person went missing. If a report has already been made but no DNA sample has been taken from the family, ask the family to attend the DNA drive on September 16th so they can enter the sample into the database and hopefully match it to a loved one.
If a family has not reported their missing loved one to the police, members of the Connecticut State Police are available to take the report.
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