Published 05.50
The double murder in Brattås was a mystery for over 20 years. With DNA genealogy, a suspect was found in a few months.
The requirements to allow the method are high, but the genealogists at NFC also hope that it will be used to identify unknown deceased.
– There are relatives there too, and graves without names, says Siri Aili Fagerholm, operations expert.
On April 8 this year, the Public Prosecutor’s Office announced that a man had been arrested on suspicion of the double murder of Tor Öberg and Gerd Wiklund, who were found dead on a farm in Brattås outside Härnösand in June 2005.
The man could be identified with the help of DNA genealogy on a trail that a suspected perpetrator had left at the crime scene.
– We were satisfied. It is nice to see that the process we have set up is working, and that we have arrived at a person who has in any case laid down the trail, says Siri Aili Fagerholm, operations expert at the National Forensic Center (NFC) who is responsible for the method within the police.
The man who is now in custody denies the crime and, according to his defender, has given an explanation as to why his DNA was found at the crime scene.
First after the new law
The case is the first to lead to an arrest using the method since it was allowed in the summer of 2025. It has previously been used in a pilot project to solve the double murder in Linköping in 2004, but the Privacy Protection Agency later concluded that the law needed to be changed in order for the method to be used.
The genealogists at NFC work with several cases in parallel. But the requirements for the method to be used are high and there must be good DNA traces.
The police regions may nominate cases to try dna genealogy on. In the end, it is up to the prosecutor to make a decision, but the NFC makes judgments about cases that come in based on its criteria, above all the quality and quantity of the DNA trace.
When a case is rejected, it is of course a disappointment for the investigators, says Siri Aili Fagerholm.
– But it may be that in 10-15 years we give a different assessment, because technology develops very quickly.
The method may only be used in investigations into murder or serious rape, and a number of rape cases have been denied because they are not classified as serious, she says.
Identify the deceased
DNA genealogy is also not currently used to identify deceased persons, which has been done in the USA with great success. There, however, the Police Authority is looking at the possibilities of doing so, says Siri Aili Fagerholm.
– The method is at least as suitable for identification cases, and I see it as natural that we would use it for that.
There are often underlying crimes in these cases as well, she says.
– If you do not find who the victim is, it is obviously much more difficult to find the perpetrator.
The police’s method of genealogical research
A case that becomes relevant for genealogical research goes through four steps.
1. Dna analysis: An extended analysis of the biological trace is done and the answer is formatted to be compared with genealogy databases.
2. Comparison in genealogy databases: Data is transferred and the Privacy Protection Authority is informed. The handling takes place separately, so that no one else can search for the current DNA trace.
3. Hit list and selection. The police receive an answer in the form of a hit list, and based on it, genealogical research is carried out to see who left the DNA trail.
4. Match against person. If a person can be singled out as a reasonable suspect, they can be forced to take a swab, which can then be compared against the DNA trace. Topping can also take place voluntarily and give a hit.
Source: The police.
