Three-year-old unresolved rape case in Aalborg may get new life

Genetic genealogy is to help North Jutland Police find perpetrators in unresolved rape cases.

North Jutland Police will investigate whether new DNA technology can help solve old rape cases. (Photo: © Mads Claus Rasmussen/Ritzau Scanpix) 38 min. ago

Who was behind the rape cases in Østerådalen in Aalborg in October 2023?

That question remains unanswered.

At the time, the police shared images of a suspected perpetrator who was never found.

Read also: Rape case from Aalborg: Perpetrator may be wanted across Europe ( https://www.dr.dk/nyheder/seneste/voldtaegtssag-fra-aalborg-gerningsmand-kan-blive-efterlyst-i-hele-europa )

But now the case may become one of those that North Jutland Police will re-examine when 15 years of unresolved rape cases are to be reviewed using a new DNA method.

The police will investigate whether genetic genealogy can be used in some of the cases, says Mikkel Lousdal, acting deputy police inspector.

- It is one of the cases that we will screen to see if there is a basis for using this technology. It is one of the cases from the last 15 years where we are missing a perpetrator.

The method of genetic genealogy involves taking DNA traces from an unknown perpetrator and matching them with other people's DNA in the police's central register.

Read also: No overall plan for use of new DNA tool that can solve old rape cases ( https://www.dr.dk/nyheder/indland/ingen-samlet-plan-brug-af-nyt-dna-vaerktoej-der-kan-opklare-gamle-voldtaegtssager )

If any of the unknown perpetrator's close relatives are in the police register, the police may be able to identify the perpetrator.

- If we have cases as serious as rape, and we still lack a perpetrator, it almost goes without saying that we should look at new investigative possibilities and technologies, he says.

The method has been used, among other things, to solve the case of the 34-year-old murder of Hanne With in Copenhagen.

54-year-old convicted of killing Hanne With on New Year's Eve 1990 ( https://www.dr.dk/nyheder/indland/54-aarig-doemt-draebe-hanne-nytaarsnat-1990 )

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