Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney speaks on legislation that would reinstate the use of familial DNA to solve cold cases involving homicides, sex offenses, kidnapping, arson and acts of terrorism at the capitol building in Albany, New York, on May 10, 2022. A Manhattan appellate division banned use of familial DNA last week. Photo: Sen. Phil Boyle’s Office/Richard Turoski
A first-year district attorney from Long Island struck back on Tuesday against a New York appellate court decision banning the use of publicly available DNA of a suspect’s blood relative in efforts to solve cold cases of violent felonies.
As the legislative session adjourns June 2, Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney, an independent elected in 2021, joined a Republican-backed bid in the Capitol Building to reinstate familial DNA searches to solve violent crimes—specifically homicides, sex offenses, kidnapping, arson and acts of terrorism—by using genetics of a blood relative such as a sibling, child or parent.
