1987 Homicide of Joyce Casper Solved Using Forensic Genetic Genealogy
*FOUNTAIN VALLEY, CA / ACCESSWIRE / July 9, 2023 / *Identifinders International LLC in conjunction with the Boise Police Department, is pleased to announce the identification of Frank A. Rodriguez as the assailant in the 1987 murder of prominent businesswoman and much-loved Boise resident Joyce Casper. On October 13, 1987, Casper was found murdered in her car outside of her Vista Hallmark Shop near Vista Village Shopping Center.
At the time, detectives looked into a report that Joyce made two to three weeks before the murder, involving a male assailant who had attempted to assault her at her business. She described to officers that the suspect was likely between the ages of 17 and 25 with slicked-back black hair. A suspect could not be identified at the time.
After reopening the case in 2017, Boise Police detectives found evidence had been preserved that was not useful in 1987. Boise Police brought in a company that used advanced DNA technology to create a profile of the suspect. Based on that analysis Boise Police investigators worked through hundreds of leads and potential suspects.
"Although no suspect was generated from this search, detectives from BPD's Violent Crimes Unit and Special Victims Unit continued to work diligently to solve this case and bring the Casper family answers," said Boise Police Captain Matt Jones. "We appreciate the work of our many partners throughout this case, including Identifinders International, who helped us narrow down the suspect list to a single family tree."
In 2020, Identifinders International was called in to apply forensic genetic genealogy to the case. Based on leads supplied by Identifinders, Boise Police detectives, and detectives from all over the country conducted interviews which led to the right branch of the suspect's family. With the assistance of Identifinders, the Boise Police Department approached the suspect's immediate family, with a request for DNA samples to confirm Frank A. Rodriguez as the suspect.
"We realized immediately that the case would be challenging because Hispanics are not well represented in the genetic genealogy databases," stated Dr. Colleen Fitzpatrick, President of Identifinders International. "But our persistence paid off. Lisa Lewis did a great job helping Boise Police identify Mr. Rodriguez."
Rodriguez was born in Hartford CT, and moved as a teenager with his family to Boise in the mid-1980s. His profile was not found in any law enforcement database. Without forensic genetic genealogy the case would likely have never been solved.
Identifinders would like to express their appreciation to the Boise Police Department for trusting us with this case and helping to bring closure to the Casper Family.
*About Identifinders International*
Identifinders International is a fee-based forensic service that works with law enforcement agencies, coroners, and medical examiners to apply genetic genealogy, Y-DNA and autosomal SNP analysis to solve cold case homicides, sexual assaults, and unidentified remains. For more information, please visit www.identifinders.com.
*Contact:*
Misty Gillis
media@identifinders.com
*SOURCE:* Identifinders International LLC
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