As I know all too well from my own family’s experience, when someone goes missing – whether it’s a child or adult – the not knowing is the hardest part for their loved ones. I’m very passionate about pursuing AMW’s mission of being a voice for victims and helping them find justice. But sometimes, getting some answers for a heartbroken family is the best you can hope for. That’s one reason why a story we broadcast this month really upsets me. It’s about a family that should have had some answers years ago – and would have, if only we were able to get our act together as a nation and build a unified national DNA database system.
The story is about Martha and Robert Harris, and their daughter, Lindsay. I’ve known the Harrises for years, and when Lindsay vanished in Las Vegas in 2005, when she was 21, I didn’t hesitate to offer them AMW’s help. Tragically, Lindsay’s remains were identified in Illinois, just last month. You can read the details of the case here.
Our hearts and prayers go out to the Harrises. We are all so sorry for their loss. I know these fine parents, and I know first hand the hell that they’re going through. It’s heartbreaking enough that this young woman was brutally murdered, and we’re going to do all we can to help find her killer. But to make things even worse, Lindsay’s remains were actually discovered in May, 2005 – three weeks after she went missing. But her parents were left to wonder about her for three years. That’s because no one was able to make the connection between the DNA information about the unidentified victim discovered in Illinois and DNA information related to the missing person case in Nevada. An up-to-date national DNA data base, something I’ve been strongly advocating for a long time, would have saved the Harrises’ three awful years of not knowing.
Tragically, they’re far from alone. The Bureau of Justice Statistics estimates that there are some 40,000 cases in the United States in which police have recovered human remains, but can’t identify them. Imagine it! Forty thousand families, aching for answers. Even if DNA samples from those cases has been submitted to the national DNA data bank, known as CODIS, those families don’t have much reason for hope. The Justice Department says that the FBI, which oversees CODIS, has a backlog of some 200,000 DNA samples waiting to be entered. And that backlog is growing every day. This country can put a robot on Mars, yet loved ones of missing persons have to wait years to get answers, or get remains back. It’s just wrong.
Of course, a national DNA data bank that’s up-to-date wouldn’t just help resolve missing persons cases. It would help solve hundreds of crimes. What’s more, it would help absolve many accused and even convicted people of crimes they didn’t commit. There’s absolutely no question of that. That’s why I think it’s so important that DNA samples be taken from everyone accused of a serious crime, not just those convicted.
So, how do we get a national DNA data bank that’s up-to-date? One thing that’s been a big help in taking us toward that goal is The President’s DNA Initiative. Among many other things, it provides funding for testing the DNA of unidentified human remains, along with samples from family members of missing people. The bad news is that the funding for the initiative itself is about to run out. Congress is currently considering legislation that would keep the money flowing to this very important project, along with bills that will provide more money to help clear DNA sample backlogs. I urge you to let your representatives in DC know how important is to us that these bills pass.
Stay Safe.
John Walsh
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