Results from a genealogy website led Orlando detectives to the arrest of a man they believe killed a University of Central Florida student 17 years ago.
Benjamin Holmes, 38, was arrested Friday on charges of first-degree-murder in the death of Christine Franke in 2001.
“I honestly thought he was dead after 17 years and that we would never find out, so this is such a blessing,” Christine’s mother Tina Franke said during a press conference.
Christine was found in her apartment with a gunshot wound to her head following an apparent robbery.
Investigators found DNA evidence left behind after the killing but were not able to make an arrest until now.
In 2016, authorities used a DNA sample from the crime scene to generate a composite image of the killer but the image did not help with any additional leads.
However, the DNA sample was sent to an open-source DNA database known as GEDmatch — and three relatives of the suspect were identified.
“Through this testing, we were able to show the kinship relationship between the killer and different family members. We eliminated most of the family using genetic genealogy and eventually we were able to narrow down the suspect list to two brothers, one of which was Benjamin Lee Holmes,” Detective Michael Fields said in a press conference.
Holmes has denied being near the crime scene but has not entered a plea, police say.
Tina Franke praised authorities for their determination to solve the case.
“We’re so overwhelmingly grateful for everything they’ve done for us,” Tina Franke said.
Genetic genealogy is a tool that helps investigators identify individuals whose DNA is found at a crime scene using comparative analysis.
Franke’s case is now one of over a dozen cases in the country to be solved using genealogy testing technology, police say.
