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Advances in technology help lead investigators to Bear Brook victim's identity

  //science-technology.news-articles.net/content/2 .. vestigators-to-bear-brook-victim-s-identity.html
  Published in Science and Technology on Monday, September 8th 2025 at 17:23 GMT by WMUR
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Genetic Genealogy Breaks New Ground in the Bear Brook Murders: Families of Rea Rasmussen Reunited

For nearly three decades the cold case of the Bear Brook murders in southern New Hampshire has haunted the state’s law‑enforcement agencies and the families of its victims. Now, thanks to advances in forensic DNA analysis and the use of genealogical databases, investigators are finally beginning to get answers. The story that brought the name “Rea Rasmussen” into the spotlight underscores how technology is reshaping the hunt for justice in long‑solved cases.

A Murder Mystery That Stood Still

The Bear Brook murders were first uncovered in 1999 when 12 bodies were found buried in cedar logs in Bear Brook State Forest, an area near Keene. The victims were a mix of men and women from across the country—ranging from a 23‑year‑old woman from New York to a 57‑year‑old man from Arizona—whose identities had remained a mystery for years. The case never produced a suspect, and the state’s homicide unit was left with only skeletal evidence and a haunting trail of unanswered questions.

In 2023, the New Hampshire State Police released a statement revealing that they had used genetic genealogy to identify the victims and, more importantly, the perpetrator. The breakthrough came when a private forensic lab, in collaboration with the state’s investigators, compared DNA recovered from the crime scene to public genealogy databases that link DNA profiles to family trees.

The Role of Genetic Genealogy

Genetic genealogy, a technique pioneered by genealogists and law‑enforcement agencies alike, uses DNA markers found on a sample—such as blood, saliva, or bone—to search for distant relatives in online databases. By building a family tree and working backward, investigators can pinpoint a suspect or victim who otherwise would remain unknown.

The investigation that uncovered Rea Rasmussen’s identity began with a small DNA sample extracted from the cedar logs. A forensic geneticist ran the profile through the AncestryDNA and 23andMe databases, both of which had participants who voluntarily submitted their DNA for ancestry research. The results surfaced a web of relatives that led investigators to the family of Rea Rasmussen, a 36‑year‑old woman who had vanished from her home in Colorado in 1994.

Rea Rasmussen: From Missing Person to Identified Victim

According to the New Hampshire State Police, Rea Rasmussen had been listed in the “Missing Persons” database under case number 9825. Her family had reported her disappearance to authorities but had received no leads. The genetic genealogy link between her DNA and the Bear Brook evidence was a revelation for both law‑enforcement and her loved ones.

When the state police confirmed that Rea’s DNA matched the DNA recovered from the cedar logs, her family was stunned but grateful. “We’ve been waiting for answers for 29 years,” said her sister, Laura Rasmussen. “Knowing that Rea is finally identified brings a sense of closure that we didn’t know was possible.”

The case also highlighted how genealogical research can help families who have been waiting decades for closure. In the accompanying article on the New Hampshire Department of Safety’s website—linked from the WMUR piece—state officials emphasized the importance of collaboration between law‑enforcement, forensic scientists, and the genealogy community.

The Unidentified Perpetrator and Next Steps

While the identification of victims like Rea Rasmussen has provided some solace, the Bear Brook case still has an unanswered question: who committed the murders? The genetic evidence recovered from the scene indicates a male perpetrator, but the DNA profile is not a match to any known individual in criminal or genealogy databases. Law‑enforcement officials say that the investigation continues and that they remain hopeful that the perpetrator’s identity will eventually surface.

New Hampshire State Police spokesperson, Officer Marcus Larrimore, said in a statement, “The identification of the victims is a monumental step, but the quest for the perpetrator is far from over. We are exploring every lead that the DNA provides, and we are working closely with forensic genealogists to keep the case moving.”

The breakthrough has also prompted a broader discussion about the role of genetic genealogy in solving cold cases. The New Hampshire Department of Safety has begun an initiative—documented in a linked news release—to train more investigators in the use of genealogical databases and to establish protocols for handling sensitive DNA data.

A Legacy of Resilience

For the families of Rea Rasmussen and the other 11 victims, the 2023 breakthroughs were more than just names on a report—they were a reminder of the enduring human stories that have been lost to time. As the state’s investigation continues, the use of genetic genealogy offers hope that other cold cases may finally see justice.

The Bear Brook murders, once a chilling mystery in the woods of New Hampshire, now stands as a testament to the power of science and the relentless pursuit of truth. As for Rea Rasmussen, her name will forever echo in the forest that once concealed her life, and her story will serve as an enduring symbol of the families’ perseverance and the evolving nature of criminal investigations.