Imagine knowing a person’s eye, hair and skin color just by studying his DNA.
Scientists may have discovered a new way for police to find rapists or killers with a new DNA test.
Fox 23’s Abbie Alford spoke to a mother who says this provides a break in the case she’s waited for 4-and-half years.
A pool of almost a thousand people has been investigated for the 2004 murder of 18-year-old Brittany Phillips.
Her mother, Maggie Zingman, travels the nation in hopes of a clue leading to her daughter’s killer.
"We are going to be hitting five years this October and that breaks my heart. We still have no more answers," says Zingman.
However, Zingman could soon find out if her gut instincts are correct.
Researchers at the University of Arizona found DNA evidence could reveal what a criminal suspect looks like.
"From this DNA sample, we can say again this is the likely hair color likely skin color and likely eye color. And so it's more of an investigative tool," says Murray Brilliant, PhD.
With a drop of blood or a strand of hair, researchers at the university can now make a pretty good prediction about hair and eye color.
With hair they can pinpoint the color with 80% accuracy.
The lead detective in Brittany’s case says it’s evidence that could put a face on her killer.
"If they could tell me the person that committed this crime say has red hair it's going to narrow my search field. I am not going to use it to eliminate anybody but it definitely will help focus my attention on where it needs to go," says Detective Jeff Felton.
