Groundbreaking new law could find thousands of missing people across California

A groundbreaking California law could help law enforcement crack both new and old missing persons cases by slackening the controls set up for the state’s DNA program. The new law, which was passed by California Governor Gavin Newsom in mid-July, takes aim with the state’s Missing Persons DNA Program. Before the law, the program’s DNA database could only be used to identify deceased individuals, but now the database can identify all unidentified victims, alive or dead. The goal is to lighten the load on local agencies to find the missing persons with the DNA testing services.The state program helps “coroners, medical examiners and law enforcement agencies” across the state to identify missing persons, according to Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office.  California's top news, sports and entertainment delivered to your inbox every day.Please provide a valid email.

By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.Never miss a story “No family should know the prolonged uncertainty of waiting for answers, and together we’re making it clear that California takes action,” Bonta told Fox 40.Assemblymember James Ramos (D-San Bernardino) told Fox 40 that the new law is important to help make certain law enforcement has the “the tools they need to perform effectively is critical to bringing resolution to cases involving the missing.”This new law comes as Northern California agencies looks to use the latest forensic technology to solve their cold cases. The Calaveras Cold Case Task Force, a nonprofit organization of local law enforcement officials and scientists, was formed in 2020 to use advanced DNA analysis technology to study the county’s cold cases.The new state law will also keep DNA on file for a longer period of time. This could help officers work on cases that have been ongoing for a while, like that of Rebecca Arellanosa, who has been missing since 2001 and was last...