FBI and Police Use New DNA Technology to Catch Serial Child Predator

CLEVELAND, OH – The FBI, Cleveland Police and the Elyria Police departments have been working on finding the person responsible for the abduction of 6 year-old Nevaeh Wylie since May. Today, a press conference was held at Cleveland FBI headquarters to announce the arrest of a person they believe is responsible for the Wylie abduction and other related crimes.

Using a new technology called "familial DNA search," authorities were able to identify, track down and arrest a man believed to be a serial predator of children in Northeast Ohio.

On Friday, Justin Christian, 29, was arrested in Lorain on charges of kidnapping and rape in connection with the abduction and sexual assault of a 6-year-old Cleveland girl in May. Law enforcement officials say Christian is also connected to an attempted abduction of a 10-year-old Elyria girl in February.

Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine described familial DNA search as a tool used to identify someone with a genetic near-match to the person who actually committed a crime, whether that’s a brother, father or son.

"When I learned that a predator was breaking into homes to snatch children from their beds, I wanted to immediately launch this new testing in Ohio, which we had been studying and validating for some time," said Attorney General DeWine. "This is a first for BCI and a first for Ohio.”

DeWine authorized BCI to start researching familial DNA searches in 2012. Software was purchased and validated. Then BCI developed a 12-page protocol, which outlines the cases that can be considered for familial DNA searches. The very time-consuming process will be limited to the most serious unsolved crimes or serial cases with a public safety component and cases in which all other leads have been exhausted.

“We had a child rapist who would break into homes to steal children. When all leads were exhausted, I called Mike DeWine,” said Cuyahoga County Prosecuting Attorney Timothy J. McGinty. “Familial DNA will only be used in the most serious crimes. Without it, this case would not be solved.”

If BCI can identify a potential familial DNA match, then BCI criminal analysts help authorities identify the person who might have committed the crime. That information is then shared with detectives on the case, who will do additional work before determining if they can make an arrest.

Familial DNA searches are done in 10 other states: California, Colorado, Texas, Virginia, Arkansas, Florida, Michigan, Utah, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

The FBI believes this is the man responsible for 6 year-old Nevaeh Wylie's abduction:

“Detectives and agents have worked this case tirelessly for the last seven months and we are pleased to announce an arrest in this case,” said Cleveland Division of Police Calvin D. Williams. “With this suspect behind bars, our children are safer. This case could not have been solved without the partnered effort of all of these agencies.”

"Our two young victims, their families and the community can rest easier knowing this child predator is now behind bars,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Stephen D. Anthony. “There is no higher priority than protecting our children and thanks to the hard work, persistence and collaboration by numerous law enforcement professionals, Justin Christian has been brought to justice and will be held accountable for these terrible crimes."

See the entire press conference at Cleveland FBI Headquarters in the video below:

Photo by Rick Uldricks/Patch