Astrea Forensics

Another name given back to her family.

DNA Doe Project was honored to work with the Maury County Sheriff's Office to identify Annie Carolyn Jenkins, missing since she boarded a plane from Chicago to Tennessee in 1974.

https://dnadoeproject.org/case/maury-county-jane-doe-1975/

Teamwork! With a little help from whole genome enrichment, whole genome sequencing and SNP imputation.

‘Midtown Jane Doe' cold case breakthrough comes after 50-year DNA match to 9/11 victim A cold case murder mystery out of midtown Manhattan is now closer to being solved. The victim, who had been classified as a Jane Doe after she was killed five decades ago has been identified through one of her relatives, who died on 9/11. On West 46th Street between 8th and 9th avenues in Hell’s K...

Teamwork. 💪

The DNA Doe Project was honored to work with the Ross County Office of the Coroner in Ohio to identify Ward Raymond Thomas, formerly known as Scioto River John Doe. Read more here:
https://dnadoeproject.org/case/scioto-river-john-doe-1996/

From 3.5 cm of rootless hair evidence on Nellie Hicks’s body, our lab produced a SNP profile for investigators who linked it to a second murder, and an identification of the perpetrator.

1972 SEXUAL ASSAULT AND MURDER OF NELLIE HICKS SOLVED WITH GENEALOGICAL DNA: SUSPECT IDENTIFIED AS SERIAL SEXUAL/HOMICIDE OFFENDER

Newark, California (Thursday, February 8, 2024)
After nearly 52 years of persistent investigative work, the Newark Police Department has announced that Fred Bernard Farnham is believed to be responsible for the r**e and murder of then 59-year-old victim, Nellie Hicks.

On May 10, 1972, Mrs. Hicks was found by her son deceased inside their home. Evidence suggested the suspect entered the Newark residence through a rear door. It was later determined by investigators that Mrs. Hicks was a victim of sexual assault and died as a result of blunt force trauma.

The evidence collected during the initial autopsy was later determined to contain DNA from Farnham. This was a time when DNA technology did not yet exist. Through the decades, detectives continued to investigate, using new investigative technologies as they were developed.

Hayward Police Department has also announced the identification of Farnham as the suspect in a sexual assault/murder that occurred in 1979 in their jurisdiction. Following the murder of Hayward resident, Theresa Pica, it was immediately believed the two incidents were connected based on their similarities. Ongoing collaboration from both agencies took place as each case was continuously investigated before being linked through DNA evidence.

The investigation experienced a breakthrough in December of 2023 when detectives received assistance and resources from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Genealogical DNA technology was utilized and identified Farnham as the man believed to be responsible for the r**e and murder of Mrs. Hicks.

In 2007, Farnham died at a hospital in Oregon at the age of 73. Available records indicate that Farnham was a resident in Santa Clara County and there is no information to believe he was ever a resident of Newark.

Farnham’s criminal records revealed he had several prior r**e convictions and served time in prison. If still alive, Farnham would be considered a serial sexual/homicide offender, as he was found to be responsible for a number of sexual assault incidents in the greater Bay Area through the years.


Based on the fact Farnham is believed to be responsible for two r**e and murder incidents and his extensive criminal history, we have reason to believe there could be more incidents in other cities with unsolved cases. We have requested any law enforcement agencies who believe they have similar cases to contact Hayward Police Detective Robert Purnell at 510-293-7176.

The Newark Police Department would like to thank the FBI, Hayward Police Department, and Astrea Forensics in Santa Cruz for their partnership and assistance with this investigation.

We also want to commend the numerous men and women at the Newark Police Department who have spent countless hours, working tirelessly, to bring justice for the family of Mrs. Nellie Hicks.

The Newark PD Case number is # 72-02055