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## The Forensic Genealogy Revolution Continues
The identification of Robert Ivan Nichols as the man behind the Chandler identity was one of the early landmarks in a forensic genealogy revolution that has continued to expand in the years since 2018. The April 2018 identification of a suspect in the Golden State Killer case — announced within weeks of the Chandler case and using similar techniques — brought the methodology to international attention. In the years since, forensic genealogy has been applied to hundreds of cold cases, producing identifications of both unidentified victims and previously unidentified perpetrators.
The DNA Doe Project has continued operating and has identified numerous John and Jane Does since the Chandler case. The techniques refined in that case — particularly the methods for extracting usable genetic data from degraded samples — have been applied to subsequent cases, some of which involved samples in even poorer condition than the Chandler tissue.
The legal and regulatory landscape for forensic genealogy has continued to evolve. Several states have enacted legislation governing how law enforcement may use forensic genealogy, requiring various procedural safeguards including warrants, documented investigation steps, and notification requirements. Federal law enforcement agencies have developed internal policies governing their use of the technique. The field has moved from an informal, largely volunteer-driven practice to a more formalized discipline with documented standards and procedures.
The Chandler case occupies a notable place in this history: as the first documented use of forensic genealogy by the U.S. Marshals Service, and as an early demonstration that the technique could succeed with severely degraded biological material. The case’s resolution was a proof of concept that helped establish what was possible and informed the adaptation of these methods to subsequent cases.