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New Composite Sketch Of 'Person Of Interest' In April Tinsley Murder

Last updated on Monday, July 6, 2015

(FORT WAYNE) - A sophisticated computer program used by a Virginia laboratory has produced a new composite sketch of what April Tinsley’s killer might look like.

NBC33 reports, it involves a new slant on analyzing DNA evidence in the case.

It's important to emphasize that this does not amount to a mug shot that pinpoints the identity of the killer, but it could have some real value, and Fort Wayne police are certainly hopeful that publication of the sketch will generate some new tips.

The 1988 slaying of 8-year old April Tinsley might well be Fort Wayne's best known cold case homicide ever.

Now, DNA left at the crime scene has been run through a computer program at Parabon Nanolabs, where a picture was worked up of the killer's likely appearance, based on genetic markers that suggest specific physical traits.
It was featured in a national news story.

One of the drawbacks, it's hard to do an accurate age progression on any possible suspect. The technology is not precise in a couple of other ways. It can't determine a person's height, and face shape is not real exact.

But Deputy Chief Shrawder says it is of value right now in eliminating some suspects.

The other good news, you can expect the technology will get more refined over time, and if it doesn't solve the Tinsley case, it might well clear up other unsolved crimes across the country where the trail has gone cold.

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