OLYMPIA, Wash. - The Washington State Legislature approved a budget request for $500,000 to fund genetic genealogy and DNA testing for unidentified remains in Washington.

Washington currently has 163 unidentified with the new funding the state will help these bodies to be identified more quickly. 

“Timely DNA testing can bring a measure of closure and help solve more cold cases,” Washington Attorney General Ferguson said. “Families should never have to endure unnecessary delays when seeking answers about their missing loved ones. I am thankful to our partners in the Legislature — Rep. Lekanoff, Rep. Stearns and Sen. Kauffman and many others — who continue to fight to ensure the missing and murdered Indigenous people crisis gets the attention and resources it deserves.

The 2024 budget provides new resources to the Washington State Patrol, which will provide financial assistance to local jurisdictions for testing of all unidentified remains.

Funds will be available for initial DNA testing. If DNA testing fails to provide an identification, funding will pay for forensic genetic genealogy.

Forensic genetic genealogy helps law enforcement solve cold cases by combining DNA testing with genealogical research, using publicly available ancestry data.