Since 1989, over 3,600 individuals in the U.S. have been exonerated after being wrongfully convicted of crimes. Post-conviction DNA testing has played a crucial role in many of these cases, including that of the Milwaukee brothers Robert and David Bintz. The Bintz brothers were recently exonerated with the help of investigative genetic genealogy (IGG), a powerful technique that uses genealogical and genetic data to reverse engineer family trees and identify perpetrators of crimes.
In the case of Sandra Lison’s murder in 1987, false confessions and unreliable witness testimonies led to the wrongful conviction of the Bintz brothers. Despite the lack of physical evidence linking them to the crime scene, both brothers were sentenced to life in prison. It wasn’t until the Great North Innocence Project (GNIP) took on Robert Bintz’s case that the true perpetrator, William Hendricks, was identified using IGG.
Working with forensic technology firm Bode Technology, GNIP was able to develop a genetic profile from the crime scene evidence and upload it to consumer genetic genealogy databases. By reverse engineering the family tree of the individual who left DNA at the crime scene, investigators were able to pinpoint Hendricks as the perpetrator. Subsequent testing confirmed that Hendricks was responsible for Lison’s murder, leading to the exoneration of the Bintz brothers.
While IGG has proven to be a valuable tool in solving cold cases and exonerating the innocent, there are still concerns about its use. However, these concerns have largely been addressed through the development of policies, procedures, and accreditation standards for IGG practitioners. By embracing this technique, more wrongful conviction cases could potentially be resolved, bringing justice to those who have been wrongly imprisoned.
The exoneration of the Bintz brothers highlights the need for legislative reform in Wisconsin’s criminal legal system, particularly in terms of compensation for the wrongfully convicted. Unlike guilty prisoners who are released after serving their time, exonerees often do not have access to reentry services and may receive limited compensation. Advocates are calling for the Wisconsin legislature to align compensation statutes with recommendations from organizations like the Innocence Project to ensure that those who have been wrongfully imprisoned receive adequate support upon their release.
