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Through genetic genealogy, an unknown killer's DNA left at a crime scene can be identified through his or her family members, who voluntarily submit their DNA to a genealogy database. This allows police to create a much larger family tree than using law enforcement databases like CODIS.

Genetic genealogy first came to light as an investigative tool in April 2018 when the suspected \"Golden State Killer\" was arrested through the technique. Since then, over 100 suspects have been identified through the technology, according to Parabon NanoLabs Chief Genetic Genealogist CeCe Moore, who worked on the Sanders case.

After working through the family tree of Sanders' unknown killer in April 2019, analysts were able to zero-in on two persons of interest, authorities said.

Detectives went to Louisiana in 2019 where they collected a discarded item from one of those persons of interest, police said. They tested the DNA from that item, but didn't get a match, so they eliminated the man as a suspect, police said.

That left police with the second person of interest -- who was dead and had been cremated, they said.

Authorities contacted one of his sons and collected his DNA, which determined that Sanders' suspected killer was Robert Dale Edwards, the Vallejo police announced Thursday.

\"PHOTO:
Vallejo Police Department
PHOTO: Robert Dale Edwards is pictured in an undated image released by the Vallejo Police Department with a statement that they used DNA to established him as the suspect in the 1973 murder of Naomi Sanders in Vallejo, Calif.
>

Edwards was a 22-year-old living in Vallejo at the time of the crime, police said. Detectives learned that Edwards' father was a co-worker of Sanders, police said.

He had a criminal history, including attempted murder, assault and domestic violence, police said.

Edwards died in 1993 of a drug overdose, police said.

Sanders' family released a statement through the police department, saying so many relatives over the last 46 years \"have also passed, and, unfortunately, they cannot be afforded the truth as to what happened.\"

\"Those of us who do remember the stories of Naomi's life and untimely death can now feel closure thanks to the determination and teamwork of the Vallejo Police Department and partnering law enforcement agencies,\" the family said.

\"May Naomi now rest in peace,\" her family said.

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