Naming the Unknown: Forensic Genetic Genealogist Christine Burke on DNA & Identity

Christine Burke, FGG, MAOM, INCI
Genetic Genealogy for Law Enforcement

What does a forensic genetic genealogist actually do, and how do you become one?

Christine Burke uses consumer DNA tests and family trees to name unidentified remains, solve cold cases, and help police find suspects. Her path into one of the newest careers in forensic science ran through law enforcement: she started as an unpaid reserve officer, went undercover as a high school student in a narcotics investigation, became a police detective, and was the first female sergeant in her department. When she was ordered to push the women out of the department, she refused, and eventually left.

Then, in 2017, a DNA test revealed that Christine is an NPE, or “not parent expected.” When the experts she paid told her to wait for a better match, she taught herself the work and identified her biological family. Today she trains law enforcement agencies in forensic genetic genealogy, works cases, and testifies as an expert witness for both prosecution and defense. She explains how DNA works like a neighborhood canvas, why she believes this work belongs inside police departments rather than for-profit labs, and what it takes to break into the field.

In this episode:

✦ What a forensic genetic genealogist does, and how DNA works like a neighborhood canvas
✦ Going undercover in a high school, and getting invited to prom
✦ Women in law enforcement: being the first female sergeant, and refusing an order to push women out
✦ Discovering whe was an NPE (“not parent expected”) through a DNA test
✦ Why forensic genetic genealogy is being outsourced to for-profit labs, and why she thinks that’s a problem
✦ The 15,000+ unidentified remains cases in NAmUs, and why incomplete records make matches harder
✦ How to become a forensic genetic genealogist: skills, education, and career paths

MBTI vibe: INTJ / INTP / ISTJ / INFJ / ENTJ
Intellectual curiosity • Pattern recognition • Conscientiousness • Comfort with ambiguity • Independent focus paired with collaboration

Listen to the full episode

Need to Know Facts*

About Christine Burke
Christine Burke is a retired police detective and patrol sergeant, investigator, instructor, expert witness, and forensic genetic genealogist with more than 25 years of investigative experience. During her law enforcement career, she worked complex investigations and later taught police officers and university students in areas involving investigations, policy, procedure, and police culture.

Since 2008, Christine has worked as a private investigator, primarily on criminal defense matters, and today serves as an expert in police policy, procedure and culture and forensic genetic genealogy. Her work focuses on examining how investigations are actually conducted, identifying gaps between policy and practice, and evaluating emerging investigative technologies and their implications for privacy and constitutional rights.

Christine is also the author of 12 books and the creator and host of Help Solve The Case, where she breaks down court filings, search warrants, investigative procedures, forensic evidence, and developing technologies for a public audience.

Much of her current work sits at the intersection of traditional investigation and rapidly changing technology — including forensic genetic genealogy, artificial intelligence, digital evidence, automated license plate readers, and other tools that are transforming both policing and criminal defense.

After a career that has taken her from patrol and investigations to teaching, expert work, writing, and digital media, Christine brings an unusual perspective to what happens when a profession changes around you — and how sometimes the most interesting part of a career begins after you thought you knew what your career was going to be.