Jay Cook/Tanya Van Cuylenborg case on Forensic Files

[Kane]

Last night, the recently-revived Forensic Files aired a new episode called "Family Tree," documenting the 1987 murders of Jay Cook and his girlfriend Tanya Van Cuylenborg. Genetic genealogy on a public web site resulted in the identification, arrest, and conviction of William Earl Talbot, who is now serving two life sentences in a Washington state prison.

As you'll recall, UM featured the double homicide in 1989. Jay and Tanya were on a trip from Canada to Washington state, where they were found murdered. Their loved ones received taunting letters over the next year. For years, it was believed that the letters were written by the killer, but they eventually turned out to be a red herring: The actual author was a transient with mental health issues. No evidence linked the transient to the murders, and he was ruled out.

[Tighthead]

Talbot has filed an appeal (which is to be expected). I wonder if there will be any challenge as to the admissibility of the genetic genealogy? I think this was the first case using the new methodology to go to trial,and therefore the first conviction as well.

[XCalibur]

Originally Posted by Tighthead

Talbot has filed an appeal (which is to be expected). I wonder if there will be any challenge as to the admissibility of the genetic genealogy? I think this was the first case using the new methodology to go to trial,and therefore the first conviction as well.

Eh..... Just desperation milking of the system. He's toast. Dude was violent towards his own immediate family, he even sexually molested his eleven year old sister. He's a piece of **** and needs to be put away.

In fact given that he was a trucker, I think they should test his DNA against other murders. He may well be responsible for some of those unsolved trucker murders. I'd be surprised if Talbott was just a one timer.

[Tighthead]

Originally Posted by XCalibur

Eh..... Just desperation milking of the system. He's toast. Dude was violent towards his own immediate family, he even sexually molested his eleven year old sister. He's a piece of **** and needs to be put away.

In fact given that he was a trucker, I think they should test his DNA against other murders. He may well be responsible for some of those unsolved trucker murders. I'd be surprised if Talbott was just a one timer.

I don’t disagree with your first paragraph, but it has zero relation to the admissibility of the evidence.

I would be surprised if they haven’t already tested his DNA against unsolved cases. What leads you to conclude they haven’t?

[omegadoom]

Originally Posted by Kane

Last night, the recently-revived Forensic Files aired a new episode called "Family Tree," documenting the 1987 murders of Jay Cook and his girlfriend Tanya Van Cuylenborg. Genetic genealogy on a public web site resulted in the identification, arrest, and conviction of William Earl Talbot, who is now serving two life sentences in a Washington state prison.

As you'll recall, UM featured the double homicide in 1989. Jay and Tanya were on a trip from Canada to Washington state, where they were found murdered. Their loved ones received taunting letters over the next year. For years, it was believed that the letters were written by the killer, but they eventually turned out to be a red herring: The actual author was a transient with mental health issues. No evidence linked the transient to the murders, and he was ruled out.

I had a feeling this case would be one of the first to be featured on the new Forensic Files. Did they interview any of the family members of Jay or Tanya?

[XCalibur]

Originally Posted by Tighthead

I don’t disagree with your first paragraph, but it has zero relation to the admissibility of the evidence.

I would be surprised if they haven’t already tested his DNA against unsolved cases. What leads you to conclude they haven’t?

Its a needle in a haystack. There are literally hundreds of thousands of unsolved murders all across the country.

Of course CODIS makes it a lot faster, don't really know enough about the process to comment on it. I'd just be surprised if he was a one timer but he could have been.

[drew790]

The sample was already in the system before there was an ID and it didn't have any hits. It doesn't change now that we know his name.

[Tighthead]

Originally Posted by drew790

The sample was already in the system before there was an ID and it didn't have any hits. It doesn't change now that we know his name.

Of course. I had the order of operations wrong.

One thing that has surprised me with a few of the genealogical solved cases is that some people commit a murder and just go on with normal life, never to repeat it.

[sharonite]

Originally Posted by omegadoom

I had a feeling this case would be one of the first to be featured on the new Forensic Files. Did they interview any of the family members of Jay or Tanya?

They interviewed Jay’s sister and Tanya’s brother, if I remember correctly.

I’ve watched every episode of this new series and I’m loving it (though original narrator Peter Thomas is, like Robert Stack, very much missed).

[Kane]

Originally Posted by sharonite

They interviewed Jay’s sister and Tanya’s brother, if I remember correctly.

Correct. Jay's sister Laura and Tanya's brother John were both interviewed.

[GDAWG]

Originally Posted by Tighthead

Talbot has filed an appeal (which is to be expected). I wonder if there will be any challenge as to the admissibility of the genetic genealogy? I think this was the first case using the new methodology to go to trial,and therefore the first conviction as well.

One would think any and all appeals would be delayed due to the pandemic.

[Tighthead]

Originally Posted by GDAWG

One would think any and all appeals would be delayed due to the pandemic.

Likely but with no evidence involved it would be much easier to run appellate hearings safely as opposed to actual trials.