Live data from Hacker News

Seattle police use family DNA, latest science to identify killer 52 years later

geekwire.com

131–140 of 183 posts

Re: Seattle police use family DNA, latest science to identify killer 52 years later

#131
post #4

I find it disconcerting that someone's remains would be violated due to being a murder suspect. This is one of many reasons to have your remains cremated, I suppose. It also avoids wasting space in a graveyard and whatnot. I'm beginning to seriously hear people discuss that it's perfectly okay to use DNA people submit in these ways and even that it would be okay for the government to collect trash and other things th…

If you’re dead, what do you care what happens to your remains? I see no problem with exhuming a corpse to solve a murder case as long as there’s probable cause and a warrant, which there was here.

If you were innocent, wouldn't you want your body exhumed so that people didn't assume you were guilty and the victim's family could have closure?

I guess if one was guilty and dead with other living accomplices...

Re: Seattle police use family DNA, latest science to identify killer 52 years later

#132

I find it disconcerting that someone's remains would be violated due to being a murder suspect. This is one of many reasons to have your remains cremated, I suppose. It also avoids wasting space in a graveyard and whatnot. I'm beginning to seriously hear people discuss that it's perfectly okay to use DNA people submit in these ways and even that it would be okay for the government to collect trash and other things th…

In what way are they being "violated"? You make it really hard to make advances in police work because literally every form of police work is a "privacy violation", even if you are dead!

Re: Seattle police use family DNA, latest science to identify killer 52 years later

#133
post #131
post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you’re dead, what do you care what happens to your remains? I see no problem with exhuming a corpse to solve a murder case as long as there’s probable cause and a warrant, which there was here.

If you were innocent, wouldn't you want your body exhumed so that people didn't assume you were guilty and the victim's family could have closure? I guess if one was guilty and dead with other living accomplices...

If you were innocent and japanese, and the state would like to round up all japanese people in an internment camp, wouldn't you like the state to not be able to use your dna to find all your descendants and family?

Re: Seattle police use family DNA, latest science to identify killer 52 years later

#134
post #125

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah, opt-out is quite common nowadays - Spain, Portugal, Croatia, Belgium, Austria, Colombia, Chile, etc. I think in some cases the family must still be consulted.

People in persistent vegetative states or even comas are likely to become rarer in such countries, I'd suspect.

Well, it's been 25 years since the system was implemented in Portugal, and they've only increased.

Re: Seattle police use family DNA, latest science to identify killer 52 years later

#135
post #107
post #88

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Did you not read that they dug him up to do a full dna analysis to compare to seen found in the victims underwear? And that there was other evidence to link him which is what led to the permission to exhume him? The only reason that this wasn't taken further is as he was dead.

The issue remains, though, that if he were alive all this evidence would result in a trial -- at which the prosecution would have had to prove their case beyond reasonable doubt. The accused would have the opportunity to defend himself, to have legal representation, to present evidence that might call into question or contradict aspects of the prosecution's case, etc. As it stands, it seems that due process has been…

The due process here was getting a warrant. No rights were violated.

Re: Seattle police use family DNA, latest science to identify killer 52 years later

#136

Buried in there: “Do you realize, for example, that when you upload your DNA, you’re potentially becoming a genetic informant on the rest of your family?” Elizabeth Joh, a UC Davis law professor who studies the Fourth Amendment and technology, told the magazine.

I can inform on a serial killer in my family even if I didn't know they were a serial killer?

Shut up and take my DNA.

Re: Seattle police use family DNA, latest science to identify killer 52 years later

#137
post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I do agree. The "if just one person is saved" argument and "why do I care about privacy if I'm doing nothing wrong" are the worst. I try very hard to keep emotion out of arguments but those two really trigger me and make it hard to stay calm. I'm deeply concerned about the potential surveillance state that is emerging. I just read an article about a smart city attempt in Toronto that is becoming a nightmare. There ha…

Have you been to Shenzhen lately? You must swipe your ID card before buying a train pass, mandatory random police checkpoints, tens of thousands of cameras+facial recognition laser scanners. All in the name of "reducing crime". It's complete bullshit. Crime stats are pumped up and these measures are slowly introduced with little to no pushback from citizens.

> ...with little to no pushback from citizens.

Probably because they don’t want to die

Re: Seattle police use family DNA, latest science to identify killer 52 years later

#138

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> If you’re dead, what do you care what happens to your remains? Not speaking for this case in particular, but regarding the general question, maybe it's something you don't want your loved ones to have to think about/go through?

Well. I’ve told my wife to get rid of my body as cheaply as possible if I die first. I don’t care what happens to my body. I also don’t really like the idea of traditional funerals. Even though it’s too much to ask, I would much rather for people to have a cookout or something more joyous to celebrate my life than a funeral with everyone in suits.

No organ donation?

Re: Seattle police use family DNA, latest science to identify killer 52 years later

#139
post #114
post #92

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It is only about dead me. It's my body.

Once you are dead it is no longer your body. The dead have no rights. None whatsoever.

Might be a technicality thing, but with that logic as soon as you are dead all your estate is up for grabs by anyone.

If your body is your posession like your house or your car, then you have the right to do what you want with it.

Re: Seattle police use family DNA, latest science to identify killer 52 years later

#140

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well. I’ve told my wife to get rid of my body as cheaply as possible if I die first. I don’t care what happens to my body. I also don’t really like the idea of traditional funerals. Even though it’s too much to ask, I would much rather for people to have a cookout or something more joyous to celebrate my life than a funeral with everyone in suits.

No organ donation?

Sure. I signed up for organ donation.
Post reply on HN