All foreign hair samples, even those without a root bulb, can now be entered into Combined DNA Index System (CODIS).
Before now, hair samples had to have a root bulb in order to give a DNA pattern that was searchable through the database.
This advancement is not without the talents of Dr. Ed Green, a paleo-geneticist from the University of California.
"Buckskin Girl" was one of the first in the country identified with this technology, named in April 2018 as Marcia King of Little Rock, Arkansas.
Her remains were found along Greenlee Road west of Troy on April 28 of 1981.
Miami County sheriff's detectives have been able to pin down King's whereabouts, relationships and other vital information in the weeks leading up to her discovery after identifying her.
DNA data can now also be used to search offender databases used strictly for law enforcement purposes.
About the Author