LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – Project Justice, a Las Vegas-based nonprofit, is on a mission to solve cold cases by raising funds for the private investigative DNA lab Othram. The organization, founded by tech entrepreneur Justin Woo and DJ/violinist Lydia Ansel, is dedicated to providing financial support to help solve unsolved crimes through advanced DNA and forensic genealogy techniques.
The inspiration for Project Justice came when Woo and Ansel discovered Othram, a company based in Houston, Texas, that specializes in using DNA and forensic genealogy to crack cold cases. They pledged to fully sponsor any case Othram could find for them in Las Vegas, which led to the identification of the 1989 unsolved murder of 14-year-old Stephanie Isaacson. Thanks to Othram and the funds raised by Project Justice, Las Vegas Police were able to identify Darren R. Marchand as the suspect in Isaacson’s cold case murder, as DNA at both crime scenes matched.
This success inspired Woo and Ansel to continue raising funds and eventually establish Project Justice. The organization has since donated money to about 100 cold case investigations, 22 of which have been solved. Their efforts have also led to the expansion of the Las Vegas Police cold case unit. Additionally, Project Justice aims to assist American police departments by covering the costs of state-of-the-art DNA testing at independent labs, ultimately helping detectives crack cold cases.
Advancements in DNA testing have increasingly played a pivotal role in solving cold cases across the country. Woo and Ansel are not only donating their own funds but also raising money for more cases through their website, ProjectJustice.com. They have received donations ranging from $10 to a substantial $494,000 contribution from a single donor.
The remarkable progress in solving cold cases through DNA testing has also been witnessed in other parts of the country, such as New York, where cutting-edge SNP testing helped solve the Long Island serial killer case. DNA evidence has been crucial in identifying suspects and delivering justice for victims of long-dormant cases.
The impact of organizations like Project Justice is evident in the transformation of one detective cold case units into entire departments. As they continue their work, they remain committed to supporting law enforcement’s efforts to access emerging resources and technology, giving hope to the families of victims and bringing closure to these unsolved cases.