Science that Solves!

The technology development of advanced forensic DNA testing and forensic genealogy have not only proven it is possible, but together they have also demonstrated their game-changing capability to deliver a name and resolution in well over 600 of the most difficult and thought-to-be unsolvable coldest of the cold cases. Many cases in which the DNA had previously been tested and reported as unusable. This is science that solves.

At Resolve Forensics, we believe trust is the foundation of forensic investigative genetic genealogy. That trust extends not only to the families and agencies we serve, but also to the public and to the companies whose platforms and data we rely on. With the recent updates to Ancestry.com’s Terms of Service and similar changes from MyHeritage, we want to be clear: Resolve Forensics will not use any third-party platform, including Ancestry, in violation of its Terms of Service.

This position reflects our longstanding internal policy both here and in our previous work at Intermountain Forensics. Our own Terms of Service require that all users of Resolve’s platform honor the policies of any third-party service they interact with. That expectation applies to our staff, our partners, and anyone acting on our behalf.

Ancestry.com and other genetic genealogy platforms have been essential to the growth of this field. But we also understand that the long-term success of forensic genealogy depends on public trust. That trust is only possible when we act with transparency, respect boundaries, help to educate, and prioritize ethics over convenience. We do not believe the answer is to find workarounds; we believe the answer is to work together.

This is a call for collaboration. The field needs better infrastructure, built from the ground up for responsible forensic use. At Resolve, we are investing in solutions that center consent, data stewardship, and public confidence. We welcome others who share this commitment and want to help create a stronger and more sustainable future for this work.

We also respectfully call on Ancestry to provide greater clarity around how its updated policies will be interpreted and enforced. The current ambiguity leaves room for confusion, even among those who want to operate in full compliance. Practitioners, agencies, and the public deserve to understand the boundaries clearly.

In addition, we would welcome a conversation with Ancestry and other industry partners about whether certain non-sensitive tools or resources could be made accessible to the FIGG community in a way that honors both privacy and public safety. This might include limited access to obituary indexes, publicly posted records, or structured metadata from public trees—without exposing any user-submitted data, private accounts, or genetic information.

Our hope is not to push past boundaries, but to work toward shared solutions. We believe there is a path forward that protects privacy, upholds the values of the genealogical community, and supports the ethical use of these tools to identify the missing and bring justice to victims.

We know this field is full of brilliant, determined people. If you’re building new tools, exploring better processes, or reimagining what ethical, effective forensic genealogy can look like, we want to support you. Let’s put our collective grit and creativity to work. Let’s build new pathways together.

Let’s change the world!

Daniel Hellwig
CEO & Co-Founder
Resolve Forensics