FHD Forensics

What FHD Forensics does

FHD Forensics, founded in 2018 and operating from Texas, is a privately held forensic investigative genetic genealogy (FIGG) firm that identifies unknown subjects using DNA technology combined with traditional genealogical research. The firm analyzes autosomal DNA, Y-DNA, mtDNA, and X-DNA to generate leads for law enforcement cold cases, archaeological identification projects, and individuals seeking biological origins (adoptees, trafficking survivors, victims of fraudulent or black market adoption). Named technical capabilities include ancient DNA analysis working with degraded samples up to 246 years old, multi-type DNA matching, low shared-centimorgan match analysis, chromosome painting, and specialized expertise in African American genetic genealogy that overcomes post-1870 research brick walls caused by enslavement and surname changes.

The firm's revenue model is project-based professional services with three streams: (1) law enforcement cold case and unidentified remains investigations accessed via direct engagement and a Cold Case Proposal Request form, with free evidence review and case feasibility analysis for new clients; (2) personal investigative services for individuals priced at $1,500-$3,500 and up depending on case complexity; and (3) donation and grant funding channeled through the sister nonprofit Genealogy For Justice, including crowdfunding campaigns (Givebutter, Dean and Tina Linn Clouse Memorial Fund) and grants from preservation bodies (Historic Camden Foundation, National Park Service, SC Department of Archives and History). Distribution is direct-to-client via phone, email, dedicated intake forms, and referral channels such as NCMEC. The team comprises roughly six named investigators plus additional anonymous contributors, distributed across five US states, with operating presence in the US, Mexico, UK, and Brazil.

FHD Forensics has established credibility through high-visibility identifications including the 40+ year Dean and Tina Linn Clouse cold case, the 41-year Holly Marie Clouse missing person case, the South Island John Doe (~100-year-old fisherman), and the 246-year-old Private John Pumphrey Revolutionary War identification via the Camden Fourteen project. The firm adheres to the US DOJ Interim Policy for Forensic Genetic Genealogical DNA Analysis and integrates with DNA databases including GEDmatch and FamilyTreeDNA for opt-in forensic matching. Notable partnerships include Astrea Forensics (paleogenetics), SCIAA (archaeology), FamilyTreeDNA (database access), and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (referral channel).

Name

FHD Forensics

Legal name

FHD Forensics

Website

https://fhdforensics.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

FHD Forensics is a Texas-based forensic investigative genetic genealogy firm that identifies unknown subjects for law enforcement cold cases, archaeological projects, and individuals seeking biological origins. It uses multi-type DNA analysis and genealogical research, operating across the US, Mexico, UK, and Brazil.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Forensic Investigative Genetic Genealogy Services

NAICS

Investigation and Personal Background Check Services (561611)

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)

akta.pro primary industry

Forensic Science & Crime Laboratories (Justice System Support) (BPAIAFAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Criminal Investigations & Forensics (Detectives, Crime Labs, CSI) (BPAIAGAI)

Keywords

• Forensic genealogy
• Cold case investigation
• DNA identification services
• Missing persons investigation
• Genetic genealogy research

Headquarters

HQ city

Austin

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Law Enforcement Cold Case Services: Investigation services for law enforcement agencies seeking to identify unknown subjects, cold case victims, and historical remains. Contact via dedicated Cold Case Proposal Request forms.
2. Personal Investigative Services: Fees for individuals seeking answers about their biological origins, including fraudulent adoption cases, trafficking victims, and people unsure of their identities. Range from $1,500-$3,500 and up depending on case complexity.
3. Crowdfunding and Donations: Tax-deductible donations through Genealogy For Justice's Dean and Tina Linn Clouse Memorial Fund to underwrite unidentified remains investigations. Crowdfunding campaigns for specific projects like Camden Fourteen.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

FHD Forensics provides Forensic Investigative Genetic Genealogy (FIGG) services, combining high-complexity DNA analysis (autosomal, Y-DNA, mtDNA, X-DNA) with genealogical research to identify unknown subjects. The firm serves law enforcement agencies on cold cases and unidentified remains, archaeological teams on historical identification projects, and individuals seeking answers about their biological origins.

Product overview

FHD Forensics is a forensic genetic genealogy firm offering investigative services for law enforcement, archaeological teams, and families seeking to identify unknown subjects. The core offering is Forensic Investigative Genetic Genealogy (FIGG) services, supplemented by specialized Personal Investigative Services for adoption and trafficking survivors. The company operates specific project brands including the Camden Fourteen (Revolutionary War soldier identification), the South Island John Doe project (historic fisherman identification), and partners with Genealogy For Justice on the #Genealogy4Justice crowdfunding campaign. FHD's work spans cold case law enforcement investigations, archaeological remains identification, and personal identity discovery cases.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Law Enforcement Cold Case Identification Services Forensic Investigative Genetic Genealogy (FIGG) services for law enforcement agencies seeking to identify unknown subjects, cold case victims, and unidentified human remains. Engagements begin with free evidence review and case feasibility analysis, followed by formal case submission via dedicated Cold Case Proposal Request forms.
• Personal Investigative Services Personal investigative services for adults uncertain of their biological origins, including survivors of fraudulent adoptions, black market adoptions, child trafficking, and kidnapping. Fees range from $1,500 to $3,500 and up depending on case complexity (single parent, both parents, or complex foreign-country cases).

Quantifiable outcome

• 246-year-old identification of Private John Pumphrey, Revolutionary War soldier
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.

• Astrea ForensicscoreTechnology or Integration · 1 December 2024Paleogenetics experts at Astrea Forensics sequenced ancient DNA from Revolutionary War soldier remains for FHD's genetic genealogy investigation. Extracted and sequenced DNA that empowered FHD's analysis of 246-year-old remains. Co-founder Richard E. Green, PhD described advances in ancient DNA technology that made identification possible.
• South Carolina Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology (SCIAA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSCIAA led the excavation of 14 Battle of Camden casualties in 2022. Principal investigator Steven D. Smith has been involved with Camden Battlefield preservation for almost three decades. SCIAA's Archaeological Research Trust sponsored the genetic genealogy investigation.
• South Carolina Battleground Preservation TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSC Battleground Preservation Trust assisted with preservation and interpretation of Camden Battlefield. Executive Director Rick Wise described the identification as allowing families to know the fate of their ancestors. Provided funding and support for the project.
• Historic Camden FoundationsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvided genetic genealogy grant in 2025 to fund FHD research on Camden Fourteen project. Chairman Austin Sheheen stated the foundation is honored to support research returning names to Revolutionary War soldiers.
• Richland County Coroner's OfficecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBiological anthropologists Drs. Madeline Atwell and William Stevens performed forensic anthropological examinations on Revolutionary War soldier remains. Aided with recovery of soldiers' remains and final steps in removal from ground.
• FamilyTreeDNAcoreTechnology or IntegrationFacilitated research upload of Revolutionary War soldier data to their database of users who opted in for this type of comparison. Unique Y-DNA services were crucial for confirming the soldier's surname.
• UC Santa Cruz PaleogeneticistssecondaryTechnology or IntegrationTeam FHD worked with paleogeneticists at UC Santa Cruz to obtain usable data from South Island John Doe remains for upload to genetic genealogy databases.
• South Carolina Department of Natural ResourcescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLed archaeological project following Hurricane Irma in 2017. Working with FHD Forensics to fulfill goal of providing South Island John Doe with proper burial amongst his ancestors. Project part of historic preservation work with Gullah Geechee fishing village.
• National Park ServicesecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvided Hurricane Irma Emergency Supplemental Historic Preservation Grant funding for South Island John Doe project. Partner in historic preservation efforts.
• South Carolina Department of Archives and HistorysecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-funded South Island John Doe project through Hurricane Irma Emergency Supplemental Historic Preservation Grant along with National Park Service.
• National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC)secondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLaw enforcement agencies and individuals with open cases can access some services for free through NCMEC at 1-800-843-5678. FHD refers clients to NCMEC for qualifying cases.
• Genealogy For Justice (G4J)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister organization to FHD Forensics. Advisory Board Chairman Allison Peacock leads G4J. Isabel de la Luz serves as G4J President and FHD Liaison. G4J runs the Dean and Tina Linn Clouse Memorial Fund to underwrite unidentified remains investigations. Crowdfunds projects like Camden Fourteen. Manages TCHS Survivors Project for Tennessee Children's Home Society adoption scandal.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Identitas International: DNA identification and forensic services firm specializing in investigative genetic genealogy for law enforcement and government. Closely comparable business model and client base to FHD's law enforcement practice.
• Astrea Forensics: Paleogenetics DNA laboratory that sequenced the Revolutionary War-era samples for FHD's Camden Fourteen identification. Comparable in forensic and ancient DNA capabilities and serves overlapping historical and law enforcement clientele.
• Parabon NanoLabs: Commercial forensic DNA services provider offering genetic genealogy, phenotyping, and biometric analysis to law enforcement. Competes with FHD on cold case identifications and has substantially larger operational footprint and government contracts.
• Othram: Forensic DNA laboratory specializing in advanced DNA sequencing and forensic genetic genealogy for law enforcement unidentified remains cases. Direct peer in delivering FIGG-enabled identifications to police and coroner clients.
• DNA Doe Project: Nonprofit organization using forensic genetic genealogy to identify unidentified remains, including cold cases. Direct competitor in FIGG methodology, often collaborating on or competing for the same law enforcement and historical identification cases as FHD.

Others

• 23andMe: Major consumer DNA testing provider whose database has been used in high-profile FIGG cases. Indirect relationship — FHD depends on consumer DNA databases like 23andMe indirectly through GEDmatch opt-ins for matching.
• Ancestry: Largest consumer DNA database operator. Currently restricts law enforcement access to its database (unlike GEDmatch/FTDNA), making it an adjacent ecosystem player whose policy decisions affect the FIGG market overall.

Broad incumbents

• Bode Technology: Larger forensic DNA testing services provider serving law enforcement and government agencies across U.S. and internationally. Operates in adjacent forensic identification space with broader service portfolio including traditional STR profiling.
• Gene By Gene (FamilyTreeDNA): Major consumer DNA testing company and database operator (FamilyTreeDNA) that hosts forensic uploads for FIGG investigations. FHD is a customer/partner; comparable as a genealogical data infrastructure player in the FIGG ecosystem.
• Verogen (Qiagen): Owns GEDmatch, the genetic genealogy database central to most FIGG workflows. As platform operator (now part of Qiagen), Verogen sets terms-of-service that materially affect FIGG practitioners including FHD.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/familyhistorydetectives1
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fhd-forensics

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about FHD Forensics