What Identifinders International does

Identifinders International, LLC is a privately held, founder-owned professional services firm headquartered in Fountain Valley, California, founded in 2012 by Dr. Colleen Fitzpatrick, an internationally recognized forensic genealogist with a PhD in Nuclear Physics from Duke University. The firm delivers turnkey Forensic Genetic Genealogy (FGG) services to U.S. and international law enforcement agencies, medical examiners, coroners, and NamUS case managers, operating as a general contractor that selects the appropriate DNA laboratory for each case and manages end-to-end investigation from consultation through resolution. Its casework spans cold-case homicides, unidentified human remains, and historical victim identification, with documented expertise in processing highly degraded and compromised DNA samples using both Microarray and Whole Genome Sequencing pipelines.

The company monetizes on a firm fixed price, all-inclusive basis across four service lines: core FGG casework, training and consulting, in-house unit development (including the Genealogist-in-Residence Program), and expert testimony in court proceedings. Identifinders pioneered the commercial application of FGG, having generated the first investigative leads via genetic genealogy on the 1991 Sarah Yarborough case (2011) and solved the first case using the method (Phoenix Canal Murders, 2015). Its proprietary Y-STR database analysis software and curated international laboratory network (Max Planck Institute, ICMP, HudsonAlpha Discovery Life Sciences, Intermountain Forensics, Astrea Forensics) underpin technical differentiation. Notable recent achievements include the 2022 identification of the 1957 "Boy in the Box" as Joseph Augustus Zarelli — a 65-year-old case previously deemed unsolvable — and three Gordon Thomas Honeywell Cold Case Hit of the Year recognitions (2018, 2020, 2025). The firm is entirely founder-owned with no institutional funding, an 8-person named team, and a sole reliance on earned media, conference presence, and direct enterprise engagement for customer acquisition.

Name

Identifinders International

Legal name

Identifinders International, LLC

Website

https://identifinders.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Forensic Genetic Genealogy Services

NAICS

Investigation and Personal Background Check Services (561611)

SIC

Services-Legal Services (8111)

akta.pro primary industry

Due Diligence & Investigative Research (BPAHALAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Genetic & Genomic Testing (germline, somatic, carrier, pharmacogenomics) (HLAAALAD), Litigation Support & Civil Investigations (Witness/Asset/Skip Tracing) (BPAKAEAE)

Keywords

• Forensic genetic genealogy
• Cold case investigation
• DNA analysis services
• Compromised DNA analysis
• Unidentified human remains

Headquarters

HQ city

Fountain Valley

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Forensic Genetic Genealogy Casework: Firm fixed price services for law enforcement agencies seeking to solve cold cases through genetic genealogy. Services include DNA analysis coordination, genealogical research, and case investigation support.
2. Training and Consulting Services: In-person and online training courses for law enforcement, plus consulting on difficult cases requiring specialized expertise, particularly those involving highly compromised DNA samples.
3. In-House Unit Development: Assistance to law enforcement agencies in establishing their own FGG capabilities, including the Genealogist-in-Residence Program.
4. Expert Testimony: Subject matter expert testimony services for FGG cases in court proceedings related to violent crimes solved using forensic genetic genealogy.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Identifinders International delivers turnkey Forensic Genetic Genealogy (FGG) casework services for law enforcement, medical examiners, and NamUS case managers, solving cold cases and identifying unknown persons. Operating as a general contractor on a firm fixed price basis, the company selects appropriate DNA laboratories for each sample and coordinates end-to-end investigation, including compromised-DNA analysis, genealogical research, in-house unit development (Genealogist-in-Residence Program), training, consulting, and expert testimony.

Product overview

Identifinders International offers turnkey forensic genetic genealogy services as a specialized service company, not a software platform. The core offering is Forensic Genetic Genealogy Casework, which provides comprehensive DNA analysis and genealogical investigation for law enforcement cold cases. Supporting services include Training, Consulting, In-House Unit Development (with the Genealogist-in-Residence Program), Identification of Historic Remains, and Expert Testimony. The company operates on a firm fixed pricing model and functions as a general contractor, selecting appropriate laboratories for each case's specific DNA requirements. The company specializes in compromised DNA samples and has expertise with Microarray and Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) pipelines.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Forensic Genetic Genealogy Casework

Quantifiable outcome

• Solved the Boy in the Box case - 65-year-old cold case with highly degraded DNA previously thought to be beyond technological limits
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

AI capability3 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered supporting and core.

• University of North Texas Health Science CentersupportingTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2021Initial DNA extraction attempts were performed at UNTHSC before samples were sent to other specialized laboratories.
• Houston Institute of Forensic SciencescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Collaboration on identification of 1981 Harris County murder victims Harold Dean Clouse and Tina Gail Linn Clouse.
• audiochucksupportingGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2021Podcast company that underwrote investigation costs for Harris County cases including the 2012 Smurfette Doe identification.
• DNASolvessupportingGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2021Crowdfunding site that helped fund the 2005 Sam Houston Infant Doe investigation, which was fully funded in just 48 hours.
• SHSU University Police Department and Texas RangerscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Collaboration on identification efforts for the 2005 Sam Houston Infant Doe case in Huntsville, Texas.
• Intermountain ForensicscoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2020Salt Lake City laboratory that processed teeth and remains for the 1961 Bibb County Teen Doe case as part of the DNA analysis pipeline.
• Astrea ForensicscoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2020Santa Clara, CA laboratory that performed ancient DNA processing on 60-year-old highly degraded remains, achieving approximately 45x the amount of DNA needed for FGG analysis.
• Max Planck Institute (MPI) - Department of Evolutionary GeneticscoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2019International collaboration with MPI in Leipzig, Germany for DNA analysis using ancient DNA protocols. MPI successfully generated FGG data from highly degraded remains in the Boy in the Box case that previous labs had failed to process.
• International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2019ICMP in The Hague performed bone extractions on remains from the Boy in the Box case. Initial attempts and suggestions for alternative labs when initial sequencing failed.
• HudsonAlpha Discovery Life SciencescoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2019Huntsville, AL laboratory that received DNA extracts from ICMP for sequencing in the Boy in the Box investigation.
• DNA Doe ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Dr. Colleen Fitzpatrick co-founded and served as former Co-Executive Director (2017-2020). Led team that solved the first two cold cases using autosomal SNP testing: Joseph Newton Chandler III and Buckskin Girl cases.
• National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016NCMEC sponsored exhumation of 1961 Teen Doe remains and provided support for DNA analysis with the goal of identification using modern technology.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• GEDmatch: Genetic genealogy database and comparison platform where Identifinders uploads SNP data for FGG analysis. Serves as a key data-source partner rather than a competitor.
• Astrea Forensics: Forensic DNA laboratory specializing in ancient and degraded DNA extraction that has performed processing for Identifinders (e.g., Bibb County Teen Doe). Partner/sequencing vendor with closely overlapping technical specialization in compromised samples.
• HudsonAlpha Discovery Life Sciences: DNA sequencing laboratory that has processed Identifinders' casework samples (e.g., Boy in the Box). Functions as a partner/sequencing vendor in Identifinders' general-contractor delivery model.
• Gene by Gene (Family Tree DNA): Operator of the Family Tree DNA genetic genealogy database that Identifinders uses as a core data source for FGG casework. Functions as critical infrastructure provider in Identifinders' workflow rather than a direct competitor.
• Intermountain Forensics: Salt Lake City forensic DNA laboratory that has processed remains for Identifinders (e.g., 1961 Teen Doe). Functions as a partner laboratory within Identifinders' international lab network.

Direct peers

• Othram: Forensic genomics laboratory and casework provider specializing in degraded and low-quantity DNA samples for unidentified persons and cold cases. Overlaps Identifinders in target customers (law enforcement, medical examiners) and in tackling the hardest-to-solve cases via advanced sequencing pipelines.
• Parabon NanoLabs: Forensic genetics company that provides FGG, genetic analysis, and DNA phenotyping services to US law enforcement agencies. Direct competitor offering parallel genetic-genealogy casework for unsolved violent crimes and unidentified remains.
• DNA Doe Project: Nonprofit FGG investigative organization co-founded by Identifinders' founder (Dr. Fitzpatrick) that solves unidentified remains cases using the same genetic-genealogy methodology for law enforcement and medical examiners. Closest direct peer in mission, methodology, and target customers.
• Bode Technology (Vigen): Forensic DNA laboratory serving law enforcement with traditional STR/CODIS analysis, relationship testing, and investigative genetic genealogy support. Comparable customer base and complementary methodology to Identifinders' casework.

Emerging players

• National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC): Nonprofit that sponsors exhumations and supports identification work Identifinders has leveraged on cases like Bibb County Teen Doe. Acts as both a strategic partner and a partial in-house capability for missing-children cases overlapping Identifinders' market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/identifinders-international

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Identifinders International