The Killer, the Tooth, and the Breakthrough: How a 40-Year-Old Mystery Was Finally Solved
For over four decades, one of serial killer John Wayne Gacy’s unidentified victims remained nameless—known only as Victim No. 5. That changed in October 2021 when investigative genetic genealogy finally cracked the case, giving the victim back his name: Francis Wayne Alexander.
At the heart of this breakthrough was the DNA Doe Project, a nonprofit dedicated to identifying unknown victims using advanced DNA techniques. Since 2017, this organization and its network of volunteers have helped put names to over 70 John and Jane Does, rewriting history one case at a time.
The Unlikely Path to a Groundbreaking Discovery
Margaret Press, the co-founder of the DNA Doe Project, never set out to become a forensic trailblazer. Her fascination with genealogy began in childhood, sparked by her grandmother’s relentless pursuit of family history. Long before ancestry websites existed, Press’s grandmother was digging through libraries, writing letters, and filling out family tree forms by hand.
Press later carved a career in software development while also dabbling in mystery and true crime writing. But fate had its own plans. A real-life murder in her Massachusetts neighborhood piqued her interest, leading her to research and write about crime. This curiosity, coupled with her genealogy expertise, planted the seed for what would eventually become the DNA Doe Project.
From Fiction to Reality: The Birth of the DNA Doe Project
In 2015, Press retired, thinking she’d spend her days casually tracing family histories. But after reading Sue Grafton’s novel Q is for Quarry—based on a real-life Jane Doe—she had an epiphany. What if the same techniques used to reunite adoptees with their birth parents could be applied to identify the nameless dead?
Despite initial setbacks, including a rejection from a major genealogy company, Press refused to take no for an answer. Through a blog post, she discovered someone who had sequenced their deceased father’s DNA. That breakthrough led to the realization that forensic cases could be uploaded to GEDMatch—a public genetic database. And just like that, the DNA Doe Project was born.
The Science Behind the Solution
The process is intricate, requiring a specialized lab to extract DNA from remains—sometimes from bones, sometimes from blood samples, but ideally from teeth. In Victim No. 5’s case, a molar without cavities became the key to unlocking his identity.
Once the DNA is sequenced, a volunteer bioinformatician refines the raw data into a manageable file, which is then uploaded to GEDMatch. This database helps identify distant relatives—often third or fourth cousins—who hold the missing links to an individual’s family tree. The process is painstaking, requiring an average of 60 days and up to 180 hours of research. Some cases are solved in mere hours, while others take years.
The Case That Captivated a Nation
Victim No. 5’s case was high-profile, and the discovery of his identity sent shockwaves through the true crime community. The moment his DNA linked to a second cousin, the puzzle pieces quickly fell into place.
Law enforcement rushed to notify Alexander’s family in North Carolina before the news leaked. By Monday morning, a press conference made it official: Francis Wayne Alexander had been identified, ending over 40 years of uncertainty.
The Cost of Closure
While the DNA Doe Project operates on volunteer efforts, science is not cheap. Sequencing DNA from bones or teeth can cost up to $4,000 per case. A blood card is slightly less expensive at around $3,000. Since GEDMatch now charges law enforcement for access, the nonprofit tacks on an additional $1,000 administrative fee, which it waives when necessary. The organization relies on donations, from large family foundations to individuals who contribute as little as $5. Every dollar helps reunite families with their lost loved ones.
Ethical Challenges and Barriers
Despite its success, forensic genealogy remains controversial. Many commercial genealogy sites refuse to work with law enforcement, citing privacy concerns. Additionally, certain communities—such as Native American, African American, and Asian populations—are underrepresented in genetic databases due to historical mistrust and financial barriers.
GEDMatch currently has about 1.4 million users, but the more people who upload their DNA, the faster cases can be solved. If larger ancestry companies opened their databases to forensic genealogy, the number of resolved cases would skyrocket.
The Future of Forensic Genealogy
With about 40 active cases at any given time, the DNA Doe Project shows no signs of slowing down. Some cases remain unannounced while law enforcement follows leads, contacts families, and, in some cases, prepares for potential criminal charges.
The organization accepts all cases, regardless of funding. If a police department runs out of money, the nonprofit finds a way to cover the costs. And while Press hopes to eventually pass the torch to a new generation, her passion for the work remains unwavering.
“This is bigger than me,” she says. “It’s about the volunteers, the families, and giving the nameless back their identities.”
A Tooth, A Name, and A Legacy
Francis Wayne Alexander’s story is a testament to the power of perseverance, technology, and human compassion. His identity was lost to time, buried in the shadows of one of America’s most notorious killers. But thanks to investigative genetic genealogy, he is nameless no more.
And for the families still searching, the message is clear: Never give up. Science is catching up to the past, one name at a time.
