DALLAS, Texas — An 8-year-old child kidnapped in 1991 in Plano, Texas, and a similar case in Dallas have been solved through forensic investigative genetic genealogy.
On August 15, 1991, an 8-year-old child was abducted by a stranger while walking to a community pool in Plano, Texas, and was sexually abused before being released 20 miles away, according to the Dallas Police Department. Despite extensive efforts by Plano police, the case went cold. In 2004, a DNA profile was developed and entered into CODIS, matching an unsolved case in Dallas involving a 9-year-old child who was also kidnapped and sexually assaulted.
In 2023, Detective Benzick of Plano PD read a newspaper article about the case and collaborated with Detective DeAngelis of Dallas PD. They utilized forensic investigative genetic genealogy, which involved interviewing numerous individuals and obtaining DNA profiles to identify a suspect. The suspect, Nicholas Carney, was living in the Dallas area at the time and matched the description provided by the victims. Further investigation confirmed Carney as the perpetrator, leading to his arrest and conviction. He will serve life in prison starting January 15, 2026…