OAN’s Taylor Tinsley
3:45pm – Monday, February 26, 2024
Project Justice helps solve decades-old cold cases across the country.
advertisement
Based in Las Vegas, Nevada, Project Justice has helped solve more than 20 cold cases by funding the re-evaluation of evidence using the latest DNA technology.
Las Vegas tech mogul Justin Wu co-founded the organization with his wife Lydia Ansell, a DJ and electric violinist.
The pair said the nonprofit started as the Las Vegas Justice League, which works with local police departments to help solve cold cases.
The nonprofit is raising money for Osram, a forensic research institute specializing in “genetic genealogy to solve unsolved murders, disappearances, unidentified deaths and the identification of murder victims.” .
Wu and Ansel’s first aid came in 2021, when their funds helped solve the murder of 32-year-old Las Vegas native Stephanie Isaacson.
The 14-year-old girl went missing in 1989, and the only evidence police had to continue investigating was traces of DNA on her shirt.
Ansell said the case is considered virtually unsolvable.
“They tried to solve it several times, but the technology just couldn’t keep up with the process,” Ansell said. “Every time we tested with DNA, it actually consumed the DNA, so there was very, very little left…about 0.12 nanograms.”
This sample was the smallest amount of DNA ever used to solve a case.
“Let me give you a quantitative idea of how much that is. If you use 23andMe or a consumer swab, you’ll get data of about 750 to 1,000 nanograms,” Woo said.
After raising funds to help solve Isaacson’s murder, Wu and Ansell quickly recognized the overwhelming need from law enforcement agencies across the country and expanded their nonprofit to Project Justice.
“When you look at how much impact we can have just by funding these lawsuits and the technology that’s out there, people need help, people want answers, and that’s what’s going to happen. It pushes us to keep going,” Ansell said.
Project Justice also helped identify the victims of the infamous “Scorecard Killer” in late 2023, almost 50 years after the murders.
Last year, Project Justice helped solve 26 cases, with another 100 currently under evaluation.
Wu and Ansel said the nonprofit has brought the community together and made donors feel like they are helping solve cases.
The couple even said that instead of receiving gifts at their wedding, they asked guests to donate to a cold case that helped solve two murders.
“I was happy to be able to send an email to everyone who donated to let them know that they helped solve two murders in Las Vegas,” Wu said.
If you would like to help or donate, please click here projectjustice.com
Stay informed. Receive breaking news directly to your inbox for free. Subscribe here. https://www.oann.com/alerts
Please share this post!
