Cold Case Day at Siena growing in popularity

LOUDONVILLE, N.Y. (NEWS10) — Siena University hosted their second annual New York’s Cold Case Day. People from all over the Capital Region came to learn more about how some cold cases are being solved with advances in DNA technology and how it just might play a critical role in the Lorenz Kraus case.

“Welcome, welcome to our second annual New York State Cold Case Day,” said Annie Rody-Wright the Program Director and Teaching Professor of Criminal Justice Studies.

Nearly 100 people listened as organizer, Siena University instructor and President of DNA Finders, Tobi Kirschmann opened up the event talking about advances in DNA testing. “Since the mid-eighties, we only did DNA one way, and it revealed about 20 markers. Nowadays we have about a million, which if you compare 20 to 1,000,000, that’s a pretty big difference.” Kirschmann said the new technology will play a role in this week’s case involving two bodies found buried behind a home in Albany. “Maybe we’ll solve the case that way and confirm that those people are who they are.”

UAlbany interns studying Forensic Psychology said that what they study will also play a role for lawyers prosecuting and defending Kraus, the man accused of killing his parents back in 2017 and burying them behind their home. “They can utilize forensic psychologist in that setting to either evaluate that definitely for the defense, probably to evaluate whether or not there is some sanity behind it or competency and all that,” explained Bridget Longden.

Forensic Science Intern Bridget Rakoczy said, “Mental health status is probably a really important part of that. I mean, that’s a very big claim to make and that’s a lot of statements to say.”

Kraus was taken into custody after a live confession on a local t-v news station. He later pleaded not guilty in court. Attorney George LaMarche, Partner at LaMarche Safranko Law explained, “Perhaps he may have won some people over in doing that. I don’t know. But look, any lawyer in their right mind is never going to allow their client to go in and give a full confession. Never, ever, ever are they going to give a client the right to go or the ability to go and do that. You’ll always tell your client, remain silent, the burden of proof is on the prosecution.”

The advances in DNA testing brought hope to Yvonne Harbers who has been looking for a family member for decades. “My brother Jeff Coonradt has been missing 38 years in December.” Harbers went on to explain, “Investigators have now updated the reward to $15,000, and now they are trying to find recover his body. They believe that he met with foul play.”

With interest growing, next year, organizers hope to expand Cold Case Day to a full day’s event.