In The Woodlands, a groundbreaking forensic lab is making strides in solving both cold and current crime cases. Othram, a first-of-its-kind facility, is dedicated to identifying victims and perpetrators using advanced DNA technology.
A mother’s murder remains unsolved after more than 40 years. Frances Ivey and her colleagues, Joann Brown and Elizabeth Shumate, were tragically murdered in their West Houston real estate office on August 19, 1983. Frances’s daughters, Helen Ivey Maldonado and Sara Ivey Edwards, are determined to find answers.
Helen shares, “All three of them were shot execution style, in the back of the head.” Despite existing evidence, the case remains unsolved. “The last we heard from HPD, they had sent it to the National DNA lab in Florida. They have a male profile,” Helen adds.
Othram, headquartered in The Woodlands since 2018, started with a small team solving a few cases a month. Today, they crack multiple cases daily. Kristen Mittelman, Othram’s Chief Development Officer, explains, “Getting perpetrators off the street quickly prevents the next crime.”
Despite their success, Mittelman notes that cost and lack of success metrics are barriers to wider adoption.
“If a doctor used a treatment that worked 2% of the time instead of one that worked 98%, that would be malpractice,” she says.
Othram has played key roles in high-profile cases, though details are often under gag orders. When asked about their involvement in the JonBenet Ramsey case, Mittelman states, “I can’t confirm or deny working on any case prior to law enforcement announcing it, but that is a case that could benefit from this technology.”
The Houston Police Department is now collaborating with Othram on several cold cases. Helen Ivey Maldonado expresses hope, saying, “We believe that if it’s in Othram’s hands, it will get solved.”
According to Mittelman, Othram is the only lab in the world that has a research department for mock casework on unsolved cases. While Othram only works with law enforcement agencies, the Ivey family remains hopeful for answers.
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