Sign up for the Today newsletter
Get everything you need to know to start your day, delivered right to your inbox every morning.
Unsolved homicide victim identified after 33 years using genetic genealogy
The victim of a 1991 homicide has been identified as Toussaint Gonsalves using investigative genetic genealogy, police said.
After 33 years, Boston police have identified the victim in a 1991 homicide using investigative genetic genealogy.
On Dec. 4, 1991, officers found the body of a man who had suffered a a stab wound in Boston Harbor near Thompson Island. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner ruled his death a homicide during the autopsy.
The man has now been identified as Toussaint Gonsalves, who would have been 21 years old at the time of the homicide, police said.
Gonsalves was born Oct. 2, 1970 and was described at the time of his death as 5’11” and approximately 225 pounds with brown eyes and short brown hair, according to police. When his body was found, he was wearing a heavy grey multi-colored knit sweater, and a blue, white and green rugby shirt, black pants over red running shorts along with two pairs of black socks and black high-top sneakers. Gonsalves also had three scars on his left hand and a shaved eyebrow.
Advertisement:
The Unsolved Homicide Squad and FBI Boston’s Violent Crimes Task Force were able to identify Gonsalves using investigative genetic genealogy, police said. The method combines DNA analysis with genealogical research and historical records to prompt investigative leads. Investigators do not obtain any more info from the method than a customer using a publicly accessible genealogical service would, according to police.
Investigators have learned that Gonsalves attended the former Boston High School and may have been living in Newton or Dorchester at the time of his murder. He may have also worked in a kitchen at the time, police said.
Advertisement:
The FBI Laboratory created a depiction of what Gonsalves may have looked like and entered it into the Violent Criminal Apprehension Program, according to police.
Police are still investigating the case, and anyone with information is encouraged to call the Homicide Unit at 617-343-4470.
The public can also assist anonymously by calling the CrimeStoppers tip line at 1-800-494-TIPS or texting “TIP” to CRIME (27463).
To comment, please create a screen name in your profile
To comment, please verify your email address
Conversation
This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com