This past, Friday, June 16th, at the intersection of 164th Ave and 83rd St in Howard Beach, Phil and Cathie Vetrano, parents of Karina Vetrano, who remained vocal advocates for the forensic technique known as Familial DNA Matching (“FM”) even after a suspect was captured in Karina’s murder, held a rally thanking the New York State Commission on Forensic Science for adopting guidelines permitting FM’s use. The guidelines for use of FM, which have been before the Commission and its DNA Subcommittee since February, passed the Commission today by a vote of 9 to 2. This makes New York State the eleventh to allow use of familial DNA matching.

"This is a monumental accomplishment,” said Phil Vetrano. “It’s unheard-of and unprecedented that this could possibly happen in five months. This will be a tremendous tool for law enforcement and for justice. And it’s only because of Karina. Without her driving us forward, this never would have happened." Mr. Vetrano added that he is looking to have the regulation officially named in Karina’s honor.

“The Vetranos wanted to make sure no family ever had to go through what they went through. Even through their grief and loss, they saw an opportunity to do that, and they made it happen,” said Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato (D-Howard Beach), a supporter of the Vetranos’ cause and the sponsor of an Assembly bill to authorize FM legislatively if the Commission hadn’t. “This community owes the Commission, NYC’s District Attorneys, the NYPD, and most of all the Vetranos a great debt for their tenacity and selflessness. They took a personal tragedy and made it about protecting the community. I’m proud to be their representative, and I’m proud to stand with them today as they usher in a new era of protection and greater clarity, both for victims and their families as well as for the accused.”

"It is my hope, that with the New York State Commission on Forensic Science's new guidelines, we will start to see the implementation of an improved means of investigation that has been proven effective in other parts of the country," said NYS Senator Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr. (D-Ozone Park). "Thank you to the Vetranos, who have been vocal advocates for the use of Familial DNA, while living with their own personal tragedy. It is thanks to them and many that the state will be better equipped to seek out criminals, when investigators have run out of leads."

NYS Senator Phil Boyle (R-Bay Shore) said, “With the approval of the Familial DNA Search policy, New York will become the 11th state to permit the use of this modern crime-fighting technology. There is no better time than now to give our law enforcement another tool to solve crimes and protect New Yorkers. I applaud the NYS Commission on Forensic Science and its DNA subcommittee on their diligent work to create and implement a policy that is truly in the best interests of New Yorkers.”

“I commend the Vetrano Family for fighting to make Familial DNA matching a reality. They suffered an unspeakable tragedy, but used it to help make our communities and neighborhoods safer,” said Councilman Eric Ulrich (R-Ozone Park). “I also applaud the New York State Commission on Forensic Science for adopting these guidelines, which permit the use of Familial DNA.”