I’ve gotten a ton of questions about the fate of the man convicted of killing Tanya Van Cuylenborg and Jay Cook, the young couple whose 1987 murder lies at the heart of The Forever Witness. As my book went to press, the conviction had been overturned and a new trial ordered for William Earl Talbott II, the first person brought to trial after being linked to a violent crime through genetic genealogy.

Recently the Washington State Supreme Court ruled unanimously that the lower appeals court had erred. Talbott’s conviction for two counts of premeditated murder has been reinstated and he remains in state prison. He was never released, and had stayed in prison during the entire appeals process.

The back and forth wrangling over this appeal had nothing to do with the revolutionary crime-fighting tool of genetic genealogy or any of the facts of the case. Rather, it focused on alleged bias by a juror. The Supreme Court slapped down this claim, pointing out that Talbott’s lawyers had chosen not to strike the juror despite having the power to do so, and had accepted the juror on the record.

You can read more about the this latest turn in the case here.