2025/09/04

Forensic Magazine, September 3, 2025: DNA Analysis Leads to Individual Twin in 1987 Rape Cold Case

For the first time in the U.S., an identical twin has been convicted of a crime based on DNA analysis.

The breakthrough came from Parabon Nanolabs, who’s scientists used deep whole genome sequencing to identify extremely rare “somatic mutations” that differentiated Russell Marubbio and his twin, John. The results were admitted as evidence in court, making last week’s conviction of Russell in the 1987 rape of a 50-year-old woman a landmark case.

Case background

On Dec. 19, 1987, the victim, a 50-year-old woman, was working as a clerk at a gas station in Woodbridge, Va. She left the store to use the restroom, which was located outside of the building. After she entered the bathroom, a white male entered the bathroom with a knife, taped her head and hands, and raped her.

A sexual assault kit was collected at the hospital and submitted to the Department of Forensic Science (DFS). A male DNA profile was developed; however, no match for the DNA was found. With no witnesses or other evidence, the case went cold.

In 2019, detectives reopened the case as part of the Cold Case Unit, with a specific focus on using modern advanced forensic science and investigative techniques.

First, the detectives resubmitted physical evidence from 1987 to the Virginia Department of Forensic Science (DFS) for modern DNA testing to see if additional leads could be developed. DFS was able to develop a male DNA profile from the kit.

The detectives also sent part of the victim’s underwear to Marshall University Forensic Science Center to extract DNA information for genetic genealogy analysis. This analysis came back to twins—John Arthur Marubbio of Deltona, Fla., and Russell Anthony Marubbio of Palatka, Fla....more