After Sherry Black’s vicious murder, police had her killer’s DNA, but no suspects or motive. It would take nearly a decade – and a dogged investigator – to crack this unsolved case.
Episode Info
GEDmatch DNA Upload Instructions
To learn more about the Sherry Black Foundation, visit sherryblackfoundation.org
On Thursday, April 27, 2023, there will be a live event and panel discussion on Sherry’s case at University of Utah’s Kingsbury Hall called “The Bookstore Murder; a Journey for Justice: The Sherry Black Story.” All proceeds from the event will go to the Sherry Black Foundation, and we’d love to see you there if you can make it! For more information and to purchase your ticket, head over to kingsburyhall.edu or click here.

Sherry Black Photo source: Sherryblackinfo.com

Sherry and Earl Black with their daughter, Heidi Photo source: Sherry Black Facebook page

Snapshot prediction results for then-unknown suspect Adam Durborow Photo Source: Parabon NanoLabs

Adam Durborow at the time of his arrest in October 2020 Photo source: Mugshot; Salt Lake County

Unified Police Department of Greater Salt Lake Detective Ben Pender won an Attorney General’s Awards for Distinguished Service in Policing for his work on Sherry Black’s case. Photo source: U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Utah Twitter

Sherry’s grave, next to the grave of her and Earl’s son, Jason Photo source: Findagrave.com
Episode Source Material
- The Salt Lake Tribune: Famous detective squad probes Sherry Black’s murder by Nate Carlisle
- Deseret News: Police hope phenotyping will crack Sherry Black murder case by Pat Reavy
- KSL News: KSL Uncovers Disturbing Details Surrounding Cold Case Murder Suspect’s Childhood
- New York Post: How police can use your DNA to solve crimes without consent by Eric Spitznagel
- News release: Parabon Announces New Snapshot Forensic Art Service at the International Homicide Investigators Association Meeting, 8-18-2015
- News release: Parabon Announces Snapshot Genetic Genealogy Service for Law Enforcement, 5-8-2018
- Parabon NanoLabs: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Snapshot
- The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research: Report: Genetic Testing: Ancestry Interest, But Privacy Concerns
- Pew Research Center survey: About half of Americans are OK with DNA testing companies sharing user data with law enforcement
- Sherry Black website
- Statement from the Heidi and Greg Miller Family
- Utah Third Judicial District court records
- South Salt Lake Police records
- Unified Police Department of Greater Salt Lake records
- Utah Department of Corrections records
- Federal court records
- West Valley City Justice Court records