Murdered runner's dad reflects on familial DNA testing

Good days are a rarity for Phil Vetrano. But this day was one of them because he said he has accomplished so much in 9 months. The accomplishment? A new crime-fighting tool.

After his daughter was killed in summer 2016, Vetrano became a leading advocate for familial DNA testing, a policy available for law enforcement in New York starting Wednesday.

Karina Vetrano was killed near a park path near her home in Howard Beach, Queens. The case went unsolved for months.

During this time, Vetrano's family lobbied for familial DNA testing. Although the technique did not lead to the arrest of the suspect in that case, the Vetranos still pushed for familial DNA testing in hopes it could help other families of cold case victims. Phil Vetrano called it his mission.

The familial DNA technique allows law enforcement to see if a suspect's male relative – a father, a son, a cousin, for example -- is in the DNA system, possibly leading them to a killer.

Earlier this year, over the objections of opponents who argued it infringes on privacy, a state board approved the new policy.

Phil Vetrano said family means everything and he wants to help other families of victims find closure and put criminals in jail. He hopes it will one day be known as Karina's Law.