The Perus Project announced on April 16, 2025 that researchers had corrected a decades-old identification from a clandestine mass grave. The project is a partnership of the Ministry of Human Rights, a federal university and São Paulo city hall.
New forensic tests used DNA and other analyses and showed that the earlier identification, made and buried in 1991, was wrong. The new tests produced a clear genetic match for the Casemiro family, while bones previously buried as Dênis Casemiro do not match current samples. The project also identified another victim who died in 1972 during a hijacking.
Difficult words
- clandestine — done in secret and not public
- mass grave — a place with many buried dead bodies
- forensic — used for scientific proof in legal cases
- identification — the act of saying who someone isidentified
- genetic match — a DNA result showing persons are related
- hijacking — taking control of a vehicle by force
- partnership — two or more groups working together
- correct — to change a wrong thing into rightcorrected
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- Why is it important to use DNA tests to identify people from old graves?
- How could a partnership between a ministry, a university and city hall help this project?
- How would you feel if a family member was identified after many years?
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