A CODIS “hit” can be made by a DNA profile from evidence in an unsolved case matching the DNA profile from a convicted offender or an arrestee. A “hit” can also be made between evidence in an unsolved case and other solved or unsolved cases.
Once a case is solved and the evidence DNA profile is associated with an individual, that profile will continue to be compared to unsolved cases. Therefore, even if the evidence profile is associated with a deceased individual, the profile from the solved case will be compared to unsolved cases as they are entered in CODIS whether the deceased was ever convicted or arrested for an offense requiring submission of a DNA sample or not.
The fact that the DNA profiles matched is meant to provide an investigative lead to the detective or investigator to help solve the particular unsolved case. He/she will need to conduct further investigation to determine any possible involvement of the convicted offender, arrestee, or the perpetrator of the solved case to the unsolved case in question.