Two mothers and two fathers for two half-brothers’ pairs

Here is presented a deficient paternity case requested by a son born out of wedlock. In order to avoidexhumation of the alleged father, the judge demanded to obtain his biological profile from the analysis ofhis closest living relatives. Paternity testing involved the applicant (Sm), his mother (M2) and two sonsborn in wedlock of the deceased father (S1 and S2). The analysis of 23 Y-STRs by means of the PowerPlexY23 System revealed a full sharing of Y-chromosomal profiles between the applicant (Sm) and one son ofthe deceased father (S2), but no compatibility with the second (S1), thus suggesting the presence of anadditional alleged father.Giving the impossibility to establish which between S1 and S2 was the true biological son and,consequently, which 23 Y-STR profile matched with the deceased father, the judge disposed exhumationof the body.Full identity of Y-STRs was revealed among the deceased, S2 and Sm, whilst S1 could be excluded fromthe lineage.A following calculation of Likelihood Ratios achieved from the analysis with 22 autosomal STRs(PowerPlex Fusion System) allowed complete solving of the paternity case. Sm-S2 were found to be halfbrotherswith the same father, S1-S2 half-brothers sharing a common mother and Sm-S1 were declaredunrelated.