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Webinar

Sugar Land 95

Restoring identity through Forensic Investigative Genetic Genealogy

On-demand
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Jul 10, 2025
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90 minutes

About this webinar

The Sugar Land 95 are victims of the convict leasing system in the post–Civil War United States. This practice emerged following the ratification of the 13th Amendment, which abolished slavery "except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted" (U.S. Const. amend. XIII). Through this loophole, African American individuals were criminalized, incarcerated and subsequently leased to private enterprises, including sugar plantations in Sugar Land, Texas, where they were subjected to forced labor under brutal and inhumane conditions.

Discovered in 2018, the skeletal remains of these individuals revealed a pattern of extensive physical trauma, including gunshot wounds, fractures, cranial injuries, bone infections and other signs of ante- and perimortem violence and neglect. Comprehensive osteological analysis was undertaken to develop biological profiles, assess trauma and pathology and evaluate taphonomic conditions. These findings were then compared with historical records in an effort to identify the individuals and trace their living descendants.

Today, the Principal Research Group and the Snow Molecular Anthropology Laboratory are advancing this work through Forensic Investigative Genetic Genealogy (FIGG). This project represents a significant opportunity not only to restore identities and honor the lives of the Sugar Land 95 but also to evaluate the effectiveness of FIGG techniques on historic and highly degraded human remains.

Speakers

Dr. Abigail Fisher, Vice President, Principal Research Group
Dr. Abigail Fisher is a contract archaeologist based in Texas, specializing in bioarchaeology and the reconstruction of ancient diet and lifeways. She holds a PhD and Master of Arts in Anthropology from Southern Methodist University, as well as a Master of Science in Archaeological Science from the University of Oxford. A Registered Professional Archaeologist (RPA) with over 17 years of experience in commercial archaeology and more than 15 years in stable isotope biochemistry, Dr. Fisher brings deep interdisciplinary expertise to her work. She has served as a Human Osteology Specialist on multiple cemetery excavations throughout Texas, focusing on skeletal analysis and biochemical reconstruction of past lives. Dr. Fisher was Assistant Bioarchaeologist, Laboratory Manager and co-author of the final report Back to Bondage: Forced Labor in Post-Reconstruction Era Texas, which documented the findings and historical context of the Sugar Land 95.
Dr. Abigail Fisher, Vice President, Principal Research Group
Dr. Catrina Banks Whitley, President, Principal Research Group, Bioarchaeology Support
Dr. Whitley, RPA, is a CRM bioarchaeologist and archaeologist, serving as the Principal Investigator of the Sugar Land 95 DNA Project. With more than 18 years of experience as a principal investigator and over 20 years in osteological analysis, she specializes in human remains, mortuary practices and reconstructing the life histories of individuals and communities. She has led numerous cemetery excavations and bioarchaeology projects, and holds over 18 burial permits from New Mexico and 5 from the State of Texas. Dr. Whitley has authored or co-authored more than 25 professional reports across Texas and New Mexico, as well as several book chapters and journal articles. Her research includes co-authored studies on cancer and a notable article on Henry VIII published in The Historical Journal. This study reshaped the understanding of the monarch’s reproductive health and psychological decline, and has been widely cited in academic and popular literature. She has taught human evolution, forensic anthropology and human osteology at Southern Methodist University (SMU) and the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA), incorporating genetics and evolutionary genetics into her instruction. Dr. Whitley served as lead bioarchaeologist and co-author of the final report titled Back to Bondage: Forced Labor in Post-Reconstruction Era Texas, documenting the discovery of the Sugar Land 95. In 2019, she received a 10-year permit from the Texas Historical Commission to study the remains. She is currently President of the Principal Research Group.
Dr. Catrina Banks Whitley, President, Principal Research Group, Bioarchaeology Support
Dr. Meradeth Snow, Professor of Anthropology, University of Montana
Dr. Snow leads the Snow Molecular Anthropology Laboratory, specializing in degraded DNA from forensic and archaeological samples. Her research spans global applications in DNA recovery and analysis.
Dr. Meradeth Snow, Professor of Anthropology, University of Montana
Rita Simonetta, Investigative Genetic Genealogist, Principal Research Group
Rita Simonetta is an experienced freelance genealogist with more than 15 years of expertise in lineage research. Since 2018, she has integrated genetic testing with traditional genealogy to solve complex family histories and uncover biological connections for her clients. Rita holds a Bachelor’s degree in Criminology from the University of South Florida and previously worked as a corporate trainer for a Fortune 500 company. She now applies her investigative and communication skills to genealogy, both professionally and through volunteer service. As a dedicated Search Angel, she assists individuals with unknown parentage in discovering their biological roots. She also volunteers her time and expertise in Investigative Genetic Genealogy (IGG), focusing on cases involving unidentified human remains. Rita currently serves on the board of the Principal Research Group, contributing to the ongoing efforts to identify the historic remains of the Sugar Land 95. She is an active member of the National Genealogical Society (NGS) and the International Society of Genetic Genealogy (ISOGG).
Rita Simonetta, Investigative Genetic Genealogist, Principal Research Group
Samantha Hofland, Doctoral Student, Snow Molecular Anthropology Lab
Samantha Hofland is a doctoral student in Forensic and Molecular Anthropology at the University of Montana and a genetic researcher with the Principal Research Group (PRG). She earned her Master’s degree in Anthropology from the University of Montana in 2021, where her thesis explored The Effects of Heavy Metal Contamination in Soil on DNA Degradation After Decomposition. Samantha’s research focuses on ancient and forensic genetic analysis, forensic anthropology and the reconstruction of human identity. Her work integrates molecular techniques with anthropological insight to advance understanding of human remains in both archaeological and contemporary contexts.
Samantha Hofland, Doctoral Student, Snow Molecular Anthropology Lab
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