The letters DNA conjure up primetime crime shows where lab tests solve complicated crimes.

But for thousands of families testing DNA means something else - peace of mind.

The University of North Texas is using its DNA lab to help some families find closure.

A mother's love for Billy Smolinski is woven into a quilt.

He disappeared nearly four years ago.

And just as the parents of Roxanne Paultoff, and Cynthia Day, and Brian Shaffer, his mom seeks an end to the torment of not knowing where her son is or how he died.

"We have some evidence that Billy has been buried. It's just trying to find out where," she said.

The UNT Center for Human Identification is trying to help. It's brought scores of law enforcement officials to a conference to show them how to tap the expanding science of DNA testing.

The same level of science that exonerated the parents of Jon Benet Ramsey earlier this week is being used in the lab.

What they do here is analyze human samples for DNA content. Then they compare that information with a database of known DNA samples to see who it belongs to.

A robot speeds up processing and reduces the possibility of error.

The number of missing people and unknown victims nationwide means that the job of forensic DNA testing is just beginning.

E-mail bharris@wfaa.com.