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Death Row Inmate Seeks DNA, Fingerprint Tests in 1980 Deaths
October 21, 2022
A judge is mulling an Arizona death row prisoner’s request to have fingerprint and DNA tests conducted on evidence from the two 1980 killings for which he is scheduled to be executed next month. read more
Missouri Sends 226 Untested Rape Kits to Marshall University to Help Clear Backlog
October 21, 2022
Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt announced that 226 untested sexual assault kits were shipped from the Kansas City Police Department (KCPD) to Marshall University Lab to undergo DNA testing. read more
Homicide is a Leading Cause of Death in Pregnant Women in the U.S.
October 21, 2022
Women in the U.S. are more likely to be murdered during pregnancy or soon after childbirth than to die from the three leading obstetric causes of maternal death (high blood pressure disorders, hemorrhage, or sepsis). read more
Dog Finds Evidence of Sexual Assault After Unique Training Program
October 19, 2022
April’s 6-week training program wasn’t focused on searching for human remains or explosives; rather, April is now one of three dogs in the UK trained to detect very small amounts of seminal fluid. read more
Idaho Cold Case Task Force, Othram ID Woman Found in 2014
October 19, 2022
After an autopsy and DNA samples and fingerprints were gathered, the woman, Jane Doe, was buried with a small gathering including members of the coroner’s office, law enforcement personnel, and a few community members. read more
First Alumni of New Forensic Genetic Genealogy Program Launch Company
October 19, 2022
Alumni of the first cohort to graduate from the new Forensic Genetic Genealogy certificate program offered by the University of New Haven have launched their own Forensic Investigative Genetic Genealogy (FIGG) company. read more
International Cold Case Analysis Project Presents its Results
October 19, 2022
A large international team recently examined four cold cases of homicides and missing persons as part of the fourth International Cold Case Analysis Project. read more
Classmate Convicted of Killing Kristin Smart
October 19, 2022
The last man seen with Kristin Smart was convicted Tuesday of killing the college freshman, who vanished from a California campus more than 25 years ago, but his father was acquitted of helping him conceal the crime. read more
1974 John Doe is Army Vet, Cause of Death Still Unclear
October 17, 2022
In November 1974 hunters stumbled upon the discovery of skeletal remains in the creekhead of a partially wooded area in Illinois. read more
New DNA Profiles Discovered in Michelle Bettles Murder Investigation
October 17, 2022
A forensic review into Bettles' murder – launched in March 2022 on the 20th anniversary of her murder – has identified several DNA profiles on Bettles' clothing, including a complete male DNA profile. read more
NJ Bill Limits Use of Newborn Dried Bloodspot Cards
October 17, 2022
Lawmakers in New Jersey have introduced a bill that would prevent police from using newborn bloodspots for anything other than detecting disease. read more
Report Says Black People are 7 Times More Likely to be Falsely Convicted
October 17, 2022
Black people in the United States are seven times more likely than white people to be falsely convicted of serious crimes, more likely to be the targets of police misconduct, and spend longer in prison before being exonerated, according to a report by the National Registry of Exonerations. read more
American Academy of Pediatrics: Firearms Violence Prevention Demands a Public Safety Approach
October 17, 2022
The AAP offers updated recommendations to reduce the firearm violence risks to children, as homicide and suicide rates rise. read more
The History and Legacy of the Latent Fingerprint Black Box Study
October 14, 2022
The FBI's black box study on latent prints continues to influence the criminal justice system's understanding of the validity and reliability of forensic testimony. read more
DNA, IGG IDs Woman Missing Since 1994
October 14, 2022
In October 1994, human remains belonging to an unknown woman were found in a wooden area under a bridge in Hancock County Indiana. Investigators thought the remains were likely there for several months before discovery. read more
DNA from Drop of Blood Yields Arrest in 1989 Vermont Double Murder
October 14, 2022
A drop of blood that was subjected to modern DNA testing enabled Vermont State Police detectives to make an arrest in the 1989 murder of a Danby couple found stabbed to death in their home. read more
First Female-focused Criminal Justice Mentorship Program
October 14, 2022
The Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) announced a partnership with UW-Madison and UW-Platteville to provide the first female focused mentoring program at the two universities for students interested in pursuing a career in criminal justice. read more
New Computational Model Targets Sex, Labor Trafficking Operations
October 14, 2022
The models draw on publicly available data to identify massage businesses that are most likely to be violating laws related to sex trafficking and labor trafficking. read more
Marijuana ‘Breathalyzer’ is One Step Closer
October 12, 2022
Measuring THC, the active compound in marijuana that leads to a high, is much different than, for example, the level of ethanol that is measured with a traditional alcohol breathalyzer. read more
Astrea Forensics, Intermountain Forensics Partner to Form IGG Satellite Lab
October 12, 2022
Intermountain Forensics has announced the formation of a dedicated satellite lab for forensic investigative genetic genealogy laboratory processing with partner Astrea Forensics. read more