Author Profile

DNA Test Kits are Changing Donor-conceived Families
August 17, 2022
A law passed on April 1, 2005 will have life-changing consequences for families across the UK from next year. read more
Have a Question about this Partnership? Submit it Now
August 17, 2022
Forensic will be interviewing Verogen CEO Brett Williams about the newly announced Gene by Gene genetic genealogy partnership. Do you have questions? read more
New Study Says Meth is an Overlooked Problem in Rural Areas
August 17, 2022
Methamphetamine remains a stubbornly prevalent illicit substance in large swaths of rural America, according to a new study. read more
Carnegie Mellon, UBC Team Win 2022 'Olympics of Hacking'
August 17, 2022
Together the teams formed a new squad under the name Maple Mallard Magistrates (MMM), finishing in the top spot on the leaderboard at the end of days one and two, and holding on during the competition’s final day to take this year’s crown. read more
Bristol Cold Case Unit Expands to Include Missing Persons
August 15, 2022
The already-effective Cold Case Unit out of the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office is hoping to continue their success as they now expand their scope to include all missing persons in the last 50 years. read more
DNA Results from 1970s Rape Cases Both Promising and Alarming
August 15, 2022
Baltimore County police have processed DNA from 49 of about 1,800 remaining cases as of the first quarter of this year. Ten of the 49 cases yielded actionable DNA profiles. read more
For the First Time, Arizona Uses Tattoo Recognition to ID Deceased Victims
August 15, 2022
Utilizing tattoo recognition software, an FIU detective forensically examined several tattoos, two of which resulted in a strong investigative lead. read more
Verogen and Gene by Gene Form Partnership to Accelerate Adoption of Forensic Investigative Genetic Genealogy
August 15, 2022
The alliance between database stewards will standardize bioinformatic methods for FIGG analysis and offer cost-effective whole genome sequencing services for challenging forensic samples. read more
Body of Teen Murdered in 1959 Exhumed for Modern DNA Testing
August 15, 2022
The body of Ruth Whitman was exhumed from a cemetery in Glenmont last week to perform DNA testing. The case had been cold since the 1990s when police pursued what turned out to be a bogus tip. read more
Kentucky State Police Train Local Law Enforcement in Forensic Mapping
August 15, 2022
The course focused on teaching methods to forensically map a collision or crime scene utilizing a UAS, often referred to as a drone. read more
DNA, Genealogy Match 1985 New Mexico Remains to Kansas Teen
August 12, 2022
DNA extracted from the femur bone of human remains found in 1985 has given 16-year-old Dorothy Harrison back her name, and became the first—of what police hope is many—genetic genealogy-enabled identification for the Doña Ana County Sheriff’s Office in New Mexico. read more
Genealogy ID's Suspect from Blood Drops Left at Scene of 1970 Homicide
August 12, 2022
The suspect stabbed the victim over 30 times and nearly decapitated her. When investigators arrived and began processing the crime scene, they located a blood trail that began on the balcony, continued to the sidewalk below, around the apartment complex buildings, ending at the parking lot. read more
DNA From 8-Year-Old's Murder Matches Now Deceased Local Man
August 12, 2022
The City of Upper Arlington’s (Ohio) Police Chief, Steve Farmer, announced that the Police Division has resolved and closed the homicide case of 8-year-old Asenath Dukat with the help of DNA technology. read more
In Utah, Rape is Only Violent Crime Higher than the National Average
August 12, 2022
The high number of rapes reported in the data is especially concerning as only 11.8% of individuals who have experienced rape or sexual assault in Utah reported the crime to law enforcement. read more
Grant Enables Forensic Program to Continue COVID-19 Research
August 12, 2022
Forensic scientists at Alabama State University will be able to continue research into the microbiome of death signatures of postmortem samples obtained at autopsy from COVID-19 infected and noninfected corpses thanks to a new $40,000 grant. read more
Familial DNA Links Suspect to Two Cold Case Homicides
August 10, 2022
Evidence preservation, familial DNA, covert collection and incredibly persistent investigators has led to the arrest of Robert Edwards for the rape and murder of a young woman in Ohio 31 years ago. read more
DDP Goes International to ID Woman Pulled from Mississippi River in 1977
August 10, 2022
On July 20, 1977 the body of a woman was recovered from the Mississippi River. Although it could not be determined how long the deceased had been in the water, investigators estimated she had probably died sometime earlier that year. read more
Blood Left on Victim's Jacket Leads to Arrest in 1982 Murder of Teen
August 10, 2022
A Hawaii man has been arrested after DNA technology helped investigators identify him as a suspect in the 1992 slaying of a 15-year-old girl who was abducted in Northern California from a bus stop, raped and killed. read more
Instead of Ankle Bracelets for Criminal Offenders, What about Brain Bracelets?
August 10, 2022
The technology could potentially be used for the brain monitoring of criminal offenders or for cognitive enhancement, creating a divide between enhanced and non-enhanced humans. read more
Why it's so Difficult to Secure Forensic Evidence of War Crimes
August 08, 2022
Previous recent conflicts that resulted in war crime allegations and investigations offer context for understanding the challenges in independently investigating them. read more