Author Profile

University Launches First-of-its-kind Open-access Forensic Research Library
July 01, 2022
Florida International University (FIU) has launched a first-of-its-kind resource for forensic science practitioners, students, researchers, and the general public. read more
Retiring Cold Case Detective Solves 15th Case with IGG in 4 Years
July 01, 2022
In a very fitting end to a 45-year law enforcement career, Detective Jim Scharf of the Snohomish County Sheriff's Office and oft-partnered Parabon Nanolabs solved the 1990 sexual assault and murder of 17-year-old Michelle Koski with an extremely challenging DNA sample and a full year of genetic genealogy research. read more
DNA Matters: What Forensics Owes to Alan Turing
June 29, 2022
While pioneering computer science, Turing also laid the foundation for modern forensic science. read more
Genetic Genealogy Helps ID Remains as Teen Missing Since 2000
June 29, 2022
Human remains found in Midland County in 2013 have now been positively identified as Sylvia Nicole Smith following an extensive investigation by the Texas Department of Public Safety. A homicide investigation is now underway. read more
Orange County Clears 30-year Backlog of Untested Sexual Assault Kits
June 29, 2022
The Orange County District Attorney’s Office has successfully cleared a 30-year countywide backlog of untested sexual assault kits, resulting in hundreds of new DNA profiles being uploaded to law enforcement databases and criminal charges being filed in six cold cases. read more
Study: Google Searches May be a Predictor of Domestic Violence
June 29, 2022
A new study says Google searches are an effective tool to track and predict domestic violence, especially in times of crisis, such as the period that followed the COVID-19 outbreak. read more
NIJ: Forensic Science Strategic Research Plan through 2026
June 29, 2022
The first strategic priority is the longest, with a handful more objectives than its counterparts. While that doesn’t mean it’s necessarily the most important, the implications on the forensic laboratory community—specifically—are vast. read more
Quinine in Street Drugs Decreases as Other Adulterants Rise
June 27, 2022
Scientists from the Center for Forensic Science Research & Education (CFSRE) identified the adulterant quinine in up to 57% of seized drug cases in the U.S., however, positivity varied greatly by state and rapidly declined in early 2022. read more
Genealogy IDs Mom Who Cut Newborn's Throat in 1993
June 27, 2022
Shortly after providing a DNA sample, Allen admitted that she was the biological mother of Baby Doe. During a follow-up interview, she admitted to cutting the baby’s throat shortly after his birth. read more
AG: DNA Collected from 102 of 387 Sex, Kidnapping, Homicide Offenders
June 27, 2022
AG Bob Ferguson announced his lawfully owed DNA project has collected 102 of 387 profiles of sex, kidnapping and homicide offenders in Washington who owe DNA. read more
UN Rep Calls for Better Medico-legal Death Investigations Worldwide
June 27, 2022
Morris Tidball-Binz, the UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, called on the international community to step up efforts for improving medico-legal death investigation systems worldwide. read more
3D X-Ray Makes it Easier to Detect Hidden Explosive Weapons
June 27, 2022
The 3D X-ray is a user-friendly, portable, durable, prototype imaging tool that uses a combination of both 2D and 3D computed tomography (CT) imaging capabilities to quickly and accurately detect the presence of explosive devices. read more
Viable DNA Extracted from Two Possible Tulsa Race Massacre Victims
June 24, 2022
Two sets of remains found last year at Oaklawn Cemetery have yielded enough DNA to possibly identify them by name and as victims of the Tulsa Race Massacre. read more
House Approves Bill to Decriminalize Fentanyl Test Strips
June 24, 2022
Test strips to help drug users identify fentanyl and other potentially deadly chemicals would no longer be classified as illegal paraphernalia under a bill passed unanimously by the Pennsylvania House. read more
New Research IDs Key Differences Between Animal Abuse, Neglect
June 24, 2022
One out of every five intentional animal cruelty incidents reported to police involves another criminal offense, according to a new study. read more
Extreme Risk Protection Orders to Prevent Mass Shootings: What Does the Research Show?
June 24, 2022
Mass shootings are a source of shared anguish and outrage among Americans and are becoming more frequent. Extreme risk protection orders (ERPOs), also known as gun violence restraining orders or “red flag” laws, are designed to help prevent these shootings. read more
A Simple Tool to Protect Websites from Cyber Hacking
June 24, 2022
An international team of researchers has developed a scanning tool to make websites less vulnerable to hacking and cyberattacks. read more
New Tool Can Link Digital Media to Origin Camera
June 22, 2022
In a project aimed at developing intelligent tools to fight child exploitation, scientists created a system to analyze the noise produced by individual cameras. This information can then be used to link a video or an image to a particular camera. read more
Army: Disinterred Remains Do Not Match Native American Boy
June 22, 2022
When the Army exhumed grave B-13 on Saturday, intending to repatriate the boy's remains to the Catawba Indian Nation of South Carolina, they did not match those of a male age 13 or 14. read more
Artificial Intelligence on the Hunt for Illegal Nuclear Material
June 22, 2022
Mixed samples of nuclear material are significantly more challenging to identify with traditional methodologies. In a real-world situation, the extra time required could have a catastrophic impact on the global community. read more