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OSAC's Human Forensic Biology Subcommittee Develops DNA Analysis Process Map
May 06, 2022
The new Human Forensic DNA Analysis Process Map captures details about the various procedures, methods and decision points most frequently encountered in human forensic biology/DNA analysis. read more
Forensic Students Called in to Help Search for Remains of 2012 Murder Victim
May 06, 2022
A Troy University professor and two students in the budding forensic sciences program were recently called on to assist the Pike County Sheriff’s Department in the search for the remains of a 2012 murder victim believed to be buried in southern Pike County. read more
Suffolk County Police Release New Information on Gilgo Four
May 06, 2022
Suffolk County police have released additional information on the "Gilgo Four" murder victims. It's part of a renewed effort to bring in new tips in the decade-old cold case. read more
Two Penn State Health Hospitals Launch Partnership to Support Sexual Assault Victims
May 06, 2022
Two hospitals are partnering with Penn State’s Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing to enhance support for sexual assault victims through secure telehealth technology. read more
John Ramsey Slams Local Police, Wants Daughter’s Case Moved Out of Boulder
May 04, 2022
After criticizing the Boulder (Colorado) Police Department (BPD) of “pride” and “ego,” John Ramsey, father of JonBenet Ramsey, threw his support behind a petition that asks the governor of Colorado to take the case out of the hands of BPD. read more
Body in Barrel Exposed as Level of Nevada’s Lake Mead Drops
May 04, 2022
A body inside a barrel was found over the weekend on the the newly exposed bottom of Nevada’s Lake Mead as drought depletes one of the largest U.S. reservoirs — and officials predicted the discovery could be just the first of more grim finds. read more
Sheriff’s Office, Othram Identify a 2003 Homicide Victim
May 04, 2022
Isabel Sanchez Bernal was murdered and left in a shallow grave in Mammoth Lakes, but after 17 years she was identified and her killer was brought to justice. read more
Justice Department Announces New Training Resource for Sexual Assault Medical Forensic Examinations
May 04, 2022
The SAMFE VP provides interactive training on various topics including evidence collection, physical examinations, medical and forensic documentation, crime laboratory analysis and courtroom testimony. read more
White Paper Offers Recommendations for Prosecution of Child Sexual Abuse
May 04, 2022
The study analyzed 500 child sexual abuse reports to examine predictors of which cases moved forward to prosecution. read more
ICYMI: Emergent Synthetic Stimulant Replacing Drug Sold as Ecstasy, Molly
May 02, 2022
N,N-Dimethylpentylone was first identified in toxicology samples in the U.S. in late-2021. To date, N,N-dimethylpentylone has been identified in 32 toxicology cases, including 26 postmortem. read more
Supreme Court to Hear DNA Appeal in Rodney Reed Case
May 02, 2022
The Supreme Court has agreed to discuss whether new DNA tests can be carried out in relation to the murder of Stacey Stites in 1996. read more
Ohio Governor Launches Crime Lab Efficiency Program
May 02, 2022
As part of the new Ohio Crime Lab Efficiency Program, Ohio’s 14 certified crime laboratories will receive a combined total of $10 million to reduce and eliminate backlogs, increase overall lab efficiency, and decrease evidence processing time. read more
Mississippi Autopsy Backlog is Worst in U.S.
May 02, 2022
An Associated Press analysis based on state data and documents, as well as dozens of interviews with officials and residents, found that Mississippi’s system has long operated in violation of national standards for death investigations, accruing a severe backlog of autopsies and reports. read more
Project Will Guide Decontamination, Recovery after Biological Event
May 02, 2022
Researchers have been working to identify the best and safest methods to decontaminate bases, stations and vessels should they be affected by a large-scale contamination from a pathogen like the anthrax-causing bacterium. read more
Shifting Attention to the Nation’s Sexual Assault Epidemic
April 29, 2022
In recognition of the end of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, let’s take a look at some recent sexual assault news and investigations. read more
Southeast Missouri State University Helps Identify 2006 John Doe
April 29, 2022
The Cold Case Unit of the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office and the Lincoln County Coroners’ Office teamed with the Anthropology Program of Southeast Missouri State University to identify human remains through DNA analysis. read more
Crime Scene Documentation: Weighing the Merits of 3D Laser Scanning
April 29, 2022
Three-dimensional laser scanning, a type of geospatial technology, has the potential to become a powerful tool in the crime scene documentation tool kit. read more
New Spectroscopy Method Shows Promise for Identifying Individuals in Mass Graves
April 29, 2022
This approach will allow a team to pinpoint the exact number of individuals in a comingled mass grave and sort them out individually based on bone metabolism. read more
Child Sex Trafficking, Other Criminal Activity Found on OnlyFans
April 29, 2022
Although not inherently illegal, an unintended consequence of this model is that it affords sex predators, rapists, sex traffickers, and other criminal elements the technological means to profit from their crimes while remaining less visible to law enforcement. read more
What’s Next for Probabilistic Genotyping Software?
April 27, 2022
Experience suggests PG software will continue to be improved, with creation of a continuum that completes the full workflow from analysis to interpretation and database matching the next logical step. read more