Author Profile

Genetic Genealogy Helps ID Killer in 1980 Newport Beach Cold Case
August 11, 2021
The 1980 murder of a 42-year-old Irvine wife and mother has been solved by the Newport Beach Police Department through the use of investigative genetic genealogy and new forensic crime solving techniques. read more
NY Suburb's Newly Created Cold Case Bureau Solves 30-Year-Old Homicide
August 11, 2021
Through the use of DNA testing and investigative genealogy, the victim, formerly known as “Jane Doe Mount Vernon” has officially been identified as Veronica Wiederhold. read more
Edmonton Police Launch Forensic Decomposition Study
August 11, 2021
The EPS Canine Unit is partnering with Shari Forbes at the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, and director of the first human taphonomy facility in Canada. read more
Apple to Scan U.S. iPhones for Images of Child Sexual Abuse
August 09, 2021
Apple unveiled plans to scan U.S. iPhones for images of child sexual abuse, drawing applause from child protection groups but raising concern among some security researchers that the system could be misused, including by governments looking to surveil their citizens. read more
Evidence, Accuracy of ShotSpotter Gunshot Detection System Called into Question
August 04, 2021
On the heels of a peer-reviewed study that concludes ShotSpotter may be of little benefit to police agencies and does not reduce violent crime, VICE News has taken aim at the gunshot detection system, alleging that police are altering evidence—a claim ShotSpotter has vehemently denied. read more
Collaborative Team Works to Identify Knoxville’s 'Lady in the Lake'
August 04, 2021
In March 2000, a woman's body was discovered by fishermen in the Melton Hill Lake in Knoxville, TN and is believed to have entered the water from upstream. read more
Coroner: Violence, Not Suicide, Killed Man at Missouri Party
August 04, 2021
A Black man who died during a party at the Missouri home of a man with a history of bigoted social media posts was killed by violence, not suicide, a jury found after a coroner’s inquest. read more
Ohio Officials Hope Forensic Reconstruction of 2020 John Doe Will Lead to ID
August 04, 2021
A forensic artist with the Attorney General’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation created a clay facial reconstruction of the man at the request of the Stark County Coroner’s Office. read more
The Students Training to Stop the Next Colonial Pipeline Cyber Attack
August 04, 2021
Cybersecurity jobs are the most challenging IT jobs to fill right now, surpassing AI/machine learning and data science/analytics. read more
Responding Deputy Adopts Boy Who Survived Biological Father's Murderous Rampage
August 02, 2021
As Ronnie Oneal III was sentenced showing no remorse for his actions, Ronnie Blair was across town with his family—safe, loved and physically recovered from the events of March 18, 2018. read more
Othram, DoeNetwork Collaborate on Missing and Unidentified Cold Cases
August 02, 2021
As part of the ongoing collaboration, DoeNetwork will feature updates for DNASolves unidentified persons cases that need financial support or general help from the crowd. read more
$26B Opioid Settlement Big Step, But Not the End
August 02, 2021
A $26 billion settlement between the three biggest U.S. drug distribution companies and drug maker Johnson & Johnson and thousands of states and municipalities that sued over the toll of the opioid crisis is significant—but it is far from tying a neat bow. read more
What Philadelphia Reveals About America’s Homicide Surge
August 02, 2021
There are many explanations for the rise in killings in U.S. cities, including the pandemic and the choices made in response to it. In Philadelphia, the causes, the human costs — and the suffering — are particularly stark. read more
DNA Assay Aids in the ID, Protection of North American Wolves, Coyotes
August 02, 2021
Forensics specialists can use a commercial assay targeting mitochondrial DNA to accurately discriminate between wolf, coyote and dog species, according to a new study. read more
Study: Crime Scene Virtual Reality Leads Jurors to Give More Consistent Verdicts
July 30, 2021
In a recent study, researchers at the University of South Australia have shown that not only is interactive technology in the courtroom possible, but it’s also preferable as it leads to fairer and more consistent verdicts. read more
Researchers Design New Machine Learning Approach to DNA Mixture Analysis
July 30, 2021
Their method combines the strengths of current computational and expert analysis approaches with those in data mining and artificial intelligence. read more
TrueAllele Helps Link Suspect to 1988 Cold Case Murder of 8-Year-Old Boy
July 30, 2021
In February 2021, with the permission of his family, Joshua’s body was exhumed in hopes of identifying further evidence. read more
NYC Subway Sensors Could Provide Early Warning for Chemical, Biological Threats
July 30, 2021
Technologies that are currently in use do not perform fast enough for a subway environment, and false alarms may cause unnecessarily disruptive and expensive closures. read more
Michigan Supreme Court Limits Use of Restraints on Juveniles
July 30, 2021
A year after Grace’s story drew national attention when she was jailed for not doing her online schoolwork, outcry over the shackling of young people in court has resulted in a ban on the practice unless there’s a risk of physical harm or flight. read more
Crime Scene Tape Finds Second Life in Microplastics Research
July 28, 2021
An adhesive tape patented by Staffordshire University researchers to recover trace evidence from crimes scenes is being adopted to analyse microplastics more efficiently. read more