Author Profile

3D-printed ‘Ghost Guns’ are not as Untraceable as Thought
February 25, 2026
3D-printed guns are a growing threat to public safety. These guns have been called “untraceable.” Research is now putting this claim to the test. read more
Students Identify 1986 Jane Doe who was Never Reported Missing
February 25, 2026
During the casework period of their education program, they determined that “Bagdad Betty” was likely Elizabeth McCumber, born in 1962 in Ohio. read more
New Analysis of Old Evidence Leads to Arrest of Suspect in 1990 Murder
February 25, 2026
Detectives with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department’s Cold Case Unit have arrested and charged a suspect, Marion Gales, 63, in a 35-year-old homicide cold case. read more
Genealogy Identifies Decapitated Remains Found in Shallow Grave
February 25, 2026
There, beneath a layer of fallen leaves, officers found skeletal remains buried in a shallow grave. The remains were largely intact, but the head was missing. read more
University Launches Digital Forensic Degree to Fight Cybercrime
February 25, 2026
A new Bachelor of Science in Digital Forensics is giving students hands-on training in investigating cyberattacks, analyzing digital evidence and protecting communities. read more
Why Laws Named after Tragedies Win Public Support
February 25, 2026
When lawmakers name bills after victims of tragedy–such as Megan’s Law or the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act of 1993–public support surges, but this emotional boost may come at the expense of sound policymaking. read more
As Demand Rises, Students are Playing Larger Roles in Cold Cases
February 23, 2026
On a cold morning in December 2025, six forensic anthropology students from Western Carolina University entered the woods of Ellerbe Creek with five of their professors and a group of Durham Police Department officials. read more
DNA Identifies Remains as Young Father Missing Since 1988
February 23, 2026
In June 2004, the skeletal remains of an unidentified individual were found by an exterminator in a concrete coal bin in the basement of a house in East Lake, a neighborhood in Birmingham, Alabama. read more
A World First: Lion DNA Analysis Secures Criminal Conviction
February 23, 2026
For the first time anywhere in the world, DNA forensics has been used to secure a criminal conviction for the illegal killing and trafficking of an individual lion. read more
Lab that 'Fights Crimes against Cats' is Looking to AI for Help
February 23, 2026
The lab has spent years investigating cat deaths, identifying patterns and building a repository not only of data points, but how best to collect them. read more
DNA Doe Project IDs Murdered Woman in 'Toughest Case Yet'
February 23, 2026
Parga was 22 years old and pregnant when she was killed by Wilson Chouest, who was convicted of her murder in 2018. Her identification was the product of seven years of genealogy research, making this the toughest case ever solved by the DNA Doe Project. read more
Nitazenes Detected in Wastewater for First Time During 2 Major Events
February 18, 2026
For the first time, researchers have used real-time wastewater monitoring to track nitazene compounds in municipal wastewater. read more
UK Committee: Collapsing Forensic Science System is a National Scandal
February 18, 2026
Forensic science in England and Wales is not working. Not for the police, not for forensic scientists or lawyers and ultimately, it is not working for the public and the criminal justice system. read more
Genealogy Identifies Doe as Man Missing Since 2009
February 18, 2026
The Clermont Police Department announced that human remains located in 2009 have been positively identified as Ernest Joe Manzanares, whose disappearance had remained unresolved for years. read more
From complexity to clarity—mixtures meet their match
February 18, 2026
DNA evidence is only as powerful as its interpretation. With increasingly complex mixtures, low-template samples, and the scrutiny of courtroom testimony, forensic scientists need tools and approaches that enable confidence, clarity, and defensibility. read more
With New John Doe Identification, Florida Police Clear Cold Case List
February 18, 2026
This marks the final unidentified individual on St. Petersburg Police Department's John/Jane Doe cold case list. read more
NIST Releases New Genetic Reference Material for Challenging Cases
February 18, 2026
NIST has released a new forensic DNA reference material, the first to include degraded DNA as well as mixtures of high-quality DNA from different individuals. read more
Baring the ‘Silent Violence’ of Philippine Jails
February 18, 2026
New research shifts attention from numbers to lived experience, examining how carceral punishment in Philippine jails extends far beyond legal sentences by permeating every bodily sense. read more
Genealogy Identifies Exhumed Remains Recovered in 1985
February 11, 2026
The case saw a significant breakthrough in 2019, when the man’s remains were exhumed. The exhumation enabled investigators to obtain a DNA profile from a femur bone. read more
Team Identifies 1978 Homicide Victim
February 11, 2026
It is believed Patricia Ann Ritchie was last seen in 1977 in Harrisonburg, Virginia. It is unknown at this time exactly when and with whom Ritchie traveled to Florida before her death. read more