Author Profile

Coast Guard Conducts First Anthrax Decontamination Field Test
August 10, 2020
If terrorists use anthrax as a bioagent on a ship or in a harbor, the U.S. Coast Guard must decontaminate the impacted area as quickly as possible to reduce the threat to personnel and civilians, while remaining ready to do its mission. read more
Arrest Made in 1986 Cold Case, Genetic Genealogy Provides Key Lead
August 07, 2020
Over the course of 32 years, Minnesota investigators interviewed and collected DNA from more than 100 people but were never able to link anyone to the rape and murder of 38-year-old Nancy Daugherty, a mother, nursing home aide and first responder. read more
Parabon Receives First Permit in New York for its Snapshot DNA Analysis
August 07, 2020
The permit was granted following an extensive review by NYS DoH of the forensic validation results for Snapshot's procedures. read more
Can Community Members Deliver Naloxone to Reverse Opioid Overdoses?
August 07, 2020
Equipped with naloxone and a smartphone app, community members can save lives in the fight against America's opioid crisis. read more
Self Selection Policing Opportunities in the Pandemic
August 07, 2020
Self-selection policing (SSP) can be a useful approach to detection as it highlights the extent to which serious offenders also commit less serious, and more easily detected, offences. read more
Othram to Work Toward ID of Skeletal Remains Found in N.C. Storage Unit
August 07, 2020
An unrecognizable, almost skeletal individual was found inside of a plastic container that was stowed away inside. It is unclear how long the remains may have been hidden in that location. read more
Digital Intelligence for Policing in Today's Geopolitical Environment
August 05, 2020
The pandemic and current social and economic tensions have transformed the way agencies are policing in the face of growing challenges and rising crime rates. read more
MS Method for Semen, Condom Identification Could Revolutionize Rape Investigations
August 05, 2020
Scientists have pioneered a mass spectrometry-based technique for semen detection that can provide more reliable identification for the justice system while placing less stress on the victim. read more
Genetic Genealogy Points to Original Suspect in 1993 Kidnapping, Murder of 15-Year-Old
August 05, 2020
Detectives from the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit arrested a 62 year-old Washington man for the April 1993 murder of 15 year-old Melissa Lee. read more
Student Develops Protocol to Train K9s to Detect Gunshot Residue
August 05, 2020
Since firearms are involved in many crimes, the Connecticut State Police wanted to also be able to train dogs to detect firearms and gunshot residue after a shot is fired. read more
Surge in Firearm Purchasing During COVID-19 Linked to Higher Rates of Violence
August 05, 2020
States with the most excess firearm purchases: New Hampshire, Mississippi, Kentucky, Vermont, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho and Arizona. read more
NIST Launches Investigation of Face Masks’ Effect on Face Recognition Software
August 04, 2020
Even the best of the 89 commercial facial recognition algorithms tested had error rates between 5% and 50% in matching digitally applied face masks with photos of the same person without a mask. read more
Vermont State Police Working with Parabon on 1982 Murder of Infant
August 03, 2020
Detectives used the time during the pandemic-related stay-home orders to pursue many unsolved cases,and the DNA techniques now available may help advance the Baby Boy Doe investigation. read more
Community, Law Enforcement Partnerships Best Help Kids Who Witness Home Violence
August 03, 2020
The Child Trauma Response Team, a police and community-based partnership, demonstrated success at screening and treating children for PTSD immediately following incidents of intimate partner violence. read more
FBI Study: M-Vac System Collects More DNA Than Swabbing
August 03, 2020
The study demonstrated that the M-Vac system is capable of collecting blood on multiple types of challenging surfaces, often with increased collection efficiency over traditional swabbing techniques. read more
Genetic Genealogy Helps Solve 52-Year-Old Murder in Orange County
August 03, 2020
After a 52-year manhunt, investigative genetic genealogy has helped identify the victim in Orange County’s oldest unsolved Jane Doe murder and find her killer. read more
Innocence Project: DNA Testing Could Prove Pervis Payne’s Innocence
July 31, 2020
The presence of DNA belonging to someone other than Payne would support the consistent story that he has told for more than 30 years: he was an innocent bystander who came upon the crime scene. read more
Air Force's Child Forensic Interview Course Earns National Accreditation
July 31, 2020
The Office of Special Investigations Behavioral Sciences Directorate, or XB, Child Forensic Interviewing Training Course has been accredited by the National Children’s Alliance, the national association and accrediting body for a network of more than 850 Children’s Advocacy Centers. read more
When Coughing is a Crime: COVID-19 and Bio-assaults
July 31, 2020
Targeted coughs, sneezes, even spitting, by individuals who claim to be infected with the virus have been recorded. read more
Colorado Court Rules Evidence Produced by STRmix is Relevant, Reliable
July 31, 2020
Rejecting a defense motion to exclude expert testimony regarding DNA evidence, the District Court for Weld County, Colorado has ruled that evidence produced by STRmix is relevant, reliable and therefore admissible in court proceedings. read more