Author Profile

Medical Examiner’s Office Receives Grant for Genetic Genealogy in Cold Cases
January 15, 2025
This funding will support advanced genetic genealogy techniques to help identify victims involved in unresolved criminal cases whose identities remain unknown. read more
How to Handle Inconclusive Decisions and Error Rates
January 15, 2025
NIST forensic science program leads recommend analysts include alongside their results information about their adherence to an approved method and the performance of that method when tested using samples that are most reflective of the quality or conditions of the evidence in the case at hand. read more
Highlights from the 2024 NIJ Research Conference
January 15, 2025
Lucas Zarwell moderated a lively discussion among four experts about the complex issue of resolving long-term missing and unidentified person cases while finding dignified and legal outcomes for the deceased. read more
Study: U.S. Methamphetamine Mortality 61x Higher in 2021 than 1999
January 15, 2025
Methamphetamine deaths in the U.S. rose 61-fold from 1999 to 2021, according to a new study, highlighting a growing crisis in addiction and public health. read more
Global Drug Symposium Reports Increasing Use of Nitazenes
January 13, 2025
At a recent symposium on emerging global synthetic drug threats, multiple countries reported an increase in the number of deaths linked to nitazene use—including North America, Brazil, Australia, New Zealand and more. read more
Toronto Police, Othram Identify 1993 Serial Rapist
January 13, 2025
In May 1987, a woman was raped at knifepoint by an unknown man in her Toronto apartment. Nearly six years later in 1993, a young woman was attacked by an unknown man while she was on a walking path in Oakville. The person responsible for the assault of both women was unknown for decades. read more
Now-identified Doe is Last Known Victim of Serial Killer Shelly Brooks
January 13, 2025
The woman, a confessed victim of Detroit serial killer Shelly Brooks, could not be identified. read more
Ramapo IGG Center Teams with Retired Investigators Guild to Solve More Crimes
January 13, 2025
The Ramapo College of New Jersey Investigative Genetic Genealogy Center and the Retired Investigators Guild are proud to announce a groundbreaking partnership aimed at addressing one of the most pressing challenges in law enforcement: unsolved violent crime. read more
New Strontium Map of Sub-Saharan Africa will Help Forensic Experts
January 13, 2025
The map will help archaeologists, conservation scientists, and forensics experts match artifacts and plant, animal, and human remains found at locations around the world back to their most likely region of origin within Africa, offering new insights on issues ranging from the history of the transatlantic slave trade to modern wildlife trafficking and human migration patterns. read more
Study: Blowflies Can Retain DNA Evidence from Crime Scenes
January 06, 2025
A new study has shown that blowflies can inadvertently collect and retain DNA evidence from sexual assault crime scenes. read more
Genealogy Solves Cold Case Rapes of 11-Year-Old Girls
January 06, 2025
On June 22, 1988, two 11-year-old girls were sexually assaulted during a sleepover in a playhouse attic on a property in Port Angeles, Wash. read more
Woman Identified 33 Years After Homicide; 15 Years After Her Murderer Released from Prison
January 06, 2025
One of the defendants pleaded guilty in September 1992 to manslaughter in the first degree and received a sentence of 8 1/3 to 25 years in jail. He was released in 2009. read more
Students, Othram Team to ID Man Missing Since 2018
January 06, 2025
While SEMO students learned valuable investigative skills by searching missing persons databases and conducting records research, Othram’s in-house forensic genetic genealogy team worked to develop new leads in the case. read more
NIJ: Anticipated Forensic Research Interests in 2025
January 06, 2025
Interests include: policing practices, drug market trends, emerging technology for law enforcement, school safety and more. read more
FBI to Discuss Rule Change in National Rapid DNA Webinar
January 02, 2025
A National Rapid DNA webinar is scheduled for Monday, January 13 at 12 pm EST. During the webinar, the FBI, FBINAA, and other notable speakers will discuss a significant FBI rule change. read more
The Role of AI in Identifying and Honoring Victims of War
December 27, 2024
The loss of life is an undeniable and tragic reality affecting all parties to armed conflicts raging across the world. Thousands of unidentified victims are left in a state of decomposition. read more
How the Innocence Project Fought for Justice in 2024
December 27, 2024
From strengthening compensation laws to limiting the misuse of technology by law enforcement, these reforms represent steps toward a more equitable legal system for everyone. read more
Othram Identifies Remains of Child Murdered in 1960s
December 27, 2024
A young girl, whose remains were discovered in Honolulu, Hawaii in 2014, has been identified as Mary Sue Fink, born April 29, 1959. read more
Bipartisan FGG Bill Named After Carla Walker
December 27, 2024
The Carla Walker Act would dedicate federal grant funds to support forensic genetic genealogy (FGG) DNA analysis to help solve previously unsolvable cold cases. read more
NIST Publishes Report on DNA Mixture Interpretation Methods
December 27, 2024
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has published DNA Mixture Interpretation: A Scientific Foundation Review. This report reviews the methods that forensic laboratories use to interpret evidence containing a mixture of DNA from two or more people. read more