Author Profile

Team IDs Man Thrown from Castle in 800-year-old Norse Saga
October 30, 2024
A new study describes how researchers used ancient DNA to corroborate the events of the saga and discover details about the “well man,” blending history and archaeology with science and setting a precedent for future research on historical figures. read more
Genealogy Identifies Suspect in 1994 Homicide
October 30, 2024
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) has identified the suspect in the murder of Melonie White. read more
Jane Doe ID'ed, Investigation Ongoing in 1984 Homicide Cold Case
October 30, 2024
A woman, whose remains were discovered in Bowling Green, KY in 1984, is now known to be Patricia Armentrout, born on April 20, 1964 in Bethesda, Maryland. read more
Doctoral Student Proposes Change to Burial Law that Could Help Families of Missing Persons
October 30, 2024
In her view, there would be substantial benefits to requiring burial rather than cremation for unidentified bodies and partial remains, where practicable. read more
M-Vac Used to Help Link Serial Killer Bruce Lindahl to 1981 Murder of Teen
October 28, 2024
Four years after genetic genealogy linked the 1993 murder of 16-year-old Pamela Maurer to serial killer Bruce Lindahl, advanced DNA analysis has confirmed 19-year-old Kathy Halle as another one of his victims. read more
DNA Doe Project Identifies Elderly Woman Found in Clandestine Grave
October 28, 2024
After 36 years of anonymity as a Jane Doe discovered buried in a shallow grave near Florence Junction, Arizona, Evelyn “Dottie” Lees has been identified by the DNA Doe Project. read more
Othram Identifies Skull from 1866
October 28, 2024
A woman, whose remains were discovered in Batavia, Illinois in 1978, is now identified as 17-year-old Esther Ann Granger, born in 1848. read more
Genealogy Names Man Who Died by Suicide in 1999
October 28, 2024
After over 25 years of investigating, CPD has used forensic genetic genealogy to close the case of an unidentified man who died by suicide. read more
State Forms Forensic Genealogy Commission to ID Unidentified Human Remains
October 28, 2024
This initiative aims to expedite the identification of unidentified human remains, offering hope and closure to families statewide. read more
'Scent of Death' Evidence Deemed Admissible in Indiana
October 22, 2024
A peculiar scent helped nail his conviction and introduced a new kind of evidence to Indiana courtrooms, thanks to Indiana University Indianapolis’ forensic science expertise. read more
Situational and Developmental Approaches to Prevent Sexual Violence
October 22, 2024
Growing evidence supports using situational and developmental crime prevention approaches to complement traditional law enforcement and criminal justice interventions to combat sexual violence. read more
New Cold Case Team Solves 2017 Murder
October 22, 2024
The NNPD’s Cold Case team is brand new, just formed at the end of August 2024. The team comprises two full-time homicide detectives and one investigator, who is a retired homicide detective. read more
Cold Case Arrest: After Couple Helps Wife Leave, Ex-Husband Murders Man
October 22, 2024
An investigation revealed Williams and his wife helped the wife of Dan Bishop leave her then-husband (Bishop) and resettle in Texas at an undisclosed location. read more
DNA, Genealogy Search Provides Lead in 2008 Murder
October 22, 2024
DNA from a possible suspect was collected at the scene and entered into the CODIS in November 2008. At the time, there was no matching DNA in CODIS. read more
Digital Forensics, Cold Case Team’s Work Leads to Arrests in 2019 Murder
October 21, 2024
It’s extremely difficult to work a murder case without the victim’s body, but—with dogged investigation, persistent witness interviews and some digital forensics magic—that’s exactly what the Douglas County (Colorado) Cold Case Team did, culminating in the arrest and indictment of two individuals last week. read more
'Baby Garin' Identified after 30 Years, Mother Arrested
October 21, 2024
A man who was collecting aluminum cans made the discovery when he picked up a paper grocery bag and found the infant inside, wrapped in a blanket. read more
Rhode Island Gets $600,000 to Reduce DNA Backlog
October 21, 2024
With this funding, the state’s crime lab expects to typically process cases within 30 days for violent crimes and 90 days for non-violent crimes. read more
DA Asks for Retests after TBI Fires Forensic Scientist
October 21, 2024
The firing has led Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy to ask for retesting of evidence originally analyzed by the forensic scientist. read more
Genetic Genealogy IDs 1980 Jane Doe as Victim of Serial Killer
October 21, 2024
The official identification of Pamela Kay Wittman, whose body was found Nov. 5, 1980, off I-95 north of Port Orange, has also enabled detectives to determine she was a victim of Daytona Beach-area serial killer Gerald Stano. read more
Police: Body Found in Freezer is Teen Daughter of Previous Homeowner Last Seen in 2005
October 16, 2024
Overstreet is believed to have been approximately 16 years old at the time of her disappearance. She has not been seen or heard from since April 2005. read more