Michelle Taylor

Editor-in-Chief

Forensic

Michelle Taylor has worked on the Forensic brand since 2016. Well established in the industry, Michelle has attended dozens of scientific conferences and conducted interviews with key opinion leaders, including multiple Nobel Prize winners and award-winning forensic scientists. Michelle enjoys writing about investigative forensic genetic genealogy, novel psychoactive substances, next-generation sequencing, sexual assault kits and more. Michelle received her BA in journalism from Elon University in North Carolina. Michelle can be reached at [email protected] Michelle can be reached at [email protected]

DNA Doe Project Identifies Last Child Victim of Bear Brook Murders
September 08, 2025
Nearly 50 years after her serial killer father allegedly murdered her, the DNA Doe Project has identified the little girl found in a barrel in Bear Brook State Park in 2000. read more
DNA Analysis Leads to Individual Twin in 1987 Rape Cold Case
September 03, 2025
For the first time in the U.S., an identical twin has been convicted of a crime based on DNA analysis. read more
After Reexamination Leads to DNA, Police Exhume Teen’s Body in 1993 Cold Case
August 25, 2025
After spending the last two years reviewing the cold case murder of a teen, detectives with the Mason County Sheriff’s Office (Michigan) gathered enough information to make it necessary to exhume the girl’s body in hopes of solving the case. read more
Professor Designs AI-powered Gunshot Detection Tech to Overcome Current Drawbacks
August 11, 2025
Researchers at Purdue University Northwest have used AI to create a new indoor gunshot detection system that was specifically designed to overcome the current challenges of such systems. read more
M-Vac to be Used on Evidence from West Memphis Three Murders
August 06, 2025
The order allows DNA testing of evidence from the original crime scene. The order specifically calls for the use of the M-Vac system. read more
Suspect Dies 2 Days Before Arrest for 1986 Kidnapping, Rape
August 04, 2025
Two days before a 78-year-old Wisconsin man was going to be arrested for a kidnapping and sexual assault that occurred 39 years ago in Michigan, he was found deceased at his residence. read more
Houston Reports Uptick in Opioid, Meth Use Among High School Students
July 30, 2025
Nationwide, the YRBS survey saw 10- and 12-year declines in the teen use of alcohol, cigarettes, marijuana, opioids, inhalants, cocaine, methamphetamine and ecstasy. However, not all the trends were reflected at a more local level. read more
Artist Completes Facial Reconstruction at Comic-Con to Help ID Toddler
July 28, 2025
San Diego’s Comic Con brings over 100,000 people to the local convention center—and NCMEC is hoping one of them has information on a little boy known only as “John San Diego Doe 2004.” read more
Othram Worked on DNA that Led to Kohberger in University of Idaho Murders
July 23, 2025
We now know that Othram scientists were the ones to develop the high-resolution SNP profile that helped lead investigators to Kohberger. read more
Serial Killer Suspect Dies 1 Day after Third Victim Identification
July 21, 2025
One day after genetic genealogy finally identified I-90 Jane Doe (1992), her alleged murderer— suspected serial killer Clark Perry Baldwin—died in prison from a heart attack. read more
Researchers Sequence Whole Genome of Ancient Egyptian for the First Time
July 14, 2025
This possibility exceptionally skilled man is the oldest Egyptian to have his genome sequenced to date. He lived around 4,500 to 4,800 years ago—the age of the first pyramids. read more
Report Offers Recommendations in Wake of CBI DNA Scandal
July 09, 2025
In the wake of the Missy Woods scandal, an independent assessment of the Colorado Bureau of Investigation’s Forensic Services section has found past deficiencies that included inadequate accountability, poor internal culture, a focus on productivity and gaps in crisis response. read more
West Tennessee County Approves Area’s First-ever Locally Funded Crime Lab
June 25, 2025
On Monday, the Shelby County (Tennessee) Board of Commissioners voted to approve the first-ever locally funded crime lab in county history. This will move key evidence testing much closer to home for those in Shelby County. read more
Family History Helps ID Second ‘New’ Victim of Tulsa Race Massacre
June 23, 2025
The City of Tulsa’s 1921 Graves Investigation has identified James Goings as the second “new” victim of the Tulsa Race Massacre through veterans’ records and family history. read more
Nonprofit Steps in to Fund Cold Case Investigations as Federal Grant Ends
June 18, 2025
This work was funded by a $535,000 federal grant. Now, with more than 600 unsolved homicides in the county still, the grant money has been exhausted. read more
Genealogy IDs Suspect in 1980 Murder Case Popularized by Movie
June 16, 2025
Now, police are certain they have identified the man actually responsible for Brow’s murder after modern-day analysis of blood left at the crime scene and subsequent genetic genealogy. read more
Data Reveals Fentanyl-related Precursors, Byproducts, Intermediates in 2024, 2025 Drug Supply
June 11, 2025
In June 2024, befuddled forensic scientists started detecting the presence of BTMPS—a light stabilizer evaluated for use in plastic materials—in the recreational drug supply, specifically as an adulterant alongside fentanyl. read more
Field Device Can Detect Low Concentrations of Drugs in Real-time
May 28, 2025
At the scene, the tablets were found to contain a nitazene, allowing authorities to put out a drug warning within 36 hours of the initial death—possibly saving others from a similar fate. read more
Audit: 36 Police-custody Deaths Should have been Ruled Homicides
May 21, 2025
An independent audit found that 36 deaths in police custody over a two-decade span in Maryland should have been ruled homicides by the state’s top medical examiner Dr. David Fowler. read more
IGG Identifies Another Likely Victim of ‘Scorecard Killer’ 45 Years Later
May 14, 2025
Given the location of the body and the evidence, Parks is believed to be another victim of serial killer Randy Kraft, also called the Scorecard Killer and the Freeway Killer. read more