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]

Ohio Sees Carfentanil Increase, New Opioid Compound
October 22, 2025
The state of Ohio is continuing to experience a rise in drug seizures involving carfentanil, while forensic labs have detected a new opioid compound in the state. read more
UK Survey: Nearly 85% of CSIs Report Impact on Mental Health
October 15, 2025
Forensic professionals are suffering severe damage to their mental health due to frequent exposure to traumatic scenes, according to UNISON, the largest trade union in the United Kingdom. read more
6 of 24 Bodies Identified in Mortuary Scandal Involving County Coroner
October 06, 2025
Colorado regulatory inspectors discovered over 20 dead bodies in various states of decay hidden inside the Davis Mortuary funeral home owned by elected Pueblo County Coroner Brain Cotter and his brother Chris Cotter. read more
DNA, Ballistics Tie Serial Killer to 1991 ‘Yogurt Shop Murders’ in Austin
September 29, 2025
The only physical evidence located at the scene of a quadruple assault and homicide of teenagers has been linked to known serial killer Robert Eugene Brashers who, years later, died by suicide during a police standoff—with the same gun he used to murder 13-year-old Amy Ayers on that night in 1991. read more
Celebrating National Forensic Science Week 2025
September 17, 2025
This week-long event serves as an opportunity to raise public awareness about the vital role forensic science plays in the criminal justice system, from exonerating the innocent to identifying the guilty. read more
Genealogy IDs 1971 Jane Doe, Reunites 2 Surviving Children
September 15, 2025
Police in one of the most affluent counties in Maryland have not only solved the department’s oldest cold case homicide, but also reunited the victim’s surviving adult children who were unaware of what had happened to their mother and each other. read more
Police Exhume Remains of 1985 John Doe for Genetic Genealogy Analysis
September 15, 2025
St. Joseph County Police, the Coroner’s Office, and other agencies will exhume the remains of this man—known only as the “Howard Johnson John Doe”—from Tutt Cemetery in an attempt to give him his name back. read more
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