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]

2022 Holiday Gift Guide for Forensic Professionals
December 12, 2022
If you have a forensic scientist, science-lover or even budding scientist on your list this year, check out the top 10 gifts on this year’s Forensic Holiday Gift Guide. read more
'Boy in the Box' is Identified as Joseph Augustus Zarelli
December 08, 2022
After 65 years, "America's Unknown Child" has been identified as Joseph Augustus Zarelli. Colleen Fitzpatrick and Identifinders International helped give Joseph back his name. read more
Drugs of Abuse Update: A Safer Opioid and 3 New Biomarkers
December 05, 2022
Recent research by scientists at the University of Southern California and the National University of Singapore seeks to address at least some of today’s challenges in forensic toxicology. read more
NJ College Launches World’s First Investigative Genetic Genealogy Center
December 02, 2022
A small public liberal arts college in Bergen County, New Jersey launched the world’s first investigative genetic genealogy center on Thursday. read more
Cabanatuan Prison Camp: Using Modern DNA Tech in Highly Commingled WWII Cases
November 30, 2022
During initial processing, analysis, and identification—any subsequent attempts in the years to come—commingling of skeletal elements among individuals within the same common grave and between common graves likely occurred. read more
Real-time NPS Report: Overwhelming Fentanyl Use, Fentanyl Analogs on the Rise
November 21, 2022
Fentanyl is overwhelmingly the most commonly detected opioid nationally, although geographical differences are present for opioids, poly-drug use and novel psychoactive substances (NPS). read more
New Technology Creates ‘Digital Alibis’
November 18, 2022
If you have a map app and location services enabled on your phone, it pretty much knows where you are 24/7/365. Well, it knows where it is—not necessarily you. read more
DNA Databases Key to Preventing Future Victims
November 07, 2022
If Ashley Spence’s rapist was arrested in Arizona, where he brutally raped the then-19-year-old, he would likely still be roaming the streets. read more
Forensic Genetic Genealogy Needs International Cooperation
November 02, 2022
If countries do not work cooperatively on an FIGG framework, the forensic community could end up with a fractured system vulnerable to inadvertent legal missteps. read more
Whole Genome Targeting, Phenotypic Data Give 1800’s 'Vampire' a Face
October 31, 2022
If any kids dressed as vampires come to your door tonight requesting candy, they probably won’t look like the 19th century “vampire” in this reconstruction. read more
Three Victims, One County: Genealogy Gives Names Back to 3 Unidentified Bodies
October 26, 2022
Thanks to the relentless review of cold cases by a lieutenant at the Benton County (Arkansas) Sheriff’s Office and a March 2021 meeting with Othram, investigators have now identified previously unidentified remains of three homicide victims dating back over 40 years ago. read more
Australian Scientists Find New Ketamine-like Drug
October 24, 2022
Scientists working with Australia's first fixed pill testing site have detected a mysterious new recreational drug not seen in the country before, nor toxicologically described anywhere else. read more
Maryland Selects 100 In-custody Police Deaths to Review after George Floyd Testimony
October 21, 2022
Maryland will review about 100 autopsies of people who died in police custody involving physical restraint because of concerns about the state’s former medical examiner’s testimony in the death of George Floyd. read more
Dog Finds Evidence of Sexual Assault After Unique Training Program
October 19, 2022
April’s 6-week training program wasn’t focused on searching for human remains or explosives; rather, April is now one of three dogs in the UK trained to detect very small amounts of seminal fluid. read more
NJ Bill Limits Use of Newborn Dried Bloodspot Cards
October 17, 2022
Lawmakers in New Jersey have introduced a bill that would prevent police from using newborn bloodspots for anything other than detecting disease. read more
Marijuana ‘Breathalyzer’ is One Step Closer
October 12, 2022
Measuring THC, the active compound in marijuana that leads to a high, is much different than, for example, the level of ethanol that is measured with a traditional alcohol breathalyzer. read more
Police Apologize for Use of DNA Phenotyping in 2019 Cold Case
October 10, 2022
Forty-eight hours after release, amid accusations of racism, the image was removed from the media release as well as social media sites, and the officer in charge of the sexual assault section apologized. read more
CDC Sees Increase in Fentanyl Analog Use in Overdose Deaths
October 05, 2022
As the overdose epidemic rages on, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released information on the increased detection of para-fluorofentanyl, a schedule I illicit fentanyl analog. read more
Study: Forensic STRs May Reveal Medical Information
October 03, 2022
In the new study, published last week in PNAS, researchers investigated whether genotypes at the CODIS loci could directly reveal information about the expression levels of neighboring genes. read more
Tennessee Funds Additional Forensic Jobs after Fletcher Murder
September 30, 2022
Would Eliza Fletcher, a mother of two and kindergarten teacher, still be alive today if a rape kit containing the DNA of her accused killer—Cleotha Henderson—was processed when it was received in September 2021, rather than a year later? read more