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]

Bill Questions Proprietary Algorithms Used in Probabilistic Genotyping Software
July 27, 2020
A new bill brought forward by Rep. Mark Takano, D-Calif., is making the legality of using proprietary forensic software to unravel complex DNA mixtures just that—complex. read more
Two Security Breaches at GEDmatch Open All Users’ Profiles to Law Enforcement
July 23, 2020
On Sunday, July 19, GEDmatch experienced a security breach on one of the servers through an existing user account. The breach reset all user permissions, making all profiles visible to others for approximately 3 hours. read more
Missouri Bill Streamlines Rape Kit Testing, Adds Survivor Resources
July 20, 2020
Missouri’s governor has signed into law a sweeping bill that addresses sexual assault crimes, including an electronic tracking system for rape kits and a telehealth network for forensic examinations of victims. read more
Florida First to Protect Consumer DNA from All Insurance Companies
July 17, 2020
House Bill 1189 prohibits life, disability and long-term care insurance companies from requiring or soliciting genetic information from applicants and forbids DNA testing companies from providing consumer genetic information to insurers without permission. read more
Medical Examiners, Pediatricians Issue First Guidelines for Sudden Pediatric Death
July 15, 2020
An expert panel of over 30 multidisciplinary contributors from across the country came together to publish “Unexplained Pediatric Deaths: Investigation, Certification and Family Needs.” read more
Illinois State Police Reduce DNA Backlog by 33%, Debut Plan to Keep Momentum
July 13, 2020
Through a combination of laboratory accountability measures, lab robotics, rapid DNA, lean six-sigma efficiencies and the hiring of additional forensic scientists, the Illinois State Police have achieved a 33% overall reduction in the Biology/DNA forensic backlog. read more
3D Technology Brings Burnt Bones Back to Life for Investigators, Jury
July 08, 2020
The first-of-its-kind study used 3D imaging and 3D printing to reconstruct small burned bone fragments into both a virtual and physical replica a jury would be able to understand. read more
Forensic Artist Reconstructs Face of 8,000-Year-Old Skull-on-a-Stake
July 06, 2020
Dark hair and beard, light blue eyes, a light complexion and a scar on his head—this is what the 50-year-old man looked like nearly 8,000 years ago when his head was placed on a wooden stake during an ancient ritual. read more
DNA, Genetic Genealogy Solve 1982 Murder of 8-Year-Old Girl
July 01, 2020
This week, detectives solved Kelly Ann Prosser’s case through genetic genealogy, nearly 38 years after she vanished walking home from school on September 20, 1982. read more
Complex Family Trees, Genetic Genealogy Mark the Last of the Finalists in 2020 DNA Hit of the Year Program
June 30, 2020
Genetic genealogy has undoubtedly revolutionized forensic work, making its largest impact in cold case investigations. read more
NIST Spectral Library Adds Over 40 Fentanyl Analogs
June 29, 2020
The 2020 update sees the addition of more than 14,000 human and plant metabolites, including over 40 new fentanyl analogs. read more
Familial DNA, Search Highlight Finalist Cases in 2020 DNA Hit of the Year Program
June 26, 2020
Familial DNA and a kinship search were vital components of the cases selected as runner-up and third place in the 4th annual DNA Hit of the Year program. read more
Brazilian ‘Robbery of the Century’ Selected as 2020 DNA Hit of the Year
June 24, 2020
This transnational investigation of a major Brazilian gang has the markings of a history-altering moment—which is one of the reasons the case was selected as the 2020 DNA Hit of the Year just minutes ago. read more
Forensic Experts to Train Costa Rican Counterparts, Create Model for Central America
June 22, 2020
A team of forensic experts from West Virginia University has partnered with the Costa Rican government to train and support the country’s scientists, crime scene investigators and medical examiners for the next two years. read more
‘Your DNA Will be the Voice for Someone Who Can No Longer Speak’: Genetic Genealogy IDs Victim, Suspect From 1991 Cold Case
June 19, 2020
Beaten, sexually assaulted and strangled with her own bikini top on Valentine’s Day 1991, the identity of “Valentine Jane Doe” has finally been revealed thanks to genetic genealogy not available 30 years ago. read more
Australian Study Finds 15 New Psychoactive Substances in Wastewater
June 16, 2020
The most comprehensive wastewater study ever undertaken in Australia has revealed the presence of 15 new psychoactive substances in the country’s metropolitan and regional wastewaters over the past three years. read more
Despite Improvements, New York State Police Lab Has an 88% Sexual Assault Kit Backlog
June 12, 2020
As of Oct. 31, 2019, the FIC had 1,916 kits that needed to be processed, and the required processing time of 90 days had elapsed for 1,681 of them, or 88%. read more
On the Frontlines of the Worst Crimes: New True Crime Podcast Seeks to Humanize Law Enforcement
June 09, 2020
Eighteen years after he worked as the assistant district attorney in the brutal kidnapping, sexual assault and murder of 5-year-old Samantha Runnion, David Brent still has every word from her mother’s victim impact statement stored in his phone. read more
Fingerprints are Harder to Detect on Scotland’s Polymer Banknotes
June 08, 2020
Compared with the old cotton paper notes, the polymer notes are non-porous, have a large amount of background pattern interference, and lack surface uniformity. read more
Isotonitazene Could Be the New Fentanyl
June 05, 2020
Last fall, the Center for Forensic Science Research & Education issued a “Potent Synthetic Opioid” warning for isotonitazene—and now law enforcement and crime lab technicians are starting to see the opioid reflected in drug samples. read more