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]

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
Genetic Genealogy IDs Another Victim of New York Craigslist Serial Killer
June 02, 2020
Between December 2010 and April 2011, 10 sets of human remains were found in Long Island. Now, with the help of genetic genealogy, investigators have identified another one of the slain women as 24-year-old Valerie Mack. read more
Forensic Artist Brings 900-Year-Old Priest Back to Life
June 01, 2020
The facial reconstruction of a clergy member who most likely lived between the 12th and 13th centuries has given the public a chance to come face-to-face with him, and learn more about his life. read more
Crime Lab Testing Delays Grow in Wisconsin, AG Says More Time is Needed
May 27, 2020
A new report shows Wisconsin state crime laboratories were slower to process some types of evidence in 2019 compared with previous years. read more
TV Series Featuring Genetic Genealogy Pioneer, Groundbreaking Cases to Premiere Tuesday
May 22, 2020
“The Genetic Detective” follows investigative genetic genealogist CeCe Moore and her work with Parabon NanoLabs and law enforcement to solve some of the coldest cases. read more
Crime-fighting Wood Forensics Lab Relocates to be More Collaborative
May 20, 2020
Wood identification technologies are needed to thwart importers who try to skirt the law by intentionally declaring the wrong species, or the wrong place where the timber came from. read more
‘Flexibility’ of Your DNA Helps Regulate Fearful Memories
May 18, 2020
The ability to extinguish fearful memories in this way relies on the flexibility of your DNA, specifically Z-DNA, according to a new study. read more
New Genetic Genealogy Technique Can Separate DNA Mixtures
May 13, 2020
A recent arrest made in a 30-year-old murder is an absolute “game-changer”—it is the first case using whole genome sequencing to separate mixtures. read more
Pennsylvania State Has Reduced its Rape Kit Backlog to 94
May 11, 2020
In September 2015, Pennsylvania state had more than 3,000 rape kits awaiting testing at a police department or crime lab. Today, there are 94. read more
COVID-19 Could Spark ‘Digital Justice’ Transformation in Court System
May 08, 2020
A report from the University of Surrey (UK) is shedding light on the impact of a new “video booking tool” used for first-appearance remand hearings in court. read more
Alternative Light 5x Better at Detecting Bruises Across Diverse Skin Types
May 06, 2020
The researchers used yellow, orange and red colored filters across 10 different wavelengths ranging from 350 (UV) to 535 nm to analyze bruises on participants with a diverse range of skin types. read more
Proteomic Method Can Estimate How Long a Corpse Has Been Submerged
May 04, 2020
In a first-of-its-kind study, Northumbria University professor Noemi Procopio and colleagues have applied the principles of forensic proteomics to the estimation of postmortem submerged interval in aquatic environments. read more
Vatican Says Bones are Not Those of Teen Missing Since 1983
May 04, 2020
The Vatican has closed the case of bones found in a nearby cemetery, determining they are all at least 100 years old and therefore cannot be those of a woman reported missing nearly 40 years ago. read more
Method Differentiates Smokers, Non-Smokers in Oral Fluid Sample
May 01, 2020
In a proof-of-concept study, researchers used non-destructive Raman spectroscopy to analyze dry oral fluid to differentiate between smoker and non-smoker donors—with the help of an artificial neural network. read more