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]

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
Anthropologist Develops Method to Age, Sex Ancient Fingerprints
April 29, 2020
The age/sex identification matrix is an interpretive framework that incorporates the generalized cut-offs for age based upon ridge breadth data and the cut-offs for sex based upon ridge density data. read more
Calif. Reps: COVID-19 Caused Deaths Much Earlier, Medical Examiners ‘Digging Deeper’
April 27, 2020
California Governor Gavin Newsom has asked medical examiners and coroners across the state to review autopsies dating back to December to “help guide a deeper understanding of when this pandemic really started to impact Californians.” read more
Authors, Journal Issue Correction: COVID-19 Was Not Spread to Medical Examiner from Body
April 24, 2020
The authors and Elsevier issued a correction, saying the authors were merely trying to emphasize the importance of adequate safety protection, rather than report the spread of COVID-19 from a dead body. read more
The Women Behind DNA Doe Project Inspire New Drama Series
April 20, 2020
“No, you can’t have the touch DNA results in time for the next commercial. It really does take time.” That’s one of the phrases Colleen Fitzpatrick has found herself saying to television writers and producers as she consults on a new crime drama inspired by her life and work. read more
23andMe to Launch Genome-wide Association Study of COVID-19 Patients
April 16, 2020
The testing company will conduct a genome-wide association study (GWAS) in an effort to identify genetic variants that contribute to COVID-19 severity levels. read more
Evidence Preservation Key to Arrest Made in 42-Year-Old Murder Case
April 15, 2020
DNA testing and a fingerprint identification database that were not available in 1978 has led the Phoenix Police Department to arrest a man wanted for murder and sexual assault that occurred more than four decades ago. read more
Thailand Reports First Case of COVID-19 Spreading to Forensic Examiner From Deceased
April 14, 2020
Writing in the Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine, a pathologist from Thailand and one from China say they have observed the first fatal case of COVID-19 transferring from a deceased patient to a medical examiner. read more
ASCLD Recognizes the Top Performing Forensic Labs in the World
April 14, 2020
The American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors (ASCLD) has announced the recipients of its 2020 Foresight Maximus Award, which recognizes the top performing forensic laboratories in the world. read more
Minnesota Forensic Lab Validates THC in Cannabis Test Method
April 10, 2020
Forensic scientists have validated a method to determine the THC quantity of a plant or liquid sample, allowing them to differentiate between hemp and marijuana. read more
Soil Expert Employs Dogs to Help Identify Cadaver Decomposition Islands
April 09, 2020
Environmental scientist Jacqui Aitkenhead-Peterson assists law enforcement by matching soil from crime scenes and suspects and determining evidence of human decomposition products. This year, she added someone special to her team. read more
Longtime Criminalist Uses ‘Old-School’ Technique to ID Victim in 50-Year-Old Murder
April 08, 2020
Want to know the key to fingerprinting and identifying human remains buried 51 years ago? Perseverance, Ivory dish soap and old-school techniques. read more