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]

Caught Green-handed: New Light-emitting Method for Gunshot Residue Detection
April 21, 2025
Researchers in Amsterdam have adapted a commercial lead testing kit into a method that can detect gunshot residue faster and more sensitively than current analysis. read more
Cold Case Team Identifies Remains as Known Victim of Serial Killer Duo
April 14, 2025
The Calaveras Cold Case Task Force team confirmed the remains of Brenda Sue O’Connor from those remaining in the crypt. read more
Report Records Nearly 150 Exonerations in 2024
April 09, 2025
In 2024, 147 people in the United States were exonerated after losing an average of 13.5 years of their lives to wrongful imprisonment. read more
CFSRE: Commercial Kratom Products Contain Unnaturally High Levels of Metabolite
April 02, 2025
In recent years, legal smoke shops have seen a surge in the sale of Kratom products. Marketed as “7-Hydroxymitragynine” products, these include chewable tablets, concentrates, extracts, edible materials and even beverages. read more
Math Model Shows Naloxone Kits at Transit Stops Could Save Lives
March 31, 2025
“Naloxone kits are somewhat analogous to AEDs in that they can reverse the effects of an opioid poisoning event, but only if they are available quickly, which means they need to be in the right locations.” read more
Remains Identified as 1 of 2 Roommates Missing Since 2020
March 24, 2025
Familial reference standards have confirmed that remains found in August 2024 in Howell County are those of Ira Briscoe, a 25-year-old man who went missing in December 2020 under suspicious circumstances. read more
Unit Identifies 7 Cold Case Rapists in 5 Months
March 17, 2025
Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office’s G.O.L.D. Unit has identified seven cold case sexual assault offenders through familial DNA searching and forensic genetic genealogy since November 2024. read more
Despite Hurdles Like Adoption and Anti-trans Sentiment, DDP IDs Julie Doe After 36 Years
March 12, 2025
After 36 years—and five years of working the case—the DNA Doe Project has identified “Transgender Julie Doe” as Pamela Leigh Walton. read more
Buried as Jane Doe in 1998, Genealogy Restores Woman’s Name
March 03, 2025
A “one last look” review of a cold case has now revealed the name of a 1998 Jane Doe, giving her son answers he has been searching for for 25 years. read more
Universities Investing in More Degrees to Keep Up with Growing Forensics Industry
February 26, 2025
The industry is experiencing a simultaneous expansion of forensic courses and degrees across colleges and universities nationwide. read more
Colorado Bill Would Require Reporting of Misconduct at CBI
February 24, 2025
Colorado lawmakers introduced a bipartisan bill last week that aims to strengthen the rules for reporting and investigating misconduct at the Colorado Bureau of Investigation's (CBI) crime laboratory in the wake of the Yvonne “Missy” Woods scandal. read more
AI Tool Estimates Biological Sex Faster, More Accurately than Humans
February 12, 2025
The study authors say the tool can support forensic anthropologists when results are needed rapidly, such as in a mass casualty event. It also can better account for a more diverse population. read more
Study: Comics Help Jurors Better Understand DNA Evidence
February 10, 2025
Imagine having absolutely no training or education in DNA analysis but being expected to decide if a person should spend the rest of their life in jail based on DNA evidence an expert explains to you in 10 minutes or less. read more
Research Moves Toward Blood Test to ID Babies at High Risk of SIDS
February 10, 2025
The researchers identified 35 biomarker “predictors” of SIDS—including ornithine, a substance critical to the body’s ability to dispose of ammonia in urine. read more
Corpses and Corpse Flowers: The Scent of Decomposition
February 05, 2025
Over the years, Thurn’s research has focused on the chemical profile of human remains, and how this profile changes. The aim is to develop technology that can help locate victims of mass disasters. read more
CODIS Hit Leads to Arrest in 2005 Cold Case Murder
February 03, 2025
Investigators in Salt Lake County (Utah) have arrested a suspect in the 2005 cold case murder of Jason Royter after a recent CODIS hit. read more
Study Shows Where to Sample Drug Bags for Max DNA Recovery
January 29, 2025
A new study from researchers at Flinders University aims to guide investigators on which area of the plastic bag may be most informative when sampling for DNA. read more
Cold Case Task Force IDs 1985 Victim of Serial Killer Duo
January 27, 2025
In November 2022, the Calaveras Cold Case Task Force—a non-profit group funded entirely by donations—conducted a reexamination of unidentified remains found in 1985. read more
Reports Highlight Idaho Forensic Lab’s New Programs, 2024 Efforts
January 22, 2025
Two recently released reports are showcasing the efforts of the Idaho State Police Forensic Services in 2024, including a new drug pilot program and successful SANE training initiative. read more
‘Amber’s Law’ Seeks to Earmark Monies for Understaffed Forensic Labs
January 15, 2025
The Spradlin family and their lawyer cited a backlog at the critically understaffed Kentucky State Police Forensic Laboratory as a reason for the case delay. read more