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]

Act Seeks to Give FGG Grant Money to Non-homicide Cold Cases
December 13, 2023
The “Cold Case Modernization Act" would expand the criteria for DOJ grant funds used to identify unidentified human remains through forensic genetic genealogy testing. read more
Genealogy Links 3 Men to 6 Cold Case Rapes
December 11, 2023
The success of a unique cold case unit in Cuyahoga County, Ohio continues with the identification of three rapists—impacting six victims—thanks to forensic genetic genealogy and familial searching. read more
Largest-ever Emmett Till Grant Supports Washington’s Newest Cold Case Unit
December 06, 2023
Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson is continuing to take strides in his office’s focus to help solve cases involving missing and murdered Indigenous people. read more
New Method Uses 3D Scanning to Identify Criminal's Footwear
December 04, 2023
Nearly everyone on the street has a phone capable of high-quality film capture, in addition to CCTV footage, home security cameras, body-worn cameras and more. read more
MS Methods for Identifying Illicit Drugs
November 27, 2023
Researchers are constantly trying to get ahead of designer drugs and their ever-changing formulas. Mass spectroscopy is a vital component of that. read more
2023 Holiday Gift Guide for Forensic Scientists
November 20, 2023
Forensic’s annual Holiday Gift Guide is here with some great ideas for the forensic scientist/criminologist/science nerd if your life. read more
Baltimore to Test Remaining 1,400 Slides from Cold Case Rapes
November 06, 2023
Forty-nine years after Dr. Rudiger Breitenecker had enough foresight to save DNA evidence from the rape kits he collected from women at least once a day, Baltimore County has committed to testing all of that preserved evidence over the next 13 months. read more
Connecticut AG Questions 23AndMe after Latest Data Breach
November 01, 2023
Connecticut Attorney General William Tong has sent a letter of inquiry to 23andMe after a data breach last month, expressing concerns about the fallout, as well as the possible ethnicity implications of the stolen data. read more
Rootless Hair Sample, Genealogy Help ID Suspect in 1983 Murder of 14-Year-Old
October 25, 2023
Authorities can confirm 14-year-old Rashell Ward was murdered by Johnny Lee Coy, who was not a suspect at the time but did have a violent criminal history. read more
Study: Forensic Fiber Evidence can Survive Underwater for 4 Weeks
October 23, 2023
A new study by researchers at Staffordshire University (UK) may have forensic experts rethinking their evidence recovery approach when it comes to fabrics underwater. read more
Study: Naloxone-delivering Drones Reach Patients Faster than Ambulances
October 18, 2023
Researchers in England used real-world data of fatal opioid overdoses to show that naloxone-delivering drones reach patients in 7 minutes or less in 78% of cases—compared with 14% reached by ambulances in that timeframe. read more
Mayor Wants to Use Unspent Police Salaries on Gunfire Detection System
October 16, 2023
Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell hopes to use $1.8 million in unspent police salaries on three crime prevention techniques—CCTV cameras, an acoustic gunshot locator system (AGLS), and automatic license plate readers. read more
Study: Interactive Lineup Boosts Eyewitness Accuracy
October 09, 2023
Researchers say eyewitness identifications can be made more accurate by leveraging technology that allows eyewitnesses to dynamically explore digital faces using a new interactive procedure. read more
Bill to Store ‘Anonymous’ Sexual Assault Kits is Not Met with Support
October 02, 2023
In Washington, D.C., under current law, the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is only required to collect and deliver sexual assault kits to the Department of Forensic Sciences (DFS) if an assault has been reported to MPD. read more
Cadaver Study Shows How Ant Bites Can Advance Investigations
September 25, 2023
Forensic entomologist Paola Magni is urging forensic professionals to consider the activity of insects beside blow flies and beetles—specifically ants. read more
Genealogy Names Suspect in 1972 Murder of 9-Year-Old Girl
September 20, 2023
Using a 51-year-old DNA sample, bones dead and buried for 49 years, and forensic genetic genealogy technology, the Cobb County District Attorney’s Office working with DNA Labs International have identified the murderer of 9-year-old Debbie Lynn Randall. read more
The Polysubstance ‘Fourth Wave’ of the Overdose Crisis Continues to Grow
September 18, 2023
New research out of UCLA shows the proportion of overdose deaths in the U.S. involving both fentanyl and stimulants has increased more than 50-fold since 2010—from 0.6% (235 deaths) in 2010 to 32.3% (34,429 deaths) in 2021. read more
Suspect Confesses to 1994 Murder Hours After Police Visit
September 13, 2023
In a series of unusual happenings, cold case detectives from the Fairfax County Police Department (Virginia) have obtained a full confession from the prime suspect in the brutal 1994 murder of a 37-year-old mother. read more
Opioid 25x More Potent than Fentanyl Tied to 20 Overdose Deaths in U.S., UK
September 11, 2023
Recently acquired in vitro pharmacological data shows this emergent novel synthetic opioid—called N-pyrrolidino protonitazene (also protonitazepyne)—is 25x more potent than fentanyl. read more
Using Incentives to Increase Quality in Forensic Science
September 06, 2023
That is what you call a very effective incentive—a blueprint the forensic industry can learn from and adopt, according to forensic expert and consultant Brian Gestring. read more