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Mississippi State Crime Lab, Othram Team to ID John Doe Found in Woods
All conventional identification approaches including Short Tandem Repeat (STR) DNA testing at the University of North Texas Center for Human Identification (UNTCHI) were unsuccessful in producing leads to the man’s identity. read more
New Website Highlights Unsolved Killings in Upstate NY
Police in Rochester have launched a website intended to draw new attention to hundreds of unsolved killings in the city. read more
$2.5 M Grant to Improve Interviewing of Young Witnesses
One of the biggest challenges for children on the witness stand involves questions pertaining to the sequence of events. read more
Can Ancient DNA Methods Be Used to Improve Success Rate of Forensic ID?
At ISHI 32, Elena Zavala presented the results of her recent study comparing three common forensic extraction methods to one of the most widely used ancient DNA extraction methods. read more
Cold Case Unit Finds Witness to 30-Year-Old Murder of Teen
As investigators continued to search for new information, they began re-interviewing witnesses and were also able to locate a witness who had been out of the United States for an extended period. read more
Investigators to Use Genetic Genealogy to Try to ID Baby Wyatt
In March 2020, a male infant was found by fishermen. Investigators described the infant as a 34-week-gestational-aged male. In addition, he appeared to have some some birth-related trauma to the right side of his head. read more
Ohio's Historic $808 Million Settlement with Opioid Distributors
Ohio has forged an $808 million agreement with the three largest distributors of opioids that puts the state at the front of the line to receive monetary relief for communities ravaged by the addiction crisis. read more
In a California Desert, Sheriff’s Deputies Settle Schoolyard Disputes
Deputies in California’s Antelope Valley are disproportionately citing Black teens, often for minor infractions, like getting in fights or smoking. “They’re turning the principal’s office into the police station,” said one lawyer. read more
Journal Editor Calls Out ‘Emotional’ Response to Controversial Study
Michael Peat, Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Forensic Sciences, says he is disappointed by the “emotional” nature of letters submitted in response to a February 2021 study by Itiel Dror et al., that claims to show the potential for racial cognitive bias in the forensic pathology field. read more
Houston PD Releases Forensic Sketch Based on Skeletal Remains
Based on the skull, a sketch was completed by HPD forensic artist Lois Gibson and it is believed the victim was a 25 to 35 year old male, with a small to medium build, medium skin tone and dark hair. read more
DNA, Genealogy Link Two Cases, Confirm Name of Doe Found Near Reservoir
In researching drownings at the Palisades Reservoir, Deputies discovered a 1980 boating accident where two adult men and two children drowned. read more
University First to Offer 3D Course in Crime Scene Documentation
As a direct result of partnership with FARO, George Mason’s Forensic Science Program will soon become the first in the nation to offer a 3D course in crime scene documentation. read more
Smartphone Sensor Data has Potential to Detect Cannabis Intoxication
According to the study, a combination of time features (tracking the time of day and day of week) and smartphone sensor data had a 90 percent rate of accuracy. read more
The Search for a Microbial Death Clock
Criminal investigators use physiological changes and insect development to determine how long a body has been dead, but scientists are using the trillions of microbes involved in human decomposition to find more accurate postmortem intervals. read more
12 More Tribes to Participate in National Crime Information Program
The DoJ has selected an additional 12 tribes to participate in the expansion of the Tribal Access Program for National Crime Information, a program that provides tribal governments with means to access, enter and exchange data with national crime information systems. read more