This year brought unprecedented challenges that sometimes felt more like a movie than real life. Despite the hardships, individuals rose to the occasion to do what they could. For forensic scientists and law enforcement professionals, that meant continuing to do what they are best at—uncovering the truth and preserving justice. Before Forensic takes a holiday break before the—hopefully better—new year, let’s take a look back at the top 10 stories of 2020.
1. Her Name was Emma: Delaware Police ID 3-Year-Old Victim a Year Later
More than a year after her remains were found on a softball field in Delaware, police have two persons of interest in custody regarding the death of 3-year-old Emma Cole—her mother, Kristie Haas, and stepfather Brandon Haas.
2. Crime Scene Investigations During COVID-19
Is there a minimum PPE level that every scene should require? In light of current events like the viral threat of the COVID-19 pandemic and the chemical agent threat of fentanyl and other derivatives as a result of the opioid epidemic, we suggest that there are.
3. Thailand Reports First Case of COVID-19 Spreading to Forensic Examiner From Deceased
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.
* The authors published the letter/journal article on April 11, 2020, and Forensic wrote the original article on April 14. On April 23, 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. What’s more, the infected medical examiner did not actually die—he/she was diagnosed with COVID-19 (from whatever source), but is alive.
4. TV Series Featuring Genetic Genealogy Pioneer, Groundbreaking Cases to Premiere Tuesday
In 2018, self-trained genetic genealogist CeCe Moore had, after much deliberation, made the decision to work with law enforcement on cold cases, rather than the adoption and unknown parentage mysteries she had been pioneering for years.
5. ASCLD Recognizes the Top Performing Forensic Labs in the World
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.
6. NamUs is Back: UNT Accepts Award to Manage Program Days After Announcing its Withdrawal
After initially announcing on Friday they would cease to manage NamUs, the UNT Health Science Center's UNT Center for Human Identification (UNTCHI) has backtracked. On the evening of Tuesday, Dec. 8, UNTCHI accepted the $4.3 million award to continue to manage the missing persons program.
7. Body Found in Lake in 1994 Has Finally Been Identified
After uploading the genealogical profile to a public genealogical database, a match was identified. Othram’s internal laboratory team worked with investigators to establish an ID for the Johnson. Usually, one match is not enough to point to a single person. However, this match had included another clue in their public database profile.
8. New DNA Evidence Overturns Double Murder Conviction in New Orleans
Judge Dennis Waldron has overturned the double murder conviction of Darrill Henry and ordered a new trial based on the results of new DNA evidence. Henry has consistently maintained his innocence since the time he was first arrested for the 2004 murders of an 89-year-old woman and her 67-year-old daughter in the 7th Ward of New Orleans, Louisiana.
9. Infamous Buffalo Cave Torso Identified, One of the Oldest Cases Resolved Using Forensic Genealogy
The remains, which became known as the Buffalo Cave Torso, were examined by the FBI’s elite forensic team with no resulting identification, and also examined at the Smithsonian, again without an identification being made. The case was eventually turned over to Idaho State University’s anthropological researchers in cooperation with the Clark County Sheriff’s Office.
10. Kansas Crime Lab Uses Evidence Drying Cabinets to Decontaminate N95 Masks
Rather than the typical evidentiary clothing and personal belongings that need to be dried without cross contamination, scientists at the crime lab have adapted a method to use the cabinets to decontaminate N95 masks for front-line workers. This allows the masks to be safety used multiple times—a critical aspect given the shortage of N95 masks worldwide.
Thank you for reading and supporting Forensic. Stay safe, and we'll see you in the New Year!