No one has hours to scour the papers to keep up with the latest news, so we’ve curated the top news stories in the field of Forensic Science for this week. Here’s what you need to know to get out the door!
Sketch of 1987 John Doe Released as Genealogists Look for Name (woodtv – 10/22/2020)
The group combing through genealogy databases seeking to identify a young man whose body was found in rural Van Buren County decades ago has released a sketch of him.
Human Remains Found 25 Years Ago in Field in Illinois are Identified (KMOV4 – 10/23/2020)
It took more than two decades but officials have finally identified the human remains found in an Illinois field.
Champaign County Sheriff Dustin Heuerman says the investigation has been a long process but technology played a major role in identifying Keri Wyant.
The McHenry County Coroner’s Office and Othram Identify a John Doe Found in Harvard, Illinois (DNASolves – 10/23/2020)
In May 2020, the McHenry County Coroner’s Office partnered with Othram to develop new leads in the case. Skeletal remains were sent to Othram and a DNA profile was built using Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing™. An investigative lead was returned to Chief Deputy Coroner, Olivia Zednick. Together, her team and Othram confirmed the identity of the unknown man, enabling his return to family.
Skull Found in Oregon Woods in 1986 Finally Identified (FOX2 Now – 10/23/2020)
- Months after specific DNA testing was used to track down the Golden State Killer in 2018, the Oregon State Medical Examiner’s Office received grants from the National Institute of Justice to use similar techniques on 100 unidentified remains.
The Government Camp skull was sent to the University of North Texas for testing. In December 2019, the testing revealed the young woman was of Northern European descent, had fair skin, hazel/brown eyes, brown hair and freckles.
Officials Identify Body Discovered in Giddings Field in 1984 (KVUE – 10/23/2020)
The remains of James L. Hamm were discovered about file miles west of Giddings in November 1984. He was born on April 9, 1949, in Escabana, Michigan.
While officials made multiple attempts to identify him over the years, the sheriff’s office consulted with the DNA Doe Project (DDP) in May 2019 regarding investigative genealogy to identify the remains. Then, in August, DNA from the University of North Texas was sent to HudsonAlpha Discovery in Huntsville, Alabama, for whole-genome sequencing.
McDonald County Sheriff’s Office Partners with Othram Forensic Lab in Hopes of Identifying 1990’s Cold Case Victim (5NewsOnline – 10/24/2020)
Detective Lori Howard nicknamed her Grace Doe and believed it would be a miracle to identify her. However, now with the help of the new DNA testing and forensic genealogy Michael Vogen with Othram forensic labs is optimistic they can crack this decades-long cold case.
Missoula Law Enforcement Utilize Othram’s Genetic Testing Platform to Solve the 1974 Abduction and Murder of Siobhan McGuinness (DNASolves – 10/26/2020)
Earlier this year the Missoula Sheriff’s Office and Missoula Police Department teamed up with FBI Division Counsel Steve Kramer and FBI Special Agent Steve Busch, the nation’s top law enforcement experts on the newest DNA technology that helped identify the Golden State Killer, in an effort to leverage this new tech to finally get answers. In a closely coordinated joint effort with Missoula Sheriff and Police Department personnel, the team set out to re-examine the case and apply forensic genomics technology to identify new leads.
Suspect Arrested in 1996 Murder of 17-Year-Old Girl (Forensic – 10/28/2020)
- After almost a quarter-century, the man suspected of killing a 17-year-old girl was identified and slated to face arraignment. On Oct. 21, 2020, Sheriff Alex Villanueva and Homicide Bureau detective, Lieutenant Hugo Reynaga, discussed the circumstances surrounding the young girl’s death, how they located the suspect and how he was brought back to face justice.
DNA Doe Project IDs 1984 John Doe (Forensic – 10/28/2020)
- On November 17, 1984, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office was contacted regarding skeletal remains found in a field off of CR 200 approximately five miles west of Giddings, Texas by hunters in the area. These remains, consisting of only four bones, were recovered by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office. The skeletal remains were sent to Texas Tech University, and examined by a forensic anthropologist. It was determined the skeletal remains were that of a white male, age 30 to 39. No leads were developed at that time.
After 50 Years, a Suspect Emerges in a Cold Murder Case (New York Times – 10/28/2020)
Ms. Sanz said investigators had tried to follow leads, occasionally filling in her family about their efforts, but the case eventually went cold. “I was feeling a little defeated,” Ms. Sanz said.
But a few years ago, Ms. Sanz began seeing how DNA technology was helping investigators find suspects in other murders, including the DeAngelo case.
“And I thought, ‘Why can’t they do that with Mary’s case?’” Ms. Sanz said.
She contacted a friend, a retired police officer, in 2019, the year of the 50th anniversary of the murder. The friend helped contact people still on the police force, and a new search was born.
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