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!
Flowood Police Department, Rankin County Coroner’s Office, & Mississippi State Medical Examiner’s Office Team with Othram to Identify a 2024 John Doe (DNASolves – 1/30/2025)
In May 2024, the remains of an unidentified individual were discovered in Flowood, Mississippi. Flowood, a suburb of Jackson, is located in Rankin County. The discovery was made by teenagers fishing in a pond off Mangum Road. Investigators responded to the scene and located additional remains. It was determined that the remains were that of an adult white male whose age could not be determined. The man’s height was estimated to be between 5’5” and 6’0”. No other identifying characteristics could be determined.
The man’s identity was not determined and he was classified as Rankin County John Doe. Details of the case were entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) as UP124894. Investigators with the Flowood Police Department worked in collaboration with officials from the Rankin County Coroner’s Office and Mississippi State Medical Examiner’s Office with Othram in hopes that advanced DNA testing could help to identify the man.
Forensic evidence was submitted to Othram’s laboratory in The Woodlands, Texas where scientists successfully developed a DNA extract and then used Forensic Grade Genome Sequencing® to build a comprehensive DNA profile for the unknown man. Othram’s forensic genetic genealogy team then used the profile in a genealogy search which resulted in new leads about the man’s identity. These leads were provided to investigators who launched a follow-up investigation. The casework completed at Othram was funded by the Roads to Justice (RTJ) program; we are grateful for the funding support in this case and previous cases.
The follow-up investigation led investigators to potential relatives of the man. A reference DNA sample was collected from a possible relative and compared to the DNA profile of the unknown man using KinSNP® rapid relationship testing. This investigation led to the positive identification of the Rankin County John Doe, who is now known to be Stephen Jason Rosa, who was born in July of 1970.
Boston Police Department Teams with Othram to Identify a 1991 Homicide Victim (DNASolves – 1/30/2025)
In December 1991, the remains of an unidentified individual were discovered in the Boston Harbor near Thompson Island. Thompson Island is located offshore from Boston, Massachusetts. It was determined that the remains were that of an adult white male who was 5’11” tall and weighed 225 pounds. The man’s age was estimated to be 20 to 30 years old. At his time of death, the man was fully-clothed, and wore a knit sweater, black pants, two pairs of black socks, and black high-top sneakers. The man had a stab wound and his manner of death was determined to be homicide.
With few leads about the man, his identity was a mystery and he became known as Suffolk County John Doe. Details of the case were entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) as UP14794. In 2022, the Boston Police Department teamed with Othram to determine if advanced DNA testing could help to resolve the thirty-year mystery around Suffolk County John Doe’s identity.
Forensic evidence was submitted to Othram’s laboratory in The Woodlands, Texas where scientists successfully developed a DNA extract and then used Forensic Grade Genome Sequencing® to build a comprehensive DNA profile for the unknown man. Upon completion of the process, the DNA profile was transferred to the FBI’s forensic genetic genealogy team so that a genealogy search could be conducted. This search resulted in new leads about the man’s identity. These leads were provided to investigators who launched a follow-up investigation.
The follow-up investigation led investigators to potential relatives of the man. This investigation led to the positive identification of Suffolk County John Doe, who is now known to be Toussaint Gonsalves, who was born on October 2, 1970. Since his identification, investigators have learned Mr. Gonsalves attended the former Boston High School and may have been living in Newton or Dorchester at the time of his murder. He also may have been employed working in a kitchen.
Everett Police Department Teams with Othram to Identify the Suspect in the 1989 Murder of Mary Ann Daniels (DNASolves – 1/31/2025)
In February 1989, police responded to a homicide in the 2100 block of Hoyt Avenue in Everett, Washington. Upon their arrival, officials discovered the body of an adult female, who was identified as 33-year-old Mary Ann Daniels. Daniels was disabled and had been placed into a transitional living facility located on Hoyt Avenue.
At the time of Mary Ann’s death, forensic DNA technology was in its infancy and despite efforts to identify a suspect, the person responsible could not be identified. Mary Ann’s death was a mystery for 36 years. Over the years, investigators have worked tirelessly to uncover the truth and bring justice to the person who murdered Mary Ann.
Everett Police Department Detective Susan Logothetti enlisted the assistance of multiple laboratories, including Othram, in hopes that advancements in modern DNA technology could help to finally solve the mystery of who murdered Mary Ann. In 2020, the Everett Police Department submitted some of the evidence from the 1989 crime scene to Othram.
Othram scientists successfully developed a DNA extract and used Forensic Grade Genome Sequencing® to develop a DNA profile. Using this profile and others developed from other laboratories, Othram forensic genetic genealogist Deb Stone worked with law enforcement investigators to develop new leads in the case.
These new leads enabled law enforcement to launch a follow-up investigation, leading investigators to a potential suspect in Clark County, Nevada. In January 2025, 61-year-old Joseph Andrew Jacquez was arrested for the murder of Mary Ann Daniels after DNA collected from the actual instrument used in her death was identified as belonging to Jacquez. Joseph Andrew Jacquez was Mary Ann’s neighbor at the time that she was murdered. Jacquez will be extradited to Snohomish County to face charges in Mary Ann’s death.
Decades-Long Mystery Solved: Skull Found in New Hampshire Linked to Child of Quebec Family (CTV News – 1/31/2025)
For decades, a human skull sat on display in a New Hampshire attorney’s office – its origin a total mystery.
Now, thanks to advances in forensic science and investigative genetic genealogy, researchers say they have finally uncovered the story behind the remains, tracing them back to a family with links to Quebec more than 200 years ago.
Gary Police Department and Lake County Prosecutor’s Homicide Task Force Teams with Othram to Identify a 2001 John Doe (DNASolves – 2/01/2025)
In January 2001, the remains of an unknown individual were discovered in Gary, Indiana. Gary is located in Lake County on the southern shore of Lake Michigan. Investigators responded to the scene and determined that the remains were that of a Black male who was 20 to 29 years old with black hair and brown eyes. The man weighed approximately 157 pounds and stood 5’7” tall. An autopsy was conducted where several identifying characteristics were noted, including a bump described as either a cyst or a birthmark near the right elbow along with a tattoo on the left shoulder, believed to be the letter “R”. It was determined that the man’s manner of death was homicide. The man could not be identified and he became known as Lake County John Doe.
At the time that his body was discovered, the man was carrying an identification card for the Arizona Boys Ranch, a now-closed boot-camp boarding school that once served 13 to 18 year old boys. The ID card belonged to another individual and it is unknown if Lake County John Doe had any connections to the Arizona Boys Ranch. At the time that his body was discovered, the man was fully-dressed, wearing a reversible jacket with the word “Chicago” on one side and the word “New York” on the other side, a black mesh shirt with a red tank top, size 32×32 blue jeans, and black Sketchers tennis shoes with white socks. Details of the case were entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) as UP13482. Despite investigators’ efforts to name the man, his identity has been a mystery for more than two decades.
In late 2024, the Gary Police Department and Indiana’s Lake County Prosecutor’s Homicide Task Force teamed with Othram to determine if advanced DNA testing could help to identify Lake County John Doe. Othram scientists will work to develop a suitable DNA extract so that a comprehensive DNA profile can be developed for the man using Forensic Grade Genome Sequencing®. Othram’s in-house forensic genetic genealogy team will use this profile in a genetic genealogy search to develop new leads in the case.
Washtenaw County Sheriff Department and Michigan State Police Team with Othram to Identify Suspect in a 1989 Homicide (DNASolves – 2/03/2025)
In September 1989, 30-year-old Beverly Wivell, a mother from Canton Township, Michigan had just dropped off her young son at school when she was abducted, sexually assaulted, and fatally shot. Her body was found on the side of the road in Superior Township, only a short drive from Canton. Wivell’s vehicle was later found abandoned at an area park. At the time, a rape kit was conducted and DNA evidence was collected. Despite investigators’ attempts, a match to a known individual was not made and her murder went unsolved for nearly four decades.
In 2022, the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office reopened the case in hopes that a reinvigorated investigation would help identify the responsible for Wivell’s murder. Working with the Michigan State Police, forensic evidence from the crime was submitted to Othram in The Woodlands, Texas in January 2024.
Once at Othram’s laboratory, scientists used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® to build a comprehensive DNA profile for the suspect. Othram’s in-house forensic genetic genealogy team then used this profile to conduct genealogy research, ultimately providing new investigative leads to law enforcement.
Those leads led to the possible identity of a suspect. Investigators continued their investigation and collected several items that were sent to the Michigan State Police lab for DNA comparison. This comparison was a match to the original DNA collected in 1989, identifying 69-year-old Buster Robbins as the suspect in Wivell’s murder. Robbins, who lives in Almont, a small town north of Detroit, was later arrested. He made his initial court appearance in early January 2025, where a judge ruled that Robbins would be held without bail. Additional updates about this case will be provided as they come available.
Georgetown County Coroner’s Office Teams with Othram to Identify a 2022 John Doe (DNASolves – 2/03/2025)
In September 2022, the remains of an unidentified individual were located in rural Georgetown County, South Carolina. The discovery was made in a wooded area off of Kent Road. An investigation was launched, where it was determined that the remains were that of a White male whose identity could not be determined. Officials attempted to identify the man using traditional DNA testing. Despite their attempts, with no match to a known individual, the man’s identity was a mystery.
In 2023, the Georgetown County Coroner’s Office submitted forensic evidence to Othram’s laboratory in The Woodlands, Texas in hopes that advanced DNA testing could lead to the identification of the man. Despite previous failed attempts, Othram’s scientists successfully developed a DNA extract from the remains. Scientists then used Forensic Grade Genome Sequencing® to build a comprehensive DNA profile for the unknown man. During the course of the investigation, an individual who was believed to be a relative of the man provided a DNA sample.
The relative’s DNA profile was compared to the John Doe’s DNA profile using Othram’s KinSNP® Rapid Relationship Testing. This comparison confirmed the identity of the man as Harry Lee Woodruff, III, who was born in February of 1993. In early 2020, Woodruff’s mother reported him missing from their home near Six Mile Crossing, a short distance from where his remains were found in September of 2022. Woodruff was 26 years old at the time.
Mississippi Office of the State Medical Examiner and Othram Team to Identify 2024 John Doe (DNASolves – 2/04/2025)
On March 14, 2024, skeletal remains were discovered by an officer beneath a pile of leaves in a shallow grave in Natchez, Mississippi. The remains are believed to belong to an adult male, whose age could not be definitively determined. The man stood between 5’9” and 6’4”. An ID card found near the remains suggests the individual may have been a 70-year-old male, but no official identification has been made.
The case was entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) as UP124871. Despite investigators’ efforts, the individual has not been identified. The uncertainty around his identity has left the case unsolved and the community searching for answers.
To aid in identification, the Mississippi State Medical Examiner has teamed with Othram to apply advanced forensic DNA testing. Othram will developed a DNA extract and use Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® to build a comprehensive DNA profile that can be used for forensic genetic genealogy analysis. A DNASolves® crowdfund has been established to cover the costs associated with this case, including lab supplies and research tools.
If you have any information about this case, please contact the Mississippi State Medical Examiner. For more details, refer to NamUs Case ID: UP124871 and ME/C Case Number: ME24-0285.
Explaining Forensic Science in Court with Comics (Phys Org – 2/05/2025)
“The decisions being taken by members of juries are just so vitally important and often they’re shaped by their understanding of the forensic evidence that’s being presented,” explains Dr. Andy Ridgway, Senior Lecturer in Science Communication at the University of the West of England, UWE Bristol, and one of the study’s authors of a study appearing in the Journal of Science Communication (JCOM).
“They often have little to no science background and frequently lack prior knowledge of the forensic techniques they are expected to assess in making their decision.” This is a widespread issue, and scientific literature on the subject suggests that understanding of science in courtrooms is often quite limited.
“The Evidence Chamber,” the project within which the research described in JCOM was developed, was created precisely to explore how non-experts understand scientific evidence in judicial proceedings, combining forensic science, digital technology, and public engagement.
Rapid DNA Evidence Coming to CODIS (Forensic – 2/05/2025)
The FBI has approved changes to the Quality Assurance Standards (QAS) for Forensic Laboratories to allow DNA evidence profiles generated by Rapid DNA analysis to be searched against the national DNA database (CODIS).
On January 27, the QAS documents were posted on the website of the Scientific Working Group on DNA Analysis Methods (SWGDAM), announcing that the new standards will have an effective date of July 1, 2025.
At least seven states (Arizona, Connecticut, Kentucky, Missouri, New Jersey, Oklahoma, and Pennsylvania) have already taken proactive steps to support criminal investigations by creating non-CODIS statewide programs to allow crime scene evidence tested on Rapid DNA instruments to be searched against their own state’s index of criminal offenders. The official guidance from the FBI and SWGDAM will allow these seven states, as well as all other states moving forward, to search the entire CODIS database. However, before having access to CODIS, law enforcement must work in partnership with public crime laboratories to develop requisite procedures.
“This is a major step forward. Crime lab outcomes are not only based on timely leads for the investigating agencies that we serve, but also potentially in lives saved,” said Dr. Ray Wickenheiser, retired New York State Police Crime Laboratory System Director, and Past President of the American Society of Crime Lab Directors (ASCLD). “Victims need justice. Families need answers. And time matters.”
We encourage all law enforcement to reach out to partners at public crime labs to discuss how to take advantage of this critical step forward. We encourage crime labs to initiate leadership discussions on how to establish this important service for the communities they serve.
DNA Advancements Lead to Cold Case Breakthrough in Utah Abduction, Murder Mystery (KJZZ14 – 2/05/2025)
In 1972, the quiet community of Vernal, Utah, was shaken by a violent crime that remained unsolved for more than 50 years.
Gregory Dahl Nickell, 21, was murdered, and his 18-year-old date was abducted and raped.
Investigators suspected what had happened but were unable to prove it for decades. Now, advancements in DNA technology have led authorities to the two men they say committed the crimes, one of whom is still alive.
