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!
A Fresh Start for Queensland: Prosecutors Get $6M to Reduce DNA Backlog as Former FBI Expert Joins FSQ Review (Queensland Government – 2/07/2025)
The Crisafulli Government has announced $6 million to bolster the capacity of the Director of Public Prosecutions to ensure cases backlogged by Labor’s DNA Lab Debacle can be finalised sooner.
This announcement delivers on a key commitment of the 100 Day Plan and ensures the Government will deliver faster justice for victims.
The funding will ensure Crown prosecutors have the resources to now assess and resolve specific DNA-related matters in the Magistrates Court, with the work previously undertaken by Queensland Police Service.
The transfer of callover cases from QPS to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions will allow for the earlier consideration of the necessity of DNA analysis by more experienced prosecutors, so matters can be resolved more quickly.
Microbial Forensics: How Scientists Use Microbes to Solve Crimes (MSN – 2/07/2025)
Microbial forensics is a groundbreaking field that merges microbiology and forensic science, focusing on identifying microbial strains to gather evidence for criminal investigations. This scientific discipline has gained traction as researchers and law enforcement agencies seek innovative ways to solve crimes effectively. Here, we’ll explore how scientists leverage microbes to unravel mysteries and bring perpetrators to justice.
Toronto Police Service Leverages Othram’s Genetic Testing Platform to Solve the 1998 Murder of Donna Oglive (DNASolves – 2/07/2025)
In March 1998, officers from the Toronto Police Service 51st Division responded to a homicide at the rear parking lot of 130 Carlton Street. The victim was identified as 24-year-old Donna Oglive, a resident of British Columbia who had been in Toronto for five weeks. The cause of Donna’s death was determined to be strangulation. Investigators developed a male DNA profile from evidence at the scene, but no match was found.
Since 1998, the Toronto Police Service Homicide and Missing Persons Unit, Cold Case Section, has actively investigated this case. In December 2019, a YouTube video was released appealing for information, and in October 2021, the case was featured in a Toronto Police podcast highlighting unsolved homicides. Despite investigators’ efforts, the person responsible for Donna Oglive’s death could not be identified, and the case was cold for nearly three decades.
In 2022, the Toronto Police Service submitted forensic evidence to Othram in The Woodlands, Texas. At Othram’s laboratory, scientists used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® to build a comprehensive DNA profile for the suspect. Upon completion of the process, the DNA profile was transferred to the Toronto Police Service so that a forensic genetic genealogy search could be conducted. This search resulted in new investigative leads in the case, which led to a follow-up investigation.
This investigation led to the identification of a suspect residing in Newfoundland. On Thursday, February 6, 2025, 50-year-old Ronald Gordon Ackerman of Gander, Newfoundland, was arrested at Toronto Pearson Airport. Ackerman was flying into Toronto from Edmonton. Upon arrest, Ackerman was charged with first degree murder and is being held in custody.
Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office Teams with Othram to Identify a 1982 Homicide Victim (DNASolves – 2/10/2025)
In December 1982, the remains of an unidentified individual were discovered in Loxahatchee, Florida. Loxahatchee is a community in Palm Beach County, Florida located north of Miami. The discovery was made by a real estate agent who was assessing land along Okeechobee Boulevard and F Road. The remains were determined to belong to a middle-aged white female who was 24- 34 years old and stood between 5’3″ to 5’6″ tall. An investigation revealed that the woman suffered a gunshot wound to the head and her manner of death was ruled a homicide.
Alongside the woman’s body were five pieces of jewelry–a silver handcrafted heart-shaped pinky ring, a gold mariner’s anchor necklace with a 180-degree twist, a wristwatch, a four marquis cut ring, and a diamond ring with 14K white gold setting. Despite investigators’ attempts, the murdered woman could not be identified and she became known as “Jeweled Mom”.
Efforts to identify the woman included the development of a traditional DNA profile. The DNA profile was entered into CODIS, but there was no match to a known individual. Details of the case were entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) as UP16715. Over the years, investigators have worked diligently to identify the homicide victim, and in 2021 the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office teamed with Othram to determine if advanced DNA testing could help to identify the woman.
Forensic evidence was submitted to Othram’s laboratory in The Woodlands, Texas where scientists successfully developed a DNA extract from the evidence. Using Forensic Grade Genome Sequencing®, a comprehensive DNA profile was built for the unknown woman. Othram’s forensic genetic genealogy team then used the profile in a genealogy search which resulted in new leads about the woman’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 woman. A reference DNA sample was collected from a possible relative and compared to the DNA profile of the homicide victim. This investigation led to the positive identification of the woman, who is now known to be 37-year-old Leona Jean Keller.
Genealogy Identifies 1990 Jane Doe in Open Investigation (Forensic – 2/10/2025)
In a breakthrough investigation, the Placer County Sheriff’s Office (Calif.) has officially identified the remains of a woman found in 1990 as Wendy Abrams-Nishikai. She was last seen on October 31st, 1989, at the age of 21. Her remains were discovered off an embankment on Yankee Jims Road in Colfax, CA, and had remained unidentified for over three decades.
The case, initially handled by the Placer County Sheriff’s Office, was deemed a Jane Doe cold case after investigators were unable to identify the decedent using the technology available at the time. Despite extensive efforts, the case went unsolved until the formation of the Placer County Sheriff’s Office Cold Case Investigations team in 2023.
The Cold Case Investigations team, which includes investigators from the Placer County Sheriff’s Office and the Placer County District Attorney’s Office, reopened the case with a focus on utilizing advancements in technology and forensic genealogy. In 2024, the California Department of Justice Laboratory in Richmond, Calif, successfully identified a likely next of kin through DNA analysis, linking the remains to a relative of a woman reported missing in 1989 from Berkeley, Calif.
University Opens State-of-the-Art Forensic Lab (Forensic – 2/10/2025)
USC Salkehatchie celebrated the opening of a new forensic science lab at its Allendale campus, marking a significant advancement in criminal justice education in the Lowcountry. The state-of-the-art facility will provide students with hands-on experience in fingerprinting, drug testing, DNA analysis, and other crucial forensic techniques.
The lab, a culmination of years of planning and collaboration, is poised to enhance the education of current students, attract future students to the criminal justice program, and further the university’s mission of providing higher education and intellectual leadership to the region.
Retired Detective, Identification Expert Break Open 2003 Cold Case Murder (Forensic – 2/10/2025)
Suffolk County (NY) District Attorney Raymond Tierney announced that Raul Ayala, 51, of Georgia, was indicted for Murder in the First Degree and other related charges for the brutal 2003 murder of 88-year-old Edna “Timmie” Schubert in her North Bay Shore home.
“This indictment demonstrates that justice has no expiration date. Through the relentless dedication of our retired and active law enforcement officers, coupled with advances in forensic technology, we were able to charge this defendant for the brutal murder of Edna Schubert which has haunted Suffolk County for over two decades,” said Tierney. “Mrs. Schubert was a beloved friend to many and whose life was tragically cut short in an act of senseless violence. I thank the Suffolk County Police Department’s Homicide Section, Identification Section, and the Suffolk County Crime Lab for their hard work in getting us closer to bringing her alleged killer to justice.”
New AI Tool to Aid Forensic Investigations (University of Western Australia – 2/12/2025)
Researchers from The University of Western Australia and CSIRO have developed an advanced AI tool that could help forensic investigators estimate biological sex from human skulls.
The research, published in Nature Scientific Reports, has the potential to support forensic investigators during natural disasters and criminal analyses by refining techniques that contribute to accurate identification of unknown individuals.
Forensic anthropology experts from The University of Western Australia provided labelled data and domain knowledge to support model development, working in collaboration with CSIRO to develop the tool.
UWA forensic anthropology researcher and postgraduate student affiliate at CSIRO, Ridhwan Lye, undertook the research as part of his PhD and is the study’s joint-first author.
“What an amazing experience it is to collaborate with people who share my enthusiasm in understanding how technology can have a positive impact in our professional work,” Mr Lye said.
He said the tool was a great first step in evaluating the potential of AI modelling as part of a forensic anthropological assessment.
Remains Found in 2005 Identified as Escaped Inmate (Forensic – 2/12/2025)
Unidentified remains discovered by hunters in Blount County almost 20 years ago have officially been identified as Patrick Grayson Spann from Mississippi.
According to Blount County (Alabama) District Attorney Pamela Casey, skeletonized human remains discovered in the woods by hunters in October 2005 off of U.S. Highway 31 near Garden City are the remains of Patrick Grayson Spann.
In 2005, authorities used information collected from the recovery site to locate friends and associates who knew the subject as Chad Patrick Singleton. However, law enforcement soon learned that this was an alias and not the real identity of the remains. The remains were examined by a forensic anthropologist in 2005, but despite efforts the identity was unknown.
In 2024, Blount County District Attorney Pamela Casey reopened the case. The man known as Chad Singleton had two biological daughters while he was living in Blountsville. The District Attorney’s Office submitted DNA evidence of one of those daughters for genetic genealogy testing to identify and locate possible relatives which could lead authorities to the true identity of the remains. A possible biological son was located.
Spann’s identification was made possible by investigative genetic genealogical research performed by Moxxy Forensic Investigations, who was hired by Casey.
Investigators Use Genetic Genealogy to ID 1986 Rapist (Forensic – 2/12/2025)
Michigan State Police, at the request of the Indiana State Police, arrested a 62-year-old man on criminal deviate conduct, burglary and criminal confinement charges out of LaGrange County stemming from a case in 1986.
This follows a 39-year investigation that was able to use science and technological advancements to help in the investigation.
In October 1986 LaGrange County Sheriff’s Department, Steuben County Sheriff’s Department along with Indiana State Police detectives began investigating a sexual assault that took place near Howe, in LaGrange County.
The offense started in the early morning hours of Oct. 23, 1986, after the suspect abducted an adult female who had stopped and exited her vehicle to remove an object from the road. During their investigation, it was determined that the victim had been held against her will near Howe, was sexually assaulted and then taken to a location near Orland in Steuben County and sexually assaulted again.
At the time an Indiana State Police Crime Scene Technician was called to collect evidence and document the scenes. All leads that were available at that time were exhausted and the case was left unsolved.
In 2015, an Indiana State Police detective learned of the case and took interest. Knowing how technology has changed since 1986, he went to the Indiana State Police Fort Wayne Regional Lab and asked if there was any evidence left in this case, specifically any DNA evidence. After the lab identified there was DNA evidence, the results were run through an Indiana DNA database with no matching results.
In 2023, the DNA results were found to be a candidate for genetic genealogy and resulted in identifying a family line tied to the DNA evidence.
The Netherlands Sends Mobile Lab to Ukraine to Investigate War Crimes (Forensic – 2/12/2025)
Ukraine will soon be able to use a mobile research laboratory to investigate war crimes.
Netherlands Defence is donating a Joint Deployable Exploitation and Analysis Laboratory (JDEAL) for this purpose. A delegation from Ukraine signed the contract for the transfer last week. The Netherlands is thus contributing to combating impunity and investigating war crimes in the war-torn country.
JDEAL is a mobile laboratory consisting of 13 containers. It contains varied resources to perform forensic and technical investigation work on location, including examining fingerprints, analyzing DNA traces and reading mobile phones.
The mobile lab is easy to transport and can be deployed within a few days. A team of researchers from Ukraine has been trained in the Netherlands in the past period to work with the laboratory. The intention is that the Hon. Prof. MS Bokarius Forensic Science Institute will use it. This is a forensic institute and falls under the Ukrainian Ministry of Justice. The lab will be transported to Kyiv as soon as possible.
The Sexome’s Forensic Potential: After Intercourse, Both Partners Leave Traces of Their Own Unique Genital Microbiome (Phys Org- 2/12/2025)
Criminal investigations of heterosexual sexual assault often include a DNA analysis of the woman’s genitals with the aim of identifying the presence of the perpetrator’s sperm for proof of intercourse. However, in cases where no sperm is detected, including in assaults where the perpetrator uses a condom, these exams are often ineffective. In research published in iScience on February 12, 2025, researchers show that bacterial species are transferred between both individuals during sexual intercourse, and these species can be traced to a sexual partner’s unique genital microbiome.
The authors say that analyses of these genital microorganisms—which they called the “sexome”—may be useful in identifying perpetrators of sexual assault.
After I was raped, it took 10 hours to get my forensic exam. No survivor should have to wait this long (The Guardian – 2/12/2025)
Waiting is something survivors of sexual violence know too well. Waiting for justice. Waiting for accountability. Waiting to heal. But before any of that, there is another wait – one that should never happen. It is the wait for forensic medical exams, a crucial first step in seeking justice and closure.
I know because I lived it.
‘Missing and Disappeared’ Exhibit Shines Light on Jane Does (The Minnesota Daily – 2/12/2025)
“Missing and Disappeared” brings to light the crisis of missing and unidentified women. Unlike the name, the exhibit is a space to honor the return of their stories.
The exhibit, showing until March 7, displayed 30 images of former Jane Does backlit in resin and surrounded by silhouettes, envelopes and vintage clothing patterns. Minneapolis-based artist Rachel Coyne wants to celebrate the DNA Doe Project’s identification of women who were missing and disappeared.
“These women are being returned to their families and returned to themselves in a sort of way,” Coyne said. “It’s a celebration of their names.”
Coyne stumbled upon the DNA Doe Project on Facebook around four years ago. The nonprofit aims to raise money and awareness for genetic genealogy to efficiently identify missing persons. The project inspired Coyne to create art.
Between the images of women, there are old family photographs set in resin. The places where women would be in the photos are cut out. Coyne casts every piece in resin to reflect the feelings of loved ones who lost someone.
Stockton Police Department, San Joaquin County Medical Examiner, and California DOJ Teams with Othram to Identify a 2018 Jane Doe (DNASolves – 2/12/2025)
In August 2018, the remains of an unidentified individual were discovered in a pond located in a Stockton, California field. Officers responded to the scene in the area of West Eight Mile and North Rio Blanco roads in the Bear Creek District. Investigators determined that the remains were that of a female, between the ages of 25 and 50. The woman’s body was severely decomposed, but investigators estimated that she was about 5’8” tall and weighed about 90 lbs. Several articles of clothes were found, including a shoe, a size 9.5 cork wedge sandal for the left foot. Investigators also discovered a copper-colored braided ring.
The case was entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) as UP52688. Despite the exhaustive efforts of law enforcement, the woman’s identity remained a mystery for several years.
In 2022, the Stockton Police Department, the San Joaquin County Office of the Medical Examiner and the California Department of Justice partnered with Othram to determine if advanced forensic DNA testing could help establish an identity for the woman. Skeletal evidence was sent to Othram’s lab, where Othram’s forensic scientists developed a DNA extract and used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® to build a comprehensive DNA profile for the unknown woman. In addition, Othram’s in-house genealogy team used forensic genetic genealogy to produce investigative leads, which were returned to law enforcement. 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.
Using these leads, investigators were able to confirm the identification of the woman as Jaymie Renee West, who was born September 21, 1989. West, who was reported missing in 2018, was listed on NamUs as a MP61521.
