The Missing Piece Episode 9: Clara Birdlong (Escatawpa Jane Doe)
Though investigators suspected she was a victim of prolific serial killer, Samuel Little, they didn’t know her name for over 40 years. In December 1977, hunters discovered skeletonized human remains near a highway undergoing construction in Mississippi. Investigators determined that the remains belonged to an African American woman, small in stature. […]
Navigating the Challenging World of Leadership in Forensic Biology
While all leadership roles come with their own unique challenges, those in management roles in the forensic biology field face the difficult task of reducing backlogs, maintaining quality assurance standards, applying for grant funding, and keeping their staff current on training while addressing current caseload requirements and bringing on the latest technologies. Less than 10% […]
Using Investigative Genetic Genealogy in Infanticide Cases
Investigative genetic genealogy is becoming a popular topic in the forensic community for its use in solving previously “unsolvable” cold cases for law enforcement. The United States, unfortunately, has very high rates of infanticides–or the murder of a child younger than four years of age. Because these children are so young and have likely […]
The Missing Piece Episode 8: Stephanie Isaacson
Advanced DNA testing has revealed Darren Roy Marchand as the suspected perpetrator in the brutal murder of 14-year-old Stephanie Isaacson from Las Vegas. In June 1989, 14-year-old Stephanie Isaacson headed out on her morning walk to Eldorado High School. The Las Vegas teenager frequently took a shortcut through a vacant sandlot […]
Women Advancing Forensics: Amber Vandepoele
Meet some of the women who are propelling the field of forensic science forward. In this interview, we meet Amber Vandepoele, a student at Syracuse University. Amber’s interest in forensic science began in high school when she chose to take a class in forensic science over physics. Learning from guest speakers about what daily […]
Women Advancing Forensics: Haley Fallang
Meet some of the women who are propelling the field of forensic science forward. In this interview, we meet Haley Fallang, who is working to obtain her Master’s degree from Towson University. As a freshman in college being bombarded with possible majors and career paths, she signed up for what she deemed to be […]
Meet ISHI Exhibitors: Gentueri
Randy Nagy of Gentueri joins Travis in ISHI Central, where they discuss just how far DNA technology has come in the past 30+ years. Randy also shares how Gentueri’s cotton swabs can help absorb DNA at the time the sample is collected and extract it as well. They also discuss some of the challenges and […]
The Missing Piece Episode 7: Sherri Ann Jarvis (Walker County Jane Doe)
After 40 years, Walker County Jane Doe has been confirmed to be 14-year old Sherri Ann Jarvis, who went missing from Stillwater, Minnesota in the early part of 1980. In the early morning of November 1st, 1980, a truck driver traveling past the Sam Houston National Forest came upon the body […]
Women Advancing Forensics: Olivia McCarter
Meet some of the women who are propelling the field of forensic science forward. In this interview, we meet Olivia McCarter, a student at the University of South Alabama. Like many people her age who are in school for a forensic science career, Olivia grew up watching TV shows that portrayed characters who were […]
