Dear Jacob: Patty Wetterling and Joy Baker on Advocacy, Hope, and Justice
In 1989, 11-year-old Jacob Wetterling was abducted, launching the largest manhunt in Minnesota history. For 27 years, the case remained unsolved—until a mother’s relentless hope and a blogger’s determination to uncover the truth led to a groundbreaking resolution. At ISHI 35, Patty Wetterling and Joy Baker shared their extraordinary journey: 🌟 How a mother who […]
Uncovering History and Identity: Turi King on DNA, Mysteries, and Forensic Science
How can DNA reveal family secrets, solve historical mysteries, and change lives? At #ISHI35, Dr. Turi King, renowned geneticist and Director of the Milner Centre for Evolution, shares her extraordinary journey—from identifying King Richard III to hosting the BBC series DNA Family Secrets. In this interview, she reflects on: 🧬 Using genetics to answer questions […]
Wrongfully Convicted, Rightfully Exonerated: Jeffrey Deskovic’s Journey to Advocacy
In 1990, Jeffrey Deskovic was just 17 years old when his life was forever changed. Convicted of a crime he didn’t commit, Jeffrey spent 16 years behind bars despite DNA evidence proving his innocence. His wrongful conviction was the result of a coerced, false confession, prosecutorial misconduct, fraudulent testimony from a medical examiner, and an […]
Breaking Barriers in Forensics: Anna Barbaro on Empowering Women and Demystifying True Crime
How do we empower women in forensic science while bridging the gap between true crime media and reality? At #ISHI35, Dr. Anna Barbaro, President of the Worldwide Association of Women Forensic Experts (WAWFE), shared her mission to support women in forensics globally, especially in developing countries. In this inspiring interview, Dr. Barbaro discusses: 🌍 The […]
The Intersection of Podcasting, True Crime, and Forensic DNA: A Conversation with Ashley Flowers
What happens when one of the most recognized voices in true crime connects with the world of forensic DNA? At ISHI 35, Ashley Flowers, host of Crime Junkie and founder of audiochuck, sat down with us to discuss her journey from genetics research to becoming a leading voice in true crime storytelling. Ashley shares how […]
Under the Microscope 2024 – August Woerner
The genetic component of forensic genetic genealogy (FGG) is an estimate of kinship, often conducted at genome scales between a great number of individuals. The promise of FGG is substantial: in concert with genealogical records, it can identify a person of interest without a direct reference sample to compare against. However, at present there are […]
Under the Microscope 2024 – Cristina Servidio
Almost fifty years ago, three young girls hitchhiked from downtown Indianapolis to the eastern part of the city trying to get to an amusement park. Unfortunately, they never reached their final destination that evening. A man in his early 40s pulled over on the side of the road and picked them up. They quickly realized […]
Under the Microscope 2024 – Ashley Hall
Imagine the scenario: your DNA is found on the handle of a knife at a crime scene. If there can be no reasonable dispute that it is your DNA, the critical question becomes – how did the DNA get there? The prosecution hypothesizes that you deposited your DNA on the handle when you used the […]
Under the Microscope 2024 – Brittney Svoboda
The purpose of this study is to investigate the probative value of collecting and testing samples outside traditional cavity swabs from the victim’s oral, vaginal (penile), and rectal areas in sexual assault collection kits. Swabs collected from various areas of the victim’s body, such as inner thighs and breasts, can yield quality DNA profiles that […]
