From Lab to Verdict: Navigating the Intersection of Forensic Science, Media, and Legal Decision-Making

Chair

Craig O'Connor

Deputy Director, Forensic Biology Department, New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner

Craig O’Connor is a Deputy Director in the Department of Forensic Biology at the New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner, the largest public DNA Lab in the country with over 200 analysts and technicians. He manages the daily operations in the department ensuring that the analytical work conforms to state and national accreditation requirements and federal quality assurance standards.

Susan Horan

DNA Specialist, Forensic Science & Cold Case Unit, Kings County District Attorney’s Office

In March of 2017, Ms. Horan joined the Kings County District Attorney’s Office as a DNA Specialist in the Forensic Science & Cold Case Unit. She became the first forensic scientist to be hired on staff at a prosecutor’s office in New York State. Ms. Horan is responsible for providing training in serology and DNA testing for staff attorneys and local law enforcement. She also assists in grand jury and trial preparation for all DNA prosecutions and works with the NYPD Cold Case Squad in their homicide investigations.

M. Ariel Payan

Capital Area Private Defender Service- Director of Legal Services

Ariel is Director of Legal Services for the Capital Area Private Defender Service (CAPDS) and oversees 150+ defense attorneys in Travis County (Austin). He has been a defense attorney for 30 years and has spent the last 15 years focused on capital cases, both trial and appeal. He is a frequent lecturer on all thing’s science, but mostly DNA which he almost understands.

Joshua Somers

Assistant Attorney General with the OAG, Criminal Prosecutions Division in Austin, Texas

Joshua Somers is a career prosecutor and currently works for the Texas Attorney General’s Office, where he is a member of the Capital Murder Team in the Criminal Prosecutions Division. Josh has prosecuted over 100 jury trials to verdict.

Samantha Wandzek

Technical Leader, Signature Science

Samantha Wandzek is the Technical Leader of Signature Science’s Forensic DNA Laboratory in Austin, Texas. Ms. Wandzek oversees all technical aspects of the laboratory including validation and
implementation of all forensic methods. In addition, she continues to function as a Forensic DNA Analyst by reporting and performing technical review of DNA analyses and case files.