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!
New Bill Would Let Defendants Inspect Algorithms Used Against Them in Court (The Verge – 2/15/2024)
A pair of Democratic lawmakers are seeking to give defendants more information about algorithms used against them in a criminal trial.
Reps. Mark Takano (D-CA) and Dwight Evans (D-PA) reintroduced theJustice in Forensic Algorithms Act on Thursday, which would allow defendants to access the source code of software used to analyze evidence in their criminal proceedings. It would also require the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to create testing standards for forensic algorithms, which software used by federal enforcers would need to meet.
The bill would act as a check on unintended outcomes that could be created by using technology to help solve crimes. Academic research has highlighted the ways human bias can be built into software and how facial recognition systems often struggle to differentiate Black faces, in particular. The use of algorithms to make consequential decisions in many different sectors, including both crime-solving and health care, has raised alarms for consumers and advocates as a result of such research.
Pregnant Woman Found Dead in Indiana in 1992 Identified Through Forensic Genealogy (U.S. News – 2/15/2024)
A pregnant woman who was found dead in 1992 in a northeastern Indiana basement has been identified through forensic genetic genealogy and DNA provided by her father, authorities said Thursday.
The woman was identified as Tabetha Ann Murlin of Fort Wayne, who was about 26 weeks pregnant at the time of her death, said Allen County Coroner Dr. E. Jon Brandenberger.
“This is Tabetha’s day, and you’ve been waiting to have a day for her for all this time,” the coroner said at a news conference attended by some of Murlin’s relatives nearly 32 years after her body was discovered.
DNA Evidence Exonerated a Man After He Spent 37 Years Behind Bars. Now Tampa is Paying Him $14 Million (KTVZ21 – 2/15/2024)
After a man wrongfully spent 37 years in prison for rape and murder, the Tampa City Council unanimously voted Thursday to approve a $14 million settlement in a federal lawsuit.
Robert DuBoise, who was convicted of the August 1983 rape and murder of 19-year-old Barbara Grams in Tampa Heights, was exonerated in September 2020 after DNA evidence established that he did not commit the crimes.
Wabasso Wold War II Soldier Identified 82 Years Later Thanks to DNA, Forensics (WPTV – 2/15/2024)
Right now, teams of scientists, historians and countless others are searching for World War II servicemen still missing around the world.
About 72,000 American servicemen are listed as unaccounted for and many were from Florida. That number gets smaller each day as families receive closure.
That’s about to happen for a Vero Beach family after 82 years of mystery, frustration and sadness.
Washoe County Regional Medical Examiner’s Office Teams with Othram to Identify 2008 Homicide Victim (DNASolves – 2/15/2024)
In March 2008, the remains of an unidentified individual were discovered in Churchill County, Nevada. A passerby discovered skeletal fragments partially covered with dirt and gravel in a remote area near US highway 95 near mile marker 55. The Churchill County Sheriff’s Office responded and conducted a death investigation. The shallow dirt grave was excavated and numerous skeletal fragments, along with an orange halter top, were discovered.
The individual’s remains was transported to the Washoe County Medical Examiner’s Office where a complete autopsy was performed by a county forensic pathologist. It was determined that the remains were that of an adult female. The woman’s cause of death was determined to be multiple gunshot wounds, and the manner of death was homicide. Despite investigators attempts to identify the woman, her identity remained a mystery. Details of the case were entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) as UP8110.
In 2023, the Washoe County Regional Medical Examiner’s Office submitted forensic evidence to Othram in The Woodlands, Texas. Othram scientists successfully developed a DNA extract that was used in Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® to build a comprehensive DNA profile for the unidentified homicide victim. Othram’s in-house forensic genetic genealogy team used the profile in a genetic genealogy search to develop investigative leads that were returned to the Washoe County Regional Medical Examiner’s Office.
Using these new leads, the Washoe County Regional Medical Examiner’s Office conducted a follow-up investigation, leading to a potential relative who provided a DNA sample for direct comparison. Othram used KinSNP® to compare the two DNA samples, making a positive identification. The woman is now identified as Betty Lou Japel. Japel was 70 years old at the time of her death. Betty Lou Japel was last heard from in 2006 after going missing while traveling with her partner, Kenneth Miller. In June 2007, Miller’s body was found in a grave near the site of where their abandoned motor home was located in Oregon. Betty Lou Japel was never heard from or seen again. Ms. Japel’s next of kin has been notified and is now able to claim her remains.
She and her boyfriend of 30 years were RVers who befriended someone along the way. Their friend, a felon, got into a shootout with police and shortly after, the boyfriend’s body was found near an RV park where they’d camped, but there was no sign of the woman (Betty Lou). After the shootout, the friend committed suicide and was found in the desert near Mexico. It’s believed (assumed?) that the friend killed the man and woman.
Man Found Floating in Lake Washington Near Mercer Island in 2018 Identified (DNA Doe Project – 2/16/2024)
A man found in Lake Washington in May, 2018 wearing only socks has been identified as Angel Arroyo Hernandez, aged 53, who had been estranged from his family for some time before his death.
Investigators with the Mercer Island Police Department worked on the case without any success until mid-2021, when they reached out to the DNA Doe Project to try investigative genetic genealogy. A blood sample taken from the body at the time he was discovered was analyzed and processed to create a DNA profile that was uploaded to the public databases at GEDmatch Pro and FTDNA.com. The profile had thousands of matches in the databases, but none were close relatives. Volunteer investigative genetic genealogists then began to build family trees with the closest matches, looking for common ancestors that would help them narrow the vast tree to the correct branch.
Initially, investigators believed that this John Doe was of Asian descent, but it quickly became apparent to the genealogists that he was actually Hispanic, with many ancestors who were from Mexico and the Southwest US. Combing through historical records hand-written in Spanish, they traced his family across 11 generations through more than 200 years to find Mr Hernandez.
With the Help of the EU Support ICMP Assists State Scientific Research Forensic Center (SSRFC) in Efforts to Account for Missing Persons in Ukraine (Delegation of the European Union to Ukraine – 2/16/2024)
Mississippi Office of the State Medical Examiner and Forrest County Sheriff’s Office Team with Othram to Identify 2022 Jane Doe (DNASolves – 2/16/2024)
In October 2022, the remains of an unidentified individual were found near Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Conservation Officers from the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks responded to a report of possible game-related illegal activity on the north side of the Camp Shelby Joint Forces Training Center. While investigating, the Conservation Officers discovered skeletal remains in a wooded area. The Forrest County Sheriff’s Office (FCSO), military representatives from Camp Shelby and the Forrest County Coroner responded to the scene with assistance provided by the University of Southern Mississippi Anthropology Department.
In December 2022, the Forrest County Sheriff’s Office, assisted by students and faculty from the University of Southern Mississippi’s Anthropology Department and a canine named Rambeaux, provided by the company, DNA K9, performed an additional search of the area. The team located more human remains belonging to the individual during this search. It was determined that the remains were that of a white female, who was likely less than 60 years old at the time of her death and who stood between 5’5” and 5’9” tall.
Two rings, a band with diamonds and a solid silver band, were found in close proximity to the woman’s remains. A certified jeweler verified that, based on the cut of the stones and the setting, the diamonds were real, and the ring was likely vintage. No identifying characteristics could be determined for the woman, and she was classified as Jane Doe. Details of the case were entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) as UP111129.
In 2023, working with the Mississippi Office of the State Medical Examiner, the Forrest County Sheriff’s Office submitted forensic evidence to Othram, in The Woodlands, Texas to determine if advanced DNA testing could help identify the woman. Funding to support this case was provided by Mississippi native and philanthropist Carla Davis, who is committed to resolving the backlog of cold cases in Mississippi. Othram scientists successfully developed a DNA extract from the forensic evidence, and then used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® to build a comprehensive genealogical profile for the unknown woman. Othram’s in-house forensic genetic genealogy team then used this profile to conduct extensive genetic genealogy research, ultimately providing new investigative leads to law enforcement.
A follow-up investigation led investigators to genetic relatives of the unknown woman. DNA reference testing was performed, confirming the identity of the woman as Kimberly Ann Robertson of State Line, Mississippi. Robertson was born January 12, 1974 and worked as a nurse. Robertson’s death remains under investigation and further information will be released as it becomes available.
DNA from Trash Links Former U.S. Soldier to 1978 Murder in Germany, Investigators Say: “Match was 1 in 270 quadrillion” (CBS News – 2/19/2024)
An American man is under arrest and facing extradition to Germany for the 1978 murder of a woman that took place while he was stationed at a U.S. Army base there. Investigators say DNA evidence found at the crime scene decades ago has been matched to the suspect, James Patrick Dempsey.
“Investigators determined that the likelihood of a match was 1 in 270 quadrillion,” according to an extradition document filed in court last week.
Dempsey is accused of stabbing and killing 35-year-old Bärbel Gansau in her apartment in Ludwigsburg, Germany. She was found dead in her bed with 37 stab wounds. Investigators said a bathroom window was open, and they collected fingerprint evidence from the window frame suggesting her attacker had entered the apartment this way.
20-Year-Old Bensalem Cold Case Finally Closed Thanks to Genealogy (CBS News – 2/19/2024)
Mother of ‘Baby Skylar’ Who Was Found Dead in Phoenix Airport Trash Can 19 Years Ago is Arrested (NBC News – 2/20/2024)
Pennsylvania State Police Teams with Othram to Identify Sugarloaf Jane Doe (DNASolves – 2/20/2024)
Mississippi Office of the State Medical Examiner, Hinds County Coroner’s Office, & Jackson PD Team with Othram to Identify 2023 John Doe (DNASolves – 2/20/2024)
New Forensic Lab Seeks to Reduce Evidence Backlog in California (Forensic – 2/21/2024)
Bode Technology Launches Advanced Genetic Genealogy Service (Forensic – 2/21/2024)
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