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 York’s First Use of Genealogy to Solve Cold Case Rapes (Forensic – 12/18/2023)
For the first time in New York State’s history, investigators used investigative genetic genealogy to help generate a lead and make an arrest in two rapes that occurred 23 years ago.
On Thursday, Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark announced that Jancys Santiago, 48, formerly of the Bronx and currently of Groveland, Fla., was arraigned on Nov. 15, 2023, on first-degree rape charges for the assault of a woman in Manhattan in 2000 and another in the Bronx in 2001.
A 2022 three-year, $500,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice to the Bronx District Attorney’s Office for cold cases was used to fund the genetic genealogy portion of the investigation.
Body Pulled from Lake 24 Years Ago Identified as FBI Fugitive (Forensic – 12/20/2023)
Genetic Genealogy Helps Identify ‘Bones 17’ (Forensic – 12/20/2023)
Parabon Nanolabs was contracted to do forensic genetic genealogy testing on “Bones 17.” Due to advancements in DNA technology, they were able to develop a new DNA profile to begin the forensic genetic genealogy process. After extensive research, they concluded that the victim was Lori Anne Razpotnik.
On Dec. 30, 1985, employees from the City of Auburn were called to investigate a car over an embankment. They discovered potential human remains and the Green River Task Force was called in and oversaw the investigation. During a subsequent search of the area by detectives and search and rescue personnel, a second set of human remains were found. These two victims were not immediately identified and have been referred to as Bones 16 and Bones 17.
Gary Ridgway led investigators to this location in 2002 and admitted to placing victims there. He plead guilty to murdering these two victims in 2003. In 2012, Bones 16 was identified through DNA testing as Sandra Majors.
Now, Bones 17 has ben identified as Lori Anne Razpotnik.
In 1982, Lori Anne was 15 years old and lived with her family in Lewis County. She ran away at some point during that year and her family never saw her again. King County detectives contacted Lori Anne’s mother who provided them with a saliva sample. The University of North Texas did DNA comparison testing, which confirmed the remains as that of Lori Anne Razpotnik.
$12 M Grant Will Expand the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences (Forensic – 12/20/2023)
U.S. Congressman Al Green (TX-09) recently presented a symbolic check for $12,164,000 for the federal funding Harris County will be receiving to renovate, expand, and improve the existing Institute of Forensic Sciences (IFS) building. These funds will benefit the rapidly growing Harris County population by consolidating the medical examiner and crime laboratory services.
These federal dollars are essential for the future growth of the Institute of Forensic Sciences. The critical need for expansion arises from funeral home backlogs, requiring prolonged preservation of deceased persons. This funding will help improve services, aid with facility expansion, and upgrade DNA systems related to evidence intake and firearms identification.
A New Forensic Tool to Help Identify the Species of Skeletal Remains (Forensic – 12/20/2023)
Connecticut Office of the Chief Medical Examiner and Othram Partner to Identify 2006 John Doe (DNASolves – 12/20/2023)
Connecticut Office of the Chief Medical Examiner Teams with Othram to Identify 2022 John Doe (DNASolves – 12/20/2023)
Batavia Police Department and the Kane County Coroner’s Office Team with Othram to Identify 1978 Jane Doe (DNASolves – 12/20/2023)
Carroll County Sheriff’s Office & Virginia State Office of the Chief Medical Examiner Teams with Othram to Identify a 2022 Murdered Child (DNASolves – 12/21/2023)
Oregon Man is Convicted of Murder in the 1978 Death of a Teenage Girl in Alaska (AP News – 12/21/2023)
Unidentified: Oklahoma John Doe Killed on Highway Nearly 30 Years Ago, Last Seen in Cleveland (Cleveland 19 News – 12/22/2023)
Kentucky State Police Teams with Othram to Identify a 1980 John Doe (DNASolves – 12/23/2023)
Toronto Police Solve Decades-Old Murder of Two Women Using Modern Genetic Genealogy (The Globe and Mail – 12/23/2023)
Millard County Sheriff’s Office Teams with Othram to Identify 1958 John Doe (DNASolves – 12/24/2023)
DC Crime Lab Appears to Regain Partial Accreditation After Losing Ability to Process Evidence in 2021 (WTOP News – 12/26/2023)
Teen Who Went Missing in 1979 While Looking for Her Biological Father Has Been Identified (Forensic – 12/27/2023)
Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office Teams with Othram to Identify 1985 Homicide Victim (DNASolves – 12/27/2023)
Pennsylvania State Police Team with Othram to Identify the Suspect in a 1997 Sexual Assault of Two Children (DNASolves – 1/02/2024)
IGG Center Students Identify 1980 John Doe (Forensic – 1/03/2024)
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