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!
The Most Ancient Human Genome Yet has Been Sequenced—and It’s a Denisovan’s (Science – 7/11/2024)
By the time population geneticist Stéphane Peyrégne gave his talk Tuesday afternoon at a meeting in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, rumors had circulated and the auditorium was packed. He didn’t disappoint: “I’m pleased to tell you about a new Denisovan genome from a 200,000-year-old male,” said Peyrégne, a postdoc at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology.
The genetic sequence he unveiled is the oldest high-quality human genome yet—80,000 years older than the previous record holder: a Neanderthal that lived about 120,000 years ago. The new results come after more than a decade of effort to find fossilized bones and a second genome of a Denisovan, the mysterious archaic human discovered through its DNA 14 years ago. That first Denisovan genome came from a girl’s pinkie finger bone dated between 60,000 to 80,000 years ago. The genomes of both Denisovans and the ancient Neanderthal all came from the same cold, fossil-rich site: Denisova Cave in the Altai Mountains of Siberia.
According to the analysis by Peyrégne and colleagues, the newly sequenced male comes from a distinct population of early Denisovans that interbred multiple times with a group of Neanderthals whose population had not been detected in DNA before.
Team of Investigative Genetic Genealogists to Work on Finding Identities of ‘Torso Killer’ Victims (MSN – 7/12/2024)
The identity of Cleveland’s “Torso Killer,” also known as the “Mad Butcher of Kingsbury Run,” has remained unsolved for nearly 90 years.
And the identities of most of the unidentified victims are still unknown.
In an exclusive interview just days ago, 19 Investigates was the first to confirm the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office may be one step closer to finding some of those answers thanks to the help of DNA Doe Project, a non-profit organization.
Soon, they’ll exhume a few of the victims’ bodies for DNA.
“So we had a few of our volunteer investigative genetic genealogists bring this case to our attention, because I think it is fairly well known even nationally,” said Jennifer Randolph, Executive Director of Case Management and Operations with DNA Doe Project.
Victim of 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre Identified through DNA Genealogy as WWI Veteran (CNN – 7/12/2024)
A victim of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre whose remains were found during an archaeological dig at Oaklawn Cemetery has been identified through DNA genealogy, Tulsa officials announced.
Mayor G.T. Bynum announced at a news conference Friday the victim’s identity as C.L. Daniel, a veteran who served in World War I.
“His family did not know where he had been buried for the last 103 years until this week,” Bynum said.
Officials say Daniel was identified “using data submitted through GEDmatch and Family Tree DNA” and with the assistance of Intermountain Forensics, a laboratory that conducts genealogy work, according to a news release.
The dig is part of the 1921 Graves Investigation, an effort to identify currently unknown victims of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, CNN previously reported.
Alison Wilde, the genealogy case manager for the 1921 Graves Investigation, said that they compared the DNA profiles and the GEDmatch in the family tree databases.
A Mystery Writer Planned to Retire. Now She’s Leading a Team of Genetic Detectives – and Giving Murder Victims Back their Names (The Guardian – 7/13/2024)
Working from her California bungalow, Margaret Press, 77, leads a pioneering team of volunteers in the field of genetic genealogy. Thus far, they’ve identified the remains of more than 100 Jane and John Does
Wyoming Twins On Mission To Unravel Deaths Of ‘Motel Mike’ And ‘Pine Bluffs Pete’ (Cowboy State Daily – 7/14/2024)
The names serve as placeholders for now: “Motel Mike” and “Pine Bluffs Pete.” Two men whose fates decades ago brought them to Wyoming, where they ultimately died and are buried in unmarked graves in Cheyenne.
“Mike” passed away from a drug overdose in a Cheyenne motel in April 1977. The only thing known about him is that he listed his hometown as Niagara Falls, New York, when checking in.
“Pine Bluffs Pete,” meanwhile, was a transient who was hit by an oncoming train while attempting to cross the tracks in July 1996. A statement from the Laramie County Sheriff’s Office said the Hispanic man had likely hopped the train in Ogden, Utah, and didn’t see the eastbound train passing at about 70 mph, killing him instantly.
Other than these scant details, nothing else is known about their lives. Both are buried in unmarked graves in Lakeview Cemetery in Cheyenne, where they were discovered by twin sisters and genealogists, Megan McWilliams and Ashley Kroner of Genetics Uncovered.
The two found the unidentified men on the Find a Grave website, an online database of cemetery records overseen by volunteer genealogists and cemetery associations.
The fact that these men went to their graves unnamed did not sit well with the sisters, who are determined to find out their identities and reunite them with family.
DNA Labs International Acquires Intermountain Forensics Laboratory Operations, Boosts Capabilities with WGS Technology (EIN Presswire – 7/15/2024)
DNA Labs International (DLI), a leading privately owned accredited forensic DNA laboratory, is thrilled to announce the finalized acquisition of the laboratory operations of Intermountain Forensics (IMF), a non-profit DNA laboratory renowned for its commitment to high-quality forensic services.
“We are excited to welcome the IMF family into our DLI family. Together, we form a stronger team that will continue to provide law enforcement with every possible forensic tool available to solve their cases,” said Allison Nunes, President of DNA Labs International.
DNA Labs International and Intermountain Forensics were the first two accredited laboratories processing evidence for SNP testing for forensic investigative genetic genealogy. Our combined dedication, integrity, and relentless commitment to providing innovative solutions with friendly service to help answer the victims, families, and communities impacted by crime.
“The team at Intermountain Forensics is thrilled to join forces with DNA Labs International, a group equally dedicated to our shared commitment to quality-driven results in forensic investigations. By combining our expertise, resources, and cutting-edge technologies, we will undoubtedly strengthen our impact within the forensic community,” said Danny Hellwig, Director of Laboratory Development at Intermountain Forensics.
Othram Achieves ISO/IEC 17025:2017 Accreditation Through ANAB for Massively Parallel Sequencing (Cision PRWeb – 7/15/2024)
Othram, the leading forensic sequencing laboratory for law enforcement, is pleased to announce that their forensic laboratory has been accredited by the ANSI National Accreditation Board to the ISO/IEC 17025:2017 standards for Forensic Testing and Calibration Laboratories, for Single-Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) testing utilizing Massively Parallel Sequencing (MPS).
Developed by Othram, Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® has been instrumental in solving numerous active and cold cases for local, state, and federal agencies across the United States and internationally. More forensic genetic genealogy cases have been solved with Othram FGGS® than any other method. A quality system and continued validation and deployment of these techniques are essential to ensuring the reliability and broad adoption of advanced applications of forensic genetics that serve scientific, investigative, judicial, and societal stakeholders.
“We are thrilled to offer best-in-class forensic DNA testing with the quality system that stakeholders seek,” said Othram CEO David Mittelman. “Our clients can continue to benefit from the unparalleled power of FGGS® with greater confidence, while maintaining their commitment to using an accredited forensic laboratory.”
The accreditation of Othram’s forensic laboratory is another step towards our mission to set the standard for solving the most challenging active and cold cases, providing answers and justice for families and communities.
Massachusetts Office of the Chief Medical Examiner Teams with Othram to Identify a 2020 John Doe (DNASolves – 7/16/2024)
In April 2020, the remains of an unidentified individual were found on the shoreline of Revere Beach in Revere, Massachusetts. Revere is located 5 miles northeast of Boston. Investigators responded to the scene where they determined that the remains were that of a male. The man was between the ages of 50 and 70 years old, stood approximately 5’11” tall, and weighed 182 pounds. At the time of the man’s discovery, he was wearing a black sweatshirt, a red and blue shirt, denim pants, and a pair of blue socks and white socks. No other identifying clues were available.
In November 2022, details of the case were entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) as UP97619. Despite extensive efforts by law enforcement investigators to identify the man, no matches were found, and the case went cold due to a lack of investigative leads.
In 2023, the Massachusetts Office of the Chief Medical Examiner submitted forensic evidence to Othram in The Woodlands, Texas to determine if advanced DNA testing could help to identify the man. Othram scientists successfully developed a DNA extract from the forensic evidence and then used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® to build a comprehensive DNA profile for the unknown man. Othram’s in-house forensic genetic genealogy team used this profile to conduct genealogy research, ultimately providing new investigative leads to law enforcement.
Using this new information, a follow-up investigation was conducted leading investigators to potential relatives of the man. Reference DNA samples were collected from a potential relative and compared to the DNA profile of the unknown man. This investigation led to the positive identification of the man, Steven Watson Lerner, born July 1, 1967.
Supreme Court Grants Stay of Execution for Texas Man Seeking DNA Test in 1998 Stabbing Death (CBS News – 7/16/2024)
The Supreme Court granted a stay of execution for a Texas man on Tuesday, 20 minutes before he was scheduled to face a lethal injection. The inmate has long maintained that DNA testing would help prove he wasn’t responsible for the fatal stabbing of an 85-year-old woman during a 1998 home robbery.
The nation’s high court issued the indefinite stay shortly before inmate Ruben Gutierrez was to have been taken to the Huntsville, Texas, death chamber for the planned chemical injection.
The 47-year-old inmate was condemned for the 1998 stabbing of 85-year-old Escolastica Harrison at her home in Brownsville. Gutierrez has long sought DNA testing that he claims would help prove he had no role in her death.
Baytown Police Department & FBI Leverage Othram’s Forensic Sequencing Platform to Identify a 1992 Homicide Victim (DNASolves – 7/16/2024)
In April 1992, the remains of an unidentified individual were discovered in the 700 block of Tri City Beach Road in Baytown, Texas. Baytown is a city just east of Houston. Baytown Police Department responded to the scene. It was determined that the remains were that of a black male who was 5’9” tall, partially clothed, and covered in multiple sheets and blankets. The man was found lying face down in a concrete drainage ditch just south of the Southern Pacific Railroad. The man was determiend to between the ages of 25 and 45 years.
An autopsy was conducted by the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences on April 19, 1992. The death of the man was classified as a homicide. Details of the case were entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) as UP3851. Despite the extensive efforts of law enforcement investigators to identify the man, no matches were found, and the case went cold due to a lack of viable leads. In August 2021, the man’s remains were exhumed for further analysis.
In 2022, the Baytown Police Department submitted forensic evidence to Othram in The Woodlands, Texas in hopes that advanced DNA testing could finally help to identify the man. Othram scientists successfully developed a DNA extract from the forensic evidence and used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® to build a comprehensive DNA profile for the John Doe. After successfully completing the process, the DNA profile was delivered to the FBI’s forensic genetic genealogy team, who performed the research to generate new investigative leads in the case.
Using this new information, a follow-up investigation was conducted leading investigators to potential relatives of the man. After more than three decades, this investigation led to the positive identification of the man, who is now known to be Melvin McAfee of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. McAfee, who was born in Chicago, Illinois, was 41 years old when his remains were discovered in 1992.
DNA Breakthrough Solves 1963 Cold Case Murder at Wisconsin Gas Station (CBS News – 7/17/2024)
More than a half-century after a man was stabbed to death at a gas station in Wisconsin, authorities believe they’ve finally solved his murder. Several rounds of advanced forensic testing on DNA samples taken from the scene of the crime eventually led detectives to identify a suspect in the killing, the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office said.
