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!
Students ID Missing Person in First Cold Case Solve with NJ State Police (Forensic – 3/31/2025)
The identity of a woman has been confirmed after she went missing a decade ago, thanks in part to students in the Ramapo College Investigative Genetic Genealogy (IGG) Center who analyzed the genotype profile created from human remains found near the Delaware River in Warren County, NJ. The New Jersey State Police (NJSP) partnered with the Center after years of not being able to identify the remains.
On May 21, 2017, a foot with a sock and shoe were discovered by a resident in Pohatcong Township, NJ. No other remains were found, and without additional evidence, no other characteristics about the person could be determined. Traditional methods of investigation, including traditional DNA testing, did not produce a positive identification for years.
In 2023, the New Jersey State Police (NJSP) partnered with the Ramapo College IGG Center with a request to use investigative genetic genealogy to hopefully identify the person. Bone remains belonging to the person were sent to Astrea Forensics in Santa Cruz, California and a genotype profile was successfully developed.
In March of 2024, that profile was uploaded to the GEDmatch and FamilyTreeDNA databases and genealogy research was conducted by students in the Ramapo College Investigative Genetic Genealogy Certificate Program during that spring semester.
Knox County Regional Forensic Center Teams with Othram to Identify a 2022 Jane Doe (DNASolves – 3/31/2025)
In August 2022, the remains of an unidentified individual were discovered in a wooded North Knoxville area near Fourth and Gill, a historic district in Knoxville, Tennessee. A thorough search of the surrounding area was conducted and found the individual’s black Carhartt baseball cap, a black Degree by Reflex tank-top, black Forever 21 leggings, a gray No Boundaries bra, pink Athletic Works sneakers and a pair of black circle frame sunglasses.
The remains were sent to the Knox County Regional Forensic Center, where forensic experts determined that the individual was a white woman between 30 and 50 years old, estimated to be between 4’10” and 5’5″ tall with strawberry blonde hair. She also had a scar on her abdomen and lower back. The details of the case were entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) as UP95334. Despite extensive efforts by law enforcement investigators to identify the woman, no matches were found, and the case went cold due to a lack of investigative leads.
In 2023, the Knox County Regional Forensic Center submitted forensic evidence to Othram in The Woodlands, Texas to determine if advanced DNA testing could help identify the woman. 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 woman. Othram’s in-house forensic genetic genealogy team then used this profile to conduct genetic genealogy research. During the course of this research, personnel from the Knox County Regional Forensic Center were able to utilize NamUs Missing Persons records and the investigation ultimately led to the identity of Erin C. Callahan. She was last seen on June 1, 2022 and was 47 years old.
Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office & California DOJ Team with Othram to Identify a 1998 Jane Doe (DNASolves – 4/01/2025)
In January 1998, the remains of an unknown individual were found floating in the Pacific Ocean several miles out from Point Reyes Peninsula in California. Investigators determined that it was a woman, but she had been in the water for an unknown amount of time and her body was badly decomposed. The Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office continued to investigate but despite their best efforts, the woman could not be identified and she became known as Sonoma County Jane Doe.
In 2023, the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office and California Department of Justice partnered with Othram to employ advanced forensic DNA analysis to try to identify the woman. Forensic evidence was sent to Othram and Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® was used to build a comprehensive DNA profile suitable for forensic genetic genealogy. Othram’s in-house forensic genetic genealogy team then used the profile in a genetic genealogy investigation to develop new leads in the case. During the course of an investigation, detectives were able to confirm the identity of the unknown woman as Deborah Mitchell Cordier, who was born on July 25, 1952.
Toledo Police Department and Ohio BCI Team with Othram to Identify a 1987 Jane Doe (DNASolves – 4/01/2025)
In June 1987, the body of a young woman was discovered behind an auto repair shop on Collingwood Boulevard near Interstate 75 in Toledo, Ohio. It was determined that the woman died several days prior to her body being found. The woman was wrapped in pink-colored cloth, similar to a blanket, and she was wearing Jordache jeans. Her toenails were painted pink and she had five piercings in each ear, with small, round pearl earrings. She had short cropped strawberry-blonde hair and was estimated to have been 16 to 20 years old at her time of death. The woman was approximately 5’4” to 5’7” in height and weighed about 110 pounds. It appeared that someone had set fire to the woman’s body in an attempt to destroy evidence.
Details of the case were entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) as UP4778. A forensic sketch was developed and released to the public in hopes that it would generate new leads about the woman’s identity. Despite available clues and identifying characteristics, the young woman was never identified and she became known as Toledo Jane Doe.
In 2024, Toledo Police Department Detective Jason Mussery requested funding for advanced DNA testing and forensic genetic genealogy in hopes that Toledo Jane Doe may finally be identified. The Porchlight Project, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that offers funding for DNA testing and genetic genealogy for Ohio cold cases, agreed to fund Othram’s casework costs. Othram scientists used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® to build a comprehensive DNA profile for the Jane Doe.
This profile was used in a forensic genetic genealogy search for the development of new investigative leads. With those new leads, a possible relative was located in Michigan. Further follow up by detectives from the Ohio Bureau of Investigation, the Toledo Police Department and the Lucas County Coroner’s Office located the possible family members near Detroit, Michigan. Using KinSNP® Rapid Relationship testing, the profile of a relative was compared to the Jane Doe’s profile, confirming the identity of the woman as Tammy Lowe of Taylor, MI. She was 18-years-old when she died.
Doe Last Seen in 1984 Now Identified (Forensic – 4/02/2025)
More than 29 years after her remains were found, a woman known only as “Falls Road Jane Doe” has been identified.
Through a partnership established with DNA Labs International (DLI), the Baltimore County Police Department now knows that Leoria Smith was last seen 12 years before her body was discovered. At the time of her disappearance, Smith was 20 years old and the mother of an infant daughter. Smith’s disappearance was unknown to detectives due to it never being reported to authorities.
It wasn’t until March 1996 when human remains were found in a wooded area off Falls Road that detectives became involved. The woman was found wearing blue jeans, a light-colored blouse with dark pinstripes and pearl buttons, a leather jacket, and high-top style shoes. Additionally, two gold hoop earrings were also recovered at the scene. Despite extensive investigative efforts, the identity of the woman’s remains could not be determined and the woman became known as “Falls Road Jane Doe.”
In April 2021, the Baltimore County Police Department enlisted DLI to use the latest technology available on this case. Through DLI’s ForenSeq Kintelligence System, the private forensic DNA laboratory applied the newest Forensic Investigative Genetic Genealogy (FIGG) technology. The testing enabled the development of a DNA profile. That profile was then used by DLI’s genealogists to generate new investigative leads for the department. Based on those leads, detectives conducted numerous interviews and obtained samples for additional testing. This collaboration led to the identity of “Falls Road Jane Doe” becoming known.
Students Participate in Nation’s First Mass Fatality Cold Weather Training (Forensic – 4/02/2025)
In a groundbreaking event, University of Wisconsin-Platteville forensic investigation students participated in the first-ever cold weather Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team (DMORT) Full-Scale Exercise. Held at Northern Michigan University earlier this month, the mass fatality response training was conducted in freezing conditions. Students joined members of more than a dozen agencies representing local, state, regional and federal response teams.
“Through this mutually beneficial exercise, our students gained invaluable forensic experience and real-world connections while DMORT members gained new insight and renewed motivation for their own work,” said forensic anthropologist and UW-Platteville Professor Janamarie Truesdell. “Hopefully, memories of this exercise will continue to inspire our UW-Platteville students throughout their forensic careers.”
Partnership Leads to Nevada’s First Forensic Studies Certificate Program (Forensic – 4/02/2025)
The University of Nevada, Reno, in collaboration with the College of Liberal Arts and the Department of Criminal Justice, has announced the launch of Nevada’s first-ever Forensic Studies Certificate Program.
Made possible through a unique partnership with the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office Forensic Science Division, this innovative program offers students an introduction to the field of forensics, blending liberal arts education in critical thinking, ethics and communication with scientific expertise in biology, chemistry and biochemistry.
