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!
Police Found DNA Lead but No Match for Unidentified Victim of Winnipeg Serial Killer, Trial Hears (CBC – 5/09/2024)
A shred of DNA from the cuff of a jacket is the only real clue investigators ever found in their efforts to identify the lone unknown victim of an admitted serial killer in Winnipeg, court heard during the man’s trial on Thursday.
That female DNA profile was identified on a black-and-white Baby Phat-brand jacket that Jeremy Skibicki told police he took from the woman after he killed her in 2022, then sold on Facebook Marketplace.
No other items believed to be related to the woman were ever found during the police search of Skibicki’s apartment and nearby garbage bins, following the discovery of partial remains of another of his victims in a North Kildonan dumpster, Winnipeg Police Service Const. Jan de Vries testified during the second day of the accused’s murder trial.
How Forensic Genetic Genealogy is Changing the Game for Cold Case Investigations in Connecticut (WTNH – 5/09/2024)
It’s a beacon of hope in cases that have turned cold. The use of forensic genetic genealogy has helped crack unsolved cases in Connecticut, bringing closure to victims who have been waiting decades for answers.
Chesterfield County Police Department & Virginia State Office of the Chief Medical Examiner Team with Othram to Identify a 1990 John Doe (DNASolves – 5/09/2024)
In May 1990, the partial skeletal remains of an unidentified individual were discovered by a fisherman in a wooded area off Point of Rocks Road in Chesterfield County, Virginia, just south of Richmond on the Appomattox River bank. Investigators were called to the scene and determined the remains were that of an adult male between 40 and 60 years old. The man had a beard, was clothed, missing almost all of his teeth, and was laying face down at the time of discovery. The man’s remains were transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) for examination where it was determined that there were no signs of foul play and his manner of death was ruled as undetermined.
In June 2022, the Chesterfield County Police Department collaborated with the Virginia State Office of the Chief Medical Examiner to submit forensic evidence to Othram in The Woodlands, Texas. 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 man. 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.
Using this new information, a follow-up investigation was conducted leading investigators to potential relatives of the man. Reference DNA samples were collected from the potential relatives and compared to the DNA profile of the unknown man. This investigation led to the positive identification of the man, who is now known to be Robert Lee Harris. Harris was last seen by his mother on April 17, 1990, and he was never seen or heard from again. Harris was 55 years old and lived in the 1400 block of Burning Tree Road in Henrico at the time of his disappearance. Henrico is a community just northwest of Richmond. Detectives have notified Harris’ surviving family of the positive identification, and the OCME will work with the family to return Harris’ remains.
The Role of Automation in Reducing the SAEK Backlog (Forensic – 5/10/2024)
The forensic science community faces a significant challenge with the backlog of sexual assault evidence kits (SAEKs). Delays in processing these kits stem, in part, from the complexity of extracting and analyzing degraded and mixed DNA samples.
Here we explore the role of Y-Screening for prioritizing valuable samples and discuss the drawbacks of manual DNA extraction—which is time-consuming and prone to human error. We then delve into how automation can revolutionize forensic laboratories by increasing efficiency, reducing variability and improving the quality of DNA analysis. We also discuss the efficacy of one automated platform (the Maxwell® RSC 48 Instrument) in handling forensic samples to underscore the benefits of adopting automated systems in forensic analysis.
Private Labs Considered as Solution for Kentucky’s Forensic Lab Backlog (Forensic – 4/22/2024)
As Kentucky State Police continues to suffer from a backlog inside its forensic labs, a new proposal from Mayor Linda Gorton may help alleviate some of the delays for crime victims and their families.
In January, KSP Commissioner Phillip Burnett Jr. spoke at a Kentucky Senate committee hearing to discuss the current state of the backlog, which he credited to an increase in case volume, alongside trouble recruiting and retaining forensic scientists.
He said that in 2023, the average turnaround time for violent crimes testing was 9 months, while the average turnaround time for sexual assault DNA evidence was 13 months.
DNA Match Leads to Arrest of Minister Two Decades After Murders of 2 Alabama Teens (ABC News – 5/10/2024)
Maine Eyes New DNA Technology that Could Help Crack Unsolved Cases (News Center Maine – 5/10/2024)
Legislators allocated $100,000 to LD 838 to contract with a forensic genetic genealogy company to perform advanced DNA testing on unidentified bodies.
St. Louis City Office of the Medical Examiner Teams with Othram to Identify a June 2020 John Doe (DNASolves – 5/11/2024)
In June 2020, the remains of an unidentified male were recovered from the Mississippi River in St. Louis City. Investigators from the St. Louis City Office of the Medical Examiner responded to the scene. Clothing items noted on the remains at the time of recovery include socks and boxer briefs. Investigators believe the man was between 36 and 50 years old and approximately 5’ 10” to 6’ 0”’ in height at his time of death.
The man had several recognizable memorial-type tattoos on his body. In an attempt to recreate the tattoos, drawings were created and released to the public in hopes that it would generate new leads about the man’s identity. Despite the exhaustive efforts by the Medical Examiner’s Office, the man’s identity has remained a mystery.
After the remains were recovered, details of the case were entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) as #UP70471. Despite Investigator’s work to identify the man, his identity remains a mystery.
In 2023, the St. Louis City Office of the Medical Examiner partnered with Othram to determine if advanced DNA testing can help to determine the identity of the man.
After 35 Years of Uncertainty, Investigators ID Skeleton Found in Madison Chimney (WPR – 5/13/2024)
Thanks to advancing technology, investigators were able to use DNA from hair samples to identify the man who had come to be known as “Chimney Doe.”
Traditionally, forensic analysis of hair has focused on getting genetic material from cells attached to the hair’s root. But, in the case of Chimney Doe, investigators had rootless hair, which can make it difficult to extract enough genetic material.
In 2019, Madison Detective Lindsey Ludden reached out to the DNA Doe Project, hoping a new method could provide more information about Chimney Doe’s remains.
The nonprofit uses emerging forensic technology and genealogy techniques to help police solve cases of unidentified people at no charge to law enforcement agencies.
Eventually, scientists at the California-based Astrea Forensics laboratory were able to get enough DNA from Kirk’s rootless hairs, a process that took over two years.
Actress Mariska Hargitay Introduces John Jay College’s Seeing Rape (John Jay College of Criminal Justice – 5/13/2024)
John Jay College of Criminal Justice addresses sexual violence through Seeing Rape, a course that examines rape as both an idea and an act and that culminates in performances written by students and staged by professional actors. Students consider rape and sexual violence as it is represented in law, media, film, theater, literature, performance art, and pop music and confront, question, critique, and contest how cultures define rape. Seeing Rape has been seen by more than 8500 people in the theater and more than 100,000 people online. It has promoted the work of more than 150 John Jay undergraduates.
This year’s May 8th performance was introduced by Mariska Hargitay from Law and Order: Special Victims Unit and founder of the Joyful Heart Foundation, which is committed to ending sexual assault, domestic violence, and child abuse.
“Seeing Rape confronts deeply challenging issues and provides a forum for vital yet difficult conversations,” said President Karol V. Mason. “Our students create compelling and moving performances that ultimately explore how – or if – survivors find justice. We were honored to welcome Mariska Hargitay this year, whose Joyful Heart Foundation envisions a world free of sexual assault, domestic violence, and child abuse.”
A Crack in the Case: Can DNA Testing Give the Monster a Name? (USA Today – 5/14/2024)
Detective Sgt. David Ellison was running out of options.
Since 2018, the Indianapolis official had done his best to solve the 1975 kidnapping and stabbing of three young girls, and the rape of the youngest.
He’d met with Kathie Rottler, Sheri Trick and Kandice Smith, all of whom survived the attack. He’d collected their DNA and submitted it and the evidence for testing. He’d cleared one of the original suspects and ruled out another potential suspect. And he’d ensured the attacker’s DNA profile was added to a national database called the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS).
But Ellison still didn’t know who had committed the crime.
Ellison reached out to a friend for help securing funding for forensic genetic genealogy, which combines DNA testing with traditional genealogical research to generate leads in unsolved cases. It’s family tree meets the crime lab.
Knox County Regional Forensic Center Teams with Othram to Identify a 2022 John Doe (DNASolves – 5/14/2024)
In September 2022, the skeletal remains of an unidentified individual were discovered by a landscaper and property owner near the Marble City Outdoor Classroom in Knoxville, Tennessee. The Knoxville Police Department responded to the scene. The Knox County Regional Forensic Science Center transported the remains and determined that they were that of a male who was 6 feet tall. The man was between the ages of 38 and 55 years old. An autopsy report revealed that no foul play was involved with the death, but no one could identify the man.
Details of the case were entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) as UP96318. Throughout the course of the investigation, investigators used radiographs and dental x-rays from missing individuals in the area, but their efforts did not yield a match. 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 viable leads.
In 2024, 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 man. Othram scientists successfully developed a suitable DNA extract from the skeletal remains and then used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® to build a comprehensive DNA profile for the unidentified man. After successfully completing the process, Othram’s in-house forensic genetic genealogy team then leveraged this profile to conduct genetic genealogy research, ultimately providing critical leads to the Knox County Regional Forensic Center.
Using this new information, a follow-up investigation was conducted leading investigators to potential relatives of the man. Reference DNA samples were collected from the potential relatives and compared to the DNA profile of the unknown man. This investigation led to the positive identification of the man, who is now known to be Tony A. Brown Jr. Brown was born March 20, 1988.
Mississippi Office of the State Medical Examiner & Bureau of Investigation Partner with Othram to Identify a 2005 Jane Doe (DNASolves – 5/14/2024)
In September 2005, about a week after the devastating hurricane Katrina made landfall, a search and rescue team in St. Martin, Mississippi discovered the remains of an unidentified individual between the slabs where two houses once stood. St. Martin is located in Jackson County, just east of Gulfport. Investigators were able to determine that the remains were that of a black female, estimated to be between 50 and 59 years old, and who stood between 5’ 1” and 5’ 5”.
In 2023, the Mississippi Bureau of Investigations and the Mississippi State Medical Examiner’s Office, driven by a commitment to solve the case, exhumed the woman’s remains and submitted forensic evidence to Othram in the Woodlands, Texas to determine if advanced DNA testing could help identify her. Funding for this effort 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 suitable DNA extract from the skeletal remains and then used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® to build a comprehensive DNA profile for the unidentified woman. After successfully completing the process, Othram’s in-house forensic genetic genealogy team then leveraged this profile to conduct genetic genealogy research, ultimately providing critical leads to the Mississippi Bureau of Investigations.
Using these new leads, a follow-up investigation was conducted, leading to genetic relatives of the woman. In May 2024, through additional DNA testing of a close family member, the unidentified woman was positively identified as Tonette Jackson. According to family, Tonette and her husband, Hardy, were forced into their attic when flood waters began to rise in Biloxi, Mississippi during Hurricane Katrina. Their home was split in half, and both Tonette and Hardy were swept away by the flood. Hardy managed to grab onto a tree and saw his wife in the water. Though he tried to hold onto her, Tonette urged him to let go and take care of their children and grandchildren. Tonette was swept away, and her body was never found. Hardy honored the promise he made to Tonette until his death in 2013. This comparison confirmed the identity of Jackson County Jane Doe as Tonette Waltman Jackson.
National Police of Ukraine Forensic Units Receive Vans and Mobile DNA Laboratories (UNDP – 5/16/2024)
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine, with financial support from the Government of Japan, has donated equipment to the National Police of Ukraine’s forensic units. This is part of broader support provided within the “Promotion of Human Security in Ukraine Through Responding to the Multidimensional Crisis Caused by the War” project.
Twenty-six Volkswagen Crafter vans, forensic kits, ANDE rapid DNA technology mobile laboratories and other equipment was provided to National Police of Ukraine forensic units in all regions to enhance their work even further. Equipped mobile forensic laboratories will help to handle complex forensic investigations, and rapidly identify individuals’ DNA profiles in difficult field conditions.
Lake County Sheriff’s Office & California DOJ Partner with Othram to Identify a 1979 Homicide Victim (DNASolves – 5/16/2024)
In September 1979, a hunter stumbled upon skeletal remains in the area of Highway 175 between mile markers .80 and .83 in Lake County, California, just northwest of Sacramento. Investigators were called to the scene and determined that the remains were that of a female whose ancestry could not be definitively determined. The woman was estimated to be between 25 and 35 years old at her time of death, which was estimated to be between 1976 and 1979. The woman’s height was determined to be between 5’1’’ and 5’4”. No other identifying characteristics could be determined.
In June 2019, case details were entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) as UP58032. With limited identifying characteristics available, the woman’s identity remained unknown for nearly five decades despite the efforts of law enforcement. Throughout the years, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) followed up with the California Department of Justice (CA DOJ) to use emerging technology to identify this Jane Doe.
In 2023, the California Department of Justice in collaboration with the Lake County Sheriff’s Office submitted forensic evidence to Othram in The Woodlands, Texas in hopes that advanced DNA testing and forensic genetic genealogy could help generate new leads and identify the woman. Othram’s casework costs for the case were provided by the Roads to Justice (RTJ) program. 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 unknown woman. Once the profile was successfully built, Othram’s in-house forensic genetic genealogy team produced new investigative leads that were provided to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
Using these new leads, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office continued their investigation which led to genetic relatives of the woman. A reference sample was collected from a potential relative and compared to the DNA profile of the woman. This comparison confirmed the identity of Lake County Jane Doe as Wanda Lee Brewer. Brewer was born in Arkansas and later moved to California. An investigation into the circumstances around Brewer’s death continues.
