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!
Kenosha County Medical Examiner’s Office & Sheriff’s Department Team with Othram to Identify a 1989 Baby John Doe (DNASolves – 10/03/2024)
In November 1989, a newborn male infant was discovered under the County Highway N bridge over the Des Plaines River in Paris, Wisconsin. Paris is located just south of Milwaukee. The Kenosha County Sheriff’s Department responded to the scene. The full-term infant was found wrapped in blankets and placed inside of a plastic bag. It was determined that the baby was 5 to 12 days old at the time of his death, which was ruled a homicide. Investigators were unable to identify the baby or locate his next of kin. The infant was buried in St. John’s Cemetery in the Town of Randall.
The case went cold and was reopened in 2015 when new information emerged. In 2016, Baby John Doe’s remains were exhumed to collect DNA evidence for advanced DNA testing. Details of the case were entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) as UP13695. Despite extensive efforts by law enforcement investigators to identify the infant, no matches were found.
In 2022, forensic evidence was submitted to Othram’s laboratory in The Woodlands, Texas. Othram scientists successfully developed a DNA extract from the provided evidence and used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® to build a comprehensive DNA profile for the unknown infant. After successfully building a DNA profile for the infant, it was compared to the DNA profile of a potential relative. This comparison confirmed the identity of Baby John Doe’s next of kin, whose name is not being disclosed at this time.
Investigators Being Trained in Forensic Genetic Genealogy, Tool that has Solved Cincinnati Cases (FOX19Now – 10/03/2024)
Forensic genetic genealogy has become an important tool for law enforcement agencies across the country, including Cincinnati Police. Now, more local, state and federal investigators are being trained to use the tool.
The forensic tool garnered national attention in 2018, when an investigator used it to identify the Golden State Killer, decades after he had committed dozens of rapes and murders in California.
Investigators from numerous agencies, including Cincinnati Police, the Hamilton County Prosecutor’s Office, the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, Forest Park Police, Independence, KY Police, the Hamilton County Coroner’s Office, Dayton, Ohio Police, and the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office attended a free training on forensic genetic genealogy last month.
Texas Death Row Inmate’s DNA Testing Case Goes to US Supreme Court (Reuters – 10/04/2024)
The U.S. Supreme Court agreed on Friday to hear an appeal by a Texas man who faces the death penalty for his role in the 1998 murder of an elderly mobile home park owner and is seeking DNA testing of evidence from the crime scene. The death row inmate, Ruben Gutierrez, appealed a lower court’s ruling against his challenge to a Texas law limiting the use of DNA testing after a person has been convicted of a crime. The Supreme Court is due to hear the case during its new nine-month term that begins on Monday.
Knox County Regional Forensic Center Teams with Othram to Identify a 2022 John Doe (DNASolves – 10/04/2024)
In November 2022, the skeletal remains of an unidentified individual were discovered by a tree trimming service in Knoxville, Tennessee. Investigators arrived on the scene and confirmed the remains to be a human skull. A thorough search of the surrounding area was conducted, but limited due to dense brush, fallen leaves, and trees. The remains were sent to the Knox County Regional Forensic Center, where forensic experts determined that the individual was a male between 20 and 35 years old, standing between 5’4″ and 6′ tall.
In December 2022, details of the case were entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) as UP98486. 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 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 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 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 Cody S. Wilhite, born January 8th, 1991. He had been missing since 2020 from the Knoxville area and his missing person record was in NamUs as MP73197.
Ancient DNA Uncovers The Genetic Background Of Japanese People: Study (NDTV World – 10/06/2024)
A groundbreaking investigation into the genomes of approximately 3,200 individuals across Japan is reshaping our understanding of the country’s ancestry. This study reveals that the genetic background of the Japanese people is far more complex than previously thought.
Traditionally, it was believed that the Japanese population descended from two primary groups: the rice-farming migrants from East Asia and the indigenous Jomon- the hunter-gatherers. However, this recent study, led by scientists at RIKEN’s Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, identifies a third ancestral group with connections to northeast Asia, particularly the Emishi people. This discovery supports the “tripartite origins” theory proposed in 2021.“Our analysis revealed Japan’s subpopulation structure at a fine scale, which is beautifully classified according to geographical locations in the country,” explains Chikashi Terao, the lead researcher of the study.
Arrest Made in ‘Georgetown Cuddler’ Case 16 Years After First Rape (Forensic – 10/07/2024)
On Wednesday, October 2, U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department announced the arrest of Ernesto Mercado, 54, of Arlington, Virginia, in connection with five sexual offenses that occurred in the Georgetown area of the District of Columbia between 2008 and 2012. The arrest is the culmination of work by the Cold Case Sexual Assault Initiative, a joint effort by MPD and the US Attorney’s Office, with support from other law enforcement partners, to reinvestigate, solve, and bring charges in previously unsolved sexual assault cases.
Mercado is charged by complaint with three counts of first-degree sexual abuse with aggravating circumstances and five counts of second-degree sexual abuse with aggravating circumstances in connection with five previously unsolved, forensically linked home invasion rapes. He had an appearance in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia today. The Honorable Heide L. Herrmann ordered the defendant held pending a preliminary hearing scheduled for October 10, 2024.
The attacks occurred in the Georgetown area of Northwest Washington, DC. According to the complaint, evidence testing in all five cases yielded the same unknown male DNA profile which also matched a DNA profile for a separate offense that occurred just off the campus of the University of Maryland in College Park, Maryland.
Reexamination Points to Convicted Murderer in 1980 Cold Case (Forensic – 10/07/2024)
Forty-three years after her mother was taken from her, the daughter of Mary Tracy was still waiting for answers. So much so that she requested the Ada County Sheriff’s Office (Idaho) reopen Tracy’s murder case from 1980.
This was the first step toward finally finding Tracy’s killer. Once reopened, a reexamination of all physical evidence—including audio of a jailhouse informant interview and Tracy’s rape kit—pointed toward one person: convicted murderer Charles Strain.
Othram, QIAGEN Collaborate on Tools, Standards for DNA (Forensic – 10/07/2024)
Over the last several years, Othram and QIAGEN have led the market in driving the adoption of massively parallel sequencing (MPS) and forensic SNP-based technology in forensics. These new tools have revolutionized the way investigators solve violent crimes and identify human remains.
As part of this collaboration, the two companies will focus on developing tools and standards that ensure that maximum insight can be gleaned from forensic DNA profiles. While the companies, their databases, and technology will remain separate, the collaboration promises a more streamlined experience for forensic professionals and law enforcement looking to leverage forensic SNP-based technology and forensic genetic genealogy in their casework.
A key aspect of this collaboration is ensuring the compatibility of QIAGEN’s Kintelligence Kit with Othram’s Multi-Dimensional Forensic Intelligence (MDFI) platform and FamilyTreeDNA (FTDNA), allowing QIAGEN customers to use both GEDmatch PRO and Othram’s services. Likewise, Othram customers will enjoy a stable experience with unchanged access to GEDmatch PRO, providing peace of mind for forensic professionals and law enforcement, as they continue to invest in forensic genetic genealogy technology, now and in the future.
Othram’s MDFI platform seamlessly integrates the steps of forensic genetic genealogy into a simple and semi-automated workflow. More forensic genetic genealogy cases have been solved with Othram technology than any other method, providing a unique opportunity for Othram to simultaneously optimize forensic DNA profile generation and search. MDFI’s purpose-built forensic search algorithm enables substantial gains in sensitivity and efficacy in forensic matching. MDFI also includes tools to accelerate time-to-solve with genetic genealogy automation.
Othram and QIAGEN will also explore alignments around informed consent and criteria for determining when a forensic case is suitable for forensic genetic genealogy searches. This increased alignment aims to establish a unified and consistent approach to enhance privacy, data security, and investigative utility for all the stakeholders in the criminal justice system.
Ancient DNA Is Solving Colonial Mysteries in Jamestown, Virginia (Technology Networks Genomics Research – 10/08/2024)
At the start of the 15th century, a group of Englishmen docked their ships on the coast of North America in a bid to start a settlement, which they named Jamestown, Virginia – after King James I. It became the first permanent English settlement in the Americas.
In the 20th century, archaeologists became increasingly interested in what happened to the “lost fort” of Jamestown, which was built in 1607 as a defence mechanism against Native Powhatan Indians. Conflicting theories emerged as to where the fort and the town built by the first settlers was located. Eventually, this line of enquiry led to the launch of the Jamestown Rediscovery Project in 1994.
The private nonprofit project had two primary goals: locate the site of the earliest fortified town and share this moment of discovery with visitors – ideally in time for Jamestown’s 400th anniversary. Incredibly, these goals were achieved within three archaeological seasons.
Three decades on, the Jamestown Rediscovery Project continues. Thousands of archaeological features have been mapped, including graves, wells and foundations. Millions of artifacts have been unearthed.
NIJ Announces $1.1M to Fund Research in Public Forensic Laboratories in 2024 (NIJ – 10/08/2024)
On September 20, 2024, NIJ announced $1.1 million in funding to support three new projects under its Research and Evaluation for the Testing and Interpretation of Physical Evidence in Publicly Funded Forensic Laboratories (Public Labs R&E) program. Through its forensic science research funding, NIJ continues to improve the examination and interpretation of physical evidence across the community of practice through identification of the most efficient, accurate, reliable, and cost-effective methods of analysis.
Insects from the Bodies of Illegally Hunted Rhinoceroses may Provide Valuable Forensic Information (Phys Org – 10/09/2024)
New research in Medical and Veterinary Entomology reveals that when rhinoceroses are found dead after being illegally killed by poachers, analyzing insects on the decomposing body aids in estimating the time since death. This information has been used by investigators and officials to construct cases against suspected perpetrators.
The study included 19 rhinoceroses that were illegally killed and dehorned in the Republic of South Africa between 2014 and 2021. Scientists collected 74 samples of insect evidence from these rhinoceros remains, from which an accurate estimate of their time of death was calculated. The specimens included 18 species from 12 families belonging to three insect orders.
Missoula County Sheriff’s Office, Ravalli County Sheriff’s Office, & Montana State Crime Laboratory Team with Othram to Identify a 2010 Doe (DNASolves – 10/09/2024)
In July 2010, the partial skeletal remains of an unidentified individual were found by a group of hikers in the Bitterroot National Forest near Stevensville, Montana, a town in Ravalli County. Ravalli County neighbors Missoula County. It is part of a mountain valley and is bordered by the Sapphire Mountains to the east and the Bitterroot Mountains to the west. Identifying characteristics for the individual, including biological sex, ancestry, and age, could not be determined. The individual’s remains were found at St. Mary’s Mountain along with several items typically carried by a hiker, including a small black nylon backpack manufactured by the “Uphill Down” company located in Salt Lake City, Utah, a hand trowel, and a metal Outdoor Research water canteen. A partially-used foil pack of Tagamet HB 200, which is typically used in the treatment of heartburn and peptic ulcers, stamped with an expiration date of April 1999, was also found inside of the backpack.
Details of the case were entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) as UP101855 and he became known as Ravalli County Doe. Despite extensive efforts by law enforcement investigators to identify the individual, no matches were found.
In 2023, the Missoula County Sheriff’s Office submitted forensic evidence to Othram in The Woodlands, Texas to determine if advanced DNA testing could help identify the individual. 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 individual. This profile confirmed that the remains were that of a male. Othram’s in-house forensic genetic genealogy team then used the DNA profile to conduct 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. This investigation led to the positive identification of the individual, who is now known to be John J. “Jack” Spratt, born March 4th, 1952 and originally from Illinois.
