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!
Kane County Coroner’s Office and Batavia Police Department Team with Othram to Identify 1978 Jane Doe (DNASolves – 10/24/2024)
In November 1978, property owners found a human skull while remodeling a residence on Wilson Street in Batavia, Illinois. Batavia is located in the greater Chicago metropolitan area. The resident advised police that a bone had fallen from within the wall while removing a baseboard. The following day, the Batavia Police Department conducted a search to determine if additional remains could be found. The search yield no additional findings.
The individual’s remains were sent to the anthropology department at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Illinois where it was determined that they were that of a female who was estimated to be in her mid-twenties at the time of her death. It was determined that the person likely died prior to 1900. The skull was entrusted to the Batavia Depot Museum for storage. In 2021, the museum provided the skull to Batavia Police, launching a renewed investigation to understand the identity of the woman. Details of the case were entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) as UP90186.
The Cold Case Team with the Kane County Coroner’s Office pursued multiple leads in hopes of identifying the woman. As part of their efforts, the team contacted Othram to determine if advanced DNA testing could help to identify the woman. In 2023, the Kane County Coroner’s Office submitted forensic evidence to Othram in The Woodlands, Texas where scientists successfully developed a DNA extract from the forensic evidence. Othram then used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® to build a comprehensive DNA profile for the unknown woman. 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 woman. Reference DNA samples were collected from the woman’s potential second-great-grandson. Using KinSNP® Rapid Relationship Testing, the profile of the possible relative was compared to the DNA profile of the unknown woman. The investigation, paired with comparison testing provided by Othram, led to the positive identification of the woman, who is now known to be Esther Ann Granger.
Esther was one of six children. She was born nearly 176 years ago on October 26, 1848. Investigators believe that, at the age of 17, Esther died due to complications of childbirth in 1866. Although Granger was originally buried in Lake County, Indiana, two possible scenarios explain why her skull was found in a Batavia home. Investigators beliveve that her grave was robbed or her remains were used by a physicians as a scientific specimen, a common practice at the time of Esther’s death. After Esther’s identification, a composite sketch was developed depicting how she likely looked during her life. A private ceremony was held at West Batavia Cemetery, where Esther’s remains were reinterred, finally closing a decades-old mystery that spanning three centuries.
Columbus Police Department, Bartholomew County Prosecutor, & Coroner’s Offices Team with Othram to Identify a 1999 John Doe (DNASolves – 10/25/2024)
In January 1999, the remains of an unidentified individual were discovered off of State Route 46 and Interstate 65 in Columbus, Indiana. Columbus is located south of Indianapolis. The Columbus Police Department responded to the scene where they determined the remains were that of an adult White male. Standing at 6 feet tall, and weighing 270 pounds, the man was believed to be in his 50s or 60s. Two handguns were located by the man’s body, and investigators determined that he had died from a single gunshot wound. Foul play was not involved.
Over the years, investigators made numerous attempts to identify the man, employing many different methods, including fingerprint analysis, asking for the public’s assistance in new releases, sending bulletins to regional law enforcement, and entering his descriptors into nationwide databases. The FBI developed a forensic sketch depicting how the the man looked during his life, which was released to the public. In 2013, details of the case were entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) as UP11377. Despite investigators’ attempts, none of these things led to the man’s identity.
In an effort to finally identify the John Doe, the Columbus Police Department, working in conjunction with the Bartholomew County Coroner’s Office and the Bartholomew County Prosecutor’s Office, teamed with Othram to determine if advanced DNA testing could help to generate new leads in the case. In 2023, forensic evidence was submitted to Othram in The Woodlands, Texas. Othram scientists successfully developed a DNA extract from the 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 the profile to conduct genetic genealogy research, ultimately providing new investigative leads to law enforcement.
These leads took investigators to north-central Ohio, where a possible family member of the man was interviewed. The family member — now known to be the man’s nephew — was able to identify John Doe when shown the FBI’s composite sketch. To confirm the man’s identity, his nephew provided a DNA sample for comparison testing using Othram’s KinSNP® Rapid Relationship Testing.
After a quarter of a century, Columbus County John Doe is now known to be Leo Michael Murray. Murray, a resident of Ohio, was 61 years old at the time of his death. He was never married and had no children. Murray disappeared prior to his death, telling his family that he was moving to Florida. Because of this, his family never reported him missing.
A Medieval Saga Told of a Man Thrown in a Well. Scientists Found Him. (The Washington Post – 10/25/2024)
An 800-year-old Norse saga makes a glancing mention of a dead man tossed in a drinking well after a raid on a castle in Norway, almost as an aside. The poor guy doesn’t even get a name.
Scientists now believe they’ve found him. In the journal iScience on Friday, researchers report the results of radiocarbon dating, analysis of ancient DNA, and a detailed study of a skeleton discovered decades ago at the bottom of a well outside Sverresborg castle near Trondheim. They make the case that this “Well-man” is the same person briefly mentioned in the Sverris saga, a 182-verse story about an early Norwegian king who came to power during the last half of the 12th century.
Genetic Genealogy Identity 1980 Central Florida ‘Jane Doe’ as Victim of Serial Killer (West Orlando News – 10/27/2024)
A 1980 Central Florida homicide victim whose identity was unknown for 43 years has finally been identified with the help of genetic genealogy, Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood recently announced.
The official identification of Pamela Kay Wittman, whose body was found November 5, 1980, off I-95 north of Port Orange, has also enabled detectives to determine she was a victim of Daytona Beach-area serial killer Gerald Stano.
The positive ID was made possible by FHD Forensics with funding from Genealogy for Justice (“G4J”), a nonprofit organization that provides grants for genetic genealogy investigations of unsolved cases with unidentified human remains.
A Novel Polymerase Reduces Stutter in Forensic DNA Analysis (The Scientist – 10/28/2024)
Since PCR’s advent, scientists have developed filters to manage predictable stutter, but it remains a point of frustration while interpreting DNA profiles. “It’s especially hard when we’re dealing with DNA mixtures,” said Julie Sikorsky, a forensic scientist and manager of the Palm Beach County Sherrif’s Office Forensic Biology Unit. The levels of DNA may vary. “You’ve got these trace contributors, and these allelic peaks can either be masked by stutter or you can interpret an allelic peak as stutter.”
Many researchers have attempted to tackle this challenge, but they have had limited success. Recently, at the International Symposium on Human Identification (ISHI), scientists at Promega Corporation announced a novel DNA polymerase that drastically reduced stutter .
DNA Doe Project Identifies Elderly Woman Found in Clandestine Grave (Forensic – 10/28/2024)
After 36 years of anonymity as a Jane Doe discovered buried in a shallow grave near Florence Junction, Arizona, Evelyn “Dottie” Lees has been identified by the DNA Doe Project.
Born in 1898 in Salt Lake City, Utah, Lees was living in Scottsdale before her disappearance. The investigation into the circumstances of her death was handled by the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office.
At the time of the discovery of her remains in 1988, authorities estimated that the unknown woman was between 50 and 99 years old at the time of her death, but believed that she would be on the younger side of that estimate. In actuality, she was 88 or 89 years old when she died. Her father was British, and her DNA relatives were spread across a broad geographic area.
Bruce Anderson, Forensic Anthropologist with the Pima County Office of the Medical Examiner, brought the case to the DNA Doe Project in 2023, hoping that genetic genealogy analysis of the remains would yield leads to her identity.
Brownstown Police Department and Michigan State Police Team with Othram to Identify a 2014 John Doe (DNASolves – 10/28/2024)
In October 2014, hunters discovered the remains of an unidentified individual near the intersection of Inkster and West Roads in the Wayne County, Michigan charter township of Brownstown. Officers with the Brownstown Police Department responded to a vacant lot where the skeletal remains were recovered. The individual’s remains were provided to the Wayne County Medical Examiner for further examination where it was determined that the remains were that of a White male who was between the ages of 35 and 65 years. Investigators estimated that the man was 6’1” tall.
Investigators determined that the man had likely died several months prior to the discovery of his remains. His identity could not be determined, and the man became known as Brownstown John Doe. At the time that his remains were discovered, Brownstown John Doe was wearing a Led Zeppelin tee shirt, denim shorts, white socks, and white New Balance tennis shoes. Investigators also found an old-fashioned transistor radio next to the man’s body.
A forensic sketch depicting how Brownstown John Doe may have appeared during his life was developed and released to the public in hopes that it would generate new leads about his identity. Details of the case were entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) as UP13067. Traditional DNA testing was performed and an STR profile was developed and entered into CODIS, but there was no match to a known individual.
In June of 2024, the Brownstown Police Department and Michigan State Police teamed with Othram in hopes that the man’s identity could be determined through the use of advanced DNA testing. Forensic evidence was submitted to Othram in The Woodlands, Texas where a DNA extract was developed from the man’s remains. Using Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing®, Othram’s scientists successfully built a comprehensive DNA profile for the man. Othram’s forensic genetic genealogist then used this profile in a genetic genealogy search, which yielded new leads in the case.
Using these new leads, investigators launched a follow-up investigation, conducting interviews with a possible relative of the man. A reference DNA sample was collected from the relative for comparison to the John Doe’s DNA profile. This investigation concluded that Brownstown John Doe, whose body was discovered on October 29, 2014, is Michael Joseph Fanning. Fanning was born October 19, 1959.
Research Impact: Genetics Researcher Predicts Facial Characteristics from Copernicus to Cold Cases (News at Indiana University – 10/29/2024)
Susan Walsh’s father was a member of the Garda Síochána, the national police service in Ireland. Through watching his service as a child, she knew she wanted a job helping people. Combining that with a love for science and “The X-Files,” Walsh found the perfect job: forensic geneticist and associate professor of biology and forensic and investigative sciences at Indiana University Indianapolis.
The goal of the Walsh lab, nestled on the third floor of the School of Science, is to enhance the understanding of the genetic basis of human physical appearance and ancestry through forensic DNA. By doing so, Walsh can build tools for forensic scientists and improve physical appearance prediction, which can help archaeologists, anthropologists and law enforcement gain a better understanding of what someone may look like based on the DNA they left behind.
Mohave County Sheriff’s Office Teams with Othram to Identify a 2009 John Doe (DNASolves – 10/29/2024)
In November 2009, two workers contracted to pour cement on the Highway 93 widening project near the Hoover Dam took a break at Milepost 3 in Kingman, Arizona. While standing on the west side of the highway, one of them observed what appeared to be a bone. The two men then canvassed the area and located additional bones, concluding that they were human. They immediately notified their supervisor, who then contacted National Park Service Agents. A Kingman Police Department Officer on traffic detail at the site notified the Mohave County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO). An initial search of the area led to the discovery of additional human remains along with a sun-bleached red tee shirt and pair of blue jeans, a damaged white towel, a black athletic shoe, and a green sleeping bag. A second search conducted a few days later resulted in the collection of additional remains. All items were provided to the Mohave County Medical Examiner’s Office.
It was determined that the remains were that of an adult male, likely between the ages of 40 and 55. The man was estimated to be 5’10” in height. It is believed that the man died several years prior to the discovery of his remains. Detectives continued the investigation over the years in an attempt to generate leads with no results. The man became known as Mohave County John Doe. Details of the case were entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) as UP7248.
In 2022, skeletal evidence belonging to John Doe was submitted to the Arizona DPS lab so that an STR profile could be developed for upload into CODIS to try to identify the unknown person. In addition, a sample was sent to the University of North Texas, where an extracted DNA sample was obtained and stored for analysis and identification purposes. All attempts to identify John Doe were met with negative results and the man’s identity remained a mystery.
Two years later in 2024, in their continued efforts to identify the man, the Mohave County Sheriff’s Office submitted forensic evidence to Othram in The Woodlands, Texas in hopes that John Doe could finally be identified through advanced DNA testing. Othram scientists successfully built a comprehensive DNA profile for the man using Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing®. This profile was then used in a genetic genealogy search. Othram’s forensic genetic genealogist uncovered new leads in the case, which were provided to law enforcement.
In October 2024, Mohave County Sheriff’s Office investigators received a report that included possible relatives of the man. A follow-up investigation began in which possible relatives of John Doe were interviewed. In doing so, investigators learned that William “Herman” Hietamaki had not been seen by family since 1995. Hietamaki had been traveling in the southwest area of the United States. A reference DNA sample was collected from a relative for comparison to John Doe’s DNA profile. This investigation concluded that Mohave County John Doe unidentified remains were, in fact, William “Herman” Hietamaki, who was born on April 4, 1950.
Herman and his family resided in the Trout Creek, Michigan area. He attended high school in Michigan and upon graduation, he attended mechanic’s school. Some time after high school he left Michigan and started traveling. He was known to hitchhike to various locations and lived a nomadic lifestyle.
Herman was last seen by his family when he went to visit his sister in New Mexico in 1995. A search of public records showed that at one time he resided in Las Vegas, Nevada. While Herman suffered from epileptic seizures, the Medical Examiner’s Office was unable to determine his cause of death due to the state of his remains. They estimated the year of his death to have been between 2006-2008.
Doctoral Student Proposes Change to Burial Law that Could Help Families of Missing Persons (Forensic – 10/30/2024)
An expert on missing persons and unidentified human remains is hoping her research can help bring about a change in the law.
Work carried out by Emma Tilley, who is completing her PhD in Criminology and Policing at University of Staffordshire, is included in a Law Commission public consultation on burial and cremation.
Tilley, who has starred in Locate International’s Channel 4 documentary series The Body Detectives, has been critically reviewing the cross-matching of unidentified human remains and missing persons reports in England and Wales. She has identified that there are currently around 800 unsolved cases involving unidentified bodies or body parts. She has also revealed that, while 27 percent of local authorities typically bury the bodies or remains of unidentified people, around 1/3 are likely to cremate them as part of their duties under the Public Health Act 1984.
“Tilley notes the immense impact on families of a missing person, as they fluctuate between hope and hopelessness in a state of ‘ambiguous loss.’ In her view, there would be substantial benefits to requiring burial rather than cremation for unidentified bodies and partial remains, where practicable,” the consultation document reads. “Such a rule would allow for exhumations to confirm the identity of the unidentified deceased person. It would also enable family members whose identity was established at a later date to make decisions about the body of their relative.”
Although burials are more costly and place pressure on space, the consultation noted that laws which allow the cremation of unidentified human remains were passed before DNA profiling and advancement of forensic science. It also makes the point that a rule which insists that unidentified remains must be buried would err on the side of caution in terms of respecting religious rights.
Based on Tilley’s research, which finds that DNA sampling isn’t always carried out on unidentified human remains, the Law Commission are also proposing [Consultation Question 48] that before any burial, a DNA sample should be taken for storage on the national central database held by the UK Missing Person’s Unit.
The Chimera Case: 1 Victim, 1 Suspect, 3 DNA Contributors (Forensic – 10/30/2024)
At ISHI35 last month, Julie Conover Sikorsky, a Forensic Scientist Supervisor at the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, spoke about an unusual case she recently encountered.
During the routine processing of a sexual assault kit, the victim’s standard was discovered to be a two-person mixture.
As if DNA interpretation wasn’t challenging enough, it looked like the lab may be working on the case of a chimera. The situation forced analysts to think outside the box to ensure accuracy and transparency—and ultimately justice.
Dallas Police Department & Dallas County Office of the Medical Examiner Team with Othram to Identify a 2020 Jane Doe (DNASolves – 10/30/2024)
In August 2020, the remains of an unidentified individual were discovered in a heavily wooded area in Dallas, Texas. The Dallas Police Department responded to the scene. It was determined that the remains were that of a black female. The woman had short, curly black hair, wore a single stud nose piercing, and her toe nails were painted metallic green nail polish. The woman’s remains were transported to the Dallas County Office of the Medical Examiner for examination. The woman was estimated to be between the ages of 20 and 27, and she stood 5’2” tall. Due to the condition of her remains, no other identifying characteristics could be determined.
In September 2020, details of the case were entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) as UP73574. A forensic sketch depicting how the woman may have looked during her life was developed and released to the public. Despite law enforcement investigators’ extensive efforts to identify the woman, no matches were found, and her identity was a mystery.
In 2023, the Dallas Police Department worked with the Dallas County Office of the Medical Examiner to submit forensic evidence to Othram’s laboratory in The Woodlands, Texas. In an effort to use advanced DNA testing to identify the woman, Othram scientists successfully developed a DNA extract from the evidence and then used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® to build a comprehensive DNA profile for the woman. Othram’s in-house forensic genetic genealogy team used the profile in a genetic genealogy search to develop new investigative leads that were returned to law enforcement. Funding for the advanced DNA testing and forensic genetic genealogy used in this case was provided by the Woodforest Charitable Foundation.
Using this new information, a follow-up investigation was conducted leading investigators to potential relatives of the woman. A reference DNA sample was collected from a relative and compared to the DNA profile of the unidentified woman. The woman is now known to be 19-year-old Tyesha Smith, who was missing since 2020.
