Zeigler defense asks Judge Whitehead for evidentiary hearing. Last Thursday, the Zeigler defense team was back in court to ask Judge Whitehead for an evidentiary hearing to explore the latest developments in the case of William Thomas Zeigler, who remains on death row in Florida. Of course, at issue were the false arrest report and the […]
Forensics
Recap #cclivechat August 17, 2012
Today’s #cclivechat was dedicated to the 1974 Canadian cold case of Karen Caughlin. I highlighted several things that concern me in her case. Of course, those concerns are just the top of the iceberg! I started with the evidence in her case, worried that it might not have been preserved properly for examination with modern […]
Recap #cclivechat Aug 3, 2012
Our guest today was Virginia Braden! Virginia Braden is a licensed Private Investigator and Behavioral Profiler specializing in violent crimes and cold case investigations. This includes death investigations, missing persons, and unidentified remains cases as well as rapes, sexual and physical assaults, stalking, domestic violence cases and elder abuse and child abuse cases. Virginia Braden […]
Probable cause to try John Heath
Judge Blawie ruled there is probable cause to try John Heath for the 1984 murder of his wife Elizabeth Heath. John Heath had reported Elizabeth missing on April 6, 1984. Heath’s family had Elizabeth declared dead in 1991. Elizabeth’s remains were found two years ago during a home renovation by new owners of the property at 89 […]
Update McLeod in 1989 arson case
Prosecutors have recently filed a brief with the New Hampshire Supreme Court arguing for the admission of evidence they deem critical to their 1989 arson case against David McLeod that killed the Hina Family. “Earlier this year, the high court accepted a pretrial appeal from the N.H. Attorney General’s Office, which is asking it to […]
#cclivechat Recap June 15, 2012
In today’s #cclivechat, Sue Carney covered body fluids testing, limitations of tests and forensic interpretation of body fluids with us. It brought a few surprises such as that urine and feces contain very little DNA, that some cells look identical and are thus less suited for forensic purposes. Sue also indicated the difficulties with several tests and […]
Renewed media attention for Teresa Sue Hilt
Renewed media attention for Teresa Sue Hilt. We did it! There is again a buzz in Tess’ cold case! Before my postings, Tess did not have any Internet presence. Her case was in newspaper articles but they did not feature on any website or blog. All that has changed. Not only did Tess get a […]
Key evidence lost in Hank Skinner case
Key evidence is lost in the case of Hank Skinner so despite the fact that the state of Texas now backs further DNA testing, we still will not get all the answers we need. There are pictures of the jackets (see here) but the big blood- and sweat-stained tan jacket with snap buttons down the front found near […]
David Lee Gavitt free after 30 years!
From PBS Frontline comes fantastic news! David Lee Gavitt is free after modern forensic arson detection determined there was no arson but an accidental fire. Gavitt is amongst several who have had their cases re-examined and thankfully, have been freed from prison and some from death row. Alas, all this comes too late for Willingham. […]
Gone but not forgotten: Raymond Nels Nelson
Gone but not forgotten: Raymond Nels Nelson: thirty-one years ago, someone killed Raymond Nels Nelson by hitting him on the head with a typewriter. Nelson, bureau chief of the Providence Journal and Evening Bulletin in Warwick, Rhode Island, and later a member of Senatorial candidate Claiborne Pell’s team, was a dynamic man and public figure in Washington, D.C., but foremost, he […]