The Huffington Post brings the shattering news that Frank Bender passed away. “Bender used skulls from decomposed bodies as the basis for re-creating faces of unknown victims. Among his successes was the case of 18-year-old Rosella Atkinson, whose then-unidentified remains were found behind a city ball field in 1988. Police asked for Bender’s help, and […]
Forensics
Update on Adam
We have a tentative identification on Adam, the name given to the boy’s torso found in the Thames, UK. “A boy of six whose torso was found mutilated in the Thames has been identified ten years later. The tragic lad has been named as Ikpomwosa, from Nigeria, and a picture of him was released. Detectives believe […]
“Who Killed Betsy” by Derek Sherwood
“Who Killed Betsy” by Derek Sherwood is about the Betsy Aardsma case. Derek Sherwood has worked hard to collect all the available information and to add his thoughts about this case. He generously agreed to make an excerpt available for DCC’s readers from the chapter entitled “As Time Goes By” from his book. “In the years […]
OPP defends decision in Karen Caughlin case
The Sarnia Observer reports that Commissioner Lewis stands by his decision in the 1974 unsolved murder of Karen Caughlin. “OPP Commissioner Chris Lewis is defending his decision not to hand over the investigation of the Karen Caughlin murder to another police agency for external review. Lewis, who was in Point Edward Sunday speaking at a […]
Neosho Grace Doe facial reconstruction
We are finally able to see the face of the lady known as Neosho Grace Doe. Please take a look and see whether you recognize her. Police believe Neosho Grace Doe was killed more than a month before her remains were discovered and that it had probably happened on Halloween night, 1990. A witness reported nearly […]
No external review in Caughlin murder
The Observer reports that “The Ontario Provincial Police won’t be handing over its investigation of the Karen Caughlin murder to another police agency for external review. Commissioner Chris Lewis is confident OPP detectives have conducted a “thorough and professional” investigation and will not ask for an independent review of the cold case file, Insp. Dave […]
Independent review in Karen Caughlin case
The Caughlin family is calling for an independent external review of the 1974 case of their daughter and little sister Karen Caughlin. “It’s been 37 years, and it’s time,” said Caughlin, who will hold a press conference in Sarnia next week to discuss and seek public support for the review. “This is not going to be […]
Update Manchester Building Female Skeleton
New details emerged and people have been ruled out by DNA in the case of the “Manchester Building Female Skeleton.” We now have a facial reconstruction of the victim. She was most likely European but could have come from the Middle East or Indian sub-continents. She also had a number of fillings in her teeth […]
Follow-up #VII Karen Caughlin
Continuing our posts about the cold case of Karen Caughlin: 1: Karen had a tire mark on her back The tire mark was observed by Karen’s father in the morgue when he came to identify Karen. According to the family, the parents did go in first. Karen’s mother positively identified Karen but then broke down. […]
Update 1989 Hina Murders
The hearing into the Hina Murders today brought forward some more details about the fire. Key is of course whether the fire was accidental or arson. Also, exactly where was the point of origin and what was the material that ignited first. From the New Hampshire Sentinel Source Online: “On Wednesday, a federal fire investigator […]