The methodology of Investigative Genetic Genealogy will go on trial in Canada. The hearing is set for the week of June 19-23. The case is brought by the defense for double-murder suspect Leonard Cochrane. Cochrane is on trial for two counts of first-degree murder in the July 11, 1994 shooting deaths of Barry Buchart and […]
Forensics
Adam Gray: exonerated and awarded $27 million
I told you to watch the case of Adam Gray. The same flawed and overhauled technology used in forensic arson detection that resulted in Cameron Todd Willingham’s death sentence and that bears eerie similarities to Kenneth Richey’s case, moved a federal jury to award Adam Gray $27 million. Wrongfully convicted, Adam served 24 years in […]
Sharron Prior: DNA confirmed
As posted earlier, the Canadian authorities have been able to match DNA found at the Sharron Prior crime scene to the West Virginia Romine Family. Two brothers voluntarily gave their DNA. Their profiles showed a close but partial match to that what was found at Sharron Prior’s crime scene. These two brothers were never suspects. […]
Identified: Joseph Augustus Zarelli
On Thursday, December 8, 2022, the Philadelphia Police Department announced the name of the child know as the Boy in the Box: Joseph Augustus Zarelli. He was four years old. On February 25, 1957 Joseph Augustus Zarelli was found dead inside a cardboard box that was left on an empty lot near then Susquehanna Road […]
Zeigler closer to modern DNA testing
On Oct 27, Florida Circuit Judge Patricia L. Strowbridge brought William Thomas Zeigler a step closer to proving that he is innocent. The 77-year-old has said so from the start. The preserved evidence pieces of guns, victim fingernail clippings and clothes will prove that he did not kill four people in 1975. Modern DNA testing […]
William Peter Cook: A Forensic Science Follow Up by Sue Carney
William Peter Cook (Dec 17, 1924 – Oct 20, 1950): A Forensic Science Follow Up by Sue Carney December 06, 2021 I love a forensic science chat on Twitter, and it’s been a while since I’ve had one, so when Alice wanted to chat last weekend about an upcoming post on DCC, I was totally up […]
The Ethics of Forensic Genealogy part 4
In part 4 of my series on Forensic Genealogy, we look at what is happening in Iowa. The Iowa Supreme Court, in a 4-3 split, decided on June 18, 2021, to ban police from searching the people’s uncollected trash without a warrant. In doing so they outlawed a decades old investigative technique. The Justices said […]
The Ethics of Forensic Genealogy part 3
Two US states have enacted bills to protect people’s privacy when the authorities use commercial direct-to-consumer DNA databases and forensic genealogy to solve old crimes. What happens when they use DNA databases? Police use DNA from an old unsolved crime scene and compare it to genetic online profiles in commercial DNA databases. They will try […]
Neosho Grace Doe is Shawna Beth Garber
Now officially identified as Shawna Beth Garber (born March 1, 1968) she was known as the ‘McDonald County Grace Doe’ and on my website as Neosho Grace Doe. Why did I give her that name? After her remains were recovered, Detective Lorie Howard sent them to Freeman Hospital in Neosho and the scans were sent […]
The Ethics of Forensic Genealogy part 2
In March 2019, I wrote about the Ethics in Forensic Genealogy. I indicated that while there was room for joy, because we would be able to solve old crimes, that there was also room for concern. In part 2, I’d like to highlight some of those concerns. Forensic Genealogy is not just instrumental in catching […]