It’s been 11 years since Yolanda Baker’s family has seen her. So much time had passed that authorities declared her legally dead last year, although her body has never been found. Last summer, authorities arrested Baker’s boyfriend, Terrence Barnett, 45, the father of the D.C. woman’s twin children. He has been charged with first-degree murder. The […]
Forensics
Which Brian Parsons murdered Ivy Batten?
Which Brian Parsons is responsible for the death of Mrs. Ivy Batten? It is a story of mistaken identity, of mishandling evidence, prosecutorial misconduct, and the fight to get someone to listen to you. Lucky for Brian David Parsons, reporters Neil Young and Aislinn Simpson were listening. These reporters have re-investigated this controversial case. Brian David […]
Nose scanning
Nose scanning techniques could sniff out criminals. The BBC states “that researchers at the University of Bath, UK, scanned noses in 3D and characterised them by tip, ridge profile and the nasion, or area between the eyes. They found 6 main nose types: Roman, Greek, Nubian, hawk, snub and turn-up. Since they are hard to conceal, the study […]
Do you know me?
Do you know me? Orange County (NC) authorities unveiled a three-dimensional facial reconstruction of a boy found dead near Mebane more than a decade ago. The sculpture was made by forensic artist Frank Bender who has worked with “America’s Most Wanted” and the FBI. The boy’s skeletal remains were found on Sept. 25, 1998, near the Buckhorn […]
No government bodies regulate forensic labs
No government bodies regulate forensic labs, that should make you wonder. If DNA plays such a huge role in criminal court, why is it that there is no federal oversight? Even the best labs can make mistakes. The Armed Forces Institute of Pathology landed at the center of the high-profile case of Cynthia Sommer, a […]
Identifying the Lost Soldiers of Fromelles
Identifying the Lost Soldiers of Fromelles is a great BBC Magazine article on another use of DNA: to identify the remains of World War I soldiers found in mass graves in France. “The remains of 250 British and Australian soldiers had lain undiscovered for 93 years since falling on the Western Front.Boots, purses, toothbrushes and […]
Catching Colette Aram’s killer
How police caught Hutchinson for the murder of Colette Aram Colette Aram (Feb 3, 1967 – Oct 30, 1983) featured on the new program “BBC Crimewatch.” The program showed forensic evidence including a taunting letter Hutchinson wrote to police in which he bragged about the crime. In 1983, police managed to get fingerprints from the letter but no […]
Arson Case Not on Agenda
Arson Case Not on Agenda as Texas Panel Reconvenes: the Innocence Project Online reports that after a long hiatus and months of national controversy, the Texas Forensic Science Commission will meet on Friday January 29, but the controversial case of Cameron Todd Willingham is not on the agenda. New commission chair John Bradley said he […]
Crime Scene Preparations
Crime Scene Preparations: Forensic Magazine has a good article describing the proper way to handle a crime scene. The best way for a successful chain of evidence starts by doing your homework. In this case, by stocking up! “Also remember that working a crime scene should be a team effort for you and your department. One of […]
FBI reviews cases where flawed evidence was used
FBI reviews cases where flawed evidence was used but it still hasn’t completed the review. Five years after the decision to drop the disputed comparative bullet lead analysis, the FBI has not completed the review of almost 2500 cases. In all those cases police used the disputed comparative bullet lead analysis. “So far, the agency has found 187 […]