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 […]
DNA
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 […]
Who really killed Mrs. Bernice Martin?
On March 8, 1987, fire fighters were called to the Mayfair Gardens Elderly Housing Complex, Manchester, Connecticut. They found Mrs. Bernice Martin, 88 years old, barely breathing, and badly beaten. She died later that evening in the hospital. To many the case is closed. Convicted for her murder is her granddaughter’s former husband, Richard A. […]
DNA does not solve 1984 murder of Vickie Long
DNA does not solve the 1984 murder of Vickie Long. Todd Campbell, who was arrested for her murder was acquitted. “During the investigation, DNA from the victim’s clothing was entered into CODIS – the Combined DNA Index System, which stores DNA profiles from convicted offenders, unsolved crimes and missing people. In October 2009, Campbell had to provide […]
Suspect in 1974 Anita Andrews case
Napa Police identified a suspect in the 1974 cold case of Anita Elizabeth Fagiani Andrews. “A man serving a life-term in a Colorado prison for killing a female hiker is a suspect in the unsolved slaying of a Napa bar employee in 1974, Napa police said. DNA links 70-year-old Roy A. Melanson, a drifter, to […]
In search of Jane, Grant and Arnna
Jane Nartare (9), Arnna Kathleen (7), and Grant Ellis (4), known as the Beaumont Children, disappeared from Glenelg Beach, near Adelaide, South Australia, on January 26, 1966. Their disappearance is to this day Australia’s best known cold case. The Beaumonts lived on 109 Harding Street, Somerton Park, which is a suburb of Adelaide. Five minutes […]
Interview with Sean Hodgson
Sean Hodgson was interviewed about life after wrongful imprisonment in an article published by the BBC. “A man who spent 27 years in jail for a murder he did not commit has accused the police of lying and forcing a confession out of him.” Sean Hodgson expresses his anger with police and tells how after a […]
In my humble opinion
In my humble opinion we need to follow Judge Cataldo’s lead and ensure that justice will finally be more about the truth than about ‘closing’ a case. As much as we need procedure to bring a case to court, procedure can also stand in the way of bringing a case to court. We should be […]