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 […]
Forensics
Bugliosi: It wasn’t just the gloves, you know
Vincent Bugliosi’s book “Outrage; the five reasons why O.J. Simpson got away with murder” is an excellent book that in my humble opinion should be required literature for anyone who wishes to understand the adversarial system, trial preparations and analysis, and most of all, the art of listening. From page one it is clear that […]
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 […]
Manchester building site skeleton
Manchester building site skeleton could date to 1960, according to a BBC article. A woman’s skeleton was found at a building site in Manchester city centre. It may have been there for the last 50 years. The remains were found by workmen at the site on Miller Street, near the CIS Tower. It was treated as […]
Shawn K. Simmons
On December 7, 1995, between 6 and 7 pm, Shawn K. Simmons’ neighbour heard shouting next door. Considering that Mr. Simmons led a quiet life, the shouting was unusual. In fact, it was so unusual that it made her open the bi-fold door to the furnace area to hear what was being said in the […]
Too many wrongful convictions
Today, Innocence Project’s client Freddie Peacock became the 250th person exonerated through DNA evidence in the United States of America. Peacock was convicted in New York in 1976 of a rape he didn’t commit based on an eyewitness misidentification and a false confession that police claimed he made during an interrogation. Peacock, who has severe […]
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 […]
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 […]