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Defrosting Cold Cases

Research website by Alice de Sturler

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You are here: Home / Archives for touch DNA

touch DNA

Four Shots in Oskie by Justin Wingerter

May 21, 2021 By Alice

Justin Wingerter 500

From the moment I held the book ‘Four Shots in Oskie’ by Justin Wingerter in my hands, the word unassuming started to flutter around in my brain. Like the sound of rustling leaves on a windy fall day, the sound popped up in various degrees of loudness, often just a whisper, to never really leave. […]

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Filed Under: Book Reviews Tagged With: Floyd Bledsoe, Justin Wingerter, Kansas, touch DNA, Wrongful Convictions, Zetta Camille Arfmann

The Peterson Murders

February 15, 2021 By Alice

The Peterson Murders

Henry W. and Ann M. Peterson were found murdered in their two-bedroom apartment around 10am on April 3, 1978. They worked as on-site residential managers of the 36-unit Canterbury Apartment complex on 875 Liberty St, SE in Salem, Oregon. Henry Peterson had retired from the US Army Corps of Engineers. They were ‘avid bowlers, square […]

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Filed Under: Unsolved Tagged With: Ann M. Peterson, arson, Henry W. Peterson, Knife Attack, M-Vac Systems, Oregon, salem, the Petersons, touch DNA

John David Watson Jr (1959 – 1974)

February 12, 2021 By Alice

John David Watson Jr.

John David Watson Jr (Oct 18, 1959 – May 2, 1974) was fourteen years old when he left his home in Wheeler, Pennsylvania, around 9pm on May 2, 1974. He never came back home. He was found murdered on May 3, 1974. His murder was never solved. While reading up on his case, I found […]

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Filed Under: Unsolved Tagged With: gun powder residu, gunshots, John David Watson, M-Vac Systems, Pennsylvania, touch DNA

Sophie Sergie: Hearing Day 4

February 6, 2021 By Alice

Sophie Sergie tiled background

On Friday, Feb 5, the evidence hearings in the 1993 murder of Sophie Sergie continued. Gun Steven H. Downs’ former girlfriend Katherine deSchweinitz Lee testified through videoconference in court: according to her Steve did not own a gun during the years they dated at Alaska State University (ASU) and they dated for about 4 years. […]

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Filed Under: Cold Case News Tagged With: Alaska, DNA, M-Vac Systems, Sophie Sergie, touch DNA

Remembering Cherilyn Ann Gartin Hawkley

May 4, 2018 By Alice

Cherilyn Ann Gartin Hawkley grid Ads

Cherilyn Ann Gartin Hawkley (Mar 19, 1954 – Oct 31, 1993) was murdered on Halloween night in 1993. Two days later, she was found just off Elmhurst Drive less than a mile from Eureka Elementary School where she taught fifth grade, in Granite Bay, California. It is part of the Sacramento–Arden-Arcade–Roseville Metropolitan Statistical Area. The […]

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Filed Under: Unsolved Tagged With: California, Cherilyn Ann Gartin Hawkley, DNA, Strangulation, touch DNA

Cold cases and the M-Vac

February 26, 2018 By Alice

JB and M-Vac in BYU Mag

Please welcome back guest blogger Jared Bradley. Jared will give us an overview of exciting developments in the field of cold cases and the M-Vac. _________________________________ Guest blogging is always full of pressure, but writing for Alice’s Defrosting Cold Cases takes it to a whole new level. Like all of you, I thoroughly enjoy reading […]

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Filed Under: Forensics Tagged With: DNA, Jared Bradley, M-Vac Systems, touch DNA

Zeigler: touch DNA denied

April 22, 2017 By Alice

Zeigler denied touch DNA April 21 2017_Page_1 500

The Florida Supreme Court has denied William Thomas Zeigler’s request for touch DNA testing. I have converted the PDF to images below. On March 31, 2016, an evidentiary hearing was held for William Thomas Zeigler to request touch DNA testing in his case. Judge Whitehead denied that request for touch DNA on July 18, 2016. On November […]

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Filed Under: Zeigler Tagged With: Florida, Prosecutorial Misconduct, touch DNA, William Thomas Zeigler, withheld evidence

The Sims Family: 1966-2016

October 1, 2016 By Alice

The Sims Family Murders/Grid AdS

The Sims Family Murders (Tallahassee, Florida) are Case of the Month for October as this year marks the 50th anniversary of their unsolved homicides. We lost Robert Wilson Sims (Aug. 24, 1924 – Oct. 22, 1966), Helen Sollie Sims (Feb. 23, 1932 – Oct. 31, 1966), and Joy Lynn Sims (Mar. 5, 1954 – Oct. […]

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Filed Under: Case of the Month Tagged With: Case of the Month, Florida, gunshot, Jeremy A. Mutz, Knife Attack, M-Vac Systems, Sims Family Murders, touch DNA

M-Vac secures conviction in Krystal Beslanowitch case

September 30, 2016 By Alice

Krystal Lynn Beslanowitch

The M-Vac System has secured a conviction in the 1995 cold case of Krystal Lynn Beslanowitch. From KSL: “After about four hours of deliberation, jurors found Joseph Michael Simpson, 49, guilty of aggravated murder Thursday in the 1995 death of Krystal Lynn Beslanowitch. The teenager who had been living in Salt Lake City was found […]

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Filed Under: Forensics Tagged With: Krystal Lynn Beslanowitch, M-Vac Systems, touch DNA

Zeigler’s touch DNA request denied

July 19, 2016 By Alice

Grid Justice (Photography AdS)

On Monday July 18, 2016 Judge Whitehead denied William Thomas Zeigler’s latest DNA request. It asked for testing of evidence with modern technology with emphasis on touch DNA. From the Orlando Sentinel: “In the 30-page ruling, Orange-Osceola Circuit Judge Reginald Whitehead held that Zeigler’s petition for DNA testing was too similar to others that he’s […]

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Filed Under: Forensics, Zeigler Tagged With: Death Row, DNA, Florida, touch DNA, William Thomas Zeigler

Hernando County Jane Doe 1972

July 16, 2016 By Alice

Hernando County Jane Doe 1972/HCSO FL

The Hernando County Sheriff’s Office (Florida) needs help with a 1972 cold case. It involves the remains of a woman found July 19, 1972. The Hernando County Jane Doe 1972 was near High Corner Road and Cortez Boulevard (State Road 50) in Brooksville. “The replica skull was created from scans of the original at USF’s […]

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Filed Under: Unidentified Tagged With: Florida, Hernando County Jane Doe, M-Vac Systems, Strangulation, touch DNA

The cold case of Valerie McPherson

June 6, 2016 By Alice

Valerie McPherson with Sandy and Laurie/News4SA

Valerie McPherson’s case (Oct 16, 1958 – Aug 05, 1991) needs a better digital footprint. She was stabbed to death around 8am on Aug 5, 1991, while jogging along Contour Drive in Olmos Park, San Antonio, Texas. Valerie had her 19 month old daughter Lauren with her. The little girl was in her stroller when Valerie was […]

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Filed Under: Unsolved Tagged With: Knife Attack, M-Vac Systems, Texas, touch DNA, Valerie McPherson

Who murdered Debra Joyce Bruce?

May 30, 2016 By Alice

Debra Joyce Bruce/Grid AdS

Debra Joyce Bruce (Nov 11, 1956 – Nov 10, 1976) was found murdered one day shy of her birthday in Slocum, Anderson County, Texas. She was a housewife and had married James Robbins just five months ago in June. A passerby saw the house on fire and called the fire department. Fire fighters found Debra between […]

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Filed Under: Unsolved Tagged With: Debra Joyce Bruce, Gun Fire, M-Vac Systems, Texas, touch DNA, withheld evidence

The cold case of Theresa M. Corley

April 26, 2016 By Alice

The cold case of Theresa M. Corley/Massachusetts Gov.

The cold case of Theresa M. Corley (June 1, 1959 – Dec 4, 1978) needs another review. With new technology such as the M-Vac which has proven crucial in solving cold cases, we should check several items for touch DNA. Theresa (19) was enrolled at Holliston Junior College (this school closed in 1989) and had a […]

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Filed Under: Forensics, Unsolved Tagged With: M-Vac Systems, Massachusetts, Strangulation, Theresa M. Corley, touch DNA

The costs of touch DNA testing

August 19, 2014 By Alice

Jared Bradley, President M-Vac Systems

What are the costs of touch DNA testing? That is what I asked Jared Bradley, President of M-Vac Systems. For many police departments and for victim family members, this is an area where few straight answers are given hence this guest blog post by Jared. ____________________________________ When More Expensive Costs Less By Jared Bradley, President M-Vac […]

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Filed Under: Forensics Tagged With: Jared Bradley, M-Vac Systems, touch DNA

M-Vac: superior results

February 26, 2014 By Alice

JB and M-Vac in BYU Mag

Study reveal superior results with the M-Vac. A (UC)-Davis study reveals that the M-Vac’s unique DNA collection is superior when compared to traditional methods such as swabbing and cutting. From PRWeb: “The UC-Davis studies focused on scenarios involving large surface area requirements, recovering minute or degraded DNA material from skin, with limited knowledge of where to […]

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Filed Under: Forensics Tagged With: Jared Bradley, Krystal Lynn Beslanowitch, M-Vac Systems, touch DNA

Follow-up #I Karen Caughlin

April 14, 2011 By Alice

Karen Caughlin

Yesterday, we posted the first in a series of articles about Karen Caughlin who was killed in 1974, Sarnia, Canada. In one day, that post soared to the top of popular posts but what is far more important: people are talking. Comments and emails are coming in and I am sorting through the information right […]

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Filed Under: Cold Case News, Forensics Tagged With: Autopsy, Canada, Crime Scene, DNA, Forensics, hit-and-run, Identification, Karen Caughlin, Sarnia, touch DNA, Unsolved Homicide

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Author Notes

I write about old, unsolved cases from the pre-DNA era as they need renewed media attention. I only do research and leave the active investigation of these cases to professionals.

Posts include homicides, missing and unidentified people, wrongful convictions, and forensics as related to these cases.

On book reviews: I only review select works of true crime, crime fiction, and historical fiction/mysteries. The stories have to fit my website's theme and research. It remains my prerogative to not review a book. Please check the FAQ page for more.

My databases are free to the public. Cases are sorted by the victim’s last name.

If you have any questions about my website please check the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page, the about page, and the tabs in both menu bars. If you cannot find the answers there, please contact me.

Thank you,

Alice de Sturler
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