Category Archives: US Crime labs

Forensics: How a crime lab missed evidence that could have stopped the Green River Killer

Gary Ridgway, the Green River Killer, murdered dozens of women and girls before he was caught — but scientists missed key evidence on his first victims. — Read on http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/gary-ridgway-green-river-serial-killer-washington-rcna67794

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Forensics: Subjective and Contradictory opinions. Interpreting Blood Stain Patterns: Science or Speculation?

In the TV-show Dexter, the titular character leads a double life as both a forensic scientist and a serial killer. Dexter’s unique forensic… — Read on http://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx

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Forensics: Blood spatter arguments a big issue. SC v. Alex Murdaugh: Murdaugh Family Murders

Disbarred attorney Alex Murdaugh, 54, is accused of fatally shooting 52-year-old Maggie Murdaugh and 22-year-old Paul Murdaugh, — Read on http://www.courttv.com/news/sc-v-alex-murdaugh-murdaugh-family-murders/

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Forensics: Botched DNA from crime lab. Areli Escobar’s execution to be reconsidered after Supreme Court order

Areli Escobar was sentenced to death in 2011 for an Austin murder, but even prosecutors now agree his conviction relied heavily on faulty DNA testing by the discredited Travis County crime lab. — Read on http://www.texastribune.org/2023/01/09/areli-escobar-texas-execution-death-row-supreme-court/

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Forensics: Idaho Students Murdered: Suspect Arrested in Pennsylvania, Sources Say

A suspect has been arrested in the killings of four University of Idaho students found dead in a home near campus on Nov. 13. Here’s what we know so far. — Read on http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/suspect-in-killings-of-4-university-of-idaho-students-arrested-in-pennsylvania-sources/4020657/

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Forensics: Ukraine DNA efforts to identify the victims of war. They are overwhelmed. BBC News

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-63987512

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Forensics: ‘Nightmare’ Warehouse Fire Erases Evidence in Many Unsolved Cases

Lawyers say evidence in cold cases and bids for exoneration disappeared or was ruined when a Police Department storage facility in Brooklyn went up in flames. — Read on http://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/14/nyregion/police-warehouse-fire-evidence.html

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Forensics: DNA database mistake leads to Portland murder suspect

DNA from a bullet casing recovered from a homicide scene matched a DNA profile that had been mistakenly entered into the database — Read on http://www.police1.com/investigations/articles/dna-database-mistake-leads-to-portland-murder-suspect-XVMEh8nDSyt3lGAE/

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Forensics: The influence of ‘infallible’ ballistic matching. Letting the jury decide. Maryland high court considers limiting ballistics evidence used to link guns to shootings

BALTIMORE — A television in Baltimore Circuit Court showed a magnified picture of spent cartridge casings taken through the lens of a microscope. If a juror didn’t look closely, they — Read on http://www.union-bulletin.com/content/tncms/live/

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Forensics: Politicians to blame. Audit details failures of DC’s Department of Forensic Sciences

An audit of D.C.’s Department of Forensic Sciences (DFS) found that the department failed to “operate as an independent part of the justice system.” — Read on http://www.fox5dc.com/news/audit-details-failures-of-dcs-department-of-forensic-sciences

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