Tag Archives: American Academy of Forensic Science

Forensics: 2d bitemark opinion in the John Kunco case. Where is justice for him? #ADA

“The victim was able to identify Kunco by virtue of a recognizable lisp. Five months after the woman was attacked, an ultraviolet photograph of her back was enlarged and healed bite wounds were compared to a mold of Kunco’s teeth. … Continue reading

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Forensics: Not mob journalism. How bitemarks ruled the courtroom and still do

Overview of the prosecution’s bitemark case. John Kunco has now exhausted his appellate review options in Pennsylvania.   

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Forensics: National Inst of Justice training webinars

Controlled Substances & Toxicology Focus on DNA Sequencing IPE & Trace Evidence Postmortem Interval & Molecular Autopsy

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Forensics: Looking at attempts to age fingerprints in US court cases – FSI Journal

Meet “Freddie the Fingerprint” Reviewing the actual courtroom testimony of forensic experts is clearly the way to suggest “reforms” and to publish how examiners approach their “science” in diverse ways. Sound familiar? Pathology. Bitemarks. An interesting look at what goes … Continue reading

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Better news from within the American Brd of Forensic Odontology bitemark scandal

  This is a short story but its carries an important metaphor about the “forensic science “reform” process rocketing through the media and courtrooms in the US and the UK. A pertinent question I have is “how does the our legal … Continue reading

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Forensics: Forensic Pathology study on skin injury patterns shows lack of agreement

Published in the Apr 15 2016 Journal of Forensic Sciences, this paper are the results of a NAME (US medical examiners) online study of human skin injury pattern diagnostic categories ( the basics of “blunt,” “sharp,” and “source” identification) undertaken … Continue reading

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The American Dental Association needs to act on members still practicing bitemarks

Most of the US bitemark group, the American Board of Forensic Odontology, are also members of the ADA. In fact some of the ABFO are “vaunted” as fighting crime through their “success” in criminal court convictions.  Here’s a 2015 link … Continue reading

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The latest bitemark exoneration in VA raises the issue of what to do with other bitemark convictions

This editorial article speaks volumes about the the damage done to one man ( in his own words) and expands public concern about other criminal defendants in our Criminal Justice system during the 50 years of “judicially accepted” bitemark opinions … Continue reading

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Ad Hoc Forensic “research’ by FBI reveals how junk gets into court – #MakingAMurder

FOUR EXPERTS EXPLAIN WHY FORENSIC ANALYSIS OF CRIME SCENES IS NOT AS RELIABLE AS YOU MIGHT THINK The deep media and the public’s viral response to Steven Avery’s multiple convictions for murder has developed some valuable insight into the lengths … Continue reading

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Forensics: The role of social media as a watchdog on abuse of power and and imperfect science

I have significant experience listening (especially at the last AAFS meeting) and reading snide comments from mostly volunteering participants (commonly defensive) in the “forensic science reform” debate demeaning the “blog” aspect of journalistic reporting. My vocal response at the AAFS … Continue reading

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