Tag Archives: Forensic science

Taking decades to uncover lost DNA: California will execute in 5 years

Needle-in-a-haystack hunt for evidence in old Virginia murder case required endurance, luck But what may prove the toughest obstacle was overcome two years ago by a private investigator and a persistent University of Virginia Hospital employee who scaled warehouse ladders … Continue reading

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In case you are Bugged Out about forensic entymology

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Election non-relief: Judges allowing risky “probably” forensic opinions

Bitemarks lead the list: NIST speaker reveals……. Conference: The 5 Problems That Stand Between Scientists and the Courtroom [excerpt:] Epstein showed the results of a recent survey of odonatologists that asked three questions about the reliability of bite marks. The … Continue reading

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Comparing DNA mixtures with Trueallele and STRmix gets mixed results

Where Traditional DNA Testing Fails, Algorithms Take Over Powerful software is solving more crimes and raising new questions about due process. [excerpt] Studies have only established the validity of the available software in certain circumstances (such as a DNA mixture … Continue reading

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Forensic “stickiness” in the News

NIST (US government science and tech forensic researcher and funder) announces a new look into the physical world of properties’ “stick” and “strain.” “the mechanical properties of four types of evidence: hair, documents, fingerprints and explosives.”

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Canadian wrongful conviction file totals 85 – funding diminishing

Innocence Canada struggling for funding for wrongfully convicted cases ‘I’m always frustrated with how long it takes us to do cases, in any event, but this is going to slow us down even more.’ A Newfoundland man who helps free … Continue reading

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Ballistics on the hot seat as being “too subjective” in final opinions

The premise in ballistics is that all these casings might be considered “unique.” This  “new look” at ballistics from the Aaron Hernandez conviction is similar to the back and forth decades-long argument against the now debunked “hair matching” in four … Continue reading

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Controversial use of familial DNA searches helps lead to finds in cold cases

A broader look at familial DNA use within criminal investigations. Some good, some bad. What appears in all examples, is that ‘presumptions’ of guilt can be incorrect and send prosecutors off in the wrong direction. What’s also apparent is that … Continue reading

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Forensic Scientist Newsletter – NY Legal Aid Society

  Subscribe to the DNA Newsletter for the latest on forensic news Thousands of Texas DWI convictions could be tainted after it was discovered that one of the state’s top forensic analysts had mixed up blood samples and gave inaccurate testimony … Continue reading

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Big blowup in FLA about ‘secret’ STRmix DNA software program

Broward county is having some crime lab problems. Some damned whistleblower got to the damned journalists. A commercially (hence private) software program for mixed blood samples isn’t helping too much either. This Google search on ‘mixed DNA litigation’ brings up … Continue reading

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