Keynote – Paul Holes

former investigator with the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office

Paul Holes had been working the Golden State Killer case for more than 20 years. He chased thousands of suspects and countless leads, but hadn’t been able to unmask the man who’d terrorized California. Nine months before he was set to retire, the unsolved cases continued to haunt him, and he wanted nothing more than to close this one.

In a conversation with a detective, Holes learned of a 2002 case in which Barbara Rae-Venter was able to identify a young kidnapping victim using her DNA and a genealogy website. After doing some research into a website called GEDmatch, Holes wondered if the same tactic might unveil the man he’d been chasing.

Hear first-hand how a little-used technique brought one of the most infamous serial killers to justice at ISHI, and read our interview with Paul in The ISHI Report.

We are excited to bring you the newest magazine in the field of forensic DNA, that we’ve developed with you in mind – The ISHI Report.

Each quarter, we’ll bring you a glimpse into the fascinating field of forensic science and the dedicated people committed to carrying out the important work of identifying the missing, exonerating the innocent and finding the truth in each DNA sample.

This publication was envisioned as a vehicle to bring stories to the forensic community on topics of interest to those engaged in the important work of DNA typing for human identification. Consider the magazine a supplement to the experience of attending the actual International Symposium on Human Identification where you can hear about the latest trends in forensic science, meet others who share your passion for forensics and advance your scientific knowledge.

Predict the Future – Get a Bumper Sticker!

Forensic science is always advancing. Technologies that seemed futuristic years ago are now commonplace. What do YOU think will be the most significant advances in forensic science in the coming years? Provide your prediction in a 30 second or less video clip and receive a cool forensic science bumper sticker for your effort. Wild, silly and outlandish ideas are encouraged. Individual or group submissions are welcome.

Submissions must be received between July 1 – August 31, 2019 to be eligible. Selected submissions will be displayed at ISHI 30 and may also be shared on the ISHI website (www.ishinews.com), and ISHI social media channels.

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