Solving a Cold Case After 58 Years
Written by Eric Schubert, ES Genealogy. Reposted from the ISHI Report with permission. Eric Schubert, ES Genealogy, is an internationally recognized genealogist and genetic genealogist. A graduate of Elizabethtown College where he is employed as a Public History Research & Teaching Assistant, Schubert is a current History M.A. candidate at Millersville University. His journey helping […]
When the Sea Holds Its Dead: How DNA Brought a Dutch War Hero Home After 80 Years
When Lisa Graaf took the stage at ISHI 36, she had a story to tell about a mandible that had waited 19 years for a name. It was broad and heavy—chunky, as an NFI anthropologist would later describe it—when fishermen hauled it from the North Sea in 2003. Golden inlays glinted from several teeth, evidence […]
Advancing Forensic Genetic Genealogy with Hybridization Capture: A High-Density SNP Approach to Genotyping Complex Samples
Design and validation of a 1.2M SNP panel for distant kinship analysis presented by Brian Brunelle During the 2025 International Symposium on Human Identification, Brian Brunelle, PhD, of Daicel Arbor Biosciences presented research evaluating the performance of a novel method for high-resolution human genotyping. The approach utilizes a hybridization-capture-based target enrichment kit to enable cost-effective […]
Setting the Standard: Inside the Latest FIGG Guidelines Update
Interview written and condensed by Tara Luther, Promega. Reposted from the ISHI Report with permission. As forensic investigative genetic genealogy (FIGG) matures from pioneering technique to powerful tool, its implementation must be matched with equal measures of scientific rigor, legal foresight, and ethical care. The newly published guidelines from the NTVIC Policy and Practice Committee reflect […]
Solving a 95-Year-Old Mystery: How Forensic Genetic Genealogy Identified the Sandy Point Man
How do you identify someone who went missing nearly a century ago? At #ISHI35, Dadna Hartman, forensic scientist at the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine, shared the remarkable case of the Sandy Point Man—a set of unidentified human remains discovered underwater in Australia in 2017. Through forensic investigative genetic genealogy (FIGG), her team was able […]
A Virtual Global Team Solving Cold Cases with Forensic Investigative Genetic Genealogy
What if forensic investigative genetic genealogy (FIGG) could work across time zones—solving cases 24/7? At ISHI 35, Runa Daniel shared the groundbreaking work of the first-ever Virtual International FIGG Team, developed in partnership with the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine and the Australian Federal Police. This global network of forensic scientists, law enforcement, and intelligence […]
Building the Framework: Strategic Planning for Investigative Genetic Genealogy Teams
Written by Cairenn Binder, Assistant Director, IGG Center and the Director of the IGG Certificate Program. Reposted from the ISHI Report with permission. The field of investigative genetic genealogy (IGG) is experiencing a period of rapid growth and development, with some public laboratories and law enforcement agencies choosing to bring IGG work in-house in order […]
Funding Justice: How Season of Justice is Helping Solve Cold Cases with Advanced DNA Testing
What happens when investigators know DNA testing could solve a case—but the budget won’t allow it? That’s where Season of Justice steps in. At ISHI 35, Kendall Mills, Executive Director of Season of Justice, shared how this nonprofit is bridging the funding gap for cold case DNA testing. With 218 cases funded since 2020, they’re […]
No Longer Unidentified: How Forensic Science is Solving Australia’s Toughest Missing Persons Cases
How do you identify human remains and reunite families with their loved ones? At #ISHI35, Kelly Grisedale from the Australian Federal Police shared the groundbreaking work of the National DNA Program for Unidentified and Missing Persons. In this interview, Kelly discusses: 🔬 How her team resolved over 50 missing persons cases in just two years […]