No one has hours to scour the papers to keep up with the latest news, so we’ve curated the top news stories in the field of Forensic Science for this week. Here’s what you need to know to get out the door!
University of Tennessee Health Science Center Teams with Othram to Identify a 1991 John Doe – 4/24/2025)
In May 1991, the remains of an identified individual were found floating in the Wolf River in Shelby County, Tennessee. Shelby County is the westernmost county of Tennessee and the county seat is Memphis. The man was found with a key ring that had three keys, several scraps of paper and two dimes. He was was wearing a t-shirt, a shirt, a denim jacket, pants, briefs, socks and a pair of hiking boots. Despite extensive efforts by investigators, the man could not be identified and became known as Shelby County John Doe.
Attempts to identify the man continued over the years, and in 2012, the University of Tennessee Forensic Anthropology Center submitted a sample of his remains to the University of North Texas Center for Human Identification (UNTCHI). A DNA profile was developed and entered into the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) and the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System, as UP5252, in hopes that the man would eventually be identified. However, there were no matches.
In 2022, the University of Tennessee Health Science Center West Tennessee Regional Forensic Center submitted forensic evidence to Othram in The Woodlands, Texas to determine if advanced DNA testing could help identify the man. Othram scientists successfully developed a DNA extract from the forensic evidence, and then used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® to build a comprehensive genealogical profile for the unknown man. Othram’s in-house forensic genetic genealogy team then used this profile to conduct genetic genealogy research, ultimately providing new investigative leads to law enforcement.
Using this new information, a follow-up investigation was conducted leading investigators to potential relatives of the man. Reference DNA samples were collected from the potential relatives and compared to the DNA profile of the unknown man. This investigation led to the positive identification of the man, who is now known to be Stonewall Willett, born on June 1, 1945.
Investigative Genetic Genealogy Accreditation Board Announces Launch of IGG Accreditation Exam – 4/24/2025)
IGGAB is thrilled to officially announce the launch of the IGG Accreditation Exam–and that registration is now open for individuals aiming to become Accredited Investigative Genetic Genealogists!
We’re proud to mark a major milestone for Investigative Genetic Genealogy with the first and only accreditation for professionals in the field.
Silverwell Research Launches in London (Silverwell Research – 4/25/2025)
Silverwell Research announces its public launch today as the first British provider of investigative genetic genealogy (IGG) services. The company has already begun working with law enforcement agencies in Europe, working to resolve cold cases through the use of IGG.
Its founder, Matthew Waterfield, was one of the first IGG practitioners in Europe and has now worked on dozens of law enforcement cases from multiple countries. He recently became one of the first people in the field to pass the IGG Accreditation Exam, thus becoming an Accredited Investigative Genetic Genealogist (AIGG).
“Investigative genetic genealogy has the potential to revolutionise cold case investigations across Europe,” said Matthew Waterfield, company founder. “Silverwell Research has the experience and expertise to bring agencies answers, whether they’re trying to identify a Jane Doe or catch a serial killer.”
In addition to its investigative genetic genealogy services, Silverwell Research will also provide genealogy research services to individuals and companies alike, with plans to further expand its service offering in the coming months.
Government Moves to Save Crime DNA Samples (Queensland Government – 4/28/2025)
The Crisafulli Government will this week introduce changes to Parliament, allowing DNA samples caught up in Labor’s DNA Debacle to be retained for up to seven years, ensuring victims can access the justice they deserve.
Amendments to the Police Powers and Responsibilities Act 2000 will be made to prevent the destruction of DNA linked to the most serious crimes including rape and murder, caught up in Labor’s DNA Debacle – which were set to be destroyed from mid-June.
Current retention periods will be extended from three to seven years, and DNA material taken from suspects between 14 June 2025 and 14 June 2027 will be kept for up to three years.
Labor’s DNA Debacle is one of the greatest failures of a justice system in the world, with more than 40,000 cases of the State’s most serious cases left under a forensic cloud.
The change was a key recommendation of Dr Kirsty Wright, as she continues the DNA Lab Review, allowing for samples to be protected and preserved.
Dr Wright and world-renowned FBI expert Dr Bruce Budowle, are expected to hand down recommendations that deliver faster justice for victims and restore public confidence in forensic testing, to the Government mid-year.
Astrea Identifies Cleveland Man Missing Since 1980 (Forensic – 4/28/2025)
A 20-year-old Cleveland resident who went missing 45 years ago has been identified through advanced DNA technology, the latest in a string of collaborative scientific successes involving unknown remains in Ohio.
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost and Dr. Thomas Gilson, medical examiner for Cuyahoga County, announced today that the remains are those of Danny Lee Mitchell, who lived at 3393 E. 119 St. in Cleveland.
“Everyone counts, everybody matters – and thanks to forensic advancements, Danny Mitchell’s identity has been restored,” Yost said. “Our team has gone above and beyond to compassionately work this case, reminding everyone that through partnerships, decades-old cases can be solved.”
DNA Testing Implicates Boyfriend in 1981 Murder of 20-Year-Old Woman (Forensic – 4/28/2025)
The Henderson Police Department’s Cold Case Homicide Unit along with the assistance of HPD Crime Scene Analyst Unit has officially closed the 1981 cold case homicide of Vicki Radig.
In March 1981, a family member of 20-year-old Radig reported her missing when she did not return home from work. She had reportedly gone out with her boyfriend, Walter Bradley DeMint, and had not been seen since. DeMint told family members he and Radig had an argument, and she ran off.
Two days later, her body was discovered in a desert area near the 900 block of Boulder Highway. The investigation revealed she died from blunt and sharp force trauma and the incident was determined to be a homicide.
From the onset of the investigation, DeMint was considered a person of interest. Throughout the investigation, DeMint’s account of events was inconsistent with his original statement.
However, at the time, investigators did not have sufficient evidence to support criminal charges.DeMint passed away in 2007.
In 2021 the Henderson Police Department Cold Case Homicide Unit submitted for forensic testing of DNA found on swabs taken from Radig as part of the investigation. DeMint was identified as a DNA contributor.
In 2022 and 2023, all additional items were submitted for forensic testing and indicated no DNA profiles were attributable to any individuals other than DeMint or Radig. The case was presented to the Clark County District Attorney’s Office, which concurred Walter Bradley DeMint is the only viable suspect identified in this case.
Season of Justice Funding Helps Police Make Arrest in 1989 Homicide (Forensic – 4/28/2025)
Around 10:30 p.m. on Sept. 8, 1989, 18-year-old Jennifer Williams was dropped off at her home after work. Not long after, she told a friend she planned to walk to her husband’s workplace, but she never arrived. Her husband reported her missing on September 11, and 13 days later, a group of teenagers discovered Jennifer’s body. Evidence at the scene suggested she had likely been sexually assaulted.
In August 2024, Season of Justice awarded funding to the Springfield Police Department for advanced DNA testing on the sexual assault kit collected during the original investigation. Testing conducted in 2019 produced a partial DNA profile from an unknown male, but the results were not eligible for upload to CODIS. Thanks to recent advancements in forensic technology, however, more comprehensive profiles can now be generated from samples that were once considered insufficient.
Using more sensitive technology, often unavailable in public crime labs, the kit was retested, resulting in a stronger DNA profile that ultimately led to the identification and arrest of the suspect on April 17, 2025.
Sandoval County Sheriff’s Department & New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator Team with Othram to Identify a 2001 John Doe (DNASolves – 4/29/2025)
In May 2001, hikers discovered human remains unearthed by animals from a clandestine grave in the Santa Fe National Forest, near Cuba NM. Sandoval County is a rural county north of Albuquerque. The hikers contacted law enforcement and the Sandoval County Sheriff’s Office responded. The bones were excavated with an anthropologist who determined the skeletal remains had been buried in a shallow grave. Initially, investigators believed it may have been the remains of more than one person, but later evidence showed it was one adult male. Despite years of investigative efforts, the identity of this individual remained a mystery and he became known as Sandoval County John Doe. Details of the case were entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) as UP8365.
In 2021, the Sandoval County Sheriff’s Department and the New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator submitted forensic evidence to Othram in hopes that advanced DNA testing could assist in the identification of John Doe. Upon receipt of evidence at Othram’s laboratory in The Woodlands, Texas, Othram scientists successfully developed a DNA extract. A comprehensive DNA profile was then built for the woman using Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing®. Upon completion of the process, the profile was delivered to investigators with the Sandoval County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI’s forensic genetic genealogy team.
Investigators built a family tree for the John Doe, which led to likely relatives of the man including a possible daughter. The daughter submitted a reference DNA sample to Othram which was compared to the unidentified man’s DNA profile using KinSNP® Rapid Relationship Testing. This investigation led to the positive identification of the man as Keeble Wofford Sr. who was also known as Kimo Mahi. A death certificate was issued by New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator and Wofford Sr.’s daughter will be receiving his cremated remains. Investigators continue to investigate the circumstances involving his death. Investigators believe he traveled from Pueblo Co to Albuquerque NM in Sept 1992 for a business meeting and was never heard from again. Wofford had a colorful life as a wrestler and actor starting in the 1950’s, according to investigators.
Identified: Another Victim of Alleged Serial Killer Herb Baumeister (Forensic – 4/30/2025)
Another victim of alleged serial killer Herb Baumeister has been identified as Daniel Thomas Halloran, a man who was not reported missing or previously suspected as a victim.
Halloran’s remains were found at the Baumeister family’s Fox Hollow Farm in 1996, along with 10,000 other bones and bone fragments.
In 2024, amid a renewed investigation to identify the unknown victims at Fox Hollow Farm, Hamilton County (Indiana) Coroner Jeff Jellison sent a DNA sample to Othram. Othram successfully sequenced the DNA, then worked the forensic genetic genealogy angle to develop new investigative leads.
With both parents and a brother already deceased, Halloran’s identification was far from easy. However, his mother died of an overdose in a nearby Indiana county and the coroner still had a DNA sample card on file to help confirm Daniel’s identity.
This is the fourth Fox Hollow Farm victim that has been identified as part of the renewed investigation by Jellison that began in 2022 when the coroner was contacted by the cousin of a possible victim.
Jane Doe thought to be John Doe Identified after 41 Years (Forensic – 4/30/2025)
On May 14, 1983, the Solano County Sheriff’s Office, along with the Solano County Coroner’s Office, responded to the south shore of Simmons Island after partial skeletal remains were discovered. The remains were determined to be human and were initially believed to be that of an adult male.
The decedent became known only as John Doe #5 (1983). Despite continued investigation into the identity and circumstances surrounding the death, the decedent was ultimately laid to rest without being identified.
In July 2023, as part of the Doe Cold Case Project, the body of John Doe #5 (1983) was exhumed and the case re-opened. New DNA testing revealed that the remains were female, not male as previously believed, and the decedent was reclassified as Jane Doe #5 (1983). Over the next 15 months, the dedication of the coroner investigators and forensic staff led to numerous leads and continued investigation.
After 41 years, using advanced DNA testing, forensic genetic genealogy, and forensic odontology, the decedent was positively identified as 40-year-old Patricia Ann Hertel of Tracy, Calif.
Hertel was last known to be aboard a fishing vessel in Suisun Bay on August 8, 1981, when she was 39 years old. The boat, carrying Hertel and her boyfriend, failed to return after bad weather hit that evening. A search was launched. The body of Hertel’s boyfriend was recovered several days later, and the vessel was found sunk in Suisun Bay. However, Hertel was never located and was presumed drowned. Although Jane Doe #5 (1983) has now been identified, Hertel’s missing persons case remains active, as only partial skeletal remains were recovered.
Jefferson Parish Coroner’s Office Teams with Othram to Identify a 2020 John Doe (DNASolves – 4/30/2025)
In December 2020, an unidentified male was found hanging from an exterior staircase attached to a medical clinic in Metairie, Louisiana, off Veterans Blvd. The cause of death was determined to be self-inflicted, and no suicide note or identifying documents were found on the decedent. The unidentified individual was a white male, estimated to be between 50 and 80 years old, standing between 5’8” and 6’0”, and weighing between 120 and 150 pounds. He had gray, wavy hair pulled back into a low ponytail, a gray mustache, and minimal body hair. His eyes were brown, and his face was recognizable at the time of discovery.
The case was entered into NamUs as UP80348, and his identity remained a mystery. Despite investigative efforts, the man remained unidentified for four years when in 2024, the Jefferson Parish Coroner’s Office partnered with Othram to apply advanced forensic DNA testing in hopes that the man could be identified. Evidence was submitted to Othram’s lab in The Woodlands, Texas where scientists developed a DNA extract from the evidence and used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® to build a profile compatible with forensic genetic genealogy analysis. The Othram team then worked to generate new leads for law enforcement to further their investigation.
Those leads led to likely family members, including the man’s possible son, who identified the man through photo comparison, confirming the identity of the man as Bradley Steve Duvernet. Investigators Timothy Genevay and Heather Brown at the Jefferson Parish Coroner’s Office worked diligently to identify Bradley Duvernet, born in 1953.
Solano County Sheriff’s & Coroner’s Offices Team with Othram to Identify a 1983 Jane Doe (DNASolves – 4/30/2025)
In May 1983, the skeletal remains of an unidentifed individual were found on the south shore of Simmons Island, near the Rich Island Duck Club, in the Solano County, Calfornia city of Benicia. The Solano County Sheriff’s Office, along with the Solano County Coroner’s Office, responded to the scene and began investigating. The remains were determined to be human and were initially believed to be that of an adult male. The decedent became known only as John Doe #5 (1983). Despite continued investigation into the identity and circumstances surrounding the death, the decedent was ultimately laid to rest without being identified. Details of the case were entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) as UP17587.
In July 2023, the remains were exhumed and the case was re-opened. New DNA testing revealed that the remains belonged to a female, not amale as previously believed, and the decedent was reclassified as Jane Doe #5 (1983). Over the next 15 months, the Solano County Coroner Investigators and forensic staff pursued numerous leads and continued investigation.
As part of their efforts, the Solano County Coroner’s Office submitted forensic evidence to Othram in The Woodlands, Texas to determine if advanced DNA testing could help identify the woman. Othram scientists successfully developed a DNA extract from the forensic evidence, and then used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® to build a comprehensive genealogical profile for the unknown woman. Othram’s in-house forensic genetic genealogy team then used this profile to conduct genetic genealogy research, ultimately providing new investigative leads to law enforcement.
Using this new information, a follow-up investigation was conducted leading investigators to potential relatives of the woman. Reference DNA samples were collected from the potential relatives and compared to the DNA profile of the unknown woman using Othram’s KinSNP® Rapid Relationship Testing. This investigation led to the positive identification of the woman as 39-year-old Patricia Ann Hertel of Tracy, CA.
Loyola to introduce Bachelor of Science in Forensic Science (Loyola University Maryland – 5/01/2025)
Loyola University Maryland is launching a new Bachelor of Science in Forensic Science degree in Fall 2025 to prepare students for growing career opportunities in the forensic sciences.
The University is introducing the program to continue to help meet the educational and training needs of forensic science laboratories and agencies, as the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the employment of forensic science technicians is expected to grow 14% from 2023-33, outpacing the average for all occupations. The new Bachelor of Science in Forensic Science will prepare students interested in careers working in forensic or crime laboratories or crime scene investigation. Loyola’s Bachelor of Arts in Forensic Science is an excellent option for students focused on criminology, criminal justice, or other areas bridging the sciences with the social sciences.
“We prepare forensic science students for meaningful careers in criminal investigation and laboratory sciences, with many of our graduates entering the workforce here in Maryland,” said David Rivers, Ph.D., chair and professor of forensic science. “Adding the Bachelor of Science follows a national trend that revisits how we are training graduates for these types of careers and complements the department’s existing plans of study, ensuring that any student interested in forensic science can choose the program that is right for them.”
Forensic science encompasses a wide array of scientific disciplines that apply the knowledge, techniques, and technology to the investigation of crime and other legal matters. In addition to the new Bachelor of Science degree and the existing Bachelor of Arts, Loyola’s Department of Forensic Science also offers an undergraduate minor. At the graduate level, students can pursue a Masters of Science in Forensic Pattern Analysis or Biological Forensics.
Loyola’s location in the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan area provides forensic science students with opportunities for competitive internships and job placement in one of the top regions in the country for forensic work.
