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!
Putnam County Sheriff’s Office and District 23 Medical Examiner’s Office Team with Othram to Identify a 2023 Jane Doe (DNASolves – 12/11/2025)
On January 4, 2023, the skeletal remains of an unidentified individual were found in a wooded lot in the 100 block of Cedar Creek Cutoff Road in Palatka, Florida. The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office responded and began investigating and collecting evidence. About 100 feet from the roadway, they found a nylon rope and an electrical cord tied to a tree branch with hair attached to the rope. A skull and mandible were located underneath the rope on the ground. Other human remains were scattered throughout the lot. They found white tennis shoes nearby. They noted that a neighbor had reported a foul smell about seven months earlier. It was determined that the remains were likely a White or Hispanic woman who stood 4′ 9″ to 5′ 7″ tall and was 40 to 69 years old.
Despite a lengthy investigation, the woman could not be identified and became known as Putnam County Jane Doe (2023). Details of the case were entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) as UP108580 on September 19, 2023.
In March 2025, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office and District 23 Medical Examiner’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 provided evidence and then used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® to build a comprehensive DNA profile for the woman. Othram’s in-house forensic genetic genealogy team used the profile in a genetic genealogy search to develop new investigative leads that were returned 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 a relative and compared to the DNA profile of the unidentified woman. This investigation led to the positive identification of the woman, who is now known to be Lea Kennedy Sayre, who was 52 when she died. Foul play is not suspected in her case.
“A family now has closure and can now mourn and grieve their loss without having to stress and wonder what happened,” said Putnam County Sheriff H.D. ‘Gator’ DeLoach. “We are grateful for the state providing this grant which allows us and other small counties to ability to have access to this cutting-edge technology provided by Othram. While it still takes time, the results have allowed us to bring relief to families caught in a world of not knowing what became of their family member.” Funding provided to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for the use of Forensic Investigative Genetic Genealogy in UHR cases as part of Senate Bill 678 was awarded to Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, allowing this case to be solved.
Serial Killer Linked to 3 Women’s Cold Case Murders in Toronto: “There may be additional victims” (CBSNews – 12/12/2025)
A Canadian man who died in 2019 has been identified as the perpetrator of three cold case homicides in Toronto, and investigators believe there could be more victims.
Toronto police said Thursday recent forensic testing and genetic genealogy conclusively identified Kenneth Smith, 72, of Windsor, Ontario, as the person who killed two women in the 1980s and a third woman in the 1990s.
Raleigh Police Department Leverages Othram’s Forensic Sequencing Platform to Identify a 1994 John Doe (DNASolves – 12/12/2025)
On December 10, 1994, the body of an unidentified man was found in a hotel room at 320 Hillsborough Street in Raleigh, North Carolina. The Raleigh Police Department responded and began collecting evidence and investigating when it was learned that the man checked into the hotel using the pseudonym, Brian Stillwell.
Investigators determined that the man was White, between 55 and 65 years old, weighed 223 pounds, and stood 5’11”. Investigators determined that the man died about 18 hours before being found. Despite a lengthy investigation, the man could not be identified and became known as Raleigh John Doe (1994). Details of the case were entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) as UP2788.
In April 2025, the Raleigh Police Department submitted forensic evidence to Othram in The Woodlands, Texas where scientists determined that advanced DNA testing could help identify the man. Othram scientists successfully developed a DNA extract from the provided evidence and then used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® to build a comprehensive DNA profile for the man. This profile was returned to law enforcement who executed a forensic genetic genealogy search to develop new leads in the case.
Using these leads, a follow-up investigation was conducted leading investigators to potential relatives of the man. Reference DNA samples were collected from a relative and compared to the DNA profile of the unidentified man using KinSNP® Rapid Relationship Testing. This investigation led to the positive identification of the man, who is now known to be Edward Sidney Broughton, born May 2, 1937. He was 57 years old when he died.
Collier County Sheriff’s Office Teams with Othram to Identify a 1975 Homicide Victim (DNASolves – 12/15/2025)
On February 16, 1975, the skeletal remains of an unidentified individual were found in the Collier County town of Naples, Florida. A man and woman were traveling north on Turner River Road when they saw a raccoon run across the road. They let their dog out to chase it when they discovered a human skull which they reported to authorities. The Collier County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene and began collecting evidence and investigating. In their search, detectives found additional skeletal remains under bushes and tall grass.
An anthropological assessment estimated that the remains belonged to a Black female between 21 and 35 years old. Investigators also determined that the woman died from a gunshot wound, likely more than a year before she was found. Despite a lengthy investigation, the woman could not be identified and she became known as Naples Jane Doe (1975). Details of the case were entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) as UP1334 on April 7, 2008.
In January 2024, the Collier County Sheriff’s Office submitted forensic evidence to Othram in The Woodlands, Texas to determine whether advanced DNA testing could help identify the woman. Othram scientists successfully developed a DNA extract from the evidence and used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® to build a comprehensive DNA profile. As is not uncommon, the genome-wide DNA analysis revised earlier anthropological estimates of biogeographical ancestry, determining that the woman was White and of European ancestry. Using this DNA profile and the updated ancestry information, Othram’s in-house forensic genetic genealogy team conducted a genetic genealogy search and developed new investigative leads, which were returned to law enforcement.
A follow-up investigation was conducted leading investigators to potential relatives of the woman. Reference DNA samples were collected from a relative and compared to the DNA profile of the unidentified woman. This investigation led to the positive identification of the woman, who is now known to be Darlene Schab.
Doctor Creates Tool to Improve Forensic Care of Sexual Assault Survivors (Forensic – 12/17/2025)
Every 74 seconds, someone in the United States is sexually assaulted. Emergency departments are often the first point of care for survivors after being assaulted. Recommended care includes addressing the immediate physical and psychological needs of the survivor, conducting a forensic examination, and offering a sexual assault victim advocate to the survivor. However, adherence to this care in the emergency department is low.
Emergency departments are often packed and struggling for resources. Additionally, there is a shortage of Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANE) who are certified to conduct a medical forensic examination, collect evidence, provide medical care and emotional support, and collaborate with law enforcement.
When David Yang was a resident at Yale New Haven Hospital, he took care of numerous survivors of sexual assault in the emergency department—and noticed the struggles and discrepancies. In an effort to improve care, Yang created a new clinical decision support (CDS) tool that has already led to improved medical and forensic care of sexual assault survivors.
The electronic health record (EHR)-integrated clinical tool combines guidelines, expert consensus, orders and resources specific to the evaluation and management of adults seeking care in the ED after sexual assault.
Team Debuts New Proteomics Method for Human Identification (Forensic – 12/17/2025)
Researchers have developed a new method for human identification, which could be a powerful new tool for forensic investigations.
Edith Cowan University (ECU) PhD students Rebecca Tidy and Romy Keane, who are also Chemists at Western Australia’s premier chemical science facility ChemCentre, are lead authors of the article published in Forensic Science International.
Tidy and Keane are an integral part of the multi-partner research collaboration led by ChemCentre’s Forensic Proteomics Research Group who, along with Professor Glendon Parker of University of California Davis, are using protein-based analysis (proteomics) to examine proteins in a single hair strand to create a unique profile for each person.
Law Gives Survivors Free Exam After Assault, Without Filing Police Report (Forensic – 12/17/2025)
The Texas Department of Public Safety’s (DPS) Crime Laboratory Division announces the implementation of the state’s new Limited Consent for DNA Testing Program for sexual assault survivors. The first kit under this new program, which began on Dec. 1, was collected last week.
Created under HB 1422 earlier this year, the Limited Consent for DNA Testing Program allows survivors of sexual assault to obtain a forensic medical exam and have evidence collected and tested for foreign DNA material, free of charge, even if a report has not been made to law enforcement. Only evidence collected on or after Dec. 1, 2025, is eligible for this new program. Previously, sexual assault survivors would have had to involve law enforcement in order to have DNA evidence tested – HB 1422 eliminates that requirement.
DNA Doe Project Identifies Elderly Man Found in Minnesota in 2015 (DNA Doe Project – 12/17/2025)
Ten years after his body was found on the side of the I-90, the DNA Doe Project has identified Freeborn County John Doe as Luis Gilberto Robledo. Robledo was a native of El Paso, Texas, where he was born in 1923. While it’s believed that he died sometime between 2000 and 2012, how he came to be in Minnesota and when exactly he died remains a mystery.
On April 6, 2015, the skeletal remains of a man were found off of the I-90 near Albert Lea, Minnesota. On or near the remains were a pair of Levi’s brand pants, Stafford brand underwear, and Mario de Gerard loafers. Also found was a 10k gold ring with a ruby colored stone, as well as some coins with dates ranging from 1965 to 1992. Forensic investigators believed the man may have been Hispanic and that he was likely 40-55 years old at the time of his death.
This case was later brought to the DNA Doe Project, whose expert investigative genetic genealogists work pro bono to identify John and Jane Does. The unidentified man’s DNA profile revealed that he was of Mexican descent, and to the team’s surprise he had a number of close DNA matches in the GEDmatch database.
“Hispanic cases are often tough because that population is underrepresented in the DNA databases we have access to,” said team leader Jeana Feehery. “But in this case, we were lucky to have close DNA matches on both the mother’s side and the father’s side, which allowed us to identify our John Doe’s parents within 24 hours.”
It soon became clear that Freeborn County John Doe was the son of a Mexican couple who’d moved to the US and settled in El Paso. While they had three sons, only one was unaccounted for – Luis Robledo. Robledo, a World War II veteran who was wounded during the Battle of Normandy, was born and raised in El Paso, though he later settled in Los Angeles, California. The last trace the team could find of him in the public records was a 1990 obituary that stated he was living in Mexico.
In addition to the absence of an obvious connection to Minnesota, his age came as a surprise too. While the unidentified man was initially believed to be 40-55 years old, Robledo was likely in his 70s or 80s at the time of his death. “We were very surprised when our research led us to a man born in 1923,” said team co-leader Lisa Ivany. “The discrepancy with the age estimate was significant, but the DNA evidence clearly pointed to our John Doe being Luis Robledo.”
After the team reported their findings, investigators contacted Robledo’s family with assistance from the Minnesota BCA. One of his children then provided a DNA sample, which confirmed that the man formerly known only as Freeborn County John Doe was in fact Luis Robledo.
Washoe County Regional Medical Examiner’s Office Teams with Othram to Identify 2023 John Doe (DNASolves – 12/17/2025)
On July 3, 2023, the skeletal remains of an unidentified individual were found in the Peavine Hills/Mountain area in Reno, Nevada. Law enforcement responded to the scene and began an investigation Recovered items included a blue backpack; Sketchers sneakers, size 9; men’s size small gray Columbia shorts; a gray baseball cap with no logo; a blue 509 motorcycle helmet; a baggie containing a compass and knife along with other survival items; a “Turtle Fur” knit hat; and a Glock 9mm handgun.
Despite an investigation led by the Washoe County Regional Medical Examiner’s Office, the individual could not be identified, including confirmation of the person’s biological sex or ancestry. The case was entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) as UP106559.
In May 2025, the Washoe County Regional Medical Examiner’s Office submitted forensic evidence to Othram in The Woodlands, Texas where scientists determined that advanced DNA testing could help identify the person. At Othram, scientists successfully developed a DNA extract from the provided evidence and then used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® to build a comprehensive DNA profile for the unidentified individual. Using this profile, biogeographical and biological sex analyses were performed, indicating that the remains belonged to an Asian male.
Othram’s forensic genetic genealogy team then used the profile in a genetic genealogy search, developing new investigative leads. These leads were returned to law enforcement, enabling a follow-up investigation, and leading investigators to relatives of the unidentified man. A reference DNA sample was collected from a relative and compared to the DNA profile of the unidentified man using Othram’s KinSNP® Rapid Relationship Testing. This investigation led to the identification of the man, who is now known to be Andrew Tadashi Matayoshi, born October 13, 1950.