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!
Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, District 18 Medical Examiner’s Office, & FDLE Leverage Othram to Identify a 1985 Jane Doe (DNASolves – 1/30/2026)
In January 1985, the skeletal remains of a woman were found in a densely wooded area in Malabar, Florida, a small town southeast of Orlando on Brevard County’s Atlantic coast. The town is part of the Palm Bay–Melbourne–Titusville Metropolitan Statistical Area. Working together, the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office and the District 18 Medical Examiner’s Office began an investigation and collected evidence. The woman was estimated to be between 20 to 50 years old and between 5’0″ and 5’7″ feet tall. She had no identification and her identity could not be determined.
Despite extensive investigative efforts at the time, the case went cold. The woman became known as Malabar Jane Doe and details of the case were entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) as UP116034.
In 2024, using grant funds from the Federal Bureau of Justice Administration’s Missing and Unidentified Human Remains (MUHR) Program (FY22-MUHR), the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), in coordination with the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office and District 18 Medical Examiner’s Office, facilitated the submission of forensic evidence to Othram for advanced DNA testing. Using Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing®, Othram scientists successfully developed a comprehensive DNA profile suitable for forensic genetic genealogy.
This profile enabled FDLE’s forensic genetic genealogy team to conduct a genetic genealogical search to generate new investigative leads, enabling law enforcement to conduct a follow-up investigation and narrow in on the woman’s possible identity. The investigation resulted in the positive identification of Malabar Jane Doe, who is now known to be Jeanette Marcotte, who was missing from Vancouver, British Columbia.
Jeanette Marcotte was last seen in Saskatchewan in 1981 or 1982, three years before her remains were found in Florida. Prior to her disappearance, it is reported that Marcotte said she was headed to Vancouver, British Columbia. She was never seen again.
New Forensic Technique Could be ‘Game Changer’ for Solving Sex Crime Cases (BBC News – 1/31/2026)
New technology which can identify DNA from a single cell could transform crime scene forensics, according to experts.
Scottish scientists behind the SCAnDi project say the technique can establish both who the sample came from, and which part of their body.
Prosecutors believe that if experts can give evidence about DNA with a higher level of certainly, it will help juries reach their verdict.
Experts say this could lead to more convictions in sex crime cases and fewer miscarriages of justice.
‘People who Hurt Animals Can Go On to Hurt People’ (BBC News – 1/31/2026)
Wildlife crime often happens out of sight, but the clues left behind on dead or injured animals can be far harder to hide.
A new collaboration between Lincolnshire Police and forensic veterinary expert Dr Sean Taylor aims to turn those injuries into evidence that can help identify offenders.
“It’s crucial,” says the veterinary surgeon, “because people who hurt animals often go on to hurt people.”
His unapologetic remarks are aimed at silencing those who have criticised Lincolnshire Police for pursuing hare coursers, criminals who use dogs to chase and kill hares for pleasure.
The State of Forensic Science: An Interview with James Cizdziel (Spectroscopy – 2/2/2026)
The American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS) 2026 annual conference is set to take place this year from February 9–14th, in New Orleans, Louisiana (1).
In the leadup to the AAFS conference, Spectroscopy sat down with James Cizdziel, a Professor and Chair of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of Mississippi (2).
Cizdziel earned his BS from the State University of New York at Buffalo in 1991 and his PhD from the University of Nevada, Reno in 1998, with research interests spanning analytical, environmental, and forensic chemistry. His research group has developed new methods for studying microplastics, trace elements, mercury biogeochemistry, atmospheric sampling using UAVs, and forensic analysis of trace evidence, including from three-dimensional (3D)-printed firearms, and he has published more than 90 papers with funding from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Department of Education (DOE), the National Science Foundation (NSF), and the Department of Justice (DOJ) (2).
In this interview with Czidziel, he offers a preview of what he will be presenting at the AAFS conference and reflects on the state of forensic science in 2026.
North Carolina Office of the Chief Medical Examiner and the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office Team with Othram to Identify a 1980 John Doe (DNASolves – 2/2/2026)
In March of 1980, the skeletal remains of an unidentified individual were found in Robeson County, North Carolina. The remains were found in a wooded area off of US-301, four miles north of Rowland in southern North Carolina. The Robeson County Sheriff’s Office responded and began collecting evidence and investigating. They determined the remains were an adult White man with brown hair, likely between 23 and 35 years old who stood about 5’5″ tall. He was found with a white turtleneck shirt (size 18, chest 34), cotton undershirt (size 38-40), one navy blue T-shirt (size 18, chest 34), pair of blue jeans (W30 X L32), small size underwear, one pair of white thermal underwear (size 34-36) and a white handkerchief.
Despite a lengthy investigation that included releasing a composite sketch of what the man likely looked like when he was alive, he could not be identified and became known as Robeson County Doe. Details of the case were entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) as UP2179.
In 2024, the North Carolina Office of the Chief Medical Examiner 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 provided evidence and then used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® to build a comprehensive DNA profile for the man. 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 man. Reference DNA samples were collected from a relative and compared to the DNA profile of the unidentified man. This investigation led to the positive identification of the man, who is now known to be Joseph Callahan, born on March 18, 1959.
Joseph Callahan, then 20, was last seen leaving Ridley Park, near his home in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the fall of 1979. He was a 1977 graduate of Ridley High School.
New Book Details Forensic Nurse’s Role in High-profile Trials (Forensic – 2/4/2026)
The story of Connell School of Nursing Professor Ann Burgess, a psychiatric nurse who teamed with FBI agents to develop profiles of serial killers, has garnered headlines thanks to a book she co-wrote and a television adaptation that followed. But while the book A Killer By Design and the Hulu docuseries Mastermind detailed her groundbreaking role in helping law enforcement capture notorious killers, Burgess’ co-author Steven Constantine felt there was another side of her career that was equally compelling and worth sharing.
“There’s so many different parts to Dr. Burgess’ story,” said Constantine, associate director of marketing and communications at the Connell School. “In writing the first book, I assumed her story was just about the FBI work on serial killers. I didn’t realize the proceeding piece of it, which was her work with rape victims and how that had informed the serial killer work. And then another piece of the story was her expert witness and trial work, which brought her work with the FBI into a more public forum.”
Expert Witness: The Weight of Our Testimony When Justice Hangs in the Balance, co-authored by Burgess and Constantine, details how Burgess’ knowledge of forensics, victimology, and trauma—she and her colleague Lynda Lytle Holstrom coined the term “rape trauma syndrome” in the 1970s—have made her a sought-after expert in headline-grabbing cases from Erik Menendez to Bill Cosby to Larry Nassar. In those cases, and others not covered by the media, Burgess has provided testimony in court or psychiatric assessments that have played critical roles in shaping trials.
Genealogy Identifies Remains Found in 2012 (Forensic – 2/4/2026)
Illinois State Police (ISP) Division of Criminal Investigation Zone 1 announces the successful resolution to a cold case death investigation from 2012.
On Feb. 18, 2012, the remains of an unidentified man were discovered under the I-94 overpass of Cicero Avenue in Chicago. Foul play was not suspected, however, the body remained unidentified until Jan. 20, 2026, when forensic genealogy testing confirmed the man’s identity nearly 14 years after the remains were discovered by a maintenance worker doing work in the area.
ISP Special Agents continued to investigate the matter in collaboration with the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office and recently submitted a DNA sample from a possible relative for comparison purposes. After the sample was submitted, laboratory results confirmed the man’s identity as that of 64-year-old Ronald Risher. The exact cause and manner of death could not be determined due to decomposition, however exposure to cold was believed to be a contributing factor in his death.
The Illinois State Police is steadfast in their efforts in pursuit of truth and justice as we to continue to investigate cold case death investigations and other significant unsolved matters
New Info Available in 2 Cold Cases as Task Force Seeks Public’s Help (Forensic – 2/4/2026)
On Tuesday, Suffolk County (NY) District Attorney Raymond Tierney announced that, in recognition of National Missing Persons Day, the District Attorney’s Office is renewing its call for the public’s assistance in helping identify the remains of multiple unidentified victims whose cases remain open and under active investigation.
Additionally, the District Attorney’s Office is providing the public with updated information and renderings of the victims in two cold cases—Medford Jane Doe and Bellport Jane Doe—in the hopes that it will assist in uncovering the victims’ identities.
“We are asking the public to take a moment to read the information available and to look at these new renderings of the victims. We believe someone must know something,” said Tierney. “No tip is too small. Even a minor detail could help bring answers to families who have been waiting for far too long.”
Medical Examiner’s Office Launches Unidentified Persons Project (Forensic – 2/4/2026)
Hennepin County (Minnesota) has launched a new project to help identify some of the 150 unidentified persons cases in the Medical Examiner’s Office.
The project is a collaborative effort with partners across the state and nation, including NamUs and the Minnesota Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives Office, to provide answers and closure to affected families.
On Tuesday, the Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s Office released fact sheets for the first five unidentified people—and said they plan to release additional case information as reviews continue.
The medical examiner’s office said it will review the cases using tools and technology that were not available when many of the original death investigations were conducted, including forensic genetic genealogy.
The project is supported by a federal grant from the Bureau of Justice Assistance and is led by Jessica Campbell, Minnesota’s only board-certified forensic anthropologist.
Metropolitan Nashville Police Department Teams with Othram to Identify a 2018 Jane Doe (DNASolves – 2/4/2026)
On September 8, 2018, a woman’s remains were discovered on Sulphur Creek Road in Tennessee’s northwest Davidson County. The Metropolitan Nashville Police Department responded to a 911 call made by a passerby who made the discovery. The woman was estimated to be 5’1” to 5’9” tall and her ancestry could not be definitively determined. She wore a dark colored, half-zip sweatshirt with “Vandy” logo on the upper left side with black and white patterned Vanderbilt University athletic pants.
Investigators made exhaustive efforts to identify the woman. STR and mitochondrial DNA profiles were developed and searched in CODIS, but no match was ever made. Forensic sketches were developed and released to the public, and countless leads were provided to law enforcement. Despite these efforts, the woman went unidentified. Details of the case were entered into NamUs as UP52531 and the woman became known as “Vandy Jane Doe,” aptly named for the clothing she wore at the time of her discovery.
In December 2022, the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department submitted evidence to Othram in The Woodlands, Texas where scientists determined that advanced DNA testing could help identify Vandy Jane Doe. At Othram, scientists successfully developed a DNA extract from the provided skeletal evidence and then used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® to build a comprehensive DNA profile for the woman. This profile was used by Othram’s forensic genetic genealogy team in a genealogical search to provide leads to genetic relatives of the unknown woman.
Monroe County Sheriff’s Office and Knox County Regional Forensic Center Team with Othram to Identify a 2024 John Doe (DNASolves – 2/4/2026)
In March 2024, partial skeletal remains were discovered in a wooded area of Madisonville, Tennessee, prompting a response from the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office. An investigation was opened and evidence collection began. Just two years earlier, in October 2022, a skull was found and subsequently identified in a nearby area.
The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office transferred the newly discovered remains to the Knox County Regional Forensic Center for further analysis. Forensic experts worked to assess whether the 2024 remains belonged to the same person whose skull had been found in 2022. They determined the remains were from an individual whose biological sex could not be determined, who stood between 5’5″ and 5’9″ tall.
Despite these findings, investigators were unable to conclusively determine that the skeletal remains and the skull came from the same individual. The newly recovered remains were therefore classified as a separate unidentified person, later known as Madisonville Doe. Case details were entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) under case number UP141472.
Seeking new leads, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office and the Knox County Regional Forensic Center submitted forensic evidence to Othram in The Woodlands, Texas in June 2025. Othram scientists determined advanced DNA testing could assist with identification. A DNA extract was developed from the provided evidence and Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® was used to create a comprehensive DNA profile for the unknown individual, allowing investigators to continue their investigation.
During the course of the investigation, a reference DNA sample was collected and compared to the unknown person’s DNA profile using KinSNP® Rapid Relationship Testing. These efforts ultimately led to the positive identification of the remains found in 2024 as belonging to Luke Micheal Butler, whose partial remains were previously identified in 2022. Butler, a father of four from Madisonville, was reported missing in October 2019.
The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding Luke Butler’s death, including whether he may have been the victim of a homicide.