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!
Navajo Nation Delegate Charles-Newton Champions Continued Support for Forensic DNA Technology at COLT Meeting (Native News Online – 6/05/2025)
During the quarterly meeting of the Coalition of Large Tribes (COLT), held June 2–3 at Eagle Crest Resort in Redmond, Oregon, Navajo Nation Council Delegate Eugenia Charles-Newton successfully passed legislation urging continued support for Othram’s forensic DNA services. The legislation encourages collaboration with the Bureau of Indian Affairs Office of Justice Services (BIA-OJS) through its Operation Spirit Return initiative.
“Time and time again, our justice system has failed Indigenous families. But with advancements in DNA technology, we now have tools that can finally bring answers—and closure—to those who have waited far too long. When our missing loved ones are identified, it shows that action is being taken,” Delegate Charles-Newton said. “We must continue supporting these efforts to bring our relatives home and help families begin to heal.”
St. Petersburg Police Department Teams with Othram to Identify a 1980 John Doe (DNASolves – 6/06/2025)
In 2024, the St. Petersburg Police Department and the District 6 Medical Examiner’s Office partnered with Othram, a forensic laboratory based in The Woodlands, Texas, to identify a skull that had been separated from other skeletal remains sometime after 1980. Because the skull’s origin and context were unclear, forensic evidence was sent to Othram to determine if advanced DNA testing and forensic genetic genealogy could assist in the identification.
Othram scientists developed a DNA extract from the skull and used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® to build a comprehensive DNA profile. Othram’s in-house forensic genetic genealogy team used the profile to perform genealogical research and generate new investigative leads.
With this information, investigators conducted follow-up inquiries that led them to potential relatives of the unidentified man. KinSNP® Rapid Relationship Testing was then used to compare the comprehensive DNA profile to that of a potential relative. The KinSNP® analysis helped confirm a genetic relationship, leading to the identification of the man as Joseph Richard Murrell, born in 1956.
Murrell died on August 3, 1980, when his car went off the Howard Frankland Bridge. According to news reports at the time, he was decapitated. While all of his remains were initially recovered, it is unclear how or when the skull became separated.
Volusia County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement Team with Othram to Identify a 2007 John Doe (DNASolves – 6/06/2025)
On September 24, 2007, human remains were discovered washed ashore along the beach in New Smyrna Beach, Florida. Authorities responded to the Volusia County beach and collected a human mandible. An initial investigation concluded that the mandible likely belonged to an adult male whose identity could not be determined. Investigators detected that the remains were subjected to trauma leading them to suspect that the man’s death may have been due to homicide. The case was entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) as UP1521, and traditional investigative methods yielded no identification.
In February 2025, with funding provided by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) through its Missing and Unidentified Human Remains (MUHR) grant, the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office submitted forensic evidence to Othram, a forensic laboratory specializing in human identification from degraded or limited DNA samples. Othram scientists used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® to build a comprehensive DNA profile from the evidence.
This profile was then delivered to FDLE’s in-house forensic genetic genealogy team, which conducted genealogical research to identify possible relatives of the man. The team’s forensic search led to new investigative leads that ultimately resulted in the positive identification of Robert Martin, whose death is now ruled an accident.
According to investigators, Martin had been reported missing while diving off the coast of Volusia County in 2006. At the time, it was believed that he may have drowned, but his remains were never recovered. In 2007, prior to the discovery of Martin’s unidentified remains, diving gear was located by a diver and traced to Martin. This identification provides long-awaited resolution for his family, confirming what had long been suspected.
New State Crime Lab Offers Hope to the Unsolved Cases Such as Brandy Hutchins (ABC7 – 6/06/2025)
The ground has been broken for a new state crime lab in North Little Rock, putting Arkansas on the map in forensic science with a possibility of impacting the thousands of unsolved crimes in the state.
Over the years, advances in technology have stunned those waiting for closure in cases close to them, but some in Arkansans are still waiting for their breakthrough.
This new crime lab means Arkansas is promising to deliver justice.
“This is the place where forensic scientists work that meaningful impact people, families and communities throughout Arkansas,” Dr. Theodore Brown, ASCL Director and Chief Medical Examiner, says,
In 2024, the Department of Public Safety purchased nearly 19 acres to take advantage of modern technology and finally close cases that haven’t yet gotten their big break. Once finished, the facility will be 190,000 square feet, expanding efforts far beyond the current building that’s been at risk of losing acreditation.
Colorado Passes Law to Address CBI Backlog (Forensic – 6/09/2025)
Governor Jared Polis signed a bill into law to address the backlog in DNA tests collected in sexual assault investigations by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
“CBI’s backlog exceeding 550 days is unacceptable,” said Rep. Jenny Willford, D-Northglenn. “There are over 1,300 survivors waiting for their results, and each number is a real person who is seeking the answers they need to pursue accountability and justice. Survivors deserve better, and this law shows them that Colorado stands with them in their fight.”
“Colorado has struggled for years to quickly test evidence related to sexual assault offenses, leaving survivors of these crimes without justice and the broader community without safety,” said Senator Mike Weissman, D-Aurora. “This session, bipartisan majorities in the legislature supported additional funding to catch up on the backlog of evidence requiring testing and heightened transparency requirements so the public can be more fully aware of how this work is progressing. SB304 builds on this work by requiring better communication about evidence test status to survivors of sexual assault offenses, increased reporting, and investment in a new board to improve communication and coordination across state and local forensic labs. This law is part of our ongoing commitment to do better for survivors of these horrible offenses.”
“The CBI backlog has had devastating consequences on survivors and victims, and this new law helps to create a system that puts them at the forefront,” said Rep. Meg Froelich, D-Englewood. “I have proudly sponsored numerous laws to bolster how Colorado handles and processes sexual assault kits, including allowing victims to track the status of their case. This law will improve accountability and address the backlog so survivors can seek the justice they deserve.”
SB25-304, titled the “Miranda Gordon Justice For Survivors Act of 2025”, creates the Colorado Sexual Assault Forensic Medical Evidence Review Board, whose mission mirrors that of the existing Domestic Violence Fatality Review Board. Under the law, the board will review and evaluate the effectiveness of current protocols, standards, and training practices in the criminal legal system’s response to sexual assault. The law also requires making victim-centered recommendations for improvement in accordance with the federal Violence Against Women Act of 1994 to the General Assembly by November 1, 2026.
Cold Case Unit Hopes ID of 1981 Murder Victim Leads to Suspect (Forensic – 6/09/2025)
In South Africa, cause-of-death data is often inaccurate or incomplete, a challenge compounded by the underreporting of deaths. This lack of reliable information undermines efforts to improve essential services like healthcare and justice. It is precisely these systemic gaps that Associate Professor Laura Heathfield, head of the Biomedical Forensic Science Unit at the University of Cape Town (UCT), is working to close.
The NRF’s P-rating is awarded to researchers who demonstrate exceptional potential and are likely to become future leaders in their fields.
Heathfield’s work is towards resolving one of society’s most pressing yet overlooked challenges, the identification of deceased individuals and determining the causes of sudden and unexplained deaths. Her pioneering work has not only advanced scientific knowledge but has also brought closure to grieving families and improved forensics practices in South Africa and beyond.
“Research shows that in South Africa, unidentified bodies are buried en masse. Among them are migrants, the homeless, victims of human trafficking and abandoned babies. These individuals represent some of the most vulnerable people in society,” said Heathfield.
Since joining UCT in 2014, she has established the Molecular Forensics Research Group and built two state-of-the-art forensics laboratories, one at UCT and another for the provincial Forensic Pathology Services. Her UCT lab houses Africa’s first MiSeq FGx sequencing platform, a cutting-edge tool for forensic DNA analysis.
Her research centres on two key areas. The first is molecular autopsies, where DNA is used to determine the cause of sudden and unexplained deaths, particularly in infants. This work has led to the identification of novel genetic markers associated with infant mortality and the development of ethical frameworks for post-mortem genetic research.
The second area is human identification, focusing on developing advanced DNA techniques to identify decomposed and skeletal remains – often the victims of drownings, fires and cold cases.
AI Shows Promise in Evaluating Complex Forensic Evidence (Forensic – 6/09/2025)
The law enforcement community today is riddled with both organizational struggles as well as external threats from the community making modern-day policing significantly difficult to navigate.Police officers are expected to respond to critical incidents and navigate traumatic calls daily in the performance of their duties. Traumatic events from mass shootings to exposure to death make law enforcement officers susceptible to mental health issues over the duration of a career.Cumulative traumatic interactions can impact the wellness of those who serve. A recent study suggested that 76% of police personnel have been exposed to critical incidents.1
Police officers experience one of the highest suicide rates of all professions and endure occupational stressors resulting in health issues surrounding depression and substance addictions.Police officers also suffer from an inability to separate from work when off-duty fostering issues at home.The demands of the job impact sleep patterns, cause burnout, and reduce precious time with family.2
Effective communication and listening will increase trust within the law enforcement organization and between team members.This will assist in creating a culture of mutual respect.Historically, law enforcement has led through autocratic leadership controlling followers through direct orders based on a stringent chain of command with no regard or minimal input from team members.This mimics a para-military leadership style based on this notion that position, or appointed authority allows for the leader to control the follower.This historically accepted autocratic leadership style in policing may not foster an approachable and trust relationship between leader and follower, which is more consistent with that of a true servant leader.3,4
Servant leadership is a relatively new concept circling the halls of the law enforcement profession. 4 Greenleaf (2002) noted that while some leaders have leadership characteristics, they do not have the adeptness to lead. Law enforcement leadership needs to shift the mindset from personal gratification to the unfettered service of those they lead putting self-interest and ego aside.4 The true servant leader puts the needs of others first, helping those team members to excel. The result is a healthier, happier, and more independent subordinate.4
University Receives $3 M Investment for Research, Operations (Forensic – 6/11/2025)
At the June 9 event hosted at the CFBSJS, the research centre celebrated a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with Correction Services Canada (CSC) that will provide a total of $2 million in investment over the next 10 years. CSC and CFBSJS have had three previous funding agreements that greatly helped establish the centre and advance its training and research strategies.
Additionally, the CFBSJS entered into a collaborative research agreement (CRA) with the Government of Saskatchewan. This CRA extends a strong partnership that began many years ago with the Ministry of Corrections, Policing and Public Safety (CPPS) and will provide CFBSJS with a total of $1 million over the next five years.
This investment in the centre will help support specific research projects that focus on topics important to the province and will be identified collaboratively between USask and the ministry.
“This continued partnership with the university and the centre is incredibly valuable to our ministry,” said Deputy Minister of Corrections, Policing and Public Safety, Denise Macza. “Their expertise and research help guide our work in justice, corrections, and policing and support us in building safer and stronger communities across Saskatchewan.”
The investment received from the Government of Saskatchewan and the Government of Canada will help CFBSJS sustainably achieve its goals and continue to advance its impactful, collaborative research that benefits communities and individuals.
6,000-Year-Old Skeletons Found in Colombia Have Unique DNA (CNN – 6/11/2025)
Scientists studying ancient human remains uncovered in Colombia have found that the people they were researching have no known ancestors or modern descendants.
In a study published May 30 in the journal Science Advances, a team of researchers reported on the genetic data of 21 individuals whose skeletal remains were found in the Bogotá Altiplano in central Colombia, some of whom lived as long as 6,000 years ago, that belonged to a previously unknown population.
Previous studies have proven the existence of two lineages, northern Native American and southern Native American, which developed after people first arrived on the continent across an ice bridge from Siberia and started to move south.
Othram Expands Forensic Technology Offerings to Strengthen the Infrastructure of Justice (PRWeb – 6/12/2025)
Othram, the leading provider of accredited genomic services, for forensic genetic genealogy (FGG) has helped law enforcement investigators solve more cases using FGG than any other organization. Through relentless innovation and improvement of laboratory and software technologies, Othram has enabled breakthroughs in thousands of cold and current investigations.
Today, Othram announced a major expansion of its business model to offer deployable workflow solutions. Originally developed in-house for its own genomic services, these solutions will allow other laboratories, agencies, and partners to leverage the same advanced capabilities that power Othram’s forensic success.
“To truly deliver on our mission to empower forensics and justice for all, we need to make the capabilities we’ve developed accessible to others,” said David Mittelman, Othram CEO. “By expanding what laboratories can analyze and the types of investigations they can support, we can increase the number of cases solved and bring more answers to those who need them most.”
As part of this expansion, Othram will introduce a new line of software products. One of the first, SNPSuite, is a secure, offline desktop application designed to enable SNP-based analysis and kinship testing, without the need for internet access or external cloud infrastructure. Built on the core engine behind Othram’s KinSNP® technology, SNPSuite accepts data from sequencing and microarray platforms and does not require a fixed panel of SNP markers—making it universally compatible with nearly any consumer or forensic SNP profile. It runs on commodity Windows and MacOS systems.
To support its growing commercial efforts, Othram also announced several strategic additions to its leadership team. Richard Price joins as Chief Commercial Officer, Danny Hall assumes the role of Senior Director, Commercial Operations for North America, and Nicola Oldroyd Clark has been retained as a senior advisor to support international expansion. Together, they bring decades of experience in forensics and human identification. Andrew Singer, a key member of Othram’s leadership team for the past three years, has been appointed Vice President, Law Enforcement Services.
“Human capital is one of our most valuable assets,” said David Mittelman, Othram CEO. “The investments we’re making in people, and technology will strengthen our partnerships across the justice system and accelerate our vision for more accurate, precise, and reliable investigations. This work is essential—because delivering answers to victims and families is what ultimately matters.”
