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!
Oregon State Police Identify Missing Man Mark Smith 50 Years After He Vanished (KATU2 – 3/24/2026)
In 2020, the state medical examiner’s office sent the remains to the University of North Texas for DNA analysis and extraction. OSP said the analysis confirmed the remains belonged to a male.
“In the same year, the medical examiner’s Human Identification Program partnered with DNA Labs International to pursue forensic genetic genealogy identification services,” OSP said. “Initial attempts to use the available extraction for genealogical analysis were unsuccessful. DNA Labs International subsequently agreed to continue working on the case pro bono.”
Despite using a forensic artist to complete a facial reconstruction, no new leads were generated. By 2024, DNA Labs International was able to produce a genealogical lead. Officials said the ancestry summary indicated “a blend of North Atlantic, Baltic and Western Mediterranean heritage.”
Genealogists identified an ancestor born in the early 1800s; however, the family line stalled shortly afterward.
“In September 2025, the Human Identification Program reached out to DNA Labs International for an update on the stalled case. The developing family tree was reexamined, and a recently uploaded DNA kit was discovered. This new match allowed the genealogist to extend a previously incomplete branch of the family tree and identify a family with several siblings, one of whom appeared to have disappeared from records after the mid-1970s,” OSP said.
“The Human Identification Program then collaborated with a Josephine County medicolegal death investigator who contacted the family to inquire about any missing relatives,” OSP said. “The family confirmed their brother, Mark Smith, born Oct. 4, 1954, had been missing since 1974.”
The family provided DNA samples, and the Human Identification Program submitted an additional tooth from the remains for testing.
“On Feb. 25, 2026, DNA Labs International confirmed the family reference samples and tooth were a sibling-level match, allowing the Human Identification Program and the state medical examiner’s office to formally identify the remains as those of Mark Smith,” OSP said. “Josephine County notified the family as soon as the positive identification was confirmed by a forensic pathologist.”
Internationally Acclaimed Forensic Scientist Dr. Henry C. Lee Dies, Leaving Remarkable Legacy (University of New Haven – 3/27/2026)
World-renowned forensic scientist Dr. Henry C. Lee passed away peacefully on Friday, March 27, 2026 at his home in Henderson, Nevada, displaying remarkable strength, grace and resilience during a brief illness. He was 87 years old. His passing was announced by his family, in conjunction with the University of New Haven, where he served as a distinguished professor for more than 50 years.
In his final days, Dr. Lee was finalizing a book regarding missing-persons investigations, which will be published in the near future. He has authored or co-authored more than 40 books.
Dr. Lee joined the University of New Haven in 1975 and founded the University’s forensic science program, developing it from a small classroom equipped with a single fingerprint kit into an internationally recognized multi-disciplined academic department considered one of the nation’s best.
Houston Police Department, Harris County District Attorney’s Office, and the FBI Leverage Othram Technology to Identify the Suspect in 1990 Lover’s Lane Double Murder (DNASolves – 3/27/2026)
On August 23, 1990, 22-year-old Cheryl Henry and 22-year-old Andy Atkinson were brutally murdered in a secluded area of Houston known as “Lover’s Lane,” located in the Energy Corridor off Enclave Parkway. The young couple had spent the evening together and were last seen at a local nightclub before traveling to the area.
When Cheryl failed to report to work the following day, concern grew. A security guard conducting a routine patrol later noticed a vehicle parked in a cul-de-sac for an extended period of time. Upon approaching the vehicle, the guard discovered Cheryl Henry unresponsive and alerted authorities.
Officers with the Houston Police Department responded to the scene and located Andy Atkinson nearby. Both victims were pronounced deceased. Investigators later determined that Cheryl Henry had been sexually assaulted and that both victims had been killed in a brutal attack.
Over the following decades, investigators across local, state, and federal agencies pursued numerous leads in what became one of Houston’s most infamous cold cases. Despite sustained investigative effort, the person responsible remained unidentified.
In 2020, Othram was engaged to assess whether the case was suitable for forensic genetic genealogy. Using original crime scene evidence, scientists at Othram applied Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® to develop a comprehensive DNA profile. This profile was provided to the FBI’s forensic genetic genealogy team, where it was used to generate new investigative leads.
Investigators identified a candidate for the source of the DNA profile. Additional investigative effort and traditional STR testing ultimately confirmed the identity of the suspect as 64-year-old Floyd William Parrott.
On Wednesday, March 25, 2026, Parrott was arrested in Lincoln, Nebraska. Investigators are now working to extradite him to Houston, where he has been charged with capital murder in the 176th Criminal District Court.
Genealogy Identifies Man Missing Since 2020 (Forensic – 3/30/2026)
The Gwinnett County Medical Examiner’s Office, in partnership with the Lawrenceville Police Department, announces the positive identification of human skeletal remains discovered in February 2025 as belonging to Timothy Mitchell Williams, who had been missing since 2020.
On Feb. 10, 2025, construction workers expanding Northside Hospital Gwinnett, near Highway 316 at the Highway 120 (Duluth Highway) exit, reported the discovery of skeletal remains. Detectives from the Lawrenceville Police Department and personnel From the Gwinnett County Medical Examiner’s Office responded immediately to process he scene. Despite extensive efforts, only the initial remains were recovered, and mmediate identification was not possible.
Over the following year, investigators from both agencies meticulously reviewed numerous missing persons reports, eliminating many possibilities while continuing to search for answers. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s Forensic Artist, Kelly Lawson, was consulted early in the investigation and produced a forensic sketch based on anatomical features of the skull to aid in potential recognition.
To further advance the case, Othram was engaged to perform forensic genetic genealogy. In early 2026, the analysis generated leads pointing to potential relatives of the unidentified individual. Forensic technicians with the Gwinnett County Medical Examiner’s Office contacted these leads and learned that a family member—Timothy Mitchell Williams—had been missing since 2020.
Human Bones Found During Renovation Confirmed to be Historical (Forensic – 3/30/2026)
Two human bones found during a home renovation on the 700 block of Kilbourne Road March 12 in Columbia have proven to have no forensic value and are likely historical in nature.
The announcement was made by Naida Rutherford, Richland County Coroner, after DNA tests were performed.
“Our investigation indicates the recovered bones are probably of archaeological origins and were collected in another country,” said William Stevens, forensic anthropologist, who assisted in the investigation along with Forensic Anthropologist Madeline Atwell, both with the Richland County Coroner’s Office. “Our team will undertake further testing to confirm their source and pursue return or repatriation of the remains to the country of origin.”
“Many Richland County citizens speculated on social media that the bones could be tied to a missing person’s cold case, but that is not the situation here as these bones are possibly several hundred years old,” said Rutherford. “Our hearts hurt when families don’t know where their loved ones are. Nothing is more important to our office than being able to bring closure to those who face the unknown. Every person deserves to come home.”
Oakland PD Forensic Scientist Takes Over Santa Clara DA Crime Lab (Forensic – 4/01/2026)
A Stanford-trained Ph.D. chemist who helped modernize the Oakland Police Department’s forensics laboratory will take the helm this week of the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Crime Lab.
Sandra Burnham Sachs takes over as the DA’s forensic chief from being the lab manager of the OPD’s Criminalistics Division.
Sachs will oversee the internationally accredited crime lab previously led by Ian Fitch since 2011. Dr. Fitch retired this year. The SCCDA Crime Lab, with 76 criminalists, is one of the few crime labs in the state managed by a DA’s office.
District Attorney Jeff Rosen said that Dr. Sachs would continue a vital tradition of independently testing and identifying evidence in criminal cases, such as DNA, weapons, and “rape kits.”
“Sachs is first an experienced and excellent forensic scientist,” DA Rosen said. “Her leadership skills will serve the lab, the dedicated criminalists who work there, and our community to keep our criminal justice efficient, accurate, and – ultimately – fair.”
New DNA Testing Confirms Serial Killer Ted Bundy Killed a Utah Teen in 1974 (AP – 4/01/2026)
The late Ted Bundy, one of the most famous and prolific serial killers in U.S. history, has claimed another victim.
New DNA testing confirmed Bundy was responsible for the 1974 killing of a 17-year-old Utah girl who disappeared after leaving a party alone on Halloween night, the local sheriff’s office said Wednesday.
Laura Ann Aime was found dead on the side of a highway in American Fork Canyon about a month after her abduction. She was bound, beaten and without clothing.
Investigators long suspected that Bundy killed her — police said he confessed without providing any details before his execution in Florida in 1989 — but the case remained open until they could be certain.
“It’s really quite amazing that people are even still interested in Laura’s case,” her sister, Michelle Impala, said at a news conference Wednesday. “Know I speak for my family when I thank you, and thank you media, too, for even caring.”
Othram and FamilyTreeDNA Collaborate to Bring Advanced Relationship Visualization Tools to Genetic Genealogy (PRWeb – 4/01/2026)
Othram and FamilyTreeDNA today announced a new collaboration to develop advanced genealogy visualization and relationship analysis tools for the FamilyTreeDNA platform. FamilyTreeDNA is operated by Gene by Gene, Ltd., a pioneer in consumer genetic genealogy.
Under the agreement, Othram will develop and license software designed to enhance how FamilyTreeDNA users visualize genetic relatives, explore shared ancestry, and better understand how they connect within extended family networks. The collaboration brings Othram’s advanced visualization systems and relationship inference technology into a consumer genealogy environment for the first time.
The initial rollout, planned for later this year, will focus on integrating elements of Othram Maps and GGPS (Genetic Genealogical Positioning System), a method designed to help genealogists better understand how DNA matches may fit within extended family networks. These tools will allow users to:
Visualize how genetic matches connect within dynamic family tree graphs
Explore shared ancestry and better understand how their DNA matches may connect through common ancestors
Apply advanced relationship positioning methods to better understand where they may fit within extended family structures
This release represents the first of several innovations currently in research and development as part of the collaboration.Importantly, all tools developed under this agreement will be deployed within and hosted by FamilyTreeDNA’s infrastructure. No FamilyTreeDNA user DNA data will be transferred to or hosted by Othram. All tools will operate entirely within FamilyTreeDNA’s infrastructure, and users will continue to control their data under FamilyTreeDNA’s established privacy policies and consent framework.
Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office Teams with Othram to Identify a 1995 John Doe (DNASolves – 4/01/2026)
In May 1995, a skeletonized arm and hand belonging to an unidentified man were discovered in the Trinity River near the north end of the Hoopa Airstrip in Humboldt County, California. The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office responded and began collecting evidence and investigating. A DNA sample was obtained from the remains and an STR profile was entered into both the California Missing Persons DNA Database and the National Unidentified Persons DNA Index. The STR profile was also compared against profiles from missing persons and other human remains in the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS). These database searches did not yield a match to a known individual.
Despite a lengthy investigation, the man could not be identified and he became known as Humboldt County John Doe (1995). Details of the case were entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) as UP83195.
With funding provided through Representative Jared Huffman’s Community Funding Grant for the clearance of unidentified human remains cases, DNA extracted from the remains was sent to Othram’s laboratory in The Woodlands, Texas where scientists determined that advanced DNA testing could help to infer the man’s identity. Othram scientists used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® to build a comprehensive DNA profile for the unknown man. Othram’s in-house forensic genetic genealogy team then used this profile to conduct genetic genealogy research and generate new investigative leads in the case, which were provided to law enforcement.
Using this new information, a follow-up investigation was conducted leading investigators to the man’s potential relatives. 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 Humboldt County John Doe, who is now known to be Charles Marrs.
In May 1993, 63-year-old Charles Marrs fell into the Trinity River near the Big Rock River Access area in Willow Creek. A California Highway Patrol (CHP) officer and HCSO deputies responded to the call. The CHP officer observed Marrs’s body floating past the north end of Clover Flat. The river was searched by boat, roadway, and with the assistance of a Coast Guard helicopter; however, Marrs’ body was never located.
Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office & California DOJ Team with Othram to Identify a 1996 John Doe (DNASolves – 4/01/2026)
On August 11, 1996, the skull of an unidentified individual was found about 100 feet down a steep embankment in Arcata, California. The Arcata Police Department and Humboldt County Coroner’s Office responded to the scene, with the Coroner’s office taking possession of the remains. It was determined that the remains belonged to an adult white man.
A DNA sample was obtained from the remains; however, it was determined to be degraded due to exposure to the elements and only a partial STR profile could be developed. The partial STR profile was entered into both the California Missing Persons DNA Database and the National Unidentified Persons DNA Index. It was also compared against profiles from missing persons and other human remains in the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS). These database searches did not yield a match to a known individual.
Despite a thorough investigation, the man could not be identified and became known as Arcata John Doe (1996). Details of the case were entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) as UP102333.
With funding provided through Representative Jared Huffman’s Community Funding Grant for the clearance of unidentified human remains cases, the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) and the California Department of Justice (CA DOJ) worked to submit evidence to Othram. In May 2025, DNA extracted from the remains was sent to Othram’s laboratory in The Woodlands, Texas where scientists determined that advanced DNA testing could help to infer the man’s identity. Othram scientists used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® to build a comprehensive DNA profile for the unknown man. Othram’s in-house forensic genetic genealogy team then used this profile to conduct genetic genealogy research and generate new investigative leads in the case.
In December 2025, Othram returned investigative leads to the HCSO indicating that the DNA profile may belong to Gregory Hugh Oliver, who had been reported missing to the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office in Florida. The report also identified several potential genetic relatives of Oliver. HCSO investigators located a DNA sample from Oliver’s mother, which was submitted to the CA DOJ for comparison to the unidentified remains. This comparison has now identified Arcata John Doe as Gregory Oliver. Oliver was last seen by family in 1983.
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 Gregory Hugh Oliver.
San Antonio Police Department Launches New Forensic Genealogy Program to Tackle Cold Cases (San Antonio Report – 4/02/2026)
The San Antonio Police Department is launching a new forensic genetic genealogy program aimed at solving some of the city’s most stubborn cold cases — backed by just over $1 million in federal funding.
The new funding will support the use of a specialized form of DNA analysis to identify suspects in homicide and sexual assault cases, when traditional investigative leads have run dry.
Police officials say the goal is simple: bringing resolution to cases that have sat unsolved for years and in some cases, decades.