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!
Investigative Genetic Genealogy Helps Identify Two Arizona John Does After Years of Uncertainty (The Prescott Times – 8/27/2025)
Across Arizona, people die without a name. Sometimes it can take authorities years to identify decedents, and sometimes not at all. It can be even more challenging when the decedents are unhoused.
For two cold cases in Maricopa and Yavapai Counties from 2006 and 2018, that was the challenge for county officials. With help of students and staff in the Ramapo College of New Jersey Investigative Genetic Genealogy Center (IGG), some 2,500 miles across the country in Mahwah, NJ, the identities of John Does have been confirmed.
King County Medical Examiner’s Office and Thurston County Sheriff’s Office Team with Othram to Identify a 2009 John Doe (DNASolves – 8/28/2025)
On April 30, 2009, human remains were discovered in a field near Meadows Elementary School in Lacey, Washington. The remains were determined to be skeletal and were found with Levi’s jeans, boxer shorts, and knee-high white athletic socks bearing a green Nike logo. Despite the recovery of clothing and the application of traditional forensic methods, authorities were unable to identify the unknown man. A DNA profile was developed and searched in CODIS, but no matches were found. The case was entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) as UP8888 on June 29, 2011, and remained open.
In February 2025, Thurston County Sheriff’s Office, in collaboration with the King County Medical Examiner’s Office submitted skeletal remains from the unknown man to Othram, in The Woodlands, Texas a forensic sequencing laboratory specializing in human identification from the most challenge forensic inputs, such as degraded skeletal remains. Othram scientists used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® to build a high-resolution DNA profile suitable for forensic genetic genealogical research. The profile was then delivered to Othram’s in-house forensic genetic genealogy team, which conducted the necessary forensic matching to identify potential relatives of the unknown individual.
Critical funding to enable forensic genetic genealogy testing in this case was made possible by Governor Ferguson, Attorney General Nick Brown, and the Washington State Legislature. We are so grateful for their support in providing this funding.
A follow up investigation by law enforcement ultimately led to the identification of the unknown man as Donald Myrel Nelson. Born on April 18, 1960, Nelson had been reported missing to the Lacey Police Department in February 1989, just weeks before his 29th birthday. His family cooperated closely with investigators throughout the identification process and has been formally notified of the outcome. His disappearance had gone unresolved for over 35 years.
US Forensic Lab to Test Queensland DNA Backlog (Inside State Government – 8/29/2025)
The Queensland Government has announced its selection of United States forensics laboratory – Bode Technology – to test and analyse thousands of DNA samples, as part of the $50 million outsourcing program to address the state’s DNA backlog.
The Government says Bode Technology, a provider of forensic testing for more than 25 years, will have the capacity to test and process 1,000 major crime samples and 175 forensic medical examination kits per month.
171 DNA samples from 53 cases have been sent initially, with the program ramping up over the coming months.
Attorney-General and Minister for Justice and Minister for Integrity, Deb Frecklington said securing Bode for outsourcing samples was critical to Forensic Science Queensland being able to reform internally.
“We are laying the foundations necessary to rebuild Forensic Science Queensland after Labor’s decade of decline that left thousands of victims awaiting justice,” the Attorney-General said.
“Bode Technology underwent a rigorous procurement process, and we have every confidence that outsourcing will help to clear Labor’s major backlogs and finalise matters sooner.
“Since coming to office, we’ve made harrowing discoveries about Labor’s blunders, exposing the urgent requirement for strong leadership at FSQ to restore confidence and deliver for Queensland victims of crime.”
The Government has also passed amendments to the Forensic Science Queensland Act 2024 this week, clearing a path for organisational reform. The amendments will ensure Forensic Science Queensland is fully accountable to government.
Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office Teams With Othram to Identify a 2023 John Doe (DNASolves – 8/29/2025)
In November 2023, the unidentified skeletal remains of an unknown individual were found by people walking along a creek bed in unincorporated Tarrant County, the Texas county that includes the city of Fort Worth. Alongside the skeletal remains, which could not be identified, law enforcement found a t-shirt with no observable details, Hanes socks and a cap with “Mrs. Baird’s” on the front.
The Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s office determined that the person was likely an adult male who would have been about 6 feet tall. Despite an extensive investigation, the man could not be identified and he became known as Tarrant County John Doe. In May 2024, details of the case were entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) as UP121991.
In the summer of 2024, the Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office sent forensic evidence to Othram’s laboratory in The Woodlands, Texas in hopes that advanced DNA testing could help identify the man. Othram scientists produced a suitable DNA extract from the remains and a comprehensive DNA profile was then developed for the man using Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing®.
Othram’s in-house forensic genetic genealogy team then conducted a genealogical search that resulted in new leads, which led to family members who assisted in the investigation. The follow-up investigative work led to the positive identification of the man, who is now known to be Greg Willer Reichert, who was born April 10, 1948. Greg was known to be missing, and was last known to be in Texas.
Gilgo Beach Murders: A Key Test in Use of Advanced DNA Techniques in Criminal Trials (ABC News – 8/31/2025)
When Maureen Brainard-Barnes’ skeletal remains were found hidden in the roadside scrub near Long Island’s Gilgo Beach in the winter of 2010, there was hardly any physical evidence that might help investigators find her killer, save for a single stray hair.
But at the time, extracting DNA evidence from the degraded strand was beyond the capabilities of crime labs. Investigators kept looking for other clues that might help them identify a suspected serial killer who had scattered women’s bodies along a coastal parkway.
Then, about seven years ago, investigators turned to Astrea Forensics, a California lab using new techniques to analyze old, highly degraded DNA samples — including rootless hairs like the one discovered with Brainard-Barnes’ body.
Now, that lab’s work is the focus of a pivotal decision in the closely watched case. A state judge is weighing whether to allow the DNA evidence generated through Astrea Forensics’ whole genome sequencing into the trial of Rex Heuermann, who is accused of killing 25-year-old Brainard-Barnes and six other women.
If allowed, it would mark the first time such techniques could be admitted in a New York court, and one of just a handful of such instances nationwide, according to prosecutors, defense lawyers and experts.
Identical Twin Convicted Based on DNA Differences in First US Case of its Kind (The Guardian – 9/02/2025)
For the first time in the US, an identical twin has been convicted of a crime based on DNA analysis.
On 21 August, a jury found Russell Marubbio, 54, guilty of a sexual assault that occurred in Woodbridge, Virginia, in 1987.
Virginia-based Parabon NanoLabs ran an analysis on the DNA sample found at the scene nearly four decades ago. Genealogist CeCe Moore then traced the perpetrator’s family tree and seemed to hit a wall when the sample led to identical twins.
Usually, that would be the end of using DNA to solve the case. Identical twins have the same DNA – almost. There are sometimes a few cells that split and evolve differently.
“On average, twins will have eight of those types of differences across the whole 3 billion bases” of the genome, said Ellen Greytak, the director of bioinformatics at Parabon.
The scientists were able to detect some of these mutations in the sample, compared to cheek swabs from the Marubbio brothers, leading to the conviction on Friday.
“This landmark case marks the first successful admission and application of this specific technique in a US court to overcome challenges in DNA identification of identical twins,” Amy Ashworth, the commonwealth’s attorney for Prince William county, Virginia, wrote in a statement.
Alameda County Sheriff-Coroner & California DOJ Team with Othram to Identify a 2003 John Doe (DNASolves – 9/02/2025)
In September 2003, an unknown man’s body was found floating in the water under the Coast Guard Island Bridge near the 1800 block of Dennison street in Oakland, California. Law enforcement responded and began an investigation that included a search of the area for information or evidence that would help identify the man. The man’s skeletal remains were collected along with his clothing, which consisted of a blue denim jacket, a red pullover with hood and zipper, a button-up checkered shirt, blue denim trousers, dark running-type shoes and gray socks with black tops.
Despite a lengthy investigation, the man could not be identified and he became known as Oakland John Doe. In April of 2017, details of the case were entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) as UP16539, and decades passed with no answers about the man’s identity.
In 2024, working with the California Department of Justice – Missing Persons DNA Program, the Alameda County Sheriff-Coroner submitted forensic evidence to Othram in The Woodlands, Texas to determine if advanced DNA testing could help identify Oakland John Doe. Othram scientists used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® to build a comprehensive SNP profile for the man, which enabled Othram’s in-house forensic genetic genealogy team to conduct a genetic genealogy search and develop new investigative leads in the case.
These leads were returned to law enforcement and 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 Robert Craig Whitsett, who went by “Craig” and was born in New York.
Funding for the advanced DNA testing and forensic genetic genealogy used in this case was provided by NamUs, a national program that assists the criminal justice community with the investigation and resolution of missing, unidentified, and unclaimed persons cases across the United States and its territories. NamUs is funded and administered by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) and is managed through a contract with Research Triangle Institute International (RTI). Othram is grateful for the support of RTI, NamUs, and the NIJ.
DNA Doe Project and Ontario Provincial Police identify John Doe found in 1980 (DNA Doe Project – 9/04/2025)
The long-standing mystery surrounding the identity of Algonquin Park John Doe 1980 has finally been resolved. Thanks to the efforts of DNA Doe Project’s volunteer investigative genetic genealogists in collaboration with local law enforcement agencies and forensic experts, he has been identified as Eric “Ricky” Singer of Cleveland, Ohio.
Discovered on April 19, 1980 in Algonquin Provincial Park in Ontario, Singer’s skeletonized remains would puzzle investigators for over four decades. Despite extensive efforts to identify him, no leads were found using traditional investigative techniques.
The DNA Doe Project, a non-profit organization specializing in the use of investigative genetic genealogy to identify unidentified remains, took up the case in 2023. A team of volunteers working pro bono was able to carefully analyze DNA relative matches to John Doe’s genetic profile to find the branch of his family tree where they identified Eric Singer. After waiting 43 years as a John Doe, Singer was identified in 24 hours using these techniques.
“We are thrilled to announce the positive identification of Algonquin Park John Doe 1980 as Eric Singer,” said C. Lauritzen, DNA Doe Project team leader on the case. “We continue to be thankful to all the people who upload their DNA to GEDmatch.com and FamilyTreeDNA.com who enable us to find missing loved ones. Thanks to them, there are answers to questions which have been outstanding for decades.”
The DNA Doe Project is grateful to the groups and individuals who helped solve this case: the Ontario Provincial Police, who entrusted the case to the DNA Doe Project; Astrea Forensics for whole genome sequencing from existing extract; Kevin Lord for bioinformatics; GEDmatch Pro and FTDNA for providing their databases; and DDP’s dedicated teams of volunteer investigative genetic genealogists who work tirelessly to bring all our Jane and John Does home.