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!
Jackson County Medical Examiner’s Office & Kansas City Police Crime Laboratory Teams with Othram to Identify a 1981 Jane Doe (DNASolves – 8/05/2026)
On May 16, 1981, the skeletal remains of an unidentified woman were found along George Road just north of Noland Road in a rural area of Kansas City, Missouri. The Kansas City Police Department and Jackson County Medical Examiner’s Office responded and began collecting evidence and investigating. The woman was white, estimated to be between 32 and 52 years old, and her remains were almost completely skeletonized. No clothing or personal effects were recovered. There was no way to identify her at the time.
Despite decades of investigation, the woman could not be identified and became known as Kansas City Jane Doe. Details of the case were entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) as UP5310.
In September of 2024, the Kansas City Police Crime Laboratory, working with the Jackson County Medical Examiner’s Office, submitted forensic evidence to Othram in The Woodlands, Texas. Othram scientists successfully developed a DNA extract from the provided evidence. and used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® to build a comprehensive DNA profile for the woman.
Upon completion the DNA profile, a genetic genealogy search was conducted by Othram’s in-house forensic genetic genealogy team, who worked to develop new investigative. Using this new information, a follow-up investigation was conducted leading investigators to potential relatives of the woman.
A DNA sample belonging to a possible relative was collected and subsequently compared to the DNA profile belonging to the Jane Doe. This comparison, enabled investigators to identify the woman as Karen Sue Enggas, who was born in 1952.
How the O.J. Simpson Trial Inspired My Career in Forensic Science (NIST – 8/05/2026)
If you’ve ever watched a crime show or movie, you probably know that DNA can be a vital part of public safety and police work. In those fictional worlds, a detective might swab a sample and have the culprit’s identity almost immediately.
However, collecting and processing DNA is much more complex than it appears on CSI.
In the real world, DNA samples are typically processed in a laboratory under very strict protocols. There are multiple review steps to ensure accuracy. That process can take from eight hours to a few days, depending on the sample.
Sometimes, law enforcement needs results much faster. This is where Rapid DNA technology comes in, providing results in as little as 90 minutes.
But speed cannot come at the expense of quality. I focus on making sure these quick results meet strict accuracy standards, so law enforcement officers know they’re getting the correct information quickly.
Can We Finally use Bacteria from Crime Scenes to Solve Cases? (New Scientist – 8/05/2026)
Every crime scene contains hidden microbial clues. Now, after decades of promise, researchers are establishing what those bacterial traces can reliably reveal – and whether the evidence will ever stand up in court
Genealogy, Records Help Identify Remains Found in 1975 (Forensic – 8/05/2026)
Investigators in Ontario have used investigative genetic genealogy to give a man—a WWI veteran—his name back after parts of his skull were found in a swamp area off a highway in 1975. Claude Hamilton Brownscombe is now identified after being a John Doe for the past 51 years.
At the crime scene in 1975, officers conducted an extensive search of the area but were unable to locate any additional human remains or evidence beyond partial parts of the skull.
The skull was then submitted to the Centre of Forensic Sciences in Toronto for examination to confirm it was human and provide an estimate of the individual’s age. Based on forensic analysis and information available at the time, the anthropologist’s report estimated the individual to be between 25 and 70 years of age, and deceased for approximately one to two years before the remains were discovered.
Over the following years, the investigation was periodically reviewed. However, without additional investigative leads, investigators were unable to determine the individual’s identity and the investigation became inactive.
Pima County Office of the Medical Examiner & Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office Team with Othram to Identify a 1978 Santa Cruz County John Doe (DNASolves – 8/07/26)
On April 28, 1978, skeletal remains of an unidentified individual were recovered at Patagonia Lake State Park in Santa Cruz County, Arizona. Investigators determined the remains belonged to young adult male, likely between the ages of 18 and 24 years old. Clothing recovered along with the remains included denim cut-off shorts with a “Made in Canada” tag, white Jockey-brand shorts, dark-colored socks, and ankle-high walking boots. Investigators determined that the man died by drowning.
No identification was found and, because of the condition of the remains, there was no way to identify the man at the time. Despite investigative efforts, the man could not be identified and became known as Santa Cruz County John Doe (1978). Details of the case were entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) as UP15744.
In August 2024, the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office, working with the Pima County Medical Examiner’s Office, submitted forensic evidence to Othram in The Woodlands, Texas. Scientists at Othram 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. A DNA sample was collected from a relative and compared to the profile of the John Doe using Othram’s KinSNP® rapid relationship testing. This investigation led to the positive identification of the man, who is now known to be David Alan McInroy. McInroy, born on October 13, 1952, was from Ontario, Canada.
Students ID 1994 John Doe in Just a Few Hours (Forensic – 8/10/26)
The Carson City (Nevada) Sheriff’s Office recovered unidentified human remains (UHR), specifically a partial human cranium, from the Spooner Summit area in May 1994. Using investigative genetic genealogy, the UHR have since been identified as Alan Don Bishop.
Alan Don Bishop was reported missing by his family in Salt Lake City, Utah in July 1984. Alan experienced mental health concerns and was known to travel by hitchhiking. His family last received contact from him via mail in July 1984 where he advised he was traveling to Oregon by way of California.
Communication with Alan subsequently ceased, and his bank activity became inactive, which caused his family to report Alan missing.
In May 1994, a logging crew discovered UHR at a work site in the Spooner Summit area. Responding CCSO personnel completed searches of the area but discovered no additional human remains or other evidence. Anthropological analyses determined the UHR likely belonged to an adult male but were unable to positively identify the subject. The UHR showed no signs of trauma.
More recently, investigative genetic genealogy has showed great success in cold case investigations and UHR identifications. CCSO partnered with the Retired Investigators Guild (RIG) and the Ramapo College of New Jersey Investigative Genetic Genealogy Center in an attempt to identify the subject in this 1994 UHR case.
Astrea Forensics, a forensic DNA testing laboratory based in Scotts Valley, California, completed the DNA analysis in this case. Astrea Forensics extracted a viable DNA sample from the UHR from which they developed a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) profile.
The SNP profile was provided to genealogists from Ramapo College IGG Center and the CCSO. After only a few hours of research, they identified Alan Don Bishop as the likely candidate. The RIG identified and obtained a DNA sample from a living full sibling to Alan.
Astrea Forensics confirmed the familial relationship between Alan and the living sibling by a match in mitochondrial DNA, and thus confirmed the UHR as Alan Don Bishop.
The Washoe Country Regional Medical Examiner’s Office affirmed the UHR identification of Alan Don Bishop by investigative genetic genealogy and mitochondrial DNA analyses. The Bishop family has since been notified of the positive identification.
The Disappeared Project Hopes DNA Will Bring Missing First Nations People Home (ABCNews.net – 8/11/26)
A new partnership aims to bring modern forensic techniques to the investigation of First Nations cold cases across Australia.
The Disappeared Project’s dedicated First Nations database will be community-led and independent of government.
1974 Homicide Victim Identified; Investigators Seek Information (Office of the District Attorney County of Riverside – 8/11/26)
On January 19, 1974, the partially buried body of an unidentified deceased adult female was located in the open desert of Desert Hot Springs, CA. Despite extensive efforts throughout the years, including fingerprint and dental record comparisons, investigators were unable to identify the victim, and no new investigative leads were developed.
In 2024, the Regional Cold Case Homicide Team (RCCHT) re-examined the case using advances in forensic science, including forensic investigative genetic genealogy. Bone samples from the victim were collected by the Riverside County Coroner’s Office and sent to OTHRAM Labs, a private forensic laboratory, for DNA analysis. The victim’s DNA profile was later developed and uploaded to a direct-to-consumer ancestry database. A genealogist assigned to RCCHT identified a potential match to a close relative in California. Investigators contacted the family member, who voluntarily provided DNA samples for comparison. The DNA comparison, along with confirmation from the California Department of Justice—Missing and Unidentified Persons Section, allowed RCCHT to identify the victim as Rebecca Jean McMahan, also known as Becky McMahan, and Becky Solis.
Rebecca, 19, was reported missing by her family on July 3, 1973. She was last seen on June 11, 1973, in Bell Gardens, CA, and had mentioned traveling to Palm Springs for vacation. From 1969 to 1973, Rebecca is known to have resided in Bellingham, Washington; Bell, CA; Cudahy, CA; and Commerce, CA. Rebecca is described as a Caucasian female, with long brown hair, hazel eyes, 5’3”-5’4” in height, and 120-145 lbs. She has a tattoo of “SS” on her ankle and a butterfly tattoo on the right side of her chest.
Bureau of Indian Affairs Missing and Murdered Unit and Shasta County Coroner’s Office Team with Othram to Identify a 1990 John Doe (DNASolves – 8/11/26)
On October 20, 1990, a crew collecting garbage and debris along the Sacramento River discovered partial skeletal remains on a small island in the middle of the river near Redding, California. Additional remains and a duffel bag were found across from the island on the riverbank. The remains were not recognizable and consisted of partial skeletal parts only.
Authorities determined that the remains belonged to an adult male, estimated to have been between 18 and 26 years of age at the time of death, with an estimated year of birth between 1962 and 1972. The man’s height was estimated at between 62 and 64 inches, though this estimate was noted as uncertain given the condition of the remains. The man’s ancestry was assessed as Hispanic/Latino or American Indian/Alaska Native. Details of the case were entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) as UP80853.
In January 2025, Shasta County Coroners Office submitted evidence to Othram’s lab in The Woodlands, Texas. At Othram, scientists performed DNA extraction and used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® (FGGS™) to develop a comprehensive DNA profile for the unidentified man. Othram’s forensic genetic genealogy team then conducted a forensic genetic genealogy search using the resulting DNA profile. The investigation generated leads that were returned to law enforcement.
In the course of the investigation, law enforcement received a tip from a woman who recognized shoes listed in a photograph in the NamUs case UP80853. Together with family reference samples and additional investigative work, John Doe is now identified as James Homer Wright, who was a member of the Pit River Tribe.
On November 23, 1988, Wright left a family member’s home in Redding on his bicycle, telling them he was going to a nearby gas station. He never returned home and was not seen or heard from again.
Othram’s involvement in this case is a part of Operation Spirit Return, launched by the BIA Office of Justice Services and handled by the BIA-OJS’s Missing and Murdered Unit, seeks to identify unknown human remains that have been located within or close to Indian country and that are believed to belong to either American Indian or Alaska Native persons.
Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office Teams with Othram to Identify a 1986 Homicide Victim (DNASolves – 8/12/26)
Early in the morning on February 24, 1986, an unidentified woman was discovered in the 1300 Block of Kuroki Street, near Hillside Park in Ft. Worth, Texas. She had been manually strangled and left at the scene. Despite early investigative efforts, the woman’s identity was unknown. Progress stalled until the mid‑2000s, when previously stored evidence was located and submitted for STR DNA analysis.
Although DNA profiles were developed, no investigative leads emerged that could provide a tentative identity for comparison. Details of the case were entered into NamUs as UP4476.
In July 2025, the Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office (TCME) submitted evidence belonging to the woman to Othram for advanced DNA testing and forensic genetic genealogy. At Othram, scientists successfully developed a DNA extract from the provided evidence. Using Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing®, the Othram team then worked to construct a comprehensive SNP profile compatible with a forensic genetic genealogy search.
Othram’s in-house forensic genetic genealogy team worked to generate new investigative leads in the case, which were provided to law enforcement. Genealogical research identified members of the McLerran family as potential relatives. A man who investigators believed to be the brother of Jane Doe voluntarily provided a DNA reference sample.
A comparison of Floyd’s DNA sample against the DNA profile of the woman’s demonstrated a biological sibling relationship. Based on these findings and information provided by Floyd McLerran, the woman’s brother, the TCME conclusively identified the woman as Brenda Darnell McLerran Smith, born February 23, 1950.
Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office Teams with Othram to Identify the Suspect in the 2004 Murder of Naomi Fails (DNASolves – 8/12/26)
On March 13, 2004, officers with the Cleveland Division of Police were dispatched to a vacant building on Somerset Avenue near East 105th Street in Cleveland, Ohio. Upon arrival, the body of a woman, later identified as 40-year-old Naomi Fails, was found deceased. Investigators believe that someone forced their way into the building through a window that had been boarded up. Upon entering, the suspect attacked Fails, stabbing her multiple times.
The case remained open for more than two decades with no answers despite an exhaustive investigation into the killer’s identity. In 2019, the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office’s Genetic Operations Linking DNA (GOLD) team began investigating the case.
In 2025, investigators with the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office’ submitted evidence to Othram for advanced DNA testing and forensic genetic genealogy. At Othram, scientists used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® to develop a comprehensive SNP profile from the evidence. This profile was used in a forensic genetic genealogy search led by Othram’s in-house team. This search generated new investigative leads in the case, which were provided to law enforcement.
Using these leads, investigators launched a follow-up investigation, which led them to a potential suspect. A DNA sample was collected from the potential suspect and compared to DNA from the crime scene. This investigation led investigators to name 68-year-old Angelo Smith of Euclid, Ohio as the person responsible for Fails’s death.In July 2026, a grand jury convened and indicted Angelo Smith for the murder of Naomi Fails. Smith was arrested and charged with murder and aggravated murder. He was booked into the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas with a $1 million bond.
Niagara Regional Police Service Teams with Othram to Identify a 2023 Homicide Victim (DNASolves – 8/12/26)
On November 8, 2023, the remains of an unidentified woman were discovered in Niagara Falls, Ontario. The woman’s remains were found beneath a portion of a vacant home undergoing demolition at 7081 Stanley Avenue. Investigators determined she was an adult female, and forensic and anthropological examination indicated the remains had likely been at the property for many years, potentially dating back to the mid-1990s. Her death is being investigated as a homicide.
Efforts to identify the woman, including forensic and anthropological examination, were unsuccessful. Despite continued investigative work, the case went cold, and she remained unidentified for nearly two years.
In 2025, investigators with the Niagara Regional Police Service working with the Toronto Police Service and Ontario Forensic Pathology Service, submitted evidence to Othram in The Woodlands, Texas.
At Othram, scientists successfully extracted DNA from the provided evidence and then used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® to develop a comprehensive SNP profile for the woman. This profile was used in a forensic genetic genealogy search led by the Toronto Police Service, which generated new investigative leads.
Using these leads, investigators conducted a follow-up investigation that resulted in the identification of the woman as Brenda Marie LeBlanc. Investigators have determined that Brenda resided in both Niagara Falls and St. Catharines during the 1990s, when she was in her 30’s, and was originally from New Brunswick. At this time, investigators have not established Brenda’s connection to the residence on Stanley Street.
SAKI Success in North Carolina (SAKI – 8/13/26)
Nearly a decade after the 2017 homicide of Raymond Johnson, investigators have made arrests in the case thanks to the persistence and collaboration of multiple agencies. After the investigation went cold, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) renewed efforts that ultimately led to the identification of three suspects: Nathaniel ‘Nate’ Rorie, Broderick Falls, and David Webber. This breakthrough was made possible through the coordinated work of the CMPD Cold Case Unit, CMPD Violent Criminal Apprehension Team, South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, Horry County Police Department, the Mrytle Beach Police Department, the North Carolina Department of Adult Corrections, and CMPD’s #SAKI Unit, whose laboratory assistance helped advance the investigation.