No government bodies regulate forensic labs, that should make you wonder. If DNA plays such a huge role in criminal court, why is it that there is no federal oversight? Even the best labs can make mistakes. The Armed Forces Institute of Pathology landed at the center of the high-profile case of Cynthia Sommer, a […]
Archives for January 2010
Identifying the Lost Soldiers of Fromelles
Identifying the Lost Soldiers of Fromelles is a great BBC Magazine article on another use of DNA: to identify the remains of World War I soldiers found in mass graves in France. “The remains of 250 British and Australian soldiers had lain undiscovered for 93 years since falling on the Western Front.Boots, purses, toothbrushes and […]
New tip in Teekah Lewis case
New tip in Teekah Lewis case has police exploring Tacoma Park. Teekah Lewis was 2 years old when she disappeared from the now-defunct New Frontier Lanes in Tacoma on Jan. 23, 1999. Teekah was with her family in a bowling alley late in the evening. Her mother kept an eye on her except for one moment […]
Who killed Mike Silcock?
On Friday, March 6, 2009, Officer Mike Silcock from the Greater Manchester Police, was killed. Mike was off duty when he was killed on Didsbury Road, Heaton Mersey, around 11:30pm. He was taken to Stepping Hill hospital with a serious head injuries. He died shortly later. A yellow BMW Three Series M3 Coupe, registration number […]
Catching Colette Aram’s killer
How police caught Hutchinson for the murder of Colette Aram Colette Aram (Feb 3, 1967 – Oct 30, 1983) featured on the new program “BBC Crimewatch.” The program showed forensic evidence including a taunting letter Hutchinson wrote to police in which he bragged about the crime. In 1983, police managed to get fingerprints from the letter but no […]
Parole for the “Onion Field Killer” or not?
Parole for the man who killed Ian James Campbell and indirectly Karl Hettinger? He is known as the “Onion Field Killer.” On March 9, 1963, Gregory Powell and his accomplice, Jimmy Lee Smith, drove around Los Angeles looking for a liquor store to rob. Officers Ian Campbell and Karl Hettinger were on patrol in Hollywood. […]
Arson Case Not on Agenda
Arson Case Not on Agenda as Texas Panel Reconvenes: the Innocence Project Online reports that after a long hiatus and months of national controversy, the Texas Forensic Science Commission will meet on Friday January 29, but the controversial case of Cameron Todd Willingham is not on the agenda. New commission chair John Bradley said he […]
Crime Scene Preparations
Crime Scene Preparations: Forensic Magazine has a good article describing the proper way to handle a crime scene. The best way for a successful chain of evidence starts by doing your homework. In this case, by stocking up! “Also remember that working a crime scene should be a team effort for you and your department. One of […]
FBI reviews cases where flawed evidence was used
FBI reviews cases where flawed evidence was used but it still hasn’t completed the review. Five years after the decision to drop the disputed comparative bullet lead analysis, the FBI has not completed the review of almost 2500 cases. In all those cases police used the disputed comparative bullet lead analysis. “So far, the agency has found 187 […]
Who really killed Mrs. Bernice Martin?
On March 8, 1987, fire fighters were called to the Mayfair Gardens Elderly Housing Complex, Manchester, Connecticut. They found Mrs. Bernice Martin, 88 years old, barely breathing, and badly beaten. She died later that evening in the hospital. To many the case is closed. Convicted for her murder is her granddaughter’s former husband, Richard A. […]
DNA does not solve 1984 murder of Vickie Long
DNA does not solve the 1984 murder of Vickie Long. Todd Campbell, who was arrested for her murder was acquitted. “During the investigation, DNA from the victim’s clothing was entered into CODIS – the Combined DNA Index System, which stores DNA profiles from convicted offenders, unsolved crimes and missing people. In October 2009, Campbell had to provide […]
Suspect in 1974 Anita Andrews case
Napa Police identified a suspect in the 1974 cold case of Anita Elizabeth Fagiani Andrews. “A man serving a life-term in a Colorado prison for killing a female hiker is a suspect in the unsolved slaying of a Napa bar employee in 1974, Napa police said. DNA links 70-year-old Roy A. Melanson, a drifter, to […]
In search of Jane, Grant and Arnna
Jane Nartare (9), Arnna Kathleen (7), and Grant Ellis (4), known as the Beaumont Children, disappeared from Glenelg Beach, near Adelaide, South Australia, on January 26, 1966. Their disappearance is to this day Australia’s best known cold case. The Beaumonts lived on 109 Harding Street, Somerton Park, which is a suburb of Adelaide. Five minutes […]
Disappointed in Richey’s behaviour
Disappointed in Richey’s behaviour: I read in the news that Kenneth Richey, a former death row inmate from Ohio, who was released on January 7, 2008, has been in trouble with the law. A bit of history here, is in order. In 1987, Kenny was sentenced to death for the murder of two years old Cynthia […]
Crime Lab Ruling Under Review
Crime Lab Ruling Under Review, as reported by the New York Times: “Just six months after a narrowly divided Supreme Court announced that crime lab reports may not be used against criminal defendants at trial unless the analysts responsible for them testify, the court heard arguments on Monday about how the new system is working […]
Interview with Sean Hodgson
Sean Hodgson was interviewed about life after wrongful imprisonment in an article published by the BBC. “A man who spent 27 years in jail for a murder he did not commit has accused the police of lying and forcing a confession out of him.” Sean Hodgson expresses his anger with police and tells how after a […]
Missing: Kimberly Nicole Arrington
Kimberly Nicole Arrington was just 16 years old when she disappeared from Montgomery, Alabama. She was last seen on October 31, 1998, when she left to go to a nearby store. Kimberly has a scar on her abdomen and her ears are pierced. Her nicknames are Kim and Kiwi. Despite years without news, her family has […]
Missing: Kimberly Ann Thompson
Missing: Kimberly Ann Thompson since December 9, 1986. Kim was reported missing by her parents, Barbara and Clyde Thompson. The last time they had heard from their daughter was on December 1, 1986, when her father dropped her off at her house. Her boyfriend later told police that he had not seen her since the beginning of […]
In my humble opinion
In my humble opinion we need to follow Judge Cataldo’s lead and ensure that justice will finally be more about the truth than about ‘closing’ a case. As much as we need procedure to bring a case to court, procedure can also stand in the way of bringing a case to court. We should be […]
The Cold Case of Robert Lawrence Tatman
On November 25, 1967, police found Robert Lawrence Tatman lying on his back in front of his own squad car, motor running, revolving lights still on, and the front door at the driver’s side open, near Interstate 57. His flashlight was lying on his left side. His hat was on the ground near the curb. He […]