Defrosting Cold Cases

James Vincent Stanaway, born on Dec 5 in 1966, was killed in Jersey City (NJ) on Feb 3, 1990. Everyone knew his simply as “Jimmy.” This nickname was also his well known signature and is the feature on his headstone. To this day, there are questions in this case that have never been answered. One [...]

Tags: Autopsy, Crime Scene, Evidence, Finger Printing, Forensics, Identification, Investigations Division, Jersey City, Jimmy Stanaway, Knife Attack, New Jersey, Police, Stabbing, Unsolved Homicide, Victim, Witnesses

From the New Hampshire Sentinel: “The [Hina Family] case — originally slated for trial in August — has been delayed twice and will remain on hold indefinitely while the N.H. Supreme Court considers whether to hear an appeal from the N.H. Attorney General’s Office of a pre-trial ruling by Judge Marguerite L. Wageling, who is [...]

Tags: Arson Detection, Autopsy, Crime Scene, David McLeod, Evidence, Expert Testimony, Forensics, Hina Family Murders, Investigations Division, New Hampshire, Police, Unsolved Homicide, Victim

In 2012 “Cold Case Research” will come out. The author is Silvia Pettem and this is how she describes her book: “Cold Case Research: Resources for Unidentified, Missing, and Cold Homicide Cases,” to be published by CRC Press in 2012. Topics include the latest search engine tools such as TLO, the revolutionary missing and unidentified [...]

Tags: Autopsy, Ballistics, Book Reviews, Crime Labs, Crime Scene, Cruelty, DNA, DNA Database, Evidence, Finger Printing, Forensics, Identification, Investigations Division, Partial Finger Printing, Police, Rape kits, Silvia Pettem, Unidentified, Unsolved Homicide, Victim, Witnesses

Exciting news in the Mercury: “The Texas Forensic Science Commission on Friday approved 17 recommendations for improving arson inquiries. The panel also is suggesting a review of murder convictions involving fires, starting with prisoners on death row.” Of course, reading about forensic arson detection brings to mind the cases of Daniel Dougherty(PA), David McLeod(NH) and [...]

Tags: Actual Innocence, Arson Detection, Autopsy, Cameron Todd Willingham, Capital Punishment, Crime Labs, Crime Scene, Cruelty, DNA, Evidence, Expert Testimony, Faulty Evidence, Forensic arson detection, Forensics, Identification, Investigations Division, Miscarriage of Justice, Police, Prosecutorial Misconduct, Texas, Victim, Witnesses, Wrongful Convictions

My very first eBook, a compilation of blog posts in the case of William Thomas Zeigler, has reached the market. It is published with Nook Pubit from Barnes & Noble and can be found here in their catalogue. It already has two ratings but only one explained why they gave it some stars. The reactions [...]

Tags: Actual Innocence, Autopsy, Ballistics, Capital Punishment, Crime Labs, Crime Scene, Death Row, DNA, Evidence, Expert Testimony, Faulty Evidence, FBI, Finger Printing, Florida, Forensics, Gun Fire, Identification, Investigations Division, Miscarriage of Justice, Partial Finger Printing, Police, Prisons, Prosecutorial Misconduct, Unsolved Homicide, Victim, William Thomas Zeigler, Witnesses, Wrongful Convictions

Darren Bruce is a married father of three and has been a police officer for seventeen years. “I am a Detective Sergeant who has taken on various roles and am soon to undertake a change to run a Serious Sexual Offences Investigation Team. Over the years I have worked on Child Abuse Investigation Units and Major Investigation [...]

Tags: Autopsy, Crime Scene, Cruelty, DNA, Evidence, Forensics, Identification, Investigations Division, Missing Person, Peter Tobin, Police, UK, Unsolved Homicide, Victim, Witnesses

CNN reports that the “Onion Field Killer“ who has terminal cancer with less than six months to live, will never be released and will die in prison. Yesterday, the California Board of Parole Hearings denied a request for compassionate prison release. “Gregory Powell is serving a life sentence with the possibility of parole for first-degree murder at [...]

Tags: Autopsy, Ballistics, California, Crime Scene, Cruelty, Evidence, Gun Fire, Identification, Investigations Division, Police, Victim, Witnesses

Not everyone reads blogs so in an effort to reach those who do not, Vidster is going e! Today, my first eBook is on sale. “Zeigler, through Vidster’s eyes” documents all the blog posts I have written about the Zeigler case. Those posts are of course, in between all my other (700+) posts. I thought [...]

Tags: Actual Innocence, Autopsy, Ballistics, Capital Punishment, Crime Scene, Death Row, DNA, Evidence, Expert Testimony, Faulty Evidence, FBI, Finger Printing, Florida, Forensics, Gun Fire, Identification, Investigations Division, Miscarriage of Justice, Partial Finger Printing, Police, Prisons, Prosecutorial Misconduct, Unsolved Homicide, Victim, William Thomas Zeigler, Witnesses, Wrongful Convictions

The New Zealand Herald brings the fantastic news that  Senior Detective Superintendent Andy Lovelock, who is reviewing the Crewe murders, has urged anyone with information about their deaths to speak out and help find answers for their only child Rochelle Crewe. I quote: “I am extremely keen to hear from anyone who may have information concerning [...]

Tags: Actual Innocence, arthur allen thomas, Autopsy, Ballistics, Crime Scene, Cruelty, DNA, DNA Database, Evidence, Expert Testimony, Faulty Evidence, Finger Printing, Forensics, Gun Fire, Identification, Investigations Division, Jeanette and Harvey Crewe, Miscarriage of Justice, New Zealand, Partial Finger Printing, Police, Prisons, Prosecutorial Misconduct, Unsolved Homicide, Victim, Witnesses, Wrongful Convictions

On Oct. 2, 1979, the remains of a child were found in a shallow grave on the side of Glendora Mountain Road, San Dimas, California. This child, a boy, was very young. There are several age ranges given. One states he was between 3-8 years old and another places him between 4-6 years old.  According [...]

Tags: Autopsy, California, Crime Scene, Evidence, Forensics, Identification, Investigations Division, Missing Person, Police, Unsolved Homicide, Victim