Defrosting Cold Cases

Elizabeth’s life has been troubled from the start. Shortly after she was born on December 10, 1965, she was given up for adoption. The Pfeifer family had already adopted Laura, also from birth. As you can immediately tell, we have a DNA problem here. If we ever find items that may hold biological materials that [...]

Tags: DNA, Evidence, Identification, Investigations Division, Missing Person, Police, Texas, Victim, Witnesses

Joe and I met Elizabeth’s sister, Laura Pfeifer Townshend on Twitter during our #CClivechat on March 3rd, 2011, and have offered to take a look at her sister’s case. At first sight, just from reading Laura’s blog about Elizabeth, it seems to be the case of a young lady gone missing after a night of serious partying. But, that [...]

Tags: Missing Person, Police, Texas, Victim, Witnesses

Justice Ginsburg, writing for the majority, said prison inmates may use a federal civil rights law to seek DNA testing that was not performed before their conviction. Lower federal courts had dismissed Skinner’s claims at an early stage, although other federal judges have allowed similar lawsuits to go forward in other parts of the country. [...]

Tags: Capital Punishment, Crime Scene, Death Row, DNA, Evidence, Expert Testimony, Faulty Evidence, Forensics, Henry Skinner, Investigations Division, Miscarriage of Justice, Prosecutorial Misconduct, Rape kits, Texas, Victim, Witnesses, Wrongful Convictions

From the Dallas Morning News: “Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst said Tuesday the Senate will delay action on the confirmation of Williamson County prosecutor John Bradley as chairman of the Texas Forensic Science Commission while he (Dewhurst) talks to Senate Democrats about their opposition to the nomination. There has been controversy over Bradley’s comments in the [...]

Tags: Arson Detection, Autopsy, Cameron Todd Willingham, Capital Punishment, Crime Scene, Cruelty, Evidence, Expert Testimony, Faulty Evidence, FBI, Forensics, Identification, Investigations Division, Police, Prosecutorial Misconduct, Texas, Victim, Witnesses, Wrongful Convictions

The trial in Trey Noah’s murder will most likely take place towards to end of the year. Other cases take precedence over his according to the Blanco News Online.  “Harber has been released on $300,000 surety bond under nine conditions, including the conditions that he is not allowed to have contact with Noah’s family or [...]

Tags: Autopsy, Ballistics, Crime Scene, DNA, Evidence, Finger Printing, Identification, Investigations Division, Missing Person, Police, Prisons, Texas, Unsolved Homicide, Victim, Witnesses

On the night of July 10th, 2008, Hank Johnson was found by his girlfriend. He was severely beaten and on the floor of his hotel room, covered in his own blood. He was beaten with baseball bats, had three cracks in his skull, and a fatally cracked nose. He never regained consciousness. Hank died less than two weeks [...]

Tags: Autopsy, Crime Labs, Crime Scene, DNA, DNA Database, Evidence, Finger Printing, Forensics, Identification, Investigations Division, Partial Finger Printing, Police, Prosecutorial Misconduct, Texas, Unsolved Homicide, Victim, Witnesses

District Judge Keith Williams granted a continuance in the murder trial of Trey Noah, Kendalia, Texas. “Shelby Moore, 19, and Brandon Harber, 20, were arrested and charged in connection with the crime and were expected in court this week to stand trial. Moore is being held in the Bandera County Jail. Harber posted a $300,000 [...]

Tags: Autopsy, Ballistics, Crime Scene, Evidence, Expert Testimony, Forensics, Gun Fire, Identification, Investigations Division, Missing Person, Police, Texas, Unsolved Homicide, Victim

The murder case of Trey Noah (Kendalia, Texas) is finally moving closer to the court rooms. “A court date of February 15, at 9am, has been set for Shelby Moore and Brandon Harber, who are both charged with the first-degree felony murder of Trey Noah as well as tampering with physical evidence, a second-degree felony. A [...]

Tags: Autopsy, Ballistics, Crime Scene, DNA, Evidence, Forensics, Gun Fire, Identification, Investigations Division, Missing Person, Police, Texas, Unsolved Homicide, Victim, Witnesses

The Harris County Sheriff’s Office could use your help. They are trying to get tips from the public in the 1977 cold case of Steven Dillow. Steven Dillow was seen leaving the Golden Cue Pool Hall in northeast Harris County on July 12, 1977 around 9pm.   Investigators say Dillow, 24, was found stabbed to death [...]

Tags: Autopsy, Crime Scene, DNA, Evidence, Forensics, Identification, Investigations Division, Police, Stabbing, Texas, Unsolved Homicide, Victim, Witnesses

More fire experts have ruled the Willingham fire accidental instead of arson. As you will recall, Willingham was executed by the state of Texas for the murder of his little girls who died in the fire. Here are links to some articles I found today: CNN,  the Dallas News, and the Star-Telegram. Since I have written [...]

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