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Author: Yujiemi Chisholm
Forensics TTA

Bureau of Justice Assistance Forensics Unit Programs Forensic Genetic Genealogy Fact Sheet

Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) recognizes that Forensic Genetic Genealogy (FGG) can be a powerful investigative tool for resolving violent crimes. By combining traditional genealogy research methods with forensic DNA analysis, law enforcement can develop investigative leads that may assist in identifying an unknown perpetrator or an unidentified victim of a violent crime. This fact sheet highlights funding and technical resources offered by BJA in support of FGG and illustrates the impact FGG is having across BJA grantees.
October 2026
Forensics TTA

2026 Forensics TTA Calendar of National and Regional Events

The Forensics TTA calendar of events provides a centralized view of national and large-scale regional conferences, trainings, and other events of interest to BJA Forensics Program grantees. This calendar is a downloadable resource designed to assist grantees with effective planning of event attendance when supported by BJA Forensics Program funding. Event entries are color coded by event type – conferences, trainings, and other (e.g., meetings, convenings). Clicking on a color-coded event entry produces a pop-up box which provides information including its name, date(s), and location along with a direct link to the event’s main page for additional details such as the agenda and registration, travel, and lodging information. Questions about applying or utilizing BJA funding to attend any events presented on this calendar should be directed to your assigned BJA Policy and Programs Office representatives. Explore the calendar today and contact the Forensics TTA team via Forensicstta@rti.org with any questions or suggestions for ensuring this resource best fits your needs! 
September 2026
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BocaPost

PBSO Identifies Woman Whose Remains Were Found Near Boynton Beach in 2023

On May 11, 2023, unidentified human remains were discovered in Palm Beach County, Florida. Through funding provided by the Bureau of Justice Assistance’s (BJA’s) Missing and Identified Human Remains (MUHR) Program, DNA was extracted from the remains, a partial profile was developed, and the profile was entered into the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS). The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office (PBSO) Forensic Imaging Unit also developed and publicly released a facial reconstruction; however, neither CODIS nor public outreach generated viable leads. PBSO subsequently submitted the case for Forensic Genetic Genealogy (FGG) analysis using funding from the PBSO Forensic Genetic Testing grant awarded by the State of Florida. This analysis generated investigative leads suggesting 75-year-old Regina Hess as a potential match. MUHR-funded kinship analysis, combined with the FGG findings, confirmed the identification in August 2026.
September 2026
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Highlights

Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office Identifies Unknown Murder Victim from 1986

The Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office recently identified Brenda Darnell McLerran (Smith), who had remained unidentified since she was found murdered in Fort Worth, Texas, in 1986. WIth funding from the Bureau of Justice Assistance’s (BJA’s) Missing and Unidentified Human Remains (MUHR) Program, preserved biological evidence from the case underwent Forensic Genetic Genealogy analysis. The analysis resulted in the identification of a potential brother who provided a DNA reference sample. Subsequent testing conducted by the University of North Texas Center for Human Identification confirmed a biological sibling relationship, conclusively establishing her identity nearly 40 years after her death.
August 2026
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Highlights

2000 Identification of Ciro Estrada Hernandez

The Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office (TCMEO) recently identified Ciro Estrada Hernandez, who had remained unidentified since being discovered August 18, 2000. The identification resulted from TCMEO’s routine fingerprint reexamination protocol. Under this protocol, fingerprints from unidentified cases are periodically resubmitted to take advantage of improvements in fingerprint databases and newly uploaded archival records. A resubmission of Mr. Hernandez’s fingerprints generated an association to a record in California, leading to a positive identification and restoring his name more than two decades after his death. This work was supported by funding from the Bureau of Justice Assistance’s (BJA’s) Missing and Unidentified Human Remains (MUHR) Program.
August 2026
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Highlights

1986 Identification of Jose Francisco Reyes

The Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office (TCMEO) recently identified Jose Francisco Reyes Ortega, who had remained unidentified since his recovery on October 16, 1986. Through collaboration with the Fort Worth Police Department, archived evidence from the original investigation was recovered and transferred to TCMEO for further forensic evaluation. TCMEO fingerprint analysts successfully developed fingerprints and submitted the prints to multiple fingerprint databases, resulting in a positive identification. With support from the Bureau of Justice Assistance’s (BJA’s) Missing and Unidentified Human Remains (MUHR) Program, Mr. Ortega’s name was restored after nearly four decades.
August 2026
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FOX 10 Phoenix

Remains found on remote Alaska island identified as hunter missing since 2009

Human remains discovered on Alaska’s Nunivak Island in 2009 were identified as those of George Smith Sr., a 79-year-old hunter from Togiak, Alaska, who disappeared after a snowmachine accident during a hunting trip. The identification followed a recent initiative by Alaska’s Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) Unit to collect additional family reference samples. Testing of those samples generated the critical data investigators needed to confirm Smith’s identity, providing answers to his family 17 years after his disappearance. The DNA testing that supported the identification was conducted by the Center for Human Identification (CHI) at UNT Health Fort Worth with funding provided over several years through both the Bureau of Justice Assistance’s (BJA’s) Missing and Unidentified Human Remains (MUHR) Program and the National Institute of Justice’s (NIJ’s) National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs). The identification demonstrates the powerful role of forensic technology, sustained federal support, and collaborative partnerships in resolving unidentified remains cases.
August 2026
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Highlights

After 45 years, Jane Doe Identified as Thelma Gaston

The Riverside County Sheriff’s Coroner’s Bureau has positively identified previously unidentified human remains as Thelma Gaston, resolving a case that began in 1981 when a passerby discovered a shallow grave containing the remains of a severely decomposed female near Sugar Loaf Mountain in Riverside County, California. Despite extensive identification efforts over the years, the victim’s name could not be established.
July 2026
Accreditation Document Repository

Small Office: Other Documents

These documents provide examples of the following: forms for an affidavit of identification, case notes, chain of custody, records requests, personal property, and a brochure with information for families, and address standards for IACME Agency Practices, section “A” and Investigative Practices, section “B”. These examples are reflective of a small office that performs autopsies at other facilities.
July 2026