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Author: Yujiemi Chisholm
FTCOE

Case Study Guides For Select NMDID Cases

This report is designed for forensic practitioners who are interested in learning more about the use of postmortem computed tomography (PMCT) in death investigation and anthropological analysis. This report includes numerous case study guides that feature a mixture of anthropological cases, decomposition/post-mortem change cases, and common medical examiner cases.
December 2022
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Highlights

Office of the Medical Examiner, District 19, FL uses Strengthening the Medical Examiner-Coroner System funding to achieve accreditation

On November 18, 2022, in conjunction with the Bureau of Justice Assistance, U.S. Department of Justice, Strengthening the Medical Examiner-Coroner (ME/C) System Program Grant, the Office of the Medical Examiner, District 19 (OME-19), Florida became a fully accredited agency by the National Association of Medical Examiner’s (NAME). Since only twelve of the twenty-five districts in the state are NAME accredited, the OME-19 is particularly proud of this accomplishment. Through hard work, dedication, planning, and the assistance of this grant, the OME-19, in a short period of time, was able to turn what was thought to be something unachievable (due to building and financial constraints) to something successfully achieved.
November 2022
FTCOE

In-Brief Report Series: Digital Transformation Of Cold Case Reviews

This three-part in-brief series explores the impact of digital transformation on cold case files and the case review process. The first in-brief highlights the prevalence, challenges, and benefits of digital transformation on the cold case review process. The second in-brief focuses on the processes and resources available to digitize their cold case files. The third in-brief reviews the value of text analytics and the steps agencies may take to adopt these technologies for cold case files.
November 2022
FTCOE

The NIJ Forensic Laboratory Needs Technology Working Group – Progress To Date And Future Plans

In 2018, the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) formed the Forensic Laboratory Needs Technology Working Group (FLN-TWG), which provided a space for crime laboratory directors or managers and academic researchers to meet regularly to share ideas, assess the impact of new technologies on their field, and identify next steps for implementation. From FLN-TWG’s first meeting, FLN-TWG members created this in-brief which documents their goals and a list of resources to promote technology adoption by crime laboratories.
November 2022
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BBC

Cal State LA’s California Forensic Science Institute’s Postconviction funding supports DNA testing that leads to the exoneration of Maurice Hastings after serving 38 years in state prison

Maurice Hastings served more than 38 years in state prison for the 1983 murder of Roberta Wydermyer in California and two attempted murders, but new DNA evidence instead pointed to another man who died in prison in 2020. At the time of the victim’s autopsy, semen was detected in an oral swab. Mr. Hastings had maintained his innocence from the moment he was arrested, but a request for DNA testing of the swab in 2000 was denied by the Los Angeles County District Attorney. Eventually, Mr. Hastings was able to put in a claim of innocence to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Conviction Integrity Unit in 2021 and DNA testing found that the semen was not his. The DNA profile instead matched a man who had been convicted of an armed kidnapping where he placed his female victim in a trunk of a vehicle. On October 20, 2022, Mr. Hastings was released from prison and his 1988 conviction was vacated.
October 2022
District Attorney’s Office, Denver, CO

Colorado v. Cumberbatch – Case Documents

1) People’s Motion in Limine
2) People’s Response to Defense Motion to Dismiss for Pre-Indictment Delay
3) People’s Response to Defense Evidence Destruction Motion
October 2022
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CBS 12 News

New funding to help solve Palm Beach County cold cases

The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office (PBSO) will receive a $500,000 grant through the Department of Justice’s ‘Prosecuting Cold Cases Using DNA’ program. According to PBSO, the sheriff’s office can now send DNA to private laboratories that use genetic genealogy testing. This testing option is currently not available at the sheriff’s office.
October 2022

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