#forensic-controversy

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#murder
California
fromSFGATE
4 days ago

Cigarettes lead to killer of woman alone in Bay Area home

The murder of Marjorie Rudolph in 1966 has been solved after decades, revealing a violent struggle and staged robbery.
London politics
fromwww.bbc.com
1 week ago

Man denies murdering two women and raping another

A man has pleaded not guilty to murdering two women in London and faces multiple charges including rape and grievous bodily harm.
California
fromSFGATE
4 days ago

Cigarettes lead to killer of woman alone in Bay Area home

The murder of Marjorie Rudolph in 1966 has been solved after decades, revealing a violent struggle and staged robbery.
London politics
fromwww.bbc.com
1 week ago

Man denies murdering two women and raping another

A man has pleaded not guilty to murdering two women in London and faces multiple charges including rape and grievous bodily harm.
Law
fromABA Journal
2 days ago

15 attorney killings remain unsolved, Baja California Bar Association says

Fifteen attorney killings in Baja California remain unsolved, raising concerns about safety and police response.
fromwww.theguardian.com
2 days ago

Original Sin by Kathryn Paige Harden review are criminals born or made?

Harden's research outlines genetic patterns associated with a higher risk of substance abuse and risk-taking behaviors, framing her work as an exploration of the genetics of sin.
Psychology
#ted-bundy
#immigration
US politics
fromMission Local
2 days ago

Fired judge goes to the border, searching for what he missed on the bench

Jeremiah Johnson, an immigration judge, was fired and chose to explore the U.S.-Mexico border to understand the immigrant experience better.
US news
fromwww.theguardian.com
2 days ago

US judge rules against deporting man whose murder conviction was overturned after 44 years in prison

A judge may release Subramanyam Vedam, an Indian citizen, after his murder conviction was overturned, despite potential deportation by ICE.
Careers
fromSecuritymagazine
3 days ago

Beyond the Certificate: Why Real Expertise in Investigative Interviewing Comes from Practice

Training and certifications signal competence, but true effectiveness in investigative interviewing requires disciplined application and real-world experience.
SF politics
fromPadailypost
2 days ago

Opinion: A DA shouldn't be using his office this way

Allegations against DA Jeff Rosen suggest unethical fundraising linked to prosecution of pro-Gaza protesters, raising concerns about political neutrality in law enforcement.
NYC LGBT
fromAdvocate.com
3 days ago

How a 'trans panic' defense changed the outcome of two murders

D. F. McLaughlin's murder in 1986 highlights the dangers of transphobia and remains a significant yet overlooked case in the fight for justice.
#homicide
California
fromABC7 San Francisco
4 days ago

DNA on cigarette links suspect to 'brutal' San Rafael homicide cold case, solving 1966 murder

A 60-year-old homicide case was solved using DNA evidence from cigarette butts, identifying James Switzer as the suspect in Marjorie Rudolph's murder.
fromsfist.com
2 days ago
Boston food

Homicide Suspect Arrested Five Months After East Bay Jail Released Him By Mistake

California
fromABC7 San Francisco
4 days ago

DNA on cigarette links suspect to 'brutal' San Rafael homicide cold case, solving 1966 murder

A 60-year-old homicide case was solved using DNA evidence from cigarette butts, identifying James Switzer as the suspect in Marjorie Rudolph's murder.
fromsfist.com
2 days ago
Boston food

Homicide Suspect Arrested Five Months After East Bay Jail Released Him By Mistake

Washington DC
fromSlate Magazine
3 days ago

They Had to Clean Solitary Cells. What They Saw Forced Them to Quit.

Solitary confinement work is demoralizing and involves invasive strip searches, contributing to severe mental health issues among incarcerated individuals.
NYC parents
fromwww.amny.com
4 days ago

Criminal case against man shot by cops during mental health crisis will move forward | amNewYork

A Queens man shot by police during a mental health crisis faces criminal charges despite calls for dismissal from his mother and community members.
Canada news
fromwww.cbc.ca
4 days ago

Prosecutors ask Appeal Court to overturn bail for Ontario lawyer in Ryan Wedding case | CBC News

Prosecutors argue an Ontario judge erred in granting bail to a lawyer accused of advising a murder in a drug smuggling case.
DC food
fromTruthout
1 week ago

How Maryland's Medical Examiner Helped Conceal Suspicious Deaths

Dr. David Fowler's controversial rulings on deaths in police custody have sparked significant media scrutiny and debate over his use of the excited delirium theory.
UK news
fromIndependent
6 days ago

From nerd to cold killer: colleague of murderer Stephen McCullagh reveals chilling transformation of monster he thought he knew

A former colleague recalls a haunting clue related to the murder suspect, Stephen McCullagh, linked to a Coke bottle.
fromwww.npr.org
2 days ago

After the release of the Epstein files, why have there been so few arrests?

The more than 3 million pages of documents include accusations by alleged victims of Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell's abuse and thousands of emails and photos showing Epstein associated with prominent figures.
Law
SOMA, SF
fromSan Jose Inside
4 days ago

DA Hires Stanford Grad to Run County Crime Lab

Sandra Burnham Sachs is the new chief of the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Crime Lab, succeeding Dr. Ian Fitch.
fromABC7 Chicago
4 days ago

Son of doctor accused of Hawaii murder plot testifies, says father confessed

Emile Konig testified that his father called him after the alleged attack, saying, 'That he would not be making it back to Maui and to take good care of the younger kids and that he had - that Ari, my stepmom, had been cheating on him and that he tried to kill her.'
SF parents
fromwww.theguardian.com
1 week ago

US quadruple amputee cornhole champion arrested on suspicion of murder

Webber was driving his car with Wells as his front-seat passenger at about 10.25pm on Sunday when the pair began arguing in front of others who were in the vehicle.
Miami Marlins
#ai-in-law
Law
fromwww.npr.org
2 days ago

Penalties stack up as AI spreads through the legal system

Lawyers face increasing sanctions for using AI-generated errors in legal briefs, with over 1,200 cases reported, including significant fines for fictitious citations.
fromAbove the Law
3 days ago
Law

Atlanta Prosecutor Repeatedly Cites Non-Existent Cases To Avoid Murder Retrial - Above the Law

AI hallucinations in legal work are leading to serious issues, including the citation of nonexistent cases by attorneys.
Law
fromwww.npr.org
2 days ago

Penalties stack up as AI spreads through the legal system

Lawyers face increasing sanctions for using AI-generated errors in legal briefs, with over 1,200 cases reported, including significant fines for fictitious citations.
Law
fromAbove the Law
3 days ago

Atlanta Prosecutor Repeatedly Cites Non-Existent Cases To Avoid Murder Retrial - Above the Law

AI hallucinations in legal work are leading to serious issues, including the citation of nonexistent cases by attorneys.
US politics
fromwww.mediaite.com
3 days ago

On Thin Ice for a Long Time': Fox Justice Correspondent Details How Epstein Doomed Bondi

Pam Bondi's handling of the Epstein files led to her ouster as Attorney General despite her close relationship with President Trump.
SF parents
fromwww.theguardian.com
5 days ago

Human remains found on California beach in 2022 identified as missing man

Human remains found in California in 2022 were identified as Walter Karl Kinney, a banker who disappeared in 1999.
Law
fromAbove the Law
3 days ago

The Price Of Justice And The Promise Of AI - Above the Law

Rising legal service costs and declining access-to-justice funding widen the gap for those needing legal protections, with AI presenting potential solutions.
fromFortune
4 days ago

The quadruple amputee cornholer's shooting was in self-defense, lawyer says | Fortune

The truth here is that he would have been a murder victim if he had not acted immediately in defense of his life, according to defense attorney Andrew Jezic.
US news
SF parents
fromHigh Country News
5 days ago

A DNA archive critical to identifying missing migrants has itself gone missing - High Country News

Colibrí Center's missing-persons database has become inaccessible, leaving families without hope for identifying missing migrants.
fromLos Angeles Times
5 days ago

Human remains found on a Bay Area beach in 1999 and 2023 have been identified

Human remains found on Bay Area beaches in 1999 and 2023 have been identified as those of Walter Karl Kinney, a banker who disappeared in 1999. The remains were discovered by a family searching for sea shells in 2022, leading to an investigation that linked the remains to Kinney's family through DNA analysis.
California
Boston
fromLos Angeles Times
3 weeks ago

2 people found dead outside Riverside County courthouse

Two people were found dead near a Riverside County courthouse early Thursday morning with no arrests made and motive unknown.
fromwww.scientificamerican.com
3 weeks ago

AI techniques speed up forensic analysis of crucial crime scene larvae

A maggot's age and species can give essential information to forensic entomologists investigating murders. Combing through these fly larvae, investigators can potentially learn when and where a crime happened, whether the body has been moved or whether toxins were involved. For example, blowflies are among the earliest insect colonizers of corpses; they typically sniff out and lay eggs on a dead body within minutes to hours.
Roam Research
SF parents
fromLos Angeles Times
5 days ago

Mom who brutally tortured, killed boy is denied resentencing. Under state law, she can try again

Pearl Fernandez has been denied resentencing for the murder of her son Gabriel for the second time, frustrating his relatives.
US news
fromJezebel
5 days ago

I Hope You're Ready to Spend Months in Jail After AI Facial Recognition Tools Frame You for a Crime

AI facial recognition tools led to the wrongful detention of Angela Lipps for over five months, highlighting serious flaws in police investigative practices.
Law
fromPoynter
4 days ago

Like journalists, prosecutors shaped a distorted view of crime. They can help fix it, too. - Poynter

Prosecutors and journalists both contribute to misleading public perceptions of crime, but prosecutors possess crucial data to tell a more accurate story.
Law
fromAbove the Law
3 days ago

Morning Docket: 04.02.26 - Above the Law

DOJ has prioritized deporting law-abiding individuals over prosecuting serious criminal cases.
Law
fromAbove the Law
4 days ago

Judge Who Embarrassed Himself With IT Outrburst Doubles Down - Above the Law

Judge Nathan Milliron's behavior has sparked outrage, revealing a pattern of bullying and retaliation against staff and lawyers in the Texas legal community.
California
fromLos Angeles Times
2 weeks ago

California used faulty DUI tests for nearly 10 years, state Justice Department says

A California medical supply company provided faulty urinalysis test kits to the state for nearly a decade, potentially inflating DUI suspect results across multiple jurisdictions.
Law
fromAbove the Law
4 days ago

Morning Docket: 04.01.26 - Above the Law

Trump is involved in legal matters, including birthright citizenship arguments and a recent criminal conviction.
fromwww.theguardian.com
1 month ago

How a clump of moss helped convict grave robbers in Illinois

They asked if I knew about moss and brought the evidence to the museum. An investigation by local police had found human remains buried under inches of earth at the cemetery, a site of enormous historical importance. Several prominent African Americans are buried at the cemetery, including Emmett Till, whose murder in 1955 became a catalyst for the civil rights movement, and the blues singer Dinah Washington.
Roam Research
Law
fromBoston.com
5 days ago

Judge denies Lindsay Clancy's request for two-part murder trial

Lindsay Clancy will stand trial in July for allegedly killing her three children, with an insanity defense based on postpartum mental illness.
Law
fromwww.mediaite.com
5 days ago

Get Out of My Courtroom!' Clip of Judge Viciously Berating IT Worker Ignites Trial by Fury on Social Media

A Texas judge faced backlash for berating an IT worker during a courtroom incident, highlighting issues of professionalism and respect in authority.
UK news
fromwww.independent.co.uk
1 month ago

Almost half of officers' DNA still missing from Met Police database

Nearly half of Metropolitan Police officers' DNA and over a fifth of their fingerprints are missing from elimination databases, potentially hindering criminal investigations and internal misconduct detection.
fromThe Washington Post
3 weeks ago

He died a convicted murderer. Can a DNA test clear his name?

Every state now has a legal avenue where people can request DNA testing of evidence after being convicted. But in many cases, it's not clear if those statutes apply once convicts have died, said Brandon Garrett, a law professor at Duke University.
US news
fromsfist.com
3 weeks ago

Defective Urine Tests From Santa Rosa Lab May Have Led to Some False DUI Positives

the Bureau of Forensic Services, provided a list of 14 tests that were conducted using the defective kits, though five were tied to investigations that did not result in charges. Per the Chronicle, prosecutors said they notified defense attorneys this week after identifying the affected convictions. The District Attorney's Office identified nine convictions that utilized the tests primarily DUI cases, after the lab reported that some kits from supplier Andwin Scientific contained an incorrect concentration of sodium fluoride, about 100 milligrams instead of the stated 750 milligrams.
California
Law
fromAbove the Law
6 days ago

Judge Throws IT Worker Out Of Courtroom For Doing His Job - Above the Law

Judges must balance their authority with humility and public service to avoid abusive behavior in courtrooms.
Law
fromAbove the Law
6 days ago

Morning Docket: 03.30.26 - Above the Law

AI associates should not be blamed for failures, raising questions about their necessity.
fromwww.bbc.com
1 month ago

Drive-by murder accused was not at scene, jury told

Michelle Sadio, 44, died at the scene and two others were injured when shots were fired from a passing Kia as a crowd of mourners stood outside the River of Life Pentecostal Church following a wake in December 2024. On Monday, Tahjin Sommersall,19, told the court he had never even seen the car used in the shooting and had been in Wembley when the attack happened.
Miscellaneous
fromPadailypost
3 weeks ago

DA decides not to retry Galatolo case

Wagstaffe said he decided not to retry the remaining charges due to the high cost to San Mateo County taxpayers. He did not have an estimate as to how much a second trial would cost. Galatolo is facing 10 years in prison for the eight counts he was convicted of, which Wagstaffe says is a reasonable sentence, with or without the additional convictions.
California
Law
fromABA Journal
1 week ago

Drug convictions bar lawyer from bench but not from practicing law

Felony drug convictions prevent lawyer from becoming a judge but allow him to continue practicing law in Montana.
fromFuturism
2 weeks ago

Man Caught Using Smart Glasses to Get Advice While Being Cross-Examined in Court

"In my judgment, the smart glasses were clearly connected to his mobile phone during his cross examination because no voice was heard out loud until his smart glasses were removed and disconnected from his glasses."
Law
Law
fromGothamist
2 weeks ago

NY prosecutor who hid evidence is eying a return to law. Professors want him disbarred.

Prosecutor Glenn Kurtzrock's misconduct led to his resignation, wrongful imprisonment, and ongoing efforts to block his return to practicing law.
Medicine
fromSlate Magazine
2 months ago

Why Autopsies Are in Decline and Why it Matters

Autopsy rates in U.S. hospitals fell from about 50% in the 1950s to single digits today, diminishing crucial medical knowledge and closure for families.
Social justice
fromThe Mercury News
2 months ago

Independent autopsy points to homicide as cause of death in Brentwood police custody case

An independent autopsy found Yolanda Ramirez died from multiple blunt force trauma and asphyxiation, ruling her death a homicide caused by police restraint.
#genetic-genealogy
fromFortune
1 month ago
US news

Desperate federal investigators weigh using DNA genealogy websites for Nancy Guthrie case | Fortune

fromFortune
1 month ago
US news

Desperate federal investigators weigh using DNA genealogy websites for Nancy Guthrie case | Fortune

Miscellaneous
fromwww.bbc.com
2 months ago

'Cold blooded' murder was well planned, court told

Four men are accused of planning the 2020 Telford assassination of rapper Tamba Momodu (Teerose); three deny murder, one pleaded guilty to arson.
fromIPWatchdog.com | Patents & Intellectual Property Law
2 months ago

Split CAFC Says Disputed Aspects of Testimony by Doctor's Experts are for Jury to Parse

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC) issued a precedential decision on Tuesday, January 20, concluding that a district court abused its discretion in granting motions to exclude two of Dr. Mark A. Barry's experts and granting judgment as a matter of law (JMOL) to DePuy Synthes Companies. The panel included Judges Stark, Taranto and Prost and Judge Stark dissented.
Intellectual property law
fromAbove the Law
3 weeks ago

Lawyer Convicted Of Systematic Sexual Abuse Of Children - Above the Law

Bishop was found guilty on 24 counts of committing lewd acts on three minor victims, all described in court documents as victims under the age of 14. The span of these offenses covers multiple years. Evidence admitted at trial showed that Bishop possessed more than 600 images of child sexual abuse material depicting two of the minor victims.
Law
fromAdvocate.com
2 months ago

Renee Good's family shares independent autopsy results, says DOJ is withholding evidence

The 37-year-old poet and mother-of-three was killed by an ICE officer January 7 in Minneapolis, Minnesota during what Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem called "targeted operations" near East 34th Street and Portland Avenue. Noem alleged that "rioters began blocking ICE officers," claiming that Good "weaponized" her vehicle by attempting to run over agents. Noem labeled Good's actions as "domestic terrorism" and those of the officers as "self defense," but multiple eyewitness accounts and video footage from the incident contradict this.
US politics
Law
fromAbove the Law
4 weeks ago

This Is Why Criminal Justice Needs Number Nerds - Above the Law

Data-driven evidence, not ideology, should guide criminal justice reform through incentive-based systems and rigorous testing of policies.
US news
fromwww.mercurynews.com
1 month ago

Genealogical sites have helped solve major crimes. Police in Nancy Guthrie's case might turn to them

Investigators may use DNA genealogy databases to match DNA from Nancy Guthrie's case and potentially identify suspects or relatives when CODIS yields no matches.
US politics
fromAbove the Law
2 months ago

The Perp Walk Is The Point - Above the Law

The Justice Department sought to publicize an image of Don Lemon in handcuffs while prosecuting protesters and attempted to suppress public docket records.
fromwww.mercurynews.com
2 months ago

Renee Good's family releases partial independent autopsy results

The four bullets Renee Good took from the gun fired by Minnesota ICE officer Jonathan Ross hit her once each in the arm, breast and head, while a fourth grazed her body, her family said in releasing partial results of an independent autopsy on the slain mother of three. A highly respected and credentialed medical pathologist performed the procedure, said
US politics
fromSFGATE
2 months ago

Body found halfway across country ties back to horrific Calif. criminal

Ronald Joseph Cole was a 19-year-old with a shy smile and a buzz cut in 1965, the year he moved from San Diego to Fillmore, a town about 25 miles from Santa Clarita. He was just starting out in life and, hoping to find a job, moved in with his older half-brother David LaFever. By May 1965, Cole had stopped contacting relatives. He had disappeared.
US news
fromAbove the Law
1 month ago

Law Professor Arrested On 50 Counts In Child Sexual Abuse Materials Case - Above the Law

A Barry University law professor, Glen‑Peter Ahlers, was arrested on 50 counts of unlawful possession of materials depicting the sexual performance of a child and held on $100,000 bond.
fromemptywheel
1 month ago

Blood Spatters and Newbie JAG Officers - emptywheel

The orders, they said, came from senior officials, including Kash Patel, the F.B.I. director, several of whom worried that pursuing a civil rights investigation - by using a warrant obtained on that basis - would contradict President Trump's claim that Ms. Good "violently, willfully, and viciously ran over the ICE Officer" who fired at her as she drove her vehicle.
US politics
US news
fromwww.mercurynews.com
1 month ago

More human remains found in Oakland

Dismembered lower limbs were found in Oakland's Fruitvale; authorities are testing to determine identity, cause of death, and links to earlier remains discovered Feb. 1.
California
fromSFGATE
2 months ago

After DUI arrest, man charged with murder relating to Calif. cold case

A suspect was arrested and charged with first-degree murder in the 2008 Kern County cold-case homicide of Thomas Charles Horton following a 2025 DUI arrest.
California
fromwww.mercurynews.com
2 months ago

Inmate found dead in cell of Contra Costa County jail

62-year-old Victor Jose Faria was found unresponsive and pronounced dead in his Martinez Detention Facility cell; the Contra Costa DA and sheriff's office are investigating.
US news
fromwww.theguardian.com
2 months ago

Pennsylvania man charged after more than 100 human remains found in his possession

A Pennsylvania man faces hundreds of grave-robbery charges after authorities found over 100 human remains, including skulls and mummified parts, taken from Mount Moriah mausoleums.
Law
fromThe Walrus
2 months ago

When Evidence Can Be Deepfaked, How Do Courts Decide What's Real? | The Walrus

Advances in AI deepfakes will erode trust in photographic and audio evidence, undermining legal practice unless evidence laws and forensic methods adapt.
#expert-testimony
Law
fromAbove the Law
2 months ago

AI And Expert Witnesses: Not Replacement, But A Strategic Imperative - Above the Law

AI augments expert testimony by enabling large-scale review, adversarial simulation, and strategic insight while requiring careful use to avoid credibility risks and exclusion.
Law
fromAbove the Law
2 months ago

On-Demand Webinar: What Winning Expert Testimony Looks Like - Above the Law

Effective expert testimony balances credibility with openness to opposing perspectives, clear translation of technical concepts for factfinders, and resilience under rigorous cross-examination.
Law
fromAxios
2 months ago

AI is reshaping police detective work, starting with cold cases

AI tools enable detectives to rapidly search and analyze large, multimodal evidence (calls, interviews, photos, social media) to accelerate cold and active investigations.
Law
fromwww.scientificamerican.com
2 months ago

Video evidence and eye witness accounts: The science behind why people see different things

The same police dashcam footage of a 2007 high-speed chase and collision produced sharply different interpretations, culminating in the Supreme Court ruling for the officer.
fromSocial Media Explorer
1 month ago

The Role of Witnesses in Strengthening Your Injury Case - Social Media Explorer

Witnesses play a crucial role in personal injury cases, often serving as the backbone of the evidence presented in court. Their testimonies can provide essential context and details that may not be captured through physical evidence alone. In many instances, the accounts of witnesses can corroborate the claims made by the injured party, lending credibility to their narrative. This is particularly important in personal injury cases, where the burden of proof lies with the plaintiff. A strong witness can help
Law
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