Forensic Technology Center of Excellence

In episode two of our Case Studies season, Just Science sat down with crime scene technician Brian Turner and Detective Roberto Caceres from the Broward County Sheriff's Office to discuss a new methodology for processing fired cartridge cases. When a cartridge case is recovered from a crime scene, investigators must typically decide whether to swab it for DNA or process it for latent prints.

In episode three of our case study season Just Science sat down with Laura Matson an advanced latent print and footwear examiner in the Wisconsin State Crime Laboratories to discuss the value of providing footwear investigative leads. Footwear impressions are commonly found in crime scenes. However, these impressions can be difficult to detect and collect, which leads to the under-utilization of footwear evidence.

In episode one of our Case Studies season, Just Science sat down with Ian Oxton, Forensic Identification Specialist for the Calgary Police Service to discuss a triple homicide case involving the longest lasting Amber Alert in Alberta Canada's history. Operation Amber started as a race against the clock for a missing child, and his grandparents then quickly evolved into a massive search effort on a 40-acre property.

In the final episode of our 2022 Case Studies: Part 2 mini season, Just Science sat down with Dr. Thomas Gilson, Dr. Harmeet Kaur, and Hristina Lekova with the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner's Office to discuss a puzzling case in which the identity of a decedent from 2014 still remains unknown. Since 2011, it has been uncommon for the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner's Office to have a case in which a decedent remains unidentified for an extended period of time.

In episode two of our Case Studies Part 2: mini season Just Science sat down with Jason Moran, commander of police at the Cook County Sheriff's Office, to discuss how he and his colleagues set out to identify the remaining victims of John Wayne Gacy, decades after their bodies were found. Technological limitations can sometimes make it very challenging to identify decomposed human remains. In the case of serial killer John Wayne Gacy, eight of his 33 victims remained unidentified for more than 30 years.

In episode two of our Case Studies Part 2: mini season Just Science sat down with Jason Moran, commander of police at the Cook County Sheriff's Office, to discuss how he and his colleagues set out to identify the remaining victims of John Wayne Gacy, decades after their bodies were found. Technological limitations can sometimes make it very challenging to identify decomposed human remains. In the case of serial killer John Wayne Gacy, eight of his 33 victims remained unidentified for more than 30 years.

In episode one of our Case Studies: Part 2 mini season, Just Science sat down with Kelly Ayers, an International Association for Identification Certified Senior Crime Scene Analyst, to discuss how preliminary autopsy results can help investigators piece together a story of what happened at a crime scene. For crime scene investigators, preliminary autopsy results issued by forensic pathologist and medical examiners can be used in conjunction with other disciplines, such as bloodstain pattern analysis, to provide pivotal information about a case.

In episode four of our Case Studies: Part 1 mini season, Just Science sat down with Leighton D'Antoni, the Assistant District Attorney in Dallas County, Texas, to discuss how forensic genetic genealogy was used as an investigative tool to help solve a series of violent cold cases. In the 1980s, several violent sexual assaults occurred in Dallas County, Texas and Shreveport, Louisiana. These cases were all linked by a foreign DNA profile; however, no suspect was found and the cases went cold.

In episode three of our Case Studies Part one mini season, Just Science sat down with Dr. Sharon Moses, an Associate Professor of Anthropology at Northern Arizona University, to discuss forensic archeology and locating victims of no-body homicides. Forensic archeologists can play a critical role in body recovery and search strategies for locating human remains because homicide offender’s choices and body disposal sites are influenced by various social and environmental factors.

In episode two of our Case Studies Part 1 mini season Just Science sat down with Stacey Chepren, member of a trial team for prosecuting federal criminal misconduct cases to discuss a fatal pedestrian hit and run involving trace and digital evidence. On a quiet morning in the city limits of Las Vegas, a pedestrian in a well-lit crosswalk was struck by an impaired driver who left the scene. There were no witnesses, but authorities quickly pieced together the case through a vehicle's aftermarket paint job and neighborhood video footage.

In episode one of our Case Studies Part 1 mini season, Just Science sat down with Michael Fagert, a certified latent print examiner at the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, to discuss a latent print phenomenon that is not often seen in casework. There are very few instances of identifiable fingerprints on cartridge cases recovered from crime scenes, as the firing process introduces adverse physical and thermal stressors to fingerprint residues.

In part two of the final episode of our Strengthening the Forensic Workforce Season, Just Science continued the conversation with Dr. Peter Stout, Dr. Ray Wickenheiser and Matthew Gamette discussing the future of the forensic workforce. FEPAC accredited institutions provide high quality forensic science education for undergraduate and graduate students. However, coursework does not adequately emulate what working in a forensic laboratory and pursuing a career in forensic science will entail.

In Episode eight of our Strengthening the Forensic Workforce Season, just sat down with Dr. Peter Stout, president of the Houston Forensic Science Center, Dr. Ray Wickenheiser, Director of the New York State Police Crime Laboratory System and Matthew Gamette, Director of the Idaho State Police Forensic Services Laboratory System, to discuss their perspectives on forensic science training and recommendations for students and faculty and FEPAC accredited programs. FEPAC accredited institutions are preparing students for future jobs in crime laboratories across the United States.

In Episode seven of our Strengthening the Forensic Workforce Season, Just Science sat down with Dr. Karen Scott, an Associate Professor at Arcadia University, and Dr. Jarrad Wagner, a Professor at Oklahoma State University, to discuss research collaborations, keeping on top of the dynamic drug landscape encountered in forensic toxicology case work. One of the requirements of FEPAC accreditation is that programs maintain partnerships with external collaborators such as forensic science laboratories and professional organizations.

In Episode six of our Strengthening the Forensic Workforce Season, Just Science sat down with Dr. Brooke Kammrath, a Professor of Forensic Science at the University of New Haven, and Dr. Tatiana Trejos, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Forensic and Investigative Science at West Virginia University to discuss career paths for individuals trained in trace evidence analytical methods. Trace evidence analysts are tasked with extracting information from small quantity samples like glass, paint fibers and gunshot residue to shed light on what possibly occurred at a crime scene.

In Episode five of our Strengthening the Forensic Workforce Season, Just Science sat down with Dr. Robin Cotton, Director of the Master of Science Program and Biomedical Forensic Sciences at Boston University School of Medicine, and Dr. Daniele Podini, a professor in the Department of Forensic Sciences at the George Washington University to discuss forensic biology and DNA. Forensic biology can be described as the application of biochemistry and cellular biology to solve forensic problems.

. In episode four of our Strengthening the Forensic Workforce Season, Just Science sat down with Assistant Professor Jessica Zarate and fifth year student Kristen Szabelski at Madonna University in Michigan, as well as Dr. Christine Picard, an Associate Professor and Director of the Forensic and Investigative Sciences Program at Indiana University, Purdue University, Indianapolis to discuss their hands on impression and pattern education programs. People will immediately think of fingerprints or bloodstain patterns when mentioning impression and pattern forensics.

And Episode three of our Strengthening the Forensic Workforce Season Just Science sat down with Dr. Mark McCoy, professor and administrator of the Digital Evidence and Cybersecurity Program at the University of Central Oklahoma Forensic Science Institute, and Josh Brunty, an associate professor of digital forensics in the School of Forensic and Criminal Justice Sciences at Marshall University to discuss the field of digital forensics, the importance of research and collaboration, and the development of dynamic academic programs.

In episode two of our Strengthening the Forensic Workforce Season, Just Science sat down with Dr. Sarah Williams, a Research Associate Professor in Forensic Science at Virginia Commonwealth University, and Dr. Keith Morris, a Ming Hsieh Distinguished Teaching Professor of Forensic and Investigative Science at West Virginia University, to discuss undergraduate master's and doctorate programs in forensic science. This season, Just Science will explore a variety of forensic science programs and the growing need for more doctoral programs.

In episode one of our Strengthening the Forensic Workforce season, Just Science sat down with Dr. Jose Almirall, a Distinguished University Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Florida International University, and Dr. Sarah Kerrigan, Professor and Chair of the Forensic Science Department at Sam Houston State University, to discuss the inception of the Forensic Science Education Programs Accreditation Commission, also known as FEPAC and chemistry programs in forensic science.

In the final episode of our 2022 Sexual Assault Awareness Month mini season, Just Science sat down with Natasha Alexenko, a sexual assault survivor, advocate, author, and founder of Natasha's Justice Project, to discuss advocacy for vulnerable populations and trauma-informed approaches to sexual assault. As a sexual assault survivor and advocate, Natasha Alexenko has dedicated her career to improving the lives of sexual assault survivors. She has worked both nationally and internationally to discuss past, present, and future directions for an improved response to sexual assault.

In episode four of our 2022 Sexual Assault Awareness Month mini season, Just Science sat down with Dr. Rachael Goodman-Williams, Assistant Professor of Psychology at Wichita State University, and Dr. Jessica Volz, Clinical Director of Forensics at Adventist HealthCare Shady Grove Medical Center, to discuss why survivors sometimes choose not to report their sexual assault. After receiving medical care and undergoing forensic evidence collection following a sexual assault, some survivors choose to forgo filing a report with law enforcement. Dr. Rachael Goodman-Williams and Dr.

In episode three of our 2022 Sexual Assault Awareness Month mini season, Just Science sat down with Kelly Taylor, a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner, also known as a SANE, Sexual Assault Care Coordinator, and Forensic Healthcare Program Manager, to discuss trauma-informed support for sexual assault survivors and the prevalence of strangulation in sexual assault cases. Trauma-informed victim centered expertise and support from sexual assault nurse examiners is crucial to providing appropriate medical attention and helping a survivor heal.

In episode two of our 2022 Sexual Assault Awareness Month mini season, Just Science sat down with Dr. Julie Valentine, a researcher, Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner, and Associate Dean of Brigham Young University's College of Nursing, to discuss sexual assault cases involving strangulation and dating apps. While working as a sexual assault nurse examiner, Dr. Valentine and colleagues noticed an increase in survivors reporting violent sexual assaults that occurred after meeting someone through a dating app.