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Author: Yujiemi Chisholm
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! 
August 2026
Purple-filled circle with three standing people icons with the middle person having a question mark
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
Purple-filled circle with three standing people icons with the middle person having a question mark
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
Purple-filled circle with three standing people icons with the middle person having a question mark
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
Purple-filled circle with three standing people icons with the middle person having a question mark
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
Accreditation Document Repository

Medium Office: Annual Report and Other Documents

These documents provide examples of the following: an annual report, an information sheet/flyer, and a sample release for DNA testing, and address standards for IACME Agency Practices, section “A”. These examples are reflective of a medium-sized office that performs autopsies in-house and at other facilities.
July 2026
Accreditation Document Repository

Large Office: Annual Report and Examination Form Documents

These documents provide an example annual report and examination form, and address standards for NAME Reports and Record Keeping, section “F”. These examples are reflective of a large office that performs autopsies in-house.
July 2026
Accreditation Document Repository

Medium Office: Property and Evidence Documents

These documents pertain to evidence and property, including chain of custody and drug handling, and address standards for IACME Agency Practices, section “A”, as well as IACME Investigative Practices, section “B”. These examples are reflective of a medium-sized office that performs autopsies in-house.
July 2026