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Author: Yujiemi Chisholm

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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
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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
Publications

Forensic Genetic Genealogy Laboratory Considerations and Technology Limitations

The application of forensic genetic genealogy (FGG) has technological limitations and will not resolve every case. By taking the time to thoroughly evaluate cases and associated evidence with both local crime laboratory representatives and FGG vendor laboratory representatives, law enforcement investigators can greatly increase the chances of attaining successful case resolutions with FGG. This brief provides the SAKI TTA Team’s guidance on evidence submission based on current successes seen within the field and suggested questions to consider when choosing a FGG laboratory vendor [Description provided by the SAKI TTA website].
October 2022
District Attorney’s Office, Denver, CO

People’s Response to Defense Motion to Dismiss for Pre-Indictment Delay (Colorado v. Cumberbatch)

Charges for a 1994 homicide brought in 2020 only when advances in forensic capabilities led to a DNA ‘hit’ of the defendant in the Combined DNA Index System in 2018. The following claims were made by the defense: 1) statute of limitations (found to be not applicable to first-degree murder charge), 2) state’s failure to preserve evidence (addressed and rejected), 3) unavailability of witnesses and “other suspects” due to lapse of time (addressed and rejected), and 4) constitutional due process violation (rejected due to no constitutional right to a “speedy arrest”).
August 2022
District Attorney’s Office, Denver, CO

People’s Motion in Limine (Colorado v. Cumberbatch)

Prosecution’s motion in limine in a 1994 Colorado murder-sexual offense case. The prosecution sought to admit several “sanitized” police contacts with the defendant in Denver in 1994. This motion in limine was an attempt to limit prejudicial elements of the police contacts.
July 2022
National Institute of Standards and Technology

Human Forensic DNA Analysis Process Map

The Human Forensic DNA Analysis Process Map is intended to be used to help improve efficiencies while reducing errors, highlight gaps where further research or standardization would be beneficial, and assist with training new examiners. It may also be used to develop specific laboratory policies and identify best practices [Description provided by the NIST Human Forensic DNA Analysis Process Map].
May 2022

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