Search

Author: Yujiemi Chisholm

Dark grey-filled circle with a woman holding a sword and a justice scale inside
Highlights

Maricopa County receives $3 million in federal funding to help solve crimes

The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office (MCAO) announced that it would receive about $3 million in grants from the Department of Justice to help victims of crime. MCAO’s $500,000 Prosecuting Cold Cases Using DNA (COLD) Program grant will enable additional DNA testing, the creation of a countywide database of cold cases, hiring of a data analyst, and an increase of resources available for prosecutors who specialize in cold case homicide investigations. This is the first time MCAO has been awarded this grant, and their goal is to increase the number of successful prosecutions of cold cases throughout Maricopa County and provide closure to the victims of violent crimes.
February 2022
Dark grey-filled circle with a woman holding a sword and a justice scale inside
Highlights

Denver Police solve four related cold case homicides that occurred between 1978 and 1981

The Denver Police Department and law enforcement partners today announced that through the continued determination of investigators, DNA evidence, investigative genetic genealogy and familial DNA search, the suspect in three Denver cold case homicides and an Adams County cold case homicide has been identified as Joe Michael Ervin (DOB: 6/25/51), who is deceased. The murders of three women and a teenage girl occurred in separate incidents between 1978 and 1981. The four cases were linked together and solved through several significant investigative developments beginning 35 years later. The final identification of the suspect in these four murders through Investigative Genetic Genealogy and familial DNA research was a result of Denver’s Integrated Cold Case Project. This project is funded in part through a 2020 Genetic Genealogy & Familial Match Searching grant, awarded to the Denver Police Department by the Bureau of Justice Assistance for a total of $470,000.
January 2022
Dark grey-filled circle with a woman holding a sword and a justice scale inside
County of Monterey

Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine M. Pacioni receives a $535,000 federal grant for her cold case task force for use of DNA technology in violent crime investigations and prosecutions

District Attorney Jeannine M. Pacioni announced today that the U.S. Department of Justice has awarded the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office Cold Case Task Force a $535,000 grant for the use of DNA technology in cold-case investigations and prosecutions. With the support of the grant, the Cold Case Task Force proposes to identify and actively investigate 45 violent-crime cold cases over the next three years where suspect DNA has been identified or where there is DNA evidence that could be used to identify previously unidentified human remains. The grant funding will enable the Task Force to hire an annuitant investigator to exclusively work on qualifying cold cases, as well as to pursue advanced DNA testing at accredited private laboratories.
January 2022
Bureau of Justice Statistics

Medical Examiner and Coroner Offices, 2018

This report provides data on the personnel, budget, workload, and policies of medical examiner and coroner offices in the United States. The report details the number and type of personnel employed, staff certification, and training. It includes the number of cases referred to and accepted by medical examiner and coroner offices, the number of autopsies conducted, and the number of decedents with unidentified remains on record, including the percentage from which DNA evidence has been collected. Findings are based on data from BJS’s 2018 and 2004 Census of Medical Examiner and Coroner Offices [Description provided by the BJS website].
November 2021
Legal Document Repository

Maryland Criminal Procedure – Forensic Genetic Genealogical DNA Analysis and Search – Applicability for Deceased and Missing Individuals

A comprehensive statute governing the application of Forensic Genetic Genealogical DNA Analysis and Search (FGGS) enacted by the Maryland General Assembly and set forth in Title 17 of the Criminal Procedure Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland. The original statute was enacted and went into effect on October 1, 2021. An amendment (effective October 1, 2024) to the law states that its provisions do not apply to the use of FGGS to identify unidentified human remains.
October 2021
Investigative Stage - Case

State of Maryland v. Brandon Biagas – Case Documents

These case documents pertain to the 2017 Maryland homicide case, State of Maryland v. Brandon Biagas, and collectively outline the legal basis for obtaining biological samples from the suspect, the genealogical investigative methods used, and the formal allegations supporting the criminal charges. The materials include: (1) a search warrant authorizing the collection of biological samples from the suspect for forensic testing, including samples designated for Forensic Genetic Genealogy (FGG) analysis; (2) a memorandum outlining the family tree build out process conducted during the FGG investigation; and (3) an application for a statement of charges.
November 2020
Legal Document Repository

State of Washington v. Terrence Miller – Case Documents

These case documents pertain to the 1972 Washington murder-sexual offense case, State of Washington v. Terrence Miller, and collectively outline the evidentiary disputes central to the case, the parties’ competing positions on the admissibility and reliability of historical forensic evidence, and the investigative basis for the long-delayed charges. The materials include: (1) the prosecution’s response to multiple evidentiary issues raised by the defense; (2) the defense’s trial brief and motions in limine; (3) the defense’s motion to exclude evidence; and (4) the prosecution’s charging affidavit.
October 2020