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Tag: COLD
Forensics TTA

DNA Basics: Understanding the Science and Tools Behind DNA Kinship Analysis

This presentation features Michelle Halsing, Assistant Laboratory Director of the Missing Persons DNA Program at the California Department of Justice. It is tailored for non-laboratory criminal justice professionals—including investigators, prosecutors, victim advocates, and program administrators—seeking to strengthen their foundational understanding of forensic DNA testing, with a particular focus on kinship analysis. The presentation offers an overview of the forensic DNA testing process, explains how DNA profiles are searched and compared within the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS), and outlines the capabilities and limitations of these tools in both investigative and judicial settings. Viewers are also introduced to the fundamental principles of forensic DNA kinship analysis, supported by discussions of real-world case applications, common testing strategies, and key considerations for interpreting laboratory reports. This resource highlights the critical role of kinship analysis in supporting missing persons investigations, unidentified human remains cases, and other complex forensic scenarios.
February 2026
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! 
February 2026
Dark grey-filled circle with a woman holding a sword and a justice scale inside
Highlights

DNA leads to suspect in 1998 rape and killing of nurse at Maryland hospital

Nearly three decades after the 1998 rape and murder of 50-year-old nurse, Sherry Crandell, the Prince George’s County Police Department announced the case has been solved. Crandell was found tied up, raped, and strangled in her office at the former Prince George’s County Medical Center in Cheverly, Maryland. Despite an extensive investigation, no arrests were made at the time. In December 2021, investigators revisited preserved DNA evidence and obtained a warrant to analyze it using Forensic Genetic Genealogy (FGG). With assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Baltimore Investigative Genetic Genealogy Team, police identified Edward Watts, also known as Baari Shabazz, as the suspect in late 2025. Watts died in 2019, so no charges can be filed. The investigation was supported by Bureau of Justice Assistance Prosecuting Cold Cases Using DNA (COLD) Program grants awarded to the Prince George’s County State’s Attorney’s Office and the Prince George’s County Police Department to expand FGG testing in cold cases.
November 2025
Events

3rd Annual BJA Forensics Programs Grantees Meeting

On behalf of the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), the Forensics Training and Technical Assistance (Forensics TTA) Team, led by RTI International, is hosting the 3rd Annual BJA Forensics Programs Grantees Meeting on June 9-10, 2025! 

This year’s virtual meeting will offer a series of educational case studies and sessions, covering key topics of significant interest to grantees across the BJA Forensics Programs. These include the application of forensic genetic genealogy in wrongful conviction investigations, innovative strategies for solving long-term missing and unidentified person cases, the evolving legal landscape for forensic evidence in light of Smith v. Arizona, implementing Rapid DNA technology in accordance with upcoming standards updates, the impact of turnaround times on death investigations, essential grant management practices, and more.

Program-specific breakout discussions will also be featured to provide grantees with a unique opportunity to learn more from respective BJA staff and other grantees. 

June 2025
Forensics TTA

2025 Forensics TTA Calendar of National Events

The Forensics TTA calendar of events provides a centralized view of national 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!
May 2025
Dark grey-filled circle with a woman holding a sword and a justice scale inside
Highlights

She was left strangled outside. 46 years later, police found a suspect

More than 45 years ago, Kathryn Donohue, a 31-year-old union secretary, went out for dinner in Georgetown with co-workers after work. Early the next morning, on March 3, 1979, a person found her body in a parking lot in Glenarden, Maryland, miles away from where she lived in Arlington, Virginia. According to charging documents, she had been violently raped and strangled.
March 2025
Forensics TTA

Bureau of Justice Assistance Forensics Unit Programs Forensic Genetic Genealogy Fact Sheet

Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) recognizes that Forensic Genetic Genealogy (FGG) can be a powerful investigative tool for resolving violent crimes. By combining traditional genealogy research methods with forensic DNA analysis, law enforcement can develop investigative leads that may assist in identifying an unknown perpetrator or an unidentified victim of a violent crime. This fact sheet highlights funding and technical resources offered by BJA in support of FGG and illustrates the impact FGG is having across BJA grantees.
July 2024