In a heartbreaking turn of events, DNA evidence has strongly linked Travis Decker to the murders of his three young daughters. The Washington State Crime Lab found Decker's DNA on plastic bags and cable ties discovered near the girls' bodies. The lab also confirmed that the DNA of 9-year-old Paityn, 8-year-old Evelyn, and 5-year-old Olivia was present on the bags, bu...
A man in his 90s has been found guilty of a brutal crime that happened over half a century ago. Ryland Headley, now 92, was 34 when he attacked and killed Louisa Dunne, a 75-year-old woman, in her own home back in June 1967. This case is notable for being the longest-running cold case in the UK to ever be solved. Louisa Dunne was found dead in her home on June 28, 1...
The way a washing machine works can have a big impact on how DNA evidence is collected at a crime scene. This is because DNA can move from one item to another during the washing process. This can make it hard to get accurate DNA samples. Two experiments were done with 53 volunteers to see how DNA moves around in a washing machine. One experiment looked at touch DNA, ...
The story begins with a stolen car. A Hyundai Santa Fe was taken from a garage in Lockport. The owner, Gordon Nolte, had left the keys in the car and the garage door open. He woke up from a nap to find his car missing. A neighbor, Christina Marinucci, saw two people walking down the street, followed closely by a red car. They entered the garage and drove off in the S...
Imagine this: A crime scene. A kiss, a bite, a lick. A trace of saliva left behind. This is not a love story. It's a forensic puzzle. DNA from saliva can stick around, even after the act. This is not new news. But, what if we could use it better? What if we could find more clues from it? DNA is like a secret message. It's unique to each person. It can tell us who wa...
Imagine digging up crimes from the past. That's what happened when DNA testing finally caught up with Kurt Alan Rillema, a Michigan business owner. Police found that Rillema, 51, was the FBI behind two sexual assault cases way back in 1999 and 2000—at golf courses in Oakland County and Penn State University. Both victims had been attacked 20 years ago, with one woman...
In a New Jersey murder trial, a software called STRmix is under scrutiny. This software helps analyze complex DNA samples that used to be considered unusable. Defense lawyers for Paul Caneiro, accused of killing four family members, argue the software isn't reliable enough for court. They say it wasn’t properly vetted and could lead to false convictions. Prosecutors,...
In an incredible turn of events, a jury convicted a 67-year-old man last week for a 1994 kidnapping at the Oakridge Mall, thanks to a cold-case investigation that relied on DNA evidence. Thomas John Loguidice was found guilty of felony kidnapping with the intent to rob, after he was linked to the crime during his time in state prison for an unrelated offense. Loguid...
In a shocking turn of events, suspected serial killer Rex Heuermann has been charged with a seventh murder. This time, it's the murder of Valerie Mack, whose remains were discovered in New York several years ago. How did investigators link Heuermann to this latest crime? Through DNA analysis and some chilling clues found on electronic devices. Mack's body was found ...
In a twist that’s stranger than fiction, a beer can has helped investigators solve a murder that was initially mistaken for a bear attack. The gruesome killing occurred in October 2024, when 35-year-old Dustin Kjersem was found dead in his tent near Big Sky, Montana. Initially, it seemed like a wild animal was responsible, but a closer look revealed that a human was ...