2020/12/24

Forensic Magazine December 23, 2020: Forensic’s Top 10 News Articles of 2020

This year brought unprecedented challenges that sometimes felt more like a movie than real life. Despite the hardships, individuals rose to the occasion to do what they could. For forensic scientists and law enforcement professionals, that meant continuing to do what they are best at—uncovering the truth and preserving justice. Before Forensic takes a holiday break before the—hopefully better—new year, let’s take a look back at the top 10 stories of 2020.

1. Her Name was Emma: Delaware Police ID 3-Year-Old Victim a Year Later

More than a year after her remains were found on a softball field in Delaware, police have two persons of interest in custody regarding the death of 3-year-old Emma Cole—her mother, Kristie Haas, and stepfather Brandon Haas.

2. Crime Scene Investigations During COVID-19

Is there a minimum PPE level that every scene should require? In light of current events like the viral threat of the COVID-19 pandemic and the chemical agent threat of fentanyl and other derivatives as a result of the opioid epidemic, we suggest that there are.

3. Thailand Reports First Case of COVID-19 Spreading to Forensic Examiner From Deceased

Writing in the Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine, a pathologist from Thailand and one from China say they have observed the first fatal case of COVID-19 transferring from a deceased patient to a medical examiner.

* The authors published the letter/journal article on April 11, 2020, and Forensic wrote the original article on April 14. On April 23, the authors and Elsevier issued a correction, saying the authors were merely trying to emphasize the importance of adequate safety protection, rather than report the spread of COVID-19 from a dead body. What’s more, the infected medical examiner did not actually die—he/she was diagnosed with COVID-19 (from whatever source), but is alive.

4.  TV Series Featuring Genetic Genealogy Pioneer, Groundbreaking Cases to Premiere Tuesday

In 2018, self-trained genetic genealogist CeCe Moore had, after much deliberation, made the decision to work with law enforcement on cold cases, rather than the adoption and unknown parentage mysteries she had been pioneering for years. more