According to a September report from the National Institute of Justice on funding for DNA analysis, new methods are now able to yield full DNA profiles collected from old, degraded or otherwise unviable samples. November 14, 2016 In less than a decade, advancements in forensics technology have allowed scientists to "do more with less" using DNA evi...

A 25-year-old Las Vegas murder case has been solved, and the killer has confessed. The victim was killed in her east Las Vegas home, and police were stymied for more than two decades. November 16, 2016 Two veteran detectives, brought out of retirement to work nothing but cold cases, took the clues gathered by previous investigators and traveled to ...

A smooth talker with a near-genius IQ, Alcala preyed on young attractive women, luring some of them by telling them he was a professional photographer who wanted to enter their pictures in a photography contest. After killing them, Alcala placed their bodies in grotesque poses, sometimes photographing them. November 16, 2016 Convicted California se...

A smooth talker with a near-genius IQ, Alcala preyed on young attractive women, luring some of them by telling them he was a professional photographer who wanted to enter their pictures in a photography contest. After killing them, Alcala placed their bodies in grotesque poses, sometimes photographing them. September 21, 2016 Convicted California s...

Over the years the evidence in Hurtado's unsolved murder was preserved in hopes that advances in technology might yield new results. The samples, taken from under Hurtado's fingernails in 1977, were resubmitted to the CBI Forensic Lab for additional testing along with DNA samples from known relatives of C.K. November 3, 2016 Over the years the evid...

A Denver police officer has been arrested, accused of stealing money from a suspect. His body camera apparently caught him taking the cash from a crime scene. October 28, 2016 DENVER (CBS4)– A Denver police officer has been arrested, accused of stealing money from a suspect. His body camera apparently caught him taking the cash from a crime scene. ...

In court documents, disgraced former officers Damacio Diaz and Patrick Mara acknowledged substituting look-alike substances for drugs from the department's evidence room. October 25, 2016 BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KBAK/KBFX) — The corruption case of two former Bakersfield Police Department officers has left the department reviewing its policy and proced...

Nearly $10,000 — including some logged as evidence against Aubrey Earl Rye, a 52-year-old Interlochen man, who was convicted of armed robbery in 2014 — vanished from the MSP Cadillac post sometime after Rye was arrested on Dec. 8, 2013. October 8, 2016 TRAVERSE CITY — A Grand Traverse County prosecutor hopes just a few weeks are left in a lengthy i...

NA was also the missing link detectives needed to place Dunlap at the scene of White's murder. October 4, 2016 AN BERNARDINO >> Prosecutors on Tuesday charged a man already on death row with the 1991 murder of Devore resident Cynthia "CJ" White. On May, 27, 1991, San Bernardino County Sheriff's deputies investigated a reported death at a home...

Marlowe isn't alone. An estimated 400,000 untested rape kits languish nationwide, according to the US Department of Justice. Now, Marlowe and other rape survivors like her are turning to the courts, claiming that cities that ignore potential DNA evidence are violating survivors' civil rights. September 28, 2016 Heather Marlowe was raped at a party ...

Six months after three counties in Oregon began shipping hundreds of untested DNA samples from alleged victims of sexual assault to a Utah lab, the first results are in: Five match known offenders in a criminal database. October 3, 2016 Six months after three counties in Oregon began shipping hundreds of untested DNA samples from alleged victi...

The state of Alaska has been awarded $1.1 million from the U.S. Department of Justice to process a backlog of rape kits held by the Alaska State Troopers October 4, 2016 The state of Alaska has been awarded $1.1 million from the U.S. Department of Justice to process a backlog of rape kits held by the Alaska State Troopers. Amanda Price, a senior ad...

California has become the latest battleground in a nationwide push to relax or eliminate the statutes of limitations on sexual-assault crimes, recently passing a bill that would make it the 17th state to allow rape victims to pursue charges at any point after an attack. Gov. Jerry Brown must approve or veto the measure by month's end. Sep...

Enter Headline here September 29, 2016 HELENA – Montana will test 1,400 rape kits dating back to 1995 that weren't submitted to the state's crime lab by local law enforcement authorities, Attorney General Tim Fox said Thursday. The state also will add personnel to track the kits, counsel victims and investigate when DNA from the kits result in rape...

Alcala is imprisoned in California's Corcoran State Prison and is sentenced to death. He has been connected to six murders in two states, though authorities estimate he may have killed up to 130 people across the country. September 21, 2016 An imprisoned serial killer who appeared on "The Dating Game" before police threw him in jail has been charge...

The homicide case remained an active investigation until 1976, when the case went cold following more than 60 interviews but no successful leads, authorities said. September 13, 2016 MARYSVILLE, Yuba County (CBS / AP) — Decades-old DNA led to the arrests Tuesday of two men in connection with the shotgun slayings of two girls in California more than...

The alleged mistress for whom a now-jailed former Deschutes County Sheriff's Office captain stole more than $200,000 pleaded guilty to making false statements to federal agents on Thursday, according to the United States Attorney's Office. September 17, 2016 The alleged mistress for whom a now-jailed former Deschutes County Sheriff's Office captain...

In the settlement reached with the pro bono law firm Public Counsel, the city agreed to build 388 lockers for the property of homeless people and to stop enforcing three laws that prohibit tents, personal property and overnight sleeping on public property. September 11, 2016 Homeless residents of Pomona will be provided storage for their property a...

Defendant in evidence destruction scandal sues Harris County By St. John Barned-Smith Updated 11:01 am, Wednesday, September 7, 2016 20 Photo: Melissa Phillip/Houston Chronicle Image 1 of 5 Harris County District Attorney Devon Anderson arrives for a media conference to discuss the thousands of pieces of evidence that were destroyed by Harris ...

King County prosecutors Wednesday charged a former Bothell Police Department evidence technician with first-degree theft for allegedly stealing thousands of dollars from a police evidence room. September 7, 2016 King County prosecutors Wednesday charged a former Bothell Police Department evidence technician with first-degree theft for allegedly ste...

The San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office has lost about 10,000 pieces of evidence and stored items, says the vendor who provides the software that manages the evidence room. September 3, 2016 The San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office has lost about 10,000 pieces of evidence and stored items, says the vendor who provides the software that manages the e...

Enter Headline here August 30, 2016 In the wake of sexual assault accusations against comedian Bill Cosby, California may soon end the statute of limitations for prosecuting rape and other felony sex crimes. The state Senate on Tuesday sent the governor a bill to end time limits for prosecuting crimes including rape and child sexual abuse. Under ex...

Enter Headline here August 28, 2016 SPOKANE, Wash --- Spokane Police Officials said they discovered a firearm in a stolen vehicle a year after they seized the vehicle. The car was going to be sold at auction when they found the firearm. Alex Redthunder was arrested in March 2015 after he left his vehicle and eluded authorities. Officials said Redth...

Police said one of their technicians did some research and tracked Pollard down. When the detective called him, he was shocked. August 27, 2016 Arthur 'Art' Pollard served nearly three decades in the Navy and was awarded a number of medals when he retired. "Loved it, went around the world, three times, been to 25 different countries and I fought in...

A 22-year veteran of the Ventura County Sheriff's Office was suspended in May after he was suspected of taking prescription medication from the drop-off disposal bin at the agency's Thousand Oaks headquarters, officials said Tuesday in a news release. July 05, 2016 A 22-year veteran of the Ventura County Sheriff's Office was suspended in May after ...

Former sheriff candidate to be charged in break-in that led to evidence being compromised April 4, 2016 Former sheriff candidate to be charged in break-in that led to evidence being compromised Almost a year later, California Highway Patrol is now promising to soon resolve an investigation into the burglary at its local office that resulted in acti...

A national organization advocating for reforms in rape kit processing launched a campaign this week encouraging governors to publicly endorse and support efforts to eliminate backlogs and make rape kit testing a greater priority for law enforcement. Washington Gov. Jay Inslee is the first governor in the nation to endorse Test400k's call to action....

Enter Headline here August 11, 2016 BELLEVUE, Wash. - The city of Bellevue's oldest cold-case murder has been solved 51 years after it happened, thanks to the efforts of a dedicated detective who decided to take a fresh, new look at the case using tried-and-true investigative techniques. The solution of the mystery comes years after the suspected m...

Under changes to Mitchell's bill introduced Thursday, any property seizure in California worth less than $40,000 would now require a criminal conviction before police could take permanent action August 5, 2016 Major law enforcement groups and state Sen. Holly Mitchell (D-Los Angeles) have reached a deal on legislation to limit the ability of police...

The 10-year veteran later told the prosecutor he then booked the DVD into the department's secured evidence storage center. August 3, 2016 FAIRFIELD — Police have lost a piece of evidence in a pending murder case. The situation was described in court Tuesday by the prosecutor overseeing the case against Dawn D. Raines-Hewes, a Fairfield grandmother...

Our state's leaders must have the fortitude to pursue more than feel-good, no- or low-cost solutions. Our state's citizens must demand compassionate care for victims that rises to the highest-quality medical and forensic standards in anticipation of rigorously pursuing victim wellness while simultaneously laying a meticulous groundwork fo...

Brother admitted to stealing from evidence locker Jul 29, 2016 LINCOLN COUNTY, Colo. -- A judge sentenced the brother of a Lincoln County sheriff to spend 90 days in jail Friday after pleading guilty to embezzling public property. Dustin Zane Nestor admitted stealing weapons from the sheriff's office's unlocked evidence locker while he worked there...

7,044: total weapons melted 23: years melting guns at Gerdau Steel Mill in Rancho Cucamonga 3,000 degrees it takes to melt a weapon150 pounds of scrap metal mixed in with the weapons 5 tons of rebar created July 21, 2016 RANCHO CUCAMONGA >> Los Angeles County Sheriff Jim McDonnell stood nearby while more than 7,000 confiscated firearms became...

Of the 3,542 rape kits tested since that law was enacted, CBI found 691 matches in a national DNA database, giving police a new chance at finding suspects Jul 15, 2016 ARVADA, Colo. -- The Colorado Bureau of Investigation said it has found DNA matches in 20 percent of the state's backlog of rape kits.In 2012, the Denver7 Investigators found thousan...

Police said Dunbar left his DNA at all three crime scenes.. July 8, 2016 BERKELEY -- Berkeley police have named a 24-year-old construction worker and suspected marijuana dealer as the person they say attacked "at least three" women in string of 2008 home-invasion sexual assaults. Johnny Dunbar, of Berkeley, was charged Friday with two counts of rap...

28 years later! June 30, 2016 A man is scheduled to face trial tomorrow for the 1988 cold case special circumstances murder for strangling a woman to death during the commission of a rape.  Daniel Edward McDermott, 47, Buena Park, is charged with one felony count of special circumstances murder during the commission of a rape. Opening statemen...

The number of possibly contaminated convictions grew, from one to now around 1,500 in central Oregon's Deschutes County alone. June 20, 2016 BEND, Ore. — At first, authorities in Oregon believed that the lab tech had been stealing drugs from just one batch of evidence. Then they saw that drugs were missing from other cases she had worked. And then ...

Evidence was collected from the woman, but Everett police didn't submit the sexual assault exam kit to the Washington State Patrol crime lab for analysis June 19, 2016 EVERETT — The 20-year-old woman spent Christmas 2010 in a hospital exam room as a forensic nurse carefully collected swabs from her body.The woman told Everett police someone had rap...

According to court documents, Solomon took cash from evidence envelopes. She admitted to having a gambling problem at the time of the thefts and to using some of the money to pay for pull tabs and gambling online through Facebook. Jun 18, 2016 ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - A former North Slope Borough Police Department employee has pleaded guilty to ste...

During that time, Solomon took cash from evidence envelopes and, the agreement states, "sometimes even destroyed the case file associated with those evidence items." June 17, 2016 ANCHORAGE (KTUU) A former North Slope Borough Police Department employee in a plea agreement admitted to stealing at least $109,623 from a police evidence room and to des...

The Nevada County Sheriff's Office is out of compliance with its own written policies and procedures, and with best practices concerning audits and inventories," the report stated. June 14, 2016 The Nevada County Civil Grand Jury on Monday issued a report examining how local law enforcement agencies collect and retain evidence, which was critical o...

The practice, known as civil asset forfeiture, gained currency during the height of the drug war in the 1980s as a way for law enforce ment to financially cripple drug lords and fund anti-narcotics operations. But advocates for reforming the laws say too often police officers ensnare innocent residents who are poor and have few resources ...

A serial killer who targeted women in South L.A. over the course of decades has been sentenced to death. May 2, 2016 A serial killer who targeted women in South L.A. over the course of decades has been sentenced to death. The jury announced Lonnie Franklin Jr.'s punishment in a Downtown L.A. courtroom early Monday afternoon after debating the matte...

Diaz admits to seizing some 10 pounds of meth as evidence and returning approximately one pound of it to the department. He admits that he and his criminal partner unlawfully converted the nine pounds of meth to their possession, which they later sold for profit. May 26, 2016 Damacio Diaz, a 17-year veteran of the Bakersfield Police Department, who...

Enter Headline here June 1, 2016 San Francisco's scandal-ridden crime lab should be an independent agency rather than a division of the police force in order to remove potential bias and better handle investigations, the city's civil grand jury said in a report released Wednesday. A six-month investigation by the government oversight panel, consist...

Enter Headline here May 31st 2016 CARSON CITY, Nev. (News 4 & Fox 11) — The Nevada Attorney General's "Sexual Assault Kit Working Group" expects to receive tests results from local jurisdictions on the state's backlog of sexual assault kits by the end of June. Spokeswoman Monica Moazez tells News 4-Fox 11 that Attorney General Adam Laxalt annou...

Suspect broke into home of sleeping family June 2, 2016 6:53 a.m. CDT RIVERSIDE – Following a multistate investigation, Riverside police charged a Chicago man with 22 priors for the May 10 burglary of a home in the 100 block of North Cowley Road, according to a Riverside Police Department news release.  James M. Ussery, 23, of the 3400 block o...

June 1st 2016, 9:45 am PDT PHOENIX (KPHO/KTVK) - A man accused of stabbing and killing an elderly woman in 1982 has been arrested after DNA samples and fingerprints connected him to the crime, police said. Larry Robinson, 56, was taken into custody on Tuesday. During an interview with Phoenix police detectives, Robinson couldn't explain why his DNA...