Forensics
State to use COVID-19 money for gun-violence prevention

By Pat Eaton-Robb Jun. 28, 2021 02:37 PM EDT
Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont announced Monday that he is earmarking $5 million in federal COVID-19 relief money to fight gun violence and fund crime-prevention...

Editorial Roundup: Texas

By The Associated Press May. 10, 2021 10:00 AM EDT
Austin American-Statesman. May 7, 2021. Editorial: Texas GOP lawmakers trust you with a gun — but not with the vote ...

Labs improve DNA turnaround, tool mark cases taking 3 years

By Todd Richmond Apr. 15, 2021 01:06 PM EDT
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin's beleaguered crime labs improved their turnaround times on DNA and ballistics testing last year but took longer to complete...

In this image from video, defense attorney Eric Nelson, left, and defendant, former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, right, listen, Wednesday, April 14, 2021, as Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahill presides over motions in the trial of Chauvin at the Hennepin County Courthouse in Minneapolis. Chauvin is charged in the May 25, 2020 death of George Floyd. (Court TV, via AP, Pool)
Expert blames George Floyd's death on heart rhythm problem

By Amy Forliti, Steve Karnowski And Tammy Webber Apr. 14, 2021 10:42 AM EDT

A family security personnel, left, talks to a reporter as Philonise Floyd, brother of George Floyd, listens as Floyd family members arrive at the Hennepin County Government Center, Friday, April 9, 2021, in Minneapolis where testimony continues in the trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin. Chauvin is charged with murder in the death of George Floyd during an arrest last May in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)
Expert: Lack of oxygen killed George Floyd, not drugs

By Amy Forliti, Steve Karnowski And Tammy Webber Apr. 09, 2021 11:15 AM EDT

FILE - This undated file photo provided by the Boone County Sheriff's Department in Columbia, Mo., shows Joseph Elledge. Authorities say they have discovered human remains that they believe are the body of Elledge's wife, Mengqi Ji Elledge, who has been missing since October 2019. The remains were found Thursday, March 25, 2021, in Rock Bridge State Park in Boone County in mid Missouri. Joseph Elledge was charged in February with first-degree murder in connection with his wife's disappearance. He has pleaded not guilty and is jailed without bond. (Boone County Sheriff's Department via AP, File)
Remains in Missouri identified as missing Chinese woman

By Margaret Stafford Apr. 06, 2021 04:48 PM EDT

Tennessee State forensics team wins top national honors

Mar. 22, 2021 04:17 AM EDT
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee State University's forensics team has been named overall national champions and top historically Black colleges and...

FILE - In this March 19, 2020 file photo, biological science specialists, background, wear biosafety protective clothing for handling viral diseases at U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command at Fort Detrick in Frederick, Md. On March 9, 2020, a public WeChat account called "Happy Reading List" reposted an essay claiming the U.S. military created SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, at a lab in Fort Detrick and loosed it in China during the Military World Games, an international competition for military athletes, held in Wuhan in October 2019. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
Anatomy of a conspiracy: With COVID, China took leading role

By Erika Kinetz Feb. 15, 2021 12:03 AM EST

Editorial Roundup: New York

By The Associated Press Feb. 03, 2021 09:00 AM EST
Newsday. January 31, 2021. Editorial: Delve deeper on nursing homes 12,743. It’s the answer to a question that has...

FILE - This file photo provided by Tennessee Department of Correction shows Pervis Payne. An attorney for Payne says DNA evidence belonging to the Tennessee death row inmate has been found on part of a knife used in the slayings of a mother and daughter 33 years ago, but DNA from an unknown man also was found on the murder weapon. Attorney Kelley Henry presented a report on DNA tests on the knife and other evidence ordered by Shelby County Criminal Court Judge Paula Skahan in September 2020. (Tennessee Department of Correction via AP, File)
Tests show DNA of death row inmate, unknown man, on knife

By Adrian Sainz Jan. 19, 2021 02:32 PM EST

In this image from video released by Malaysian Judiciary, Nathaniel Cary, a forensic pathologist, bottom right, raises his hand to take his oath ahead of his testimony being provided online from the United Kingdom during a Malaysian virtual inquest on Monday, Nov. 30, 2020. The British pathologist said there was no positive evidence of sexual assault on French-Irish teenager Nora Anne Quorin, who was found dead last year after vanishing from a Malaysian jungle resort, but that he couldn't fully rule it out due to severe body decomposition. (Malaysian Judiciary via AP)
UK doctor can't exclude sex assault of dead teen in Malaysia

Nov. 30, 2020 04:16 AM EST

FILE - This file photo provided by Tennessee Department of Correction shows Tennessee death row inmate Pervis Payne. Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee has granted a death row inmate a temporary reprieve from execution. Lee issued a short statement Friday afternoon Nov. 6 2020 saying he is granting a reprieve to Pervis Payne until April 9 "due to the challenges and disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic (Tennessee Department of Correction via AP, File)
Tennessee governor gives death row inmate temporary reprieve

By Travis Loller Nov. 06, 2020 05:46 PM EST

Pennsylvania man held for 1969 San Diego rape and murder

Oct. 27, 2020 07:19 PM EDT
SAN DIEGO (AP) — A 75-year-old Pennsylvanian was arrested for the 1969 rape and murder of a young mother in Southern California, authorities said Tuesday. ...

FILE - In this file photo provided by the U.S. Army is Sgt. Elder Fernandes. Police say a body found near Fort Hood, Texas, is likely that of Fernandes. Temple police said late Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020, that identification found with the body indicates the man may be Fernandes. Fernandes is the third soldier from Fort Hood to go missing in the past year. (U.S. Army via AP, File)
Family: Soldier believed dead was happy until recently

By Acacia Coronado Aug. 26, 2020 03:34 PM EDT

People visit a mass grave for the victims of the Islamic State group in Mosul, Iraq on Thursday, July 1, 2020. A human skull, a pair of worn trousers and a shoe were among the remains unearthed from a mass grave discovered this week in northern Iraq, a remnant of the brutal rule of the Islamic State group. (AP Photo/Farid Abdulwahed)
New mass grave unearthed in Iraq's north from brutal IS rule

By Farid Abdulwahed And Samya Kullab Jul. 02, 2020 12:17 PM EDT

CORRECTS THE EXECUTION DATE TO JUNE 16, NOT 15 - This undated photo provided by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice shows Ruben Gutierrez. Texas was set on Tuesday, June 16, 2020, to end its more than four-month delay in executions due to the coronavirus pandemic with the scheduled lethal injection of Gutierrez, a death row inmate condemned for fatally stabbing an 85-year-old woman more than two decades ago. (Texas Department of Criminal Justice via AP)
US Supreme Court halts Texas execution over clergy question

By Juan A. Lozano Jun. 16, 2020 12:04 AM EDT

FILE - This undated file photo provided by Christopher Harris shows George Floyd. Floyd died May 25, after he was pinned to the pavement by a police officer who put his knee on the handcuffed black man's neck until he stopped breathing. (Christopher Harris via AP, File)
Experts: Floyd’s health issues don’t affect homicide ruling

By Marilynn Marchione Jun. 04, 2020 07:22 PM EDT

This undated photo provided by the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections shows Carlos Ridley. Ridley, serving a life sentence for a triple slaying, was awaiting a court ruling this month he hoped would help him prove innocence through DNA testing. On Monday, May 4, 2020, an Ohio appeals court rejected Ridley's request. The next day, he was rushed to a hospital where he died of COVID-19, according to his two daughters. (Ohio Department of Corrections via AP)
Multiple Ohio prison deaths include inmate arguing innocence

By Andrew Welsh-Huggins May. 11, 2020 11:47 AM EDT

Some sex assault victims collect own evidence amid pandemic

By Olga R. Rodriguez Apr. 16, 2020 09:14 PM EDT
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Fears of getting infected with the coronavirus have prompted authorities in Northern California to allow some sexual assault victims to...