FRSNZ

UK Police Use STRmix™ to Resolve 1994 Murder of Six-Year-Old

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, February 8, 2023

WASHINGTON, Feb. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- STRmix™ – sophisticated forensic software capable of resolving mixed DNA profiles previously regarded as too complex or degraded to interpret – has played a key role in solving the 1994 murder of a six-year-old in the UK.

Key Points: 
  • Using STRmix™ to analyze DNA left on the clothes of Rikki Neave, the UK's Cellmark Forensic Services was able to provide a link for James Watson, now 41, to his murder.
  • Watson, who was only 13 when he strangled Neave and left his body in a wood in Peterborough, has been sentenced to life in prison.
  • Using STRmix™, Cellmark was able to analyze the mixed DNA profiles obtained and provide a link to Watson, who was later charged with the murder (England and Wales, Central Criminal Court, #T20207051).
  • "Ultimately, a combination of evidence from DNA, post-mortem, soil samples, eyewitness testimony, and his [Watson's] changing accounts proved overwhelming."

STRmix Will Interpret DNA Evidence for Mississippi Office of Forensic Laboratories

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, September 22, 2022

WASHINGTON, Sept. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- The Mississippi Office of Forensic Laboratories is the latest U.S. forensic lab to use STRmix™ forensic software in its scientific testing of crime scene evidence.

Key Points: 
  • WASHINGTON, Sept. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- The Mississippi Office of Forensic Laboratories is the latest U.S. forensic lab to use STRmix forensic software in its scientific testing of crime scene evidence.
  • Unlike traditional DNA analysis methods, STRmix is able to resolve mixed DNA profiles that previously would have been dismissed as too complex or degraded to interpret.
  • "Investing in the Mississippi Office of Forensic Laboratories has always been important.
  • The Office of Forensic Laboratories is comprised of the Mississippi Forensics Laboratory and the Office of the State Medical Examiner.

STRmix™ Celebrates Tenth Anniversary of Its Introduction to the World

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, August 25, 2022

WASHINGTON, Aug. 25, 2022 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- On August 27, STRmix™ will celebrate 10 years since it was first introduced to the world as sophisticated forensic software, capable of resolving mixed DNA profiles which previously were regarded as too complex to interpret.

Key Points: 
  • Since that time, STRmix has become the accepted standard for DNA mixture interpretation, used by forensic labs worldwide to analyze DNA evidence in more than 380,000 cases.
  • That includes more than 210,000 cases in North America, 30,000 in Europe and the United Kingdom, and 135,000 in Australasia.
  • Dr. Taylor points out that incremental but significant changes have been made to STRmix since its introduction, usually in response to recommendations made by the forensic laboratories using the software.
  • As a result, "The functionality and power within STRmix has grown significantly over the past 10 years.

STRmix Use in Certified U.S. Forensic Labs Continues to Grow

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, April 5, 2022

WASHINGTON, April 5, 2022 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- An increasing number of ANAB or A2LA certified forensic laboratories in the U.S. are now using STRmix™ – sophisticated forensic software capable of resolving mixed DNA profiles previously regarded as too complex or degraded to interpret – in casework, according to statistics recently compiled by STRmix™.

Key Points: 
  • WASHINGTON, April 5, 2022 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- An increasing number of ANAB or A2LA certified forensic laboratories in the U.S. are now using STRmix sophisticated forensic software capable of resolving mixed DNA profiles previously regarded as too complex or degraded to interpret in casework, according to statistics recently compiled by STRmix.
  • The new data indicate that 80% of certified U.S. labs are now live with STRmix in casework, are currently validating the software, or have purchased the software but have not yet started the validation process.
  • The data assumes that organizations which have multi-lab systems but are not yet live will use STRmix in all of their forensic labs.
  • STRmix works by assessing how closely multitudes of proposed DNA profiles resemble or can explain an observed DNA mixture.

STRmix Releases Enhanced Kinship Capability in DBLR Software

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, December 16, 2021

"The enhancements to the Kinship module allow users to apply advanced models in a simple and streamlined solution," says Dr. Maarten Kruijver, the developer of DBLR.

Key Points: 
  • "The enhancements to the Kinship module allow users to apply advanced models in a simple and streamlined solution," says Dr. Maarten Kruijver, the developer of DBLR.
  • Forensic labs using DBLR in conjunction with STRmix are able to visualize the value of DNA mixture evidence, undertake mixture-to-mixture comparisons, and achieve superfast database searches.
  • "Since having gone live in casework with DBLR, we have found DBLR very useful for multiple applications.
  • STRmix, DBLR, and a third software package developed by the STRmix team, FaSTR DNA, complete the full workflow from analysis to interpretation and database matching.

St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department Now Using STRmix

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, December 2, 2021

WASHINGTON, Dec. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ --The Metropolitan Police Department, City of St. Louis is the 69th organization in the U.S. to approve the use of STRmix, sophisticated forensic software capable of resolving mixed DNA profiles that previously were regarded as too complex or degraded to interpret.

Key Points: 
  • WASHINGTON, Dec. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ --The Metropolitan Police Department, City of St. Louis is the 69th organization in the U.S. to approve the use of STRmix, sophisticated forensic software capable of resolving mixed DNA profiles that previously were regarded as too complex or degraded to interpret.
  • With nearly 2,000 employees, the Department is the primary law enforcement agency for the city of St. Louis, MO.
  • It plans to use STRmix in its scientific testing of crime scene evidence.
  • In addition to the Metropolitan Police Department, City of St. Louis, STRmix is currently being used in the U.S. by such well-known agencies as the FBI and the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).

68 U.S. Forensic Labs Now Using STRmix to Interpret Complex DNA Profiles

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, October 27, 2021

WASHINGTON, Oct. 27, 2021 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Sixty-eight U.S. forensic laboratories are now using STRmix forensic software to resolve mixed DNA profiles previously considered too complex to interpret.

Key Points: 
  • WASHINGTON, Oct. 27, 2021 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Sixty-eight U.S. forensic laboratories are now using STRmix forensic software to resolve mixed DNA profiles previously considered too complex to interpret.
  • According to Buckleton, STRmix has been responsible for producing usable, interpretable, and legally admissible DNA evidence in more than 300,000 cases worldwide since its introduction in 2012.
  • Internationally, nine state and territory forensic laboratories in Australia and New Zealand, and 14 labs in other countries including the U.K., Ireland, Canada, Finland, Switzerland, and Denmark are now using STRmix.
  • STRmix works by assessing how closely multitudes of proposed profiles resemble or can explain an observed DNA mixture.

California's Pure Gold Forensics Will Begin Using STRmix to Interpret Mixed DNA Profiles

Retrieved on: 
Friday, October 8, 2021

WASHINGTON, Oct. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ --Pure Gold Forensics, Southern California's only accredited, private forensic DNA laboratory, will begin using STRmix forensic software to resolve mixed DNA profiles in criminal investigations.

Key Points: 
  • WASHINGTON, Oct. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ --Pure Gold Forensics, Southern California's only accredited, private forensic DNA laboratory, will begin using STRmix forensic software to resolve mixed DNA profiles in criminal investigations.
  • Pure Gold Forensics specializes in forensic DNA testing, using the latest technology in equipment and chemistry at its AL2A accredited forensic DNA testing facility in Redlands, CA.
  • STRmix works by assessing how closely multitudes of proposed profiles resemble or can explain an observed DNA mixture.
  • Together, STRmix, FaSTR DNA, and DBLR complete the full workflow from analysis to interpretation and database matching.

Montgomery County Crime Lab Is Latest in U.S. to Use STRmix

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, August 12, 2021

GAITHERSBURG, Md., Aug. 12, 2021 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ --The Montgomery County Police Department Crime Lab is the latest forensic laboratory in the U.S. to begin using STRmix forensic software to interpret low-level, degraded, or mixed DNA profiles in criminal investigations.

Key Points: 
  • GAITHERSBURG, Md., Aug. 12, 2021 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ --The Montgomery County Police Department Crime Lab is the latest forensic laboratory in the U.S. to begin using STRmix forensic software to interpret low-level, degraded, or mixed DNA profiles in criminal investigations.
  • The Crime Lab, one of seven crime laboratories in Maryland, provides forensic services to the Montgomery County Police Department and several other user agencies through six primary units: Crime Scene Unit; Latent Print Unit; Firearms Examination Unit; Forensic Biology Unit; Forensic Chemistry Unit; and Electronic Crimes Unit.
  • STRmix works by assessing how closely multitudes of proposed profiles resemble or can explain an observed DNA mixture.
  • In late 2020, a new version of STRmix, STRmix Version 2.8, was introduced following nearly a year of extensive development and testing.