Latest news with #forensics
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Grim scenes in quiet residential street
A quiet residential street in Melbourne's northwest has been cordoned off after a man was arrested and police discovered human remains believed to be that of missing man Joshua Bishop, who disappeared a month ago. Sunbury man Joshua Bishop, 23, was last seen by his housemates in Lalor Crescent about 9.30pm May 27. He was reported missing two days later on May 29 by his mother. Police launched an investigation into the man's disappearance, which they said was 'completely out of character' and 'suspicious'. On Saturday, police completed a search warrant of a home in Erinbank Crescent in Westmeadows in Melbourne's northwest, where they discovered human remains. The remains are yet to be formally identified, though police believe they are of the missing Sunbury man. Police later arrested a 27-year-old Westmeadows man, who will be taken to a police station to be interviewed. No charges have been laid. The grisly discovery was made approximately 32km from the missing man's Sunbury home. A crime scene has been established by police, with officers from the Major Crime Scene Unit attending as they process the scene. The front yard of the Westmeadows property was cordoned off with police tape while officers examined the scene. Forensic officers were later seen wheeling his remains out of the house before loading it into the police vehicle, flanked by forensic officers, police and paramedics. Mr Bishop had never been reported missing before and was not known to police. His phone and bank accounts had not been accessed since May 27, and his phone last pinged at Broadmeadows Valley Park on Barry Rd. Police conducted a search of the park on June 6 but returned 10 days later for a renewed search. His heartbroken mother Kristie urged the public for any information, telling 9News his disappearance was 'definitely out of character'. 'Josh was really open with me. We had a really good relationship,' she said. 'This is not something he would do unless he felt he had to.' On social media, dad Travis pleaded for the safe return of his son. 'My heart is broken, please complete my family and bring my boy home,' he wrote. 'I'd give everything to have you in my arms.' He told 9News his son was 'loved by everyone' and urged anyone with information to come forward. 'Someone has to know something,' he told the outlet. 'We've had a lot of support, but we still haven't got any closer to our son, which is hard.' Relatives have set up a GoFundMe page to assist in the search for the missing man, which has since raised over $15,000. 'Our beloved Josh is missing, and our family is doing everything we can to bring him home safely,' the fundraiser read. 'Every moment that passes without answers is incredibly difficult, but we remain determined to keep searching until we find him.'
Yahoo
15 hours ago
- Yahoo
Human remains discovered off I20
HEFLIN — Possible human remains were discovered June 22 in a wooded area off Interstate 20 near mile marker 194, according to a news release from the Cleburne County Sheriff's Office. Deputies responded to a report and confirmed the discovery, securing the area and initiating a coordinated response with multiple agencies. While the circumstances surrounding the discovery are being examined, the news release states there is no belief of foul play involved at this time. Evidence was found that guided authorities to 'possibly identify the deceased.' Authorities are "working diligently and respectfully to positively determine the identity of the individual,' the release states. The Cleburne County Sheriff's Office expressed appreciation to Jacksonville State University's Center for Applied Forensics, Calhoun County Sheriff's Office, the Cleburne County Coroner's Office, and other assisting personnel for their professionalism. The office also thanked the individual who made the discovery and notified law enforcement. The news release concludes by stating, 'Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of the deceased.'
The Independent
a day ago
- The Independent
Jury continues considering verdicts in 1967 murder trial
A jury is continuing to consider verdicts in the trial of a 92-year-old man accused of the rape and murder of an elderly widow in 1967. Ryland Headley, then aged 34, is accused of forcing entry into the home of 75-year-old Louisa Dunne in Bristol, and then attacking her. The body of the mother-of-two was found by neighbours in her terraced home on Britannia Road, in the Easton area of the city, on the morning of June 28. A woman was heard screaming hours before Mrs Dunne, who had been twice widowed and lived alone, was found dead, Bristol Crown Court heard. Mrs Dunne, who was using the front room as a bedroom, was found lying on a pile of old clothes, and police found no evidence of any violent struggle in the house. The trial heard a pathologist concluded Mrs Dunne died from asphyxia because of strangulation and pressure on her mouth, probably from a hand being forcibly held over it. In 2024 items collected from the original investigation, including clothing and swabs, were sent for scientific investigation. Forensic experts concluded the DNA recovered from a blue skirt worn by Mrs Dunne allegedly matched Headley to a ratio that meant it was one billion times more likely to be his DNA than that of someone else. A left hand palm print found on an upstairs window at Mrs Dunne's home also allegedly matched the defendant, the jury was told. Anna Vigars KC, prosecuting, told the jury in her closing speech that police in 1967 had 'all of the clues but none of them' and were unable to identify a suspect. 'But now there is a rather more complete picture, thanks mainly to the advances that modern science has made,' she said. 'It is now known that skirt has sperm from Ryland Headley.' When Headley was arrested at his home in Suffolk in November last year, on suspicion of murdering Mrs Dunne, he told detectives: 'I don't know what you are talking about. Very strange, very strange.' The trial also heard Headley had been jailed for the rape of two elderly women in 1977, whose homes he had broken into, threatening them with violence if they did not comply. He also asked for a further 10 offences of overnight burglaries previously, to be taken into account when he was sentenced. Headley, of Clarence Road, Ipswich, has pleaded not guilty to charges of rape and murder. He did not give evidence during the trial. Jeremy Benson KC, representing Headley, told the jury: 'Any loss of life is tragic. It would be perfectly natural and understandable for you to feel that after 58 years, someone should be found responsible for the death of Louisa Dunne. 'But that would be revenge and not justice. 'Your task is to consider the evidence dispassionately. You must put aside any sympathy or prejudice and only convict Ryland Headley if on the evidence the prosecution has made you sure of guilt.' He said his client had 'no recollection' of having visited Mrs Dunne or having sexual intercourse with her and did not rape or kill her. On Thursday afternoon, trial judge Mr Justice Sweeting sent the jury of eight men and four women out to consider their verdicts. 'You must decide the case on the evidence and the arguments you heard in court,' he told them. 'You must not do any research about the case or searches on the internet.' The jury resumed their deliberations in the case at 10.35am on Friday. Headley denies rape and murder.
CBS News
2 days ago
- CBS News
High school students learn from police at forensic investigations camp at Indiana University Northwest
Investigators with the Gary, Indiana, Police Department are used to encountering crime scenes — but they aren't in the habit of creating a fake one for students most of the time. But at a unique summer camp at Indiana University Northwest, they did just that this week. Crime scene tape was strung up around a room, along with footprints, handprints, and a gun at the scene. Chairs and desks were tipped over, and evidence markers of the type used for shell casings were placed around the room. There was also a body lying flat with blood on the shirt and forehead. But this body belonged to a dummy. While crime scene was not real, there was still a mystery to solve. Lucy Trust was among the students working to solve the mystery in that room on Thursday. She does not get grossed out easily — saying she does "fine" with such scenes. Trust traveled to Indiana University Northwest in Gary all the way from Pittsburgh. "I am learning a lot," she said. The 17-year-old was one of more than a dozen high school students enrolled in a four-day forensic investigations camp at the university. "We don't do this every day, nope," said Gary police Lt. Brian Farrow. "But it's fun." Crime scene investigators from the Gary Police Department set up the mock crime scene, and walked the students through a thorough investigation. "It's really way more tedious than I thought," said Trust. The teens learned to take crime scene photos, bag evidence, and uncover blood spatter using UV light. "I really enjoy all of the hands-on work and meeting like all of the professionals," Trust said. The camp is free and open to all. "If they have a passion for it at this young age, they're going to very successful in life," said Farrow. IU Northwest associate professor Monica Solinas-Saunders said the university is hoping to recruit more students to the camp — and she is especially proud to see so many young women. "If we recruit more women, then we might be able to solve more of the crimes that are affecting young women, especially — as we know, sexual assault and rape are crimes that are often not reported because the prosecution is so difficult," said Solinas-Saunders. For some, the camp could be the first step in a career. "If I'm going to be in the FBI and I'm going to be an agent, this is part of it, and I need to learn it, and it's very interesting," said Trust, "and I love it." It is a good reason to return to the scene of a crime, as it were.
The Independent
2 days ago
- The Independent
Jury retires to consider verdicts in 1967 murder trial
A jury has retired to consider its verdicts in the case of a 92-year-old man accused of the rape and murder of an elderly widow in 1967. Ryland Headley, then aged 34, is accused of forcing entry into the home of 75-year-old Louisa Dunne in Bristol, and then attacking her. The body of the mother-of-two was found by neighbours in her terraced home on Britannia Road, in the Easton area of the city, on the morning of June 28. A woman was heard screaming hours before Mrs Dunne, who had been twice widowed and lived alone, was found dead, Bristol Crown Court heard. Mrs Dunne, who was using the front room as a bedroom, was found lying on a pile of old clothes, and police found no evidence of any violent struggle in the house. The trial heard a pathologist concluded Mrs Dunne died from asphyxia because of strangulation and pressure on the mouth. In 2023 items collected from the original investigation, including clothing and swabs, were sent for scientific investigation. Forensic experts concluded the DNA recovered from a blue skirt worn by Mrs Dunne allegedly matched Headley to a ratio that meant it was one billion times more likely to be his DNA than that of someone else. A left hand palm print found on a window that had been forced open at Mrs Dunne's home also allegedly matched the defendant, the jury was told. Anna Vigars KC, prosecuting, told the jury in her closing speech that police in 1967 had 'all of the clues but none of them' and were unable to identify a suspect. 'But now there is a rather more complete picture, thanks mainly to the advances that modern science has made,' she said. 'It is now known that skirt has sperm from Ryland Headley.' When Headley was arrested at his home in Suffolk in November last year, on suspicion of murdering Mrs Dunne, he told detectives: 'I don't know what you are talking about. Very strange, very strange.' The trial also heard Headley had been jailed for the rape of two elderly women in 1977, whose homes he had broken into, threatening them with violence if they did not comply. He also asked for a further 10 offences of overnight burglaries previously, to be taken into account when he was sentenced. Headley, of Clarence Road, Ipswich, has pleaded not guilty to charges of rape and murder. He did not give evidence during the trial. Jeremy Benson KC, representing Headley, said his client had 'no recollection' of having visited Mrs Dunne or having sexual intercourse with her. 'He certainly didn't rape her and he didn't kill her,' Mr Benson told the jury in his closing speech. Trial judge Mr Justice Sweeting told the jury of eight men and four women they should try to reach unanimous verdicts. 'It is for you to consider all the evidence and what I have said is to help you in summary,' he said. 'You should not speak to anyone outside your number during adjournment. 'You must not speak about the case to each other in ones or twos. You must only discuss the case when you are all together. 'You must decide the case on the evidence and the arguments you heard in court. You must not do any research about the case or searches on the internet.'
