Forensic Science Discovery and Recovery

Researchers at North Carolina State University have launched the North Carolina Program for Forensic Science to provide technical information and services to law enforcement and medical examiners throughout the state on issues relating to death investigations.

Dr. David Hinks took a break from a recent educational program called Discovery and Recovery to explain the range of information and training the program offers.

The program is the result of a multidisciplinary effort that includes professors and researchers from the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, College of Textiles and College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. These researchers look at every aspect of a crime scene from analysis of the skeletal remains, to the bugs found on the body and fibers on the victim's clothing. All are crucial parts to any investigation.

Experts at NC State have participated in over 33 cases in North Carolina some high profile. For instance, in a multidisciplinary effort involving several specialties at NC State, researchers assisted in narrowing down the location of the remains of Cynthia Moreland, a Progress Energy employee who disappeared from a downtown Raleigh parking garage on Aug. 22, 2006

In another interesting case far beyond the city limits of Raleigh NC State's forensic anthropology team was instrumental in identifying victims from the past military dictatorship in the Republic of Panama. One individual identified was a Chilean national who was detained in 1974. NC State researchers were able to locate his grave and make the identification based on photographic superimposition overlaying a victim's photographs on skeletal remains and return the remains and provide closure for his family.

The program's co-directors are Dr. Ann H. Ross, associate professor of anthropology, and Dr. Billy L. Oliver, registered professional archaeologist and adjunct assistant professor at NC State.

For a transcript of this video, visit http://ncsu.edu/project/nsaudiovideo/pdf/bugs.pdf

For more information about the North Carolina Program for Forensic Science, visit http://www.ncforensics.org/

Produced by News Services at NC State. newstips@ncsu.edu 919-515-3470

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