the national center for mi ssing & exploited children’s

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The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children’s

Forensic Assistance Unit andForensic Assistance Unit andDNA Registration ProjectDNA Registration Project

Assisting Law Enforcement, Medical Examiners, and Coroners with the Recovery and Identification of Missing Persons

B.J. SpamerB.J. SpamerForensic Case Specialist Office: 913-469-5437Cell: 913-387-7004Email: [email protected] Branch Office

A Brief Overview of NCMECA Brief Overview of NCMEC• Nonprofit established in 1984 – All services provided at NO COST• Assist law enforcement with cases of children up to 20 years of

age• Some of our divisions:

– Missing Child Division / International Missing Child Division• Call Center (1-800-THE-LOST); Case Management; Photo

Di ib i F i A i U iDistribution; Forensic Assistance Unit– Exploited Child Division

• Child Victim Identification Program; CyberTipline– Case Analysis and Support Division

• Special Analysis (Sex Offender Tracking Unit); Background Check Unit

– Family Advocacy Division– Training and Education Division (law enforcement training)

NCMEC Missing Children’s DivisionNCMEC Missing Children’s Division

Forensic Assistance Unit

MISSING CHILDREN’S DIVISION

C ld C U it F i

Case Management

Cold Case Unit Forensic Imaging Unit

Age Progressions

Composites from Skulls & Postmortem Photos

Long Term Missing Children

Murdered Child Case Reviews

NEWLY REPORTED CASES OF:

Endangered RunawaysFamily AbductionsNon-Family AbductionsLost, Injured or Otherwise Missing

Unidentified Deceased Children

DNA Registration Project

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Case ManagementCases reported to the Forensic Assistance Unit (FAU) are entered into computerized database systems that allow the cases to be routinely monitored and compared for potential matches between missing and unidentified children. Searches are based on comparisons of physical descriptors, dental records, locations, etc.

The Forensic Assistance UnitThe Forensic Assistance Unit

• NCIC automatic notifications

The FAU also uses a multitude of outside resources for comparisons between missing and unidentified children

• NCIC offline searches

• Local, regional and statewide law enforcement missing person websites

• Privately operated missing person websites

The National Unidentified Decedent The National Unidentified Decedent Reporting System (UDRS)Reporting System (UDRS)

• Publicly accessible from www identifyus org

• Searchable nationwide database of unidentified remains

UDRS Database

www.identifyus.org

• NCMEC has been granted access to enter cases into the UDRS

• Part of the NamUs project

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The National Unidentified Decedent The National Unidentified Decedent Reporting System (UDRS)Reporting System (UDRS)

• Enables the entry of very detailed information on each unidentified case

• Robust searchcapabilities

Project ALERT

• America’s Law Enforcement Retiree Team

• All volunteers were sworn officers who have extensive experience with missing child and/or homicide investigations

• NCMEC pays all expenses for volunteers (airfare, hotel, per diem, etc.)

• Project ALERT volunteers canassist with interviews, case organization, searches, etc.

The FAU’s ViCAP Project

The FAU maintains a database of child homicides, to include specific information about each offender, victim, and crime. This data has been stored in a custom database application and used to search for possible links between cases.

The data is currently being transferred into an in-house ViCAP database for more complex search capabilities.

This project will also allow the FAU to offer law enforcement agencies the opportunity to have their cases submitted to the national ViCAP database through the FAU’s partnership with ViCAP.

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Other Investigative Support

• The FAU has recently acquired iBase and Analyst Notebook, two software applications that can be used to:

• Analyze large volumes of case data

• Search for links across cases

• Create timeline and association charts

Cold Case Missing Child ReviewsCold Case Missing Child Reviews

NCMEC sponsors Cold Case Reviews, at which NCMEC sponsors Cold Case Reviews, at which detectives and prosecutors are invited to present their detectives and prosecutors are invited to present their cold cases to a panel of selected experts who help cold cases to a panel of selected experts who help

Cold Case ReviewsCold Case Reviews

develop new leads and investigative suggestions.develop new leads and investigative suggestions.

Murdered Child Case ReviewsMurdered Child Case Reviews

Retired criminal investigators review cases of recent or Retired criminal investigators review cases of recent or longlong--term unsolved child homicide cases to develop term unsolved child homicide cases to develop potential suspects or investigative leads.potential suspects or investigative leads.

The Forensic Imaging Unit

• Facial Reconstructions/Composites– From skulls– From postmortem photographs

• Age Progression– Long-term missing children

• Age Regression

• Missing / Unidentified Comparisons– Identifying points of comparison– Superimposition

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Reconstructions from SkullsReconstructions from Skulls

Working with anthropologists, Forensic Imaging Specialists Working with anthropologists, Forensic Imaging Specialists at NCMEC prepare facial reconstructions from skulls for at NCMEC prepare facial reconstructions from skulls for distribution to the public.distribution to the public.

New Forensic Imaging Technology

• Skulls are first sent to the Smithsonian Institute, where a CAT scan is performed.

• The data file from the scan is

• Composites are now created in three-dimensional, virtual sculpting software.

The data file from the scan is loaded into the sculpting software to create a 3-D image of the skull on-screen.

• The artist then sculpts the composite in a virtual environment, allowing the images to be created without risking damage to the remains.

Paula Stewart wentmissing from Hobart, IN

in 1980

Composites from Post-Mortem photos

(above) Composite image of “Precious Doe”, a previously unidentified child found deceased in

Kansas City, MO on April 28, 2001

(above) Composite image of an unidentified female found in White Haven, PA on December 20, 1976

(left) Composite image of a previously unidentified female found in Polk County, Florida.

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Superimposition

Facial photographs of missing persons are superimposed over post mortem h t h t h lphotographs to help

identify cases that require additional consideration and forensic testing.

Identifying Points of ComparisonIdentifying Points of Comparison

Michael Burkle at 16 years of age

Comparison of Michael Burkle’s childhood photographs to autopsy photographs

Age ProgressionAge Progression

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Media DistributionMedia Distribution

• Poster Partners

• ChoicePoint fax distributions

• Traffix email distributions

• Online at www.missingkids.com

• Locater Posters

Special Alert PostersSpecial Alert Posters

Distributed to missing persons units, medical examiners, coroners, and private businesses throughout the Unitedthroughout the United States.

Posters can be targeted to specific industries, such as dentistry, health clinics, etc.

IdentificationsIdentifications

Jane Doe found in Granville, NC identified as 16-year-old Chrystle Edmonds missing from Waldorf

Jane Doe found in Deerfield, OH identified as 14-year-old Sara Boehm missing from Rochester NY

Jane Doe found in Joliet, IL identified as 14-year-old Haqikah “Kekah” Suggs who had not yetEdmonds, missing from Waldorf,

MD.Boehm, missing from Rochester, NY. Kekah Suggs, who had not yet

been reported missing.

Jane Doe found in Westminster, CO identified as 26-year-old Catrina Renee Powell, who had not yet been reported missing.

Jane Doe found in Las Vegas, NV identified as 28-year-old Joshua Johnson, who had not yet been reported missing.

Jane Doe found in Polk County, FL identified as 22-year-old Ronette Peterson, missing from Madrid, IA.

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The FAU’s DNA Registration Project

In June 2004, the FAU entered into a partnership with UNT to provide free DNA profiling services for missing and unidentified deceased child cases.

Since the program began, the FAU has submitted of over 400 DNA profiles to the NDIS and has identified 15 long-term missing persons through the DNA program alone.

The first missing children to have reference DNA profiles loaded into CODIS through the FAU (left to right):

Deborah Quimby, Angela Ramsey, Michael Andrews, and Pamela Pedro

NCMEC DNA Registration Project

• Purpose of the Program:– To supplement nationwide missing person

DNA collection efforts by coordinating collections and CODIS submissions for localities and states that do not have their ownlocalities and states that do not have their own programs and/or means to perform necessary DNA analyses.

– To ensure that adequate reference samples are collected, subjected to the proper analyses, and loaded into the appropriate indexes of CODIS.

DNA Donor Considerations

Direct reference samples for missing persons are entered into CODIS and can be searched against ALL indexes (unidentified human remains, offender profiles, and forensic unknown

fil )

Convicted Offender Index

Forensic Index

Unidentified Remains Index

Missing Person Index

Family Reference Index

profiles).

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DNA Donor Considerations

Reference samples provided by family members of missing persons can only be searched against the unidentified human remains index.

Convicted Offender Index

Forensic Index

Unidentified Remains Index

Missing Person Index

Family Reference Index

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Other Donor Considerations

• When collecting from the offspring of a missing person, collect the from the remaining parent for exclusionary purposes (STR profiles).

When collecting a direct reference

MP

• When collecting a direct reference sample (e.g., toothbrush), collect family reference samples for confirmation purposes.

• More family reference samples provide higher statistical probabilities when a possible match is discovered.

Adequate Family Reference Samples

For example, with only an STR analysis of one parent’s sample, NCMEC received a probability

Increasing the total number of family reference samples collected will increase the statistical probability of a DNA identification to a level that eliminates all doubt.

parent s sample, NCMEC received a probability of identification that was 1,828 times more likely than not that the missing person was the John Doe.

In another case, both the mother and father’s DNA samples were submitted. An STR and mtDNA analysis were conducted and it was determined to be 2.4 billion times more likely that the missing person was the John Doe.

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DNA Collection Process– Missing Children

• If the locations of relatives are known and within the reporting party’s jurisdiction, collection kits are prepared and sent to the investigator for collection.

– If relatives are outside of the reporting jurisdiction, NCMEC will locate the correct law enforcement agency, solicit collection assistance, and coordinate the collection and profiling for CODIS.

• If the locations of relatives are unknown, NCMEC will search a multitude of public records databases in an effort to locate them for the DNA collection.

Family Reference Sample DNA Collection Family Reference Sample DNA Collection KitsKits

All DNA specimens are tracked from collection through entry into CODIS in a custom NCMEC database application.


This database enables all samples to be maintained under a proper chain of custody and all laboratory paperwork to be automatically created.

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As each DNA profile is loaded into CODIS, all DNA donors and investigating agencies are sent letters of confirmation


confirmation.

Law enforcement also receives a copy of the official confirmation letter from the UNT laboratory.

Current State of NCMEC Program

• Since 2006, there have been 15 cold case missing persons identified through the NCMEC / UNT partnership, with the oldest case dating back to 1979.

– 11 identifications were the result of– 11 identifications were the result of “warm hits” – potential matches discovered through investigation and submitted for DNA comparison.

– 4 identifications were the results of “cold hits” which would likely never have been made without CODIS.

A Proactive Tool for IdentificationsLeads and identifications continue to be received through other avenues, such as composite sketches and dental comparisons.

Jane Doe found in Joliet, IL identified as 14-year-old Haqikah “Kekah” Suggs.

Jane Doe found in Westminster, CO identified as 26-year-old Catrina Renee Powell.

Jane Doe found in Las Vegas, NV identified as 28-year-old Joshua Johnson.

The DNA project is a proactive tool that is used in conjunction with other investigative resources, and has helped resolve common issues that arise…

None of these children were reported missing until composites created by NCMEC imaging artists were released to local media outlets.

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DNA Overcoming Missing/Unidentified Person Data Issues

• Some issues with traditional missing/unidentified person databases that can prevent or impede identifications:

– Errors in dates of last contact entered into NCIC

• Ex: Missing person with transient lifestyle or re-entry of long-term cases without original reports to verify the DLC.

– Outdated dental records

– Errors in dental charting or dental data entry into NCIC

• Ex: Reversing dental chart or miscounting a tooth number.

– Inability to accurately pinpoint DOD due to condition of remains

– Fragmented and/or skeletal remains with little to no known physical descriptors

– Missing persons not entered into NCIC or removed due to lack of validation, failure of family to report the disappearance, etc.

Cold CODIS Hit - Missing Person Not in NCIC

• Marci Bachman was 16 years of age when she ran away from her home in Washington state in May 1984.

• After receiving a report that Marci was seen in Seattle, her missing person entry was removed from NCIC and she was never re-entered.

Marcella “Marci” Cheri Bachman

Only photo available

• In August 1984, a woman calling herself “Robin” hitchhiked to Missoula, MT.

• Robin was befriended by Wayne N h l t di d t b


Nance, who was later discovered to be a serial killer.

• Robin’s body was recovered from a shallow grave on December 24, 1984 and she remained unidentified for over 20 years.

“Robin” and Wayne Nancecirca 1984

• Nance died during a botched murder attempt in 1986 before he was linked to Robin’s death.

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• In August 2004, NCMEC contacted the Missoula County Sheriff’s Office to offer free DNA profiling and CODIS entry for their Jane Doe case.

• STR and mtDNA profiles were developed by UNT and l d d i t th T St t DNA I d S t Th STR


loaded into the Texas State DNA Index System. The STR profile was sent to the national CODIS database.

• In 2006, the King County Sheriff’s Office collected DNA samples from the family of Marcella Bachman, whose original missing person report surfaced in an unrelated investigation into women reported missing during the timeframe of the Green River serial killings.

• In April 2006, the family reference profiles for Marcella Bachman confirmed that the Missoula, MT Jane Doe known only as “Robin” for over 21 years was Marcella Cheri Bachman.

• Special thanks to the following investigators and organizations whose cooperation and diligent investigation helped make this identification


possible:

– Det. Raphael Crenshaw• King County Sheriff’s Dept.

– Captain Gregory Hintz• Missoula County Sheriff’s Dept.

– University of North Texas

Cold CODIS Hit – NCIC Inconsistencies

UNIDENTIFIED PERSON

TYP/D-UNIDENTIFIED-DECEASEDSEX/F RAC/W HGT/506-506 WGT/120-125 HAI/BRO EYE/BLUEYB/1959-1960

DBF/19790926 EDD/19790926

DENTAL INFORMATION DENTAL CHARACTERISTICS

MISSING PERSON ENDANGERED

NAM/VINCENT, TAMMY ANN SEX/F RAC/W DOB/19620319HGT/507 WGT/140 EYE/BLU HAI/BR0MNP/MP DLC/19800101

DENTAL CHARACTERISTICSDENTAL CHARACTERISTICS

1X 32V2V 31O3V 30OF4V 29V5V 28V6V 27V7V 26V8V 25V9V 24V

10V 23V11V 22V12V 21V13V 20V14MO 19O15OD 18V16V 17X

01V 32V02V 31V03V 30V04V 29V05V 28V06V 27V07V 26V08V 25V09V 24V10V 23V11V 22V12V 21V13V 20V140L 19V15V 18V16/ 17/

DATE BODY FOUND IS OVER 3 MONTHS BEFORE THE DATE OF LAST CONTACT IN NCIC.

THE MISSING PERSON LED A TRANSIENT LIFESTYLE AND

THE DLC ENTERED INTO NCIC WAS THE BEST ESTIMATE OF

WHEN SHE WENT MISSING

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UNIDENTIFIED PERSON

TYP/D-UNIDENTIFIED-DECEASEDSEX/F RAC/W HGT/506-506 WGT/120-125 HAI/BRO EYE/BLUEYB/1959-1960DBF/19790926 EDD/19790926




DENTAL CHARACTERISTICS

01V 32V




DENTAL INCONSISTENCIES

Outdated Records for Missing Person?

Dental Chart Errors?

NCIC Data Entry Errors?


UNIDENTIFIED PERSON



UNIDENTIFIED PERSON





DENTAL CHARACTERISTICS

In 2007, a cold CODIS hit facilitated the identification of this

missing person after more than







missing person after more than25 years.

A match using NCIC alone would likely never have occurred.

Warm CODIS Hit– Retesting Old Evidence

Kimberly McClaskey went missing while hitchhiking to her cousin’s home in London Mills, IL on July 16, 1983.

Over 5 years later, a cranium wasOver 5 years later, a cranium was found by a local boy, who kept the

remains another 5 years, thinking they were an Indian artifact.

The remains were eventually turned over to law enforcement, but DNA testing in 1993 yielded “inconclusive” results.

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In 2005, through its partnership with UNT, NCMEC coordinated the profiling of family reference samples for Kimberly McClaskey and a specimen from the Jane Doe

Warm CODIS Hit– Retesting Old Evidence

Jane Doe.

The results of the mtDNA and STR DNA analysis using new DNA technology made an identification that could not be made 13 years prior. The remains were identified as those of Kimberly McClaskey and returned to the family for a proper burial.

The Identification of Paula Stewart

Paula Stewart was 15 years of age when she went missing from Hobart, Indiana on June 28, 1980.

On December 16, 1980, the Lake County Police in Indiana located the remains of an unidentified deceased female. The remains were suspected to be those of Paula Stewart, however, there was no

i tifi b hi h t k th id tifi tiscientific means by which to make the identification in 1980.

As the years went by, the body from Lake County was still officially unidentified and the remains were eventually buried in an unmarked grave in a local cemetery.


in 1980

The case went cold as original investigators retired or passed away.

The Identification of Paula Stewart

In October 2006, a family member contacted NCMEC to report that Paula Stewart was still missing. The family member notified the FAU of the body in Lake County that was always suspected to be their missing loved one.

The FAU began working with law enforcement and the coroner’s office to locate the remains and coordinate an exhumation. DNA was collected from family members of Paula Stewart through the FAU’s DNA Registration Program and a private laboratory assistedwith the exhumation and DNA profiling of the


in 1980

decedent. The profiles were compared and a positive identification of Paula Stewart was made in July 2007 through both nuclear and mitochondrial DNA analysis.

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Unidentified Children at www.missingkids.com

B.J. SpamerB.J. SpamerForensic Case Specialist

Office: 913-469-5437Cell: 913-387-7004

Email: [email protected]

the national center for mi ssing & exploited children’s

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