Forensics News



Suspected Arrested in Kidnapping & Rape in Collier County | 10/23/2024
Suspect arrested in kidnapping and rape of 65-year-old woman behind Collier County business

We are so proud of the teamwork at the Fort Myers Regional Operations Center Crime Laboratory. The Biology/DNA Section came together to rush and provide results within 30 hours of receiving evidence for testing in this violent crimes case!  

Santa Rosa Murder Conviction | 9/20/2024
Convicted murderer receives 2nd life sentence for killing cellmate in Santa Rosa CI (weartv.com)

A previously convicted murderer was convicted for killing again while in the Santa Rosa Correctional Institute. We are proud of the work done by our PROC crime laboratory staff! 

Arrest in Sanford Cold Case | 7/19/2024
Sanford police announce arrest in ‘brutal’ cold case killing from 1999

https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2024/07/18/sanford-police-to-provide-update-on-decades-old-cold-case/


 

Multi-jurisdiction drug trafficking ring operation success | 6/20/2024
Forensic Seized Drugs analysts are always busy!

Video: Volusia Drug Trafficking Ring Dismantled, 38 Facing Charges | VSO (volusiasheriff.gov)

Florida Woman Accused of Raping Man with Autism and Giving Birth to His Child | 1/12/2024
Florida Woman Accused of Raping Man With Autism and Giving Birth to His Child (msn.com)

FDLE is proud of the DNA testing conducted in the Ft. Myers Regional Operations Center 

Agencies invite Fort Myers Middle students to simulated crime scene | 11/13/2023

 

Forensic dig for Fort Myers Middle students (winknews.com)

Cape Coral Man Found Guilty of Murdering Roommate | 10/20/2023
Cape Coral man found guilty of shooting and killing roommate (winknews.com)

Fort Myers DNA Section and Tampa Bay Firearms Section members provide forensic results and testimony in second degree murder case! 

Winter Park Cold Case Homicide | 7/31/2023
Jury deliberations continue for man accused of killing Winter Park woman decades ago – WFTV

Zieler Sentenced to Death in Cornell-Story Homicides | 7/31/2023
Zieler sentenced to death in Cornell-Story homicides | News, Sports, Jobs - Cape Coral Breeze

Cold case murder solved by Tampa Police and TBROC DNA | 4/27/2023
Loretta Vann was reported missing in 1987 at age 22. Her partially nude body was found near her home with the cause of death determined to be strangulation. In 1988 and 2003, FDLE examined hairs from the victim and the scene. In 2022, a special agent submitted slides retained by the medical examiner as well as a jumper the victim was wearing at the time her body was discovered. FDLE TBROC Biology identified semen on the jumper while conducting examinations in 2022-2023. Ultimately a profile was developed from the slides and entered into CODIS. The profile is attributable to a convicted offender from GA who was serving a sentence for murder and rape but died in prison years ago. Great work TBROC lab! 
Murdered: Loretta Vann | Tampa, FL | Uncovered

Man found guilty in 2018 Marathon murder | 2/3/2023
We are proud of forensic analysis conducted by Crime Lab Analysts Kaleigh Brownell (Biology), Kim Barton (Friction Ridge) and Senior Crime Lab Analysts Connie Bell (Digital Evidence) and Tamara Disarevic (Biology), in this case! 
Wolf was convicted in the brutal 2018 sexual assault and murder of Rena Osbourne, a 51-year-old woman in Marathon.

Cold case cracked: Man arrested for murder nearly 36 years later, Pinellas deputies say | 2/3/2023
The Tampa Bay laboratory Biology/DNA Section, FDLE's Genetic Genealogy Investigations Team and Partner Parabon Nanolabs, and the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office help solve a 1987 homicide! We are proud of Supervisor Melissa Suddeth, Senior Crime Lab Analyst Vicki Bellino, and Senior Crime Intelligence Analyst Supervisor Debbie Abney for all of their efforts on this case! 

Three indicted on murder and robbery charges in Okaloosa County | 12/8/2022
We are proud of our PROC Crime Laboratory and Analysts Jennifer Wilkerson (Biology/DNA), Tara Welch (Friction Ridge), Bonnie Beal (Questioned Documents), and Jess Bosseler (Seized Drugs) for their work that helped lead to this arrest! Three men are facing charges of murder and robbery after a February shooting in Niceville.  

https://www.wjhg.com/2022/12/08/three-indicted-murder-robbery-charges-okaloosa-county/

Two neighboring counties. Two mass shootings. The same gun. | 12/1/2022
FDLE Firearms Analyst William Black and Crime Scene Analyst Ashleigh Rettig assisted in this case, where a handgun fired during a shootout on Pensacola Street in Tallahassee was linked to a mass shooting at a Gadsden County nightclub. Analyst Black's work aided in the investigation of an individual murdered in the Tallahassee shooting. 

https://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/2022/11/30/gun-linked-to-2-different-mass-shootings-as-tallahassee-trial-continues/10802177002/
 

Federal Jury Convicts Tampa Man of Double Murder | 11/30/2022
The defendant was convicted for the deaths of two victims murdered during a planned robbery over marijuana. Numerous agencies came together to assist in the investigation, examination of evidence, and trial testimony. See the full press release: Federal Jury Convicts Tampa Man Of Double Murder | USAO-MDFL | Department of Justice
 

WESH 2 Investigates: How Florida prosecutors used forensic science in Tommie Lee Andrews' case | 11/17/2022
Thirty-five years ago, DNA was first used in a Florida criminal trial. FDLE's Orlando Regional Crime Laboratory and now Senior Crime Laboratory Analyst Tim Petree are mentioned in the story!  

Springfield man sentenced to four life terms, plus more than 125 years in prison | 10/14/2022
A Springfield man was sentenced to four life sentences and more than 125 years in prison after he broke into a home, sexually assaulted two people and threatened to have them killed if they called the police.

DNA helps solve 1990 Charlotte Co murder | 8/31/2022
STR and Y-STR DNA testing by FDLE TBROC analysts helped identify a convicted murderer in Ohio as the donor to a crime scene sample from Punta Gorda. The suspect has been indicted in Charlotte County and will be extradicted from Ohio to face First Degree Murder charges in Florida. 

2 decades later, a guilty verdict in Tampa cold case rape | 6/14/2022
Crime Lab Analysts in the Tampa Laboratory Friction Ridge and Biology Sections examined evidence that helped identify and subsequently convict a man on a burglary and sexual assault from December 2000. 

Suspect arrested in Sanford burned shed murder (wesh.com) | 5/26/2022
FDLE Orlando Crime Lab Analysts in the Biology and Firearms Sections expedited this testing and made important observations that helped to lead to a quick arrest.  

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