Bode Technology

Registration is officially open for the Bode Technology Annual Forensic DNA Conference! For Bode27, we are heading to Dallas, TX from May 25-27, 2027.

Join forensic scientists, law enforcement, prosecutors, and industry leaders from across the country for two days of expert-led sessions, case studies, and discussions shaping the future of DNA. Plus, the option to spend even more time learning with our preconference workshops.

This year’s theme, No Case Left Behind, highlights how modern forensic tools and multidisciplinary collaboration offer new solutions for all cases: past, present, and future.

Register early to take advantage of early bird pricing (available through January 4, 2027).

What to Expect in 2027:

- Preconference workshops on the forensic industry's most recurring questions
- Case studies spanning cold cases, UHR work, and sexual assault kit testing
- Perspectives from exonerees, victims, and legal experts
- Sessions on mental health, ethics, and trust in forensic science
- Networking with professionals from across the U.S. and abroad

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn, connect, and be part of forensic DNA’s most impactful conversations.

Register here: https://hubs.li/Q04xBHzK0

Imagine sitting in your car listening to music when you're attacked for no reason. At a Woodlawn parking lot in September 2025, 21-year-old Jaylin Hartless was fatally shot while simply enjoying some alone time. The forensic evidence in the form of fired shell casings recovered at the scene played an important part of the investigation and trial.

Bode conducted specialized and advanced testing on those shell casings, performed statistical analysis that linked one of the suspects to the evidence, and provided testimony during the proceedings.

Following an eight-day trial, a Fairfax County jury convicted Tavon Tykee Ferguson of second-degree murder and use of a firearm while committing a felony. His conviction follows Tavon Lang's July conviction for second-degree murder in connection with Hartless's death.

Forensic DNA analysis can help investigators connect evidence to individuals, strengthen a case, and provide jurors with scientific findings they can evaluate. Bullet casings can provide indisputable DNA evidence if they are tested with optimal m**hods.

Read more about the case and the convictions:

Man convicted of second-degree murder for Woodlawn shooting | FFXnow A Fairfax County jury found an Alexandria man guilty yesterday (Thursday) of fatally shooting a man during an attempted vehicle break-in in Woodlawn last year. Tavon Tykee Ferguson was convicted of second-degree murder and use of a firearm while committing a felony after an eight-day jury trial in F...

Upcoming Webinar: From Case Review to Identification: Building a Modern Cold Case Program

How do you identify which cold cases may benefit from today's advances in forensic DNA technology? And how do you build a program around that process?

Join Bode Technology on September 22 at 2 p.m. ET for a complimentary webinar with Jason Shea, Staff Lieutenant with the Texas Rangers.

Jason supervises Texas Rangers assigned to the Unsolved Crimes Investigation Program and serves as the statewide coordinator for the Texas Ranger SAKI Cold Case Investigations and Prosecution Program.

He'll share practical perspectives on:
• Reviewing and prioritizing cold cases
• Building and strengthening a cold case program
• Incorporating advanced DNA testing into investigations
• When forensic investigative genetic genealogy (FIGG) may be appropriate
• Funding considerations for cold case initiatives

The conversation will be moderated by Teresa Vreeland, Bode's Vice President of Forensic Genealogy Services.

September 22 | 2 p.m. ET

Register: https://hubs.li/Q04xtfy90

25 years later, the work continues to bring everyone home and to give answers to grieving loved ones.

September 11, 2001 was not only a tragic event in American history, it created an unprecedented challenge for forensic scientists: identifying thousands of people from severely fragmented and degraded remains.

In the years that followed, that challenge pushed forensic science forward. At Bode, our work identifying victims of 9/11 led to the development of specialized bone testing m**hods and internally developed DNA typing kits designed to help scientists recover usable DNA from some of the most challenging remains.

But innovation did not stop there.

Today, new advances in DNA analysis, including next-generation sequencing and forensic investigative genetic genealogy (FIGG), are creating new possibilities for identifying remains that have remained unidentified for decades.

In fact, the New York City Office of the Chief Medical Examiner recently announced the first 9/11 victim identified through FIGG. And the work will continue. Sadly, 1,099 victims remain unidentified.

Twenty-five years ago, forensic scientists were developing new approaches because the circumstances demanded them.
Today, scientists continue to develop and apply new approaches for the same reason: there are still victims waiting to have their name restored.

Today and always, we remember the lives that were lost, and we remain committed to advancing the science, exploring what is possible, and helping bring answers to families.

We're excited to support the launch of the National Cold Case Center and proud that Dr. Angela Williamson, Bode's Vice President of Cold Case Solutions & Special Initiatives, will serve on its Advisory Committee.

As Angela shared: "Mindy and Anne-Marie are two of the very best in the cold case community. Their new initiative will be a huge success and make a difference to thousands of lives. I am honored to be a part of the advisory committee and look forward to helping move more cold cases forward."

Bringing together leading experts in forensic science, law enforcement, prosecution, victim advocacy, and investigative support, the National Cold Case Center is creating new opportunities to help agencies access the resources they need to advance cold case investigations.

Congratulations to Mindy Montford, Anne Marie Schubert, and everyone involved in bringing this important initiative to life.

Learn more:

National Cold Case Center The National Cold Case Center unites law enforcement personnel, forensic specialists, crime victims and their families, as well as other stakeholders within the criminal justice system, under a single organization to deliver essential resources supporting cold case investigations.

The importance of testing challenging evidence with specialized DNA m**hods.

When Judith Cunniffe was found deceased inside her abandoned vehicle in Waiuku, New Zealand, investigators were faced with a complex homicide investigation and evidence that required careful examination.

Among the evidence were rootless hairs. Using Bode’s advanced rootless hair m**hodology, our team developed STR results that matched Cunniffe, providing an important DNA connection to the investigation.

Bode also provided virtual expert testimony during the trial, demonstrating that access to specialized forensic expertise doesn’t have to stop at geographic boundaries.

From challenging evidence in the laboratory to supporting the case in court, Bode worked alongside investigators to help uncover answers for a complex homicide investigation.

https://hubs.li/Q04x4D-80

Chicken hoarding, m**h and fake accent revealed in bizarre murder trial Chicken hoarding and m**hamphetamine abuse appeared to have played roles in a rural South Auckland homicide in which a woman’s battered body was found dous

Progress in a Cold Case Doesn't Happen All at Once

In April 1981, 23-year-old Yolanda Herrera was walking home from a night out when she was killed in Universal City, Texas. Two days later, children on their way to school discovered her body in a field. Evidence collected during her autopsy would eventually become a critical piece of an investigation that remained open for more than four decades.

In 2021, a male DNA profile was developed from evidence preserved from the case, but there was no match in available databases.

Bode Technology was honored to continue supporting the DNA testing in this case over several years. As part of that work, Bode conducted a Y-STR surname search that returned the possible name of Brower—the correct surname of the eventual suspect.

While a surname search does not identify an individual, it can provide investigators with an important investigative lead when traditional database searches don't produce a match. In this case, that lead became one piece of a much larger investigative effort.

As technology advanced , investigators continued pursuing the DNA evidence and additional genealogy. Their persistence ultimately led them to Kelly Lee Brower, who was arrested in 2025 and later confessed to Herrera's killing. A subsequent comparison of his DNA to the evidence preserved from Herrera's autopsy provided the match investigators needed.

Cold cases are rarely solved through a single test or a single organization. They take persistence, collaboration, evolving technology and investigators willing to pursue every available avenue—even decades later.

45 years later, DNA breakthrough leads to arrest in Yolanda Herrera cold case UNIVERSAL CITY, Texas — More than four decades after Yolanda Herrera was found beaten to death in a Universal City greenbelt, investigators say advances in DNA technology have finally led them to the man responsible for

Considering FIGG for your investigations in Europe?

There’s still time to join Bode for a practical discussion of how Forensic Investigative Genetic Genealogy is being applied in real-world casework.

On August 27 at 3:00 p.m. CEST / 9:00 a.m. ET, we’ll explore:
• Evaluating cases and samples for FIGG potential
• SNP testing for challenging forensic samples
• The role of GEDmatch PRO
• Genealogical and regional research considerations
• Privacy and regulatory requirements, including GDPR
• Working within jurisdictional requirements

FIGG for European Investigations: Practical Considerations and Emerging Opportunities

Register now: https://hubs.li/Q04vm70N0

There’s more than one way to approach DNA evidence.

Join Bode this Tuesday, August 25 at 2:00 p.m. ET for Getting More from Your Evidence: DNA Sampling Methods for Every Case.

In just 30 minutes, we’ll explore:
• Traditional sampling m**hods
• M-Vac sampling
• Approaches for casings, bullets and metal objects
• How evidence type can influence sampling decisions
• Emerging and proprietary Bode approaches for challenging evidence

Whether you’re working with routine evidence or a more challenging item, knowing your options matters.

Register now and join us Tuesday. https://hubs.li/Q04t-RL20

Cases with multiple alleged offenders and multiple crime scenes can be extremely challenging to investigate.

When Juan Carlos Hernandez de Leon went missing in May 2024, investigators worked to determine what happened and locate him. Information eventually led authorities to a property in Edinburg, Texas, where Hernandez was found deceased and buried in a barrel.

Bode Technology supported the investigation with exhaustive DNA testing of evidence collected from both the crime scene and the body recovery site. Bode compared DNA results to the individuals identified as suspects and used STRmix to interpret complex DNA mixtures, helping investigators evaluate the evidence from multiple scenes.

The investigation ultimately led to Samuel Uvalle Sr. pleading guilty to murder and receiving a 30-year prison sentence. Charges against two other defendants remain pending.

Complex investigations often involve evidence collected from multiple locations and require careful interpretation of challenging DNA profiles. Bode is proud to support investigators and justice partners by helping turn forensic evidence into information that can contribute to the pursuit of justice.

https://hubs.li/Q04tVLdH0