After six decades, the suspect in the assault and murder of Catherine Blackburn of Albany, New York has been identified.

In September 1964, 50-year-old Catherine Bik Blackburn was sexually assaulted and murdered in her home on Colonie Street in Albany, New York. Several law enforcement agencies responded, including the Albany Police Department, and a homicide investigation was opened. Investigators collected a significant amount of evidence, including blood samples, a footprint in the yard, and slips of paper believed to be connected to the killer. Blackburn, a foreman at the Fuller Brush Company, rented out a room in her home and was separated from her husband, who was an Air Corps veteran working in Japan.

Investigators learned that Blackburn had recently cancelled newspaper ads to rent out the room and painted the rental unit the same weekend she was killed. Investigators found a slip of paper with the same numbers as the house, "117" and receipt torn from Catherine's receipt book. Investigators were able to read the name on the missing receipt by examining pen impressions on the next sheet of paper in the book. That name did not lead to any known person and was determined to likely be fictitious. Despite an extensive investigation that went on for years, the case went cold and no suspect was identified.

In 2023, the Albany Police Department, working with the FBI, submitted forensic evidence to Othram in The Woodlands, Texas to determine if advanced DNA testing could help identify the suspect. Othram scientists successfully developed a DNA extract from the provided evidence and then used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® to build a comprehensive DNA profile for the suspect. Once the profile was created, it was provided to the FBI’s forensic genetic genealogy team, who worked to develop new leads in the case using forensic genetic genealogy.

With this new information, a follow-up investigation was conducted leading investigators to potential relatives of the suspect. The potential suspect, who had died in 1998, was exhumed and DNA was collected and compared to the DNA from the 1964 crime scene. This investigation led to the positive identification of the suspect, who is now known to be Joseph Nowakowski, born in 1931.

Nowakowski died in 1998 after several stints in prison, according to officials. He was convicted of a similar assault of an elderly woman in Schenectady in 1973 and officials believe that Nowakowski is likely connected to other criminal cases in the area.

Advanced DNA testing at Othram was made possible through a grant from Season of Justice, a nonprofit dedicated to providing funding to investigative agencies and families to help solve cold cases.

This case is a reminder that every piece of preserved evidence has the potential to unlock long-awaited answers. If you would like to support efforts to solve more cases like this, consider contributing your DNA data to the DNASolves database which aids law enforcement in identifying suspects and giving families the answers they deserve.

The identification of the suspect represents the 14th case in the State of New York where officials have publicly identified an individual using technology developed by Othram. Visit DNASolves to learn about other New York cases where your support can help bring long-awaited answers to families.

A warning to readers, this story contains graphic content.

A man has been a sentenced in one of Canada’s first genetic genealogy cases, where a victim remains alive.

Bradley Britton, 62, from Innisfil, pleaded guilty to two historical sexual assault offences against 20-something women in the GTA between 1987 and 1993.

He was sentenced to eight years in prison, five for the initial Toronto incident and three for a second Oakville matter, during which the judge commented on the “stark horror” the victims must have felt during the incidents.

On May 23, 1987, Britton snuck into a woman’s Toronto bedroom around 3 a.m., put his hand over her mouth and held a kitchen knife at her neck, telling her to remain quiet so that he would not hurt her.

The woman, whose identity is protected by court order and is only known in legal documents as N.G., had a one-year-old child sleeping beside her in bed.

On that night, Britton removed his tank top, covered the woman’s eyes with it and penetrated her, telling her to say the sex was better than her husband, who was sleeping in the next room with two older daughters aged five and nine.

Britton asked her to have an orgasm.

In “stark fear,” she complied.

On his way out, Britton, 24 at the time, demanded she not tell anyone about the incident, noting that he knew who she was and where she lived.

Police would later identify pry marks on the front door, court documents said.

A little over five years later, Britton ran up on a petite woman, aged 20, known as A.N., grabbed her by the neck and pushing her under a highway alcove.

Britton undid his pants, masturbated himself and then penetrated her with both his hands around her neck.

“He told her not to tell anyone and that he would be watching her,” court documents said.

The victim was crying and telling Britton she did not want to have sex. Afterwards, A.N. was forced to wave down a passing car for help.

Justice Clayton Conlan told the court that Toronto and Halton police had engaged in a “dogged, determined” investigation with the help of Othram, a genetic genealogy laboratory in Texas to solve the first Canadian sex assault case using this technology.

Britton was arrested in 2023, some 30 years after the second attack.

N.G. is now deceased, but Conlan told the court her daughters’ victim impact statements were heart-wrenching, explaining how N.G. was never the same person again.

“Not physically,” he said. “Not mentally. Not in any way.”

As for Britton, the court heard how despite him holding a lengthy criminal record, not including any convictions for sex assault, assault or weapon offences, he’d been off the books in terms of crimes since 1989.

He is divorced, has a son and comes from a dysfunctional background, where he was exposed to violence, substance and sexual abuse.

The mitigating factors in the case include Britton taking responsibility for his crimes, advising that he’s been drug and alcohol free for years and his ongoing remorse for his crimes.

The defence recommended house arrest for two years and three years probation, but the court also heard the maximum sentence for these crimes was 14 years for the crime against N.G. and 10 years for the crime against A.N.

Conlan laid out the aggravating factors in stark terms.

“Britton vaginally penetrated two complete strangers, one who was sleeping in the sanctity of her own home and with her infant beside her in the bed and the other who was simply walking back home from the movie store,” he wrote. “Britton used violence against these women. He threatened them. He disrespected, demeaned, humiliated and violated them in ways that are difficult to understand.”

If you’ve been a victim of sexual assault please contact 911, your local police or 1-888-579-2888 for the 24/7 Victim Support Line to get connected with resources.

Helen Dymond of National Mine went missing on June 28, 1981, vanishing without a trace. This is the case Northern Michigan University and the Michigan State Police are working on together; both hope the public can help as well.

Holly Letson, granddaughter of Dymond, visited the NMU cold case class Thursday to provide information to the students and the context of the area as well as family history.

“You are giving us a little hope again,” Letson said.

Meeting a family member related to the subject of the cold case and being in the same county is eye-opening to the students working in the cold case program.

“It is a breath of fresh air and it provides the motivation behind it,” said cold case student Jalin Halcome. “The whole reason we do this cold case thing is to help the families and the victims. So meeting with someone is super rewarding.”

August saw the NMU cold case program solve its first case, a 39-year-old sexual assault in Delta County. The program has worked on 12 other cases and provided assistance to MSP in those cases.

“Any information you may have,” said Lt. Benjamin Eckola of MSP. “If you are a resident or anywhere in the National Mine area back then when she went missing, or you went there, please share information if you have it.”

Dymond was last seen walking along Marquette Country Road 496 from the then Tilden Township Hall, now the private Tilden Township Club. She was 48 years old, white, 5 feet 2 inches in height, weighed about 125 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes. She would be 92 years old today.

Any information on the disappearance of Helen Dymond should be given to the MSP at 906-475-9922.

Discover your family’s history at the “Family Ghosts” Genealogy Resources Workshop at the Oswego Public Library! Join us on Thursday, October 9th, from 4 to 5 PM in the library’s community room.

Put together the pieces of the past and explore vital information to uncover the roots of your family tree. This workshop will introduce you to valuable resources available at the library, including Ancestry.com, microfilm archives of the Palladium Times and other newspapers, as well as online resources like NYHeritage.org, NYSHistoricNewspapers.org, and FindAGrave.com.

These tools will equip you with the skills needed to navigate various resources and conduct your family research, helping you reconnect with and rediscover your family’s history.

The workshop will take place at 120 E 2nd Street in the library’s community room on the lower level. This program is free and open to the public. If you have any questions, please contact us at 315.341.5867 or email oswlib@ncls.org.

The Oswego Public Library is a vibrant community hub where people of all ages can learn, connect, and grow. With a wide array of books, digital resources, and engaging programs, the library is proud to serve as a cornerstone of lifelong learning in Oswego County. To learn more, visit https://oswegopubliclibrary.org/services/.

The skeletal remains of a white male discovered 36 years ago in Franklin County have been identified as Ernest Emerson Carter, born in 1923.

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost and Franklin County Coroner Dr. Nate Overmire announced the breakthrough, crediting the success to a collaborative effort involving advanced forensic genealogy.

"Solving a cold case takes teamwork, technology and tenacity – all of which were on display in this case," Yost said. The remains were found on Nov. 3, 1989, on Walcutt Road, but little is known about Carter's life or death.

Dr. Overmire emphasized the importance of dignity and respect for the deceased, stating, "Our patients can no longer advocate for themselves so we must on their behalf." He praised the efforts of his office, the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI), and community partners in solving the mystery.

BCI became involved in 2000 through Project LINK, an initiative collecting DNA samples from unidentified remains and missing persons. Despite advanced DNA testing, no leads emerged until last year when the nonprofit Porchlight Project funded further testing by Othram, a Texas-based forensics company.

I am hopeful the identification of Mr. Carter brings long-awaited answers and a step toward closure for all involved," said Val Bogart, The Porchlight Project’s genetic genealogist.

Genealogists and BCI's Criminal Intelligence Unit built a family tree, leading to a match with a male relative whose DNA confirmed the remains as Carter's. Kristen Mittelman, Chief Development Officer for Othram, highlighted the role of technology in providing answers to families, stating, "We’re proud to work with law enforcement who are working every day to solve cases and help families."

The Laurens District Genealogy Society will host Colleen Knights, who will speak about “The Future in Genealogy Using Artificial Intelligence (AI)” on Thursday, October 9, at 7:00 pm, at the Laurens County Museum, located at 116 South Public Square, Laurens, SC.  

Knights is vice chair of the SC Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Lineage Committee. She was recently featured in an article about a new memorial wall for American Revolution heroes in Greenville, SC, where she focused on soldiers who settled in the area. The lecture is free to the public.

For more information, contact the Laurens County Museum at (864) 681-3678, or go to LaurensCountyMuseum.org or Facebook.

Conference Title: 2-day Academic Conference - Beyond the Family Tree: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on AI, DNA, Education, and Community in Genealogy

Conference Dates: 25–26 June 2026

Location: University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland (Hybrid Format)

The Strathclyde Institute for Genealogical Studies (SIGS) will hold an international academic genealogy conference in Scotland at the University of Strathclyde, June 25-26, 2026. The conference will be hybrid. While most sessions will be accessible online, some activities, including evening receptions, will be available in person only.

In addition, on June 24, a separate symposium on professional genealogy practice hosted by the Association for Professional Genealogists (APG) will be held on campus and via hybrid access. (Please note, speakers for the APG Professional Genealogy Symposium are by invitation only).

Call for Presentations

All proposals must be submitted via email by December 08, 2025. Acceptance decisions will be sent out by end of December 2025.

Speakers & poster presenters will receive free registration for the conference.

Full details, including themes and submission guidelines are available on the event website page > https://www.strath.ac.uk/studywithus/centreforlifelonglearning/genealogy/beyondfamilytreeconference2026/

We look forward to your participation and contributions to this exciting event!

In another victory for forensic genealogy, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost and Franklin County Coroner Dr. Nate Overmire announced today that the skeletal remains of a white male found 36 years ago have been identified.

“Solving a cold case takes teamwork, technology and tenacity – all of which were are on display in this case,” Yost said. “This type of public-private partnership has a direct impact on so many and brings real results to loved ones.”  

The remains – discovered on Nov. 3, 1989, on Walcutt Road in western Franklin County – are those of Ernest Emerson Carter, who was born in 1923. Very little is known about Carter’s life or death.

“We believe each person is worthy of dignity and respect,” Overmire said. “Our patients can no longer advocate for themselves so we must on their behalf. I am extremely proud of the compassionate, talented staff who worked on this case from my office, BCI and our community partners. Together, we were able to utilize science to solve a mystery.”

Investigators from Overmire’s office and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, part of Yost’s office, had long worked to solve the mystery of the remains.

BCI became involved in 2000, when the Franklin County coroner at the time submitted the remains to BCI’s Project LINK (Linking Individuals Not Known), an initiative that collects DNA samples from unidentified human remains and from people with missing loved ones in hopes of turning up a match. No leads were generated.

In the ensuing years, BCI conducted additional, advanced DNA testing on the remains – but, again, no leads were generated.

Last year, the nonprofit Porchlight Project, which funds forensic genealogy for families of the missing and the murdered, became involved, paying for the testing conducted by Othram, a Texas-based forensics technology company.

“I am grateful to Ohio BCI, the Franklin County Coroner’s Office, and Othram for their collaboration and dedication throughout the process of solving this decades-old mystery,” said Val Bogart, The Porchlight Project’s genetic genealogist. “I am hopeful the identification of Mr. Carter brings long-awaited answers and a step toward closure for all involved.”

Genealogists and BCI’s Criminal Intelligence Unit worked collaboratively to build a family tree to locate a close relative. This process turned up a match with a male relative, whose DNA was used to confirm the remains as those of Ernest Emerson Carter.

“There is technology here today that works, and it is able to give answers to a lot of families, like in this case,” said Kristen Mittelman, Chief Development Officer for Othram. “We’re proud to work with law enforcement who are working every day to solve cases and help families.”

Memories, milestones, and traditions fill Reinhardt yearbooks throughout the decades. From 1948 to 2004, these nostalgic issues captured and preserved cherished classmates, favorite professors, and the evolution of campus life.

Through digital versions now available on the lower portion of the University’s alumni page, the yearbooks offer a celebratory window to explore and remember the people, traditions, and rich history that shaped Reinhardt. We also invite all alumni to share their favorite moments and celebrate their legacy.

Click here to view yearbooks on the Alumni Page

Amgueddfa Cymru has released over 2000 images into the public domain making them freely available on a new platform.

It puts Wales at the forefront of open access and on par with global museums such as the Natural History Museum, Smithsonian, Rijksmuseum, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Images available to browse on the new platform, Amgueddfa Cymru Images, include galleries of artworks by Van Gogh, Monet and Renoir, historic photographs of people and places, and images of objects from the national collection, all of which have special relevance to Wales.

Images on the platform represent the natural world, as well as archaeological, social and industrial history. The wide range of images reflects the breadth of items which are part of Wales’ national collection.

The museum’s Open Access Policy means that anyone can now download medium resolution images from the site free, for both commercial and non-commercial use. This allows them to be freely used whether that be for scholarly research, a website for a local pub, or television and film, all without fees or additional approvals.

A selection of Amgueddfa Cymru Images

Coal strike colliers in Cwmbach – by permission of Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales

Some of the images available through the digital library include the museum’s collection of Blaschka glass models of sea creatures, historic images of the north Wales landscape, and a collection of Monet’s Waterlilies which were bequeathed to the museum by the Davies Sisters.

There are also hundreds of images of items reflecting Welsh history and life including lovespoons, clothing and quilts, and many historic images of Wales taken by some of the earliest photographers.

Dr Kath Davies, Director of Collections and Research at Amgueddfa Cymru said: “The national collection belongs to everyone, and we are thrilled to launch Amgueddfa Cymru Images which offers another way we can share the national collection and stories of Wales. We particularly hope that schools and educational institutions following the Curriculum for Wales will use this free tool to support their work, and we look forward to seeing how it will be used.

“This is only the beginning. We’re delighted to be launching with more than 2000 images, and will be continuing to add more images to the platform and to digitise new content. We’re also keen to collaborate with other institutions to reach as many people as we can and continue to share and encourage learning and enjoyment through the national collection.”

Amgueddfa Cymru Images can be accessed HERE.