Northern Michigan University’s Center for Forensic Science director assists the FBI and Detroit and Philadelphia police departments in identifying exhumed human remains as a part of Operation UNITED. NMU Center for Forensic Science director Jane Harris was recently commended for her assistance on Operation UNITED in the fall. Harris played a crucial role in the recovery of bone samples from seven homicide victims dating back to the 1960’s through the 1980’s.
According to an Associate Press article, in September FBI and Philadelphia police worked on the latest effort by the city to identify unidentified homicide victims buried in a small field in northeast Philadelphia. Harris was praised by Philadelphia police assistant director of the office of forensic science Ryan Gallagher, for her anthropologic expertise. In a letter from Operation UNITED leaders, Gallagher shared that Harris’s knowledge of infant and child bones proved valuable as the team worked to discern small bone samples.
Those interested in learning more about Operation United and the Northern Michigan University Center for Forensic Sciences can find more information here.
