National Forensic Science Week - Finding Justice for Joyce Casper

Event Details

The crowning event in Idaho for National Forensic Science Week is a community presentation to emphasize the importance of forensic science in Idaho. This year we will focus on the Boise Police Department case involving a 36-year-old assault and murder solved with the assistance of investigative genetic genealogy.

In 1987, Joyce Casper was tragically murdered. The case remained unsolved until 2017 when investigators partnered with a genetic genealogy firm. Detectives eventually identified Frank A. Rodriguez as the perpetrator by building a family tree from existing DNA. Though Rodriguez had passed away in 2007, justice was finally served.

Speakers will include:

• Detective Paul Jagosh, a 25-year law enforcement veteran with diverse experience including patrol, special weapons and tactics, and use of force instruction, currently serves as a Violent Crimes Detective. His caseload encompasses homicides, robberies, assaults, kidnappings, cold cases, and officer-involved shootings. Detective Jagosh also authored the curriculum and teaches at the Boise Police New Detective Academy. He holds a B.A. in Political/Social Science from Northwest Nazarene University and played a crucial role in solving the 1987 Joyce Casper cold case murder.
• Rylene Nowlin manages the Idaho State Police Forensic Services Lab in Meridian, Idaho, overseeing biology/DNA casework and databases since 2002. She transitioned from a full-time casework analyst in the same unit to her current role as Laboratory Manager in 2014. Rylene, an Idaho native, also dedicates her free time to volunteering with local 4-H groups and showcasing paint horses.
• Cyndi Hall holds an M.S. in Biological Sciences from San Jose State University and a B.S. in Chemistry/Biochemistry from UC San Diego. Currently a Senior DNA Analyst at DNA Labs International (DLI), she boasts over 20 years of forensic DNA analysis expertise. Before joining DLI in late 2020, Cyndi had a diverse career at the Idaho State Police Forensic Services, including roles as a DNA Analyst, Supervisor, DNA Technical Lead, and CODIS State Administrator. She previously worked as a DNA Database Analyst at the California Department of Justice DNA Laboratory and held positions as a Criminalist and Criminalist Supervisor at the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Crime Laboratory before relocating to Idaho.

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