Virginia

New body farm in Virginia could help solve crimes all over the country

Published

10 months ago

July 18, 2023

New body farm in Virginia could help solve crimes all over the country

This article is part of “Solutionaries,” our continuing commitment to solutions journalism, highlighting the creative people in communities working to make the world a better place, one solution at a time. Find out what you can do to help and subscribe to our Solutionaries channel on youtube.

Donating your body to science could help solve crimes here in Virginia and all over the country.

There are only eight body farms in the country and the newest one is in northern Virginia.

“It’s an incredibly personal and awesome decision when somebody thinks that upon their death, they want to contribute their body to science. I mean, it’s the ultimate gift,” said Mary Ellen O’Toole, the Forensic Science Program Director at George Mason University. “Once the body will come out here, we will study every aspect of human decomposition.”

The former FBI profiler says this research will help find bodies, solve crimes, and help investigators in the mid-Atlantic region who run into issues when they work homicide cases.

“We have our law enforcement partners that tell us, ‘Hey, when we go out to a scene, we’re having problems with this’ or ‘We’re having problems with this issue.’ So that really helps us to refine how we want to research out here at the body farm. We use those kinds of examples to define the research and I think that’s incredible because we’re not doing this esoteric kind of stuff just because it’s interesting. We want it to be useful,” said O’Toole.

“There’ll be a homicide, and they’ll move the body. So now we want to know, was there a body here or not? So we have to look at the chemistry that’s still remaining either in the soil or in the in the air around that area,” said Brian Eckenrode, who also worked for the FBI.

He now uses his chemistry background as a professor at GMU. They’re studying how to better find a body that might be buried with other things like trash or chemicals to throw off investigators and dogs. It’s just one of the many research projects going on at the body farm in Manassas.

By working with the seven other body farms across the country, forensic science could make major strides.

“It’s like a puzzle in a lot of ways,” said Eckenrode, who added some of the chemistry is there but not all of it yet. “We’re looking for that common set of chemicals that you would say that is human, independent of temperature, humidity, soil type, and a variety of other factors.”

He compared it to an explosive.

“We know the chemistry of explosives. We can determine and train our canines; we can train our instrumentation to just look for that chemistry. What we’re doing now, it’s broader because our bodies are very complex. So we decompose into several 100 compounds. We know that and so we want to tune that down. And I think by now 20 years ago, if we knew what we did today, we will probably have a solution.”

Eckenrode encourages people to think about donating their bodies to science.

“That would be really helpful for us. I’ve given my life to science, I plan on giving my body to science when I pass,” said Eckenrode.

GMU can get donor bodies from all over the Commonwealth through the Virginia State Anatomical Program. It’s the “only program in Virginia authorized to receive donations of human bodies for scientific study. The primary mission of VSAP is to educate health professionals by providing human donors for the teaching of anatomy and surgery and medical research to the State’s medical schools, colleges, universities, and research facilities.”

The bodies are tested for diseases and there is a process that has to be followed.

When you donate your body to science, it means they can do the research, to prove the science, that solves the cases and trains the next generation.

“I think the most prominent aspect of all of this is to be able to do a much better job of identifying and locating human remains in order to make sure that the person responsible for the homicide is identified, apprehended, and prosecuted,” said O’Toole. “What these people have done when they contribute their body to science will live forever.”

GMU says the research at the body farm will help smaller agencies in Roanoke.

“This is the kind of research that will improve these kinds of cases I think all over Virginia, and ultimately, hopefully all over the country,” said O’Toole.

GMU is still waiting for its first donor body to start some of the research projects, but other projects are going on right now without donor bodies.

You can decide to donate your body to science before you pass, or your loved ones can do it after you die. For information on the Virginia State Anatomical Program, visit this link.

GMU says another limitation to research is money. They encourage you to think about donating to the forensic research program and body farm if you are interested in helping train the next generation and find scientific breakthroughs.

10 News is taking you inside the new science research of solving crimes all week.

How bees can help investigators find a body
3D technology can take a judge or jury to a crime scene as if you were there
Old technology, used in new ways to help find things buried underground

Join us at 7 p.m. on 10 News for a different story every night – showing how forensic science is evolving to catch more criminals and get justice for families.

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Virginia

A second former Virginia Tech DL is headed to the NFL on an undrafted free agent deal

Published

10 mins ago

April 28, 2024

Press Room

A second former Virginia Tech DL is headed to the NFL on an undrafted free agent deal

Like former Virginia Tech football teammate Pheldarius Payne, Norell Pollard was hoping to hear his name called in the later rounds of the 2024 NFL Draft on Saturday. Like Payne, his name was never called leaving the Hokies no players picked in their year’s draft.

As soon as the draft officially ended Saturday night, free agency opened for the players that went undrafted and Payne reportedly is signing with the AFC South champion Houston Texans. Pollard reportedly is going to the NFC East and not too far from the Virginia Tech campus in Blacksburg.

Justin Melo of The Draft Network reported Saturday night that Pollard was signing as an undrafted free agent with the Washington Commanders, joining first-year coach Dan Quinn’s roster.

Leading up to the draft after Virginia Tech’s Pro Day last month, Pollard met virtually and in person with other teams. One of the teams he met with was the Commanders. He also met with the Cleveland Browns, Los Angeles Rams, Tennessee Titans, New England Patriots, New York Jets, and Jacksonville Jaguars among some of the other teams.

Pollard sees himself as someone who is going to make an impact in the NFL and is full of confidence when he talked with The Draft Network.

“I’m going to make the best impact I can make. I’m going to be a great pass rusher at the next level. I can do that at a high level. I’m planning on being a great player. I’m somebody you want to have on your team.”
– Norell Pollard

It’s good to see Pollard get rewarded for all the hard work he has put in and hopefully, he gets to stick with the Commanders going into training camp over the summer.

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Virginia

Valente, Gdovic drive to Modified victories at Langley Speedway; Music heads Virginia Racers field

Published

7 hours ago

April 28, 2024

Press Room

Valente, Gdovic drive to Modified victories at Langley Speedway; Music heads Virginia Racers field

The Ryley Music Show continued on a busy Saturday night of racing at Langley Speedway in Hampton, though DJ Valente and Rick Gdovic scored 30-lap Modified victories.

Music, one of the area’s best young drivers, made it look as easy as 1-2-3 on Mosquito Joe’s Night. He finished second and third in the Modified twin events and won the night’s longest race, a Virginia Racers 50-lapper.

Valente gained his second triumph of the young season, holding off Music by 0.343 of a second in a race with eight drivers. Gdovic, who placed sixth in the opener, bounced back in the nightcap as Peyton Ferree was the runner-up.

Virginia Racers: After almost 23 1/2 minutes, Music fended off Donovan Edwards by 1.057 seconds to emerge atop the field of 16 and score his second victory this season in the division.

Grand Stock: Longtime Langley competitor Paul Lubno made it 2 for 2 this year in getting to Victory Lane, beating Tim Wilson by 496-thousandths of a second over almost 27 minutes. Eight drivers started the 40 laps.

UCAR: Christian Keller remained in charge of the division, beating nine foes and winning his third race in as many tries. It came by a whopping 8.700 seconds over Thomas Fontaine in a 25-lap event that took Keller just less than eight minutes.

Enduro: Ryan Vinson led the field of 18 in a 30-lap race that took less than 10 1/2 minutes. He held off Zachary Herdlein by 1.096 seconds for his first victory of the year. Alex Floroff, who won the division’s first two races, was third, 1.435 seconds off the pace.

Legends: Tommy Jackson motored to his second victory in two tries, easing past Cody Carlton by 3.262 seconds in a 25-lap race that took more than 12 minutes and began with 11 drivers.

Bandolero: Bryson Nichols earned his second victory in two starts this year, overcoming Nevaeh Edwards by 253-thousandths of a second as they took just more than 8 1/2 minutes to complete 15 laps.

Saturday night’s results in Hampton (car numbers).

Modified 30 #1: (8 starters); 1. (18) DJ Valente; 2. (47) Ryley Music; 3. (3) Brad Adams; 4. (23) Peyton Ferree; 5. (11) Chris Roberts.

Modified 30 #2: (8 starters); 1. (64) Rick Gdovic; 2. (23) Peyton Ferree; 3. (47) Ryley Music; 4. (18) DJ Valente; 5. (3) Brad Adams.

Virginia Racers 50: (16 starters); 1. (47) Ryley Music; 2. (26) Donovan Edwards; 3. (9) Ayden Millette; 4. (45) Doug Warren; 5. (78) Atley Wiese.

Grand Stock 40: (8 starters); 1. (14) Paul Lubno; 2. (17) Tim Wilson; 3. (22) Bill Eaker; 4. (47) Nate Lundin; 5. (22) Mike Parker.

UCAR 25: (10 starters); 1. (6) Christian Keller; 2. (64) Thomas Fontaine; 3. (3c) Mikey Chinn; 4. (3) Michael Walters; 5. (7) Dwight Nikles.

Enduro 30: (18 starters); 1. (25) Ryan Vinson; 2. (32) Zachary Herdlein; 3. (17) Alex Floroff; 4. (11) Phil Nelson; 5. (12) Charles Jarvis.

Legends 25: (11 starters); 1. (87) Tommy Jackson; 2. (11) Cody Carlton; 3. (5b) Charlie Beals; 4. (7) Spencer Saunders; 5. (16) Ryan Mycka.

Bandolero 15: (12 starters); 1. (80) Bryson Nichols; 2. (02) Nevaeh Edwards; 3. (11) Addison Schumann; 4. (18) Tristan Burnelli; 5. (1) Tuggie Case.

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Virginia

Virginia Lacrosse Falls to No. 1 Notre Dame 11-9 in Regular Season Finale

Published

15 hours ago

April 27, 2024

Press Room

Virginia Lacrosse Falls to No. 1 Notre Dame 11-9 in Regular Season Finale

Notre Dame keeps the crown.

The top-ranked and defending national champion Fighting Irish came into Charlottesville on Saturday afternoon to wrap up the regular season and handed the Cavaliers a third-consecutive loss for the first time in a decade.

No. 1 Notre Dame (10-1, 4-0 ACC) completed its undefeated 4-0 run through the ACC with an 11-9 victory over No. 6 Virginia (10-4, 1-3 ACC) on Saturday afternoon at Klockner Stadium.

The first half was a back-and-forth affair, with neither team leading by more than a goal until Virginia got goals from Jack Boyden and Payton Cormier to take a 6-4 lead into the halftime break. Cormier then scored again to start the third quarter to give UVA a 7-4 lead, but the Cavaliers would score only two more goals for the rest of the game in what was ultimately their quietest offensive performance of the season.

Notre Dame scored the next four goals, with each coming from a different goal scorer, to take an 8-7 lead. McCabe Millon found Cormier on a man-up opportunity to tie things up heading into the fourth quarter. After Shellenberger assisted on a Ryan Colsey goal to give UVA a 9-8 lead, the Cavaliers proceeded to go scoreless for the final 12 minutes and 52 seconds of game time. Notre Dame scored the final three goals of the game, including two from Devon McLane, and went on to win 11-9.

The story of the game comes down to sloppiness and mistakes, as the Cavaliers won the faceoff battle 13-10, but were still outshot by Notre Dame 42-30. The explanation for that statistical anomaly is that the Fighting Irish dominated the groundball battle 50-26 and had six fewer turnovers than Virginia, who had 27 turnovers and eight failed clears.

That sloppy play and inability to win the 50-50 balls gave Notre Dame a possession edge that was too much for the Cavaliers to overcome, as they suffered their third-consecutive loss for the first time since the 2014 season.

Payton Cormier had four goals on 10 shots and was the only Cavalier to score multiple goals in the game. Connor Shellenberger had one goal and two assists, but also turned the ball over six times.

Matthew Nunes made 10 saves and allowed 11 goals for a .476 save percentage.

Virginia concludes the regular season 10-4 overall and 1-3 in ACC play.

Up next is the ACC Tournament, which will be played next weekend for the first time since the 2019 season. UVA is the No. 4 seed in the tournament and will have a very quick rematch with No. 1 Notre Dame next Friday (time TBD) at American Legion Memorial Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina. The other semifinal will be No. 2 Syracuse and No. 3 Duke. The winners of the two semifinals will play for the 2024 ACC Men’s Lacrosse Championship on Sunday in Charlotte.

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