National Forensic Science Week begins today; public invited to cold case presentation Tuesday evening

BOISE, Idaho – National Forensic Science Week begins today. The weeklong recognition highlights the vital role forensic science plays in public safety and justice. In 2024 alone, Idaho State Police Forensic Services analyzed more than 13,000 controlled substance samples and completed 481 DNA cases in support of Idaho’s judicial system.

As part of the week’s observance, the public is invited to a special evening presentation that will walk attendees through the investigation, the science, and the persistence that solved a nearly 30-year-old Idaho cold case.

Cold case presentation

• When: Tuesday, Sept. 16, 7–8:30 p.m. MDT
• Where: Boise State University – Charles P. Ruch Engineering Building (RUCH), Room 110
• What: In the summer of 1995, 84-year-old Wilma Mobley was strangled to death in her Jerome home. For decades, detectives pursued the case with limited leads. Advances in DNA technology finally brought answers. In March 2023, evidence from the case was re-examined by ISP DNA analysts, revealing a profile that matched a longtime suspect and bringing long-awaited justice for Wilma and her family. 

“Idaho State Police Forensic Services has one of the best laboratories in the world,” ISP Forensic Services Director Matthew Gamette said. “Every test we perform brings us closer to answers, accountability, and justice for Idaho families. That’s what drives the phenomenal scientists and staff who work here.”

Idaho State Police Forensic Services provides scientific analysis of physical evidence for law enforcement agencies and the criminal justice system statewide. The laboratories are staffed with highly trained scientists who specialize in disciplines such as DNA, DNA database, digital evidence, toxicology, controlled substances, firearms, latent prints, seized drugs, crime scene analysis, and questioned documents. By delivering accurate and timely results, ISP Forensic Services plays a critical role in supporting investigations, promoting public safety, and ensuring justice for Idaho communities.

Posted in District 4 - Southern Idaho, Forensic Services