J. Thomas McClintock, Ph.D.

DNA Diagnostics, Inc. was founded in 1993 by Dr. J. Thomas McClintock, a forensic scientist who specializes in forensic DNA analysis and the use of insects in legal investigations. Dr. McClintock has evaluated and provided expert guidance for over five hundred criminal and paternity cases, both in the public and private sector, where DNA analysis was performed for individual identification and/or parentage verification. Dr. McClintock has taught numerous training seminars that focus on the principles and methodologies used in forensic DNA typing as well as Workshops designed to train prosecutors, criminal defense attorneys, investigators, and law enforcement officials in 1) crime scene preservation, 2) evidence collection, 3) chain of custody issues, 4) DNA evidence handling and analysis, 5) specialized trial tactics, and 6) effective presentation of DNA evidence to judges and juries.

Dr. McClintock is a Professor and the Director of Forensic Science in the Department of Biology and Chemistry at Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA where he teaches undergraduate classes in microbiology and forensic science and a graduate class in microbial pathogenesis. He previously held a faculty position in the Department of Molecular and Microbiology at George Mason University (GMU) in Fairfax, VA where he taught graduate courses in forensic DNA analysis, forensic entomology, and in forensic sciences. The course in forensic DNA analysis focused on current laboratory methods and applications in forensic DNA profiling and effective presentation of DNA evidence at trial. His previously published laboratory manual, entitled “Forensic DNA Analysis: A Laboratory Manual” (2008, CRC Press/Taylor & Francis), presents an overview of the current techniques and methods commonly used in forensic DNA typing, as well as, the interpretation of DNA evidence which is crucial for today’s criminalist. Dr. McClintock's updated laboratory manual entitled "Forensic Analysis of Biological Evidence: A Laboratory Guide for Serological and DNA Typing" (2014, CRC Press/Taylor & Francis), focuses on the current serological and DNA tests used in forensic laboratories throughout the world. Dr. McClintock's latest laboratory manual entitled "Forensic Analysis of Trace Evidence" (2017, AcademX Publishing Company), introduces the science of trace evidence analysis by focusing on basic techniques used in crime scene investigations and in forensic science laboratories. This resource manual is designed to provide the reader with a fundamental understanding of trace evidence as well as a thorough background of the specialized techniques used to identify and compare specific types of trace or biological evidence.

In 2008, Dr. McClintock was invited to appear on the Nancy Grace Show to provide his insights on the use of DNA testing in the investigation of the missing 3-year old Florida girl named Caylee Anthony (www.CNN.com/CNN/Programs/Nancy.Grace). The complete transcripts for both shows are available at http://www.Edition.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0808/22/ng.01.html and http://www.Transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0809/26/ng.01.html.

In 2013, Dr. McClintock was featured as one of the "Top 15 DNA Analyst Professors" on the ForensicColleges.com blog. The list is comprised of outstanding Professors and authoritative experts in the field of DNA analysis.The criteria used in compiling the list of the Top 15 DNA Analysts included research interests and contributions to the field of forensic DNA, earned a doctoral degree and gained experience during professional employment, practical experience in the academic community, and have published in the field of DNA analysis.

In 2017, Dr. McClintock’s expertise was requested to evaluate new evidence analyzed from a murder case that occurred over thirty years ago. The defendant, Jens Soering, was accused and convicted of the murders of Nancy and Derek Haysom in Boonesboro, VA in 1985. Recent evidence, found at the crime scene, was analyzed by the VA Department of Forensic Sciences and reviewed by Drs. McClintock and Schanfield (George Washington University, Washington, D.C.). Both forensic DNA experts came to the conclusion that Jens Soering’s DNA was not present at the crime scene. McClintock, who was working closely with the investigators and Steven Rosenfield, Soering’s attorney, appeared on ABC’s “20/20” in the hopes that the documentary of mounting evidence would support the petition in the hands of Virginia Governor Northam to pardon Soering. In December, 2019, Soering was paroled by the Virginia Parole Board and Governor Northam and then deported to Germany, his country of citizenship.

Dr. McClintock received a Bachelor of Science degree from the Department of Biology at James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA, a Masters of Science degree from the Department of Entomology, and a Doctorate of Philosophy degree from the Department of Microbiology at the University of Maryland, College Park, MD. After completing a Postdoctoral Fellowship at the Agricultural Research Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Beltsville, MD, Dr. McClintock became Group Leader/Senior Staff Scientist at Digene Diagnostics, Inc. where he directed the research on the development and use of DNA probes for the detection and diagnosis of human pathogens.

For more information contact Dr. McClintock at DNADiagnosticsInc@gmail.com.