Michigan forensic expert to mark 1996 Olympic bombing anniversary

John Morrey Collins will speak on the Eric Rudolph manhunt at a law-enforcement symposium in Florida on Aug. 26 and publish a tribute to bombing victims on July 21. The anniversary comes as the 1996 Centennial Olympic Park attack reaches 30 years and the case remains one of the most expensive investigations in U.S. history.

Why it matters: - The 30th anniversary of the Centennial Olympic Park bombing falls on July 27, renewing attention on a case that killed Alice Hawthorne and injured more than 100 people during the 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympics. - The attack was the first of four bombings carried out by Eric Rudolph over 18 months, including the January 1998 Birmingham women’s clinic bombing that killed off-duty police officer Robert Sanderson and severely injured nurse Emily Lyons. - The Rudolph investigation remains a reference point for high-cost, long-running manhunts and for the role forensic science can play in linking attacks to a suspect.

What happened: - John Morrey Collins, a Michigan-based forensic expert who worked the case, will lead a full-day session on Aug. 26 at the 2026 High Profile Murder Case Symposium. - The symposium runs for three days and is hosted by the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office Specialized Training Unit at the City of Doral Police Training Center in Doral, Florida. - Collins will also publish a commentary on July 21 honoring the bombing victims and the investigators and scientists who worked the case. - The commentary will appear at the scheduled publication page.

The details: - Collins’ symposium session will cover the forensic, investigative and leadership dimensions of the Rudolph case. - The symposium also features retired DEA agents Steve Murphy and Javier Peña, known for their work pursuing Pablo Escobar and for the Netflix series "Narcos." - FBI Assistant Special Agent in Charge Jeremy Schwartz will discuss the Bureau’s response to the Route 91 Harvest Festival shooting. - More information and registration details are available at the symposium’s event page. - Collins can speak to the forensic science behind the investigation, the scale and cost of the manhunt, and lessons on leadership, scientific evidence and investigative urgency in high-profile cases.

Between the lines: - The planned anniversary commentary and symposium appearance position Collins as a public voice on the human and investigative toll of the bombings. - The timing suggests the anniversary is being used not only to remember victims but also to revisit how major cases are solved and how long such investigations can take. - The case’s continued relevance shows how forensic work can shape accountability years after an attack.

What's next: - Collins’ tribute commentary is scheduled for July 21. - The 30th anniversary of the Centennial Olympic Park bombing arrives on July 27. - Collins’ training session is set for Aug. 26 during the three-day symposium in Doral. - More information is available at johnmorreycollins.com and criticalvictories.com.

The bottom line: - Collins is using the anniversary to connect remembrance with forensic lessons from one of the most expensive criminal investigations in American history.