Dr Emma Tilley

Emma is a UK expert on missing persons and unidentified human remains. She achieved a masters degree in Crime Science, Investigation, and Intelligence in 2018. She completed her PhD in Criminology and Policing in 2025, critically reviewing the cross-matching of unidentified human remains and missing persons reports in England and Wales. She is using her PhD findings to influence policy change and has shared recommendations with the Law Commission of England and Wales for their review into the laws that govern the process of dealing with the remains of people who have died.

Emma began volunteering at Locate International in 2020. Since then she has led investigations, contributed to ‘The Missing’ podcast, and is a lead contributor for Locate International's Channel 4 documentary series, The Body Detectives.

Emma completed her Churchill Fellowship research in 2024, visiting Canada, Sweden, and the US to explore how the police use of investigative genetic genealogy can bring resolution for families of the unidentified. She was since invited to the House of Lords to discuss the adoption of investigative genetic genealogy in the UK.