A THREAD OF EVIDENCE: Recent Episodes
DrRon Martinelli
America Out Loud Network © – Go out onto the mean streets; visit the crimes scenes and work in the forensic lab with your host nationally renowned forensic criminologist and investigator DrRon Martinelli
Are the instructions, directions, orders and edicts of Governors, Mayors and County Supervisors enforceable “laws” or merely strongly worded suggestions? Are the pandemic politicians who seek to enforce their edicts acting in an objectively reasonable and constitutional manner based upon vetted scientific facts; or are they creating draconian directives that infringe on civil rights. And what untenable position are these ignorant politicians placing law enforcement in? What causes weak law enforcement administrators and officers to affect unnecessary, discretionary and possibly unlawful detentions, issue citations and make arrests against citizens who are out of business, out of work and under the intense stress of trying to support their families. Join in this unique discussion between three law enforcement and criminal justice court experts in this episode of “A Thread of Evidence.”
How do the dynamics of psychophysiology and human factors affect officers during high-stress incidents such as officer-involved shootings? Why can’t we remember things accurately? Why do officers see things and testify differently than what might be recorded on their dashcams or bodycams? Does the mind play tricks on us under stress? DrRon Martinelli and forensic psychologist and imminent behaviorist Dr. Alexis Artwohl delve into the mysteries of the human mind in this fascinating episode of “A Thread of Evidence.”
Workplace violence is now the fourth leading cause of workplace deaths and in the corporate world⏤deaths are second only to transportation. OSHA statistics document that every year millions of American workers report having been victims of workplace violence. In 2017 alone, 18,400 injuries and 458 deaths were attributed to workplace violence. In this timely episode of A Thread of Evidence, DrRon and special guest, forensic investigator and workplace violence subject matter expert Mark Kasack delve deep into the causes and effects of the workplace violence phenomenon and Mark provides us with some very useful tips on recognizing the signs of stress in our employees and taking positive, proactive steps in reducing the potential for violence in our workplaces.
Ted Bundy and Edwin Kemper were famous serial killers and Charles Manson was a mass murderer; but were they psychopaths or sociopaths? What is a “psychopath” and what causes psychopathy? Are there “red flag” behaviors in children and adolescents that we might recognize that indicate future problems? What is the difference between a psychopath and a sociopath? Learn all about the forensic indicators and hear all about the personalities of Bundy, Manson and Kemper and the crimes they committed as DrRon and licensed forensic psychologist Dr. Joni Johnston share their insight on this intriguing episode of “A Thread of Evidence.”
Jim Jones and the People’s Temple, David Koresh and the Branch Dividians, The Heaven’s Gate Cult, the Bagwan Rashnish, Nexium, Adolph Hitler and the Storm SS. What are cults? Who forms them and why? Why would someone to join a cult and how dangerous are they? DrRon and forensic investigations team member and board certified forensic psychologist Dr. Joni Johnston share a fascinating and informative conversation into this strange, unique and deadly environment of The Cult in this episode of a “A Thread of Evidence.”
Police-induced false confessions are among the leading causes of wrongful convictions and since the late 1980s, six studies alone have documented approximately 250 interrogation-induced false confessions. Police-induced false confessions occur primarily in the more serious cases, especially homicides and other high-profile felonies. More than 80 percent of the 125 false confessions documented by Professors Steve Drizin and Richard Leo occurred in homicide cases. In fact, false confessions make for the leading cause of wrongful convictions in homicide cases. Learn why people falsely confess to serious crimes they never committed and get some important tips on forensic interviewing from two of the nation’s top forensic interviewers on this fascinating episode of “A Thread of Evidence.”
“He must have been insane to have committed that crime.” But are they really “insane?” DrRon and forensic psychologist Dr. Joni Johnston probe the legal meaning of “insanity,” discuss the basic psychosis and then have a commonsense, diagnostic discussion about the insanity defense. How successful is it? Do people really get off if they are found to be legally insane? How can a forensic expert tell who is really insane as opposed to someone faking the medical presentations. Join us for this fascinating forensic discussion on insanity on the episode of “A Thread of Evidence.”
There were 458 workplace violence homicides in the U.S. in 2017. Seventy-five percent of all workplace homicides were committed by armed assailants. DrRon and his special guest expert board certified forensic psychologist Dr. Joni Johnston peel back the forensic and behavioral layers of this most serious work environment problem. The forensic doctors profile the workplace violence suspect, discuss how to assess, evaluate and act when one is spotted. The also discuss laws on workplace violence and the challenges employers and human resources managers face in maintaining a safe work environment.
The news is full of stories about people making accusations against others and false reports of sexual assaults and hate crimes. How do investigators determine who is truthful and who is not? DrRon interviews forensic interviewer, polygraph examiner and subject matter expert Dan Sosnowski to discuss forensic interviewing techniques, how confessions are gained; what works and what does not. The experts discuss some of the nation’s most notable false reporting cases such as Twana Brawley, the accusers of former Supreme Court Justice nominee Brett Kavanaugh and Hollywood actor Jussie Smollet. Also learn all about polygraph examinations and how to become a forensic interviewer.
The investigation of allegations of sexual assault, especially when those claims come many years later is a challenge for sexual assault investigators. DrRon and Dr. Joni Johnston discuss the issues of why people report that they have been assaulted years later and how investigators gather forensic and interview evidence to determine the viability and accuracy of valid assaults versus false reporting. The experts discussion is supported by analysis of the Duke Lacrosse, Tawana Brawley, Justice Brett Kavanaugh and VA Lt. Gov. Fairfax cases.
Suicidal people intent upon committing “Suicide by Cop” or SBC is one of the most serious and dangerous types of police encounters. Why do suicidal people choose this method of death to end their lives? DrRon and forensic psychologist Dr. Joni Johnston delve into this forensic mystery, peeling back the psychological layers to explain the profiles of this type of suicidal person, why they manipulate police to kill them and the choreographies most often used to accomplish this death act. Police training and de-escalation methods proven to be most successful in reducing risk and saving lives are also discussed in this fascinating area of forensic psychology and police practices.
Do you know what “Synthetic Identity Fraud” is? Not many people do. Synthetic Identity Fraud is one of the fastest growing types of identity fraud in the U.S. and affects all of us. In this episode of A Thread of Evidence, I interview Forensic Fraud Investigator Mark Kasak, who explains what this fraud scheme is all about, who the “fraudsters” are, how they cleverly commit their crimes, who the victims are and what can be done to protect us from being defrauded by such schemes. Join us for this fascinating visit to the computer crime scene of forensic fraud.
This month marks the 55th anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in Dallas, Texas. DrRon Martinelli interviews Forensic Animator Angelos Leiloglou of Knotts Labs, CO about his unique forensic research into the dynamics of the shooting of JFK by Lee Harvey Oswald, testing the Warren Commission’s famous “Single Bullet Theory.” DrRon and Angelos discuss what a forensic animator does and the tools of their very technical trade in this episode. Join us and be amazed at how the advancements in technology can solve these historic homicides.
Forensic sketching is a specialized art of forensic science. Forensic artists can be critical in helping to solve kidnappings, homicides, sexual assaults and cold cases. In this episode of A Thread of Evidence, DrRon Martinelli discusses forensic sketching and interviewing with internationally renowned Forensic Sketch and Imaging Artist Michael Streed, “The Sketch Cop.” Retired Orange (CA) Sergeant Streed introduces us to the unique world and skill sets of the forensic artist. Mike talks about his most famous cases where his sketches led to the arrest of child kidnappers and homicide suspects. He’ll tell you how you can become a forensic sketch artist and provides some great tips on beginning that journey. Join DrRon and Mike Streed for a fascinating conversation into this different area of forensic science.
What’s the best gun to carry? What’s the best ammo to stop a human threat? What is knock down power? What stops a human threat? Gunshot wound ballistics, how to “Dress for Success” when carrying a concealed weapon. Don’t miss this very informative discussion between DrRon and his Forensic Death Investigations team ballistic scientist and firearms expert Lance Martini. The pair discuss all things firearms-related in Florence, Italy, as well as talking about how the invention of gunpowder changed the paradigm of warfare in the Middle ages with armament, weaponry, fortifications and castles.
What constitutes the science of “ballistics?” DrRon and Forensic Death Investigations Team member Nationally renowned ballistic scientist and firearms expert Lance Martini discuss the Ten Top TV Fallacies of Firearms and Ballistics as the cruise down the Rhine River in Europe. What is recoil? Can guns really shoot under water? Can cops really shoot cars to stop them? Do people really get knocked backwards when shot with the Dirty Harry .44 Magnum? What really happens when bullets penetrate glass and more. Join the team as they discuss the realities of ballistics in tonight’s interesting episode.
While officer-involved shooting deaths take up all the media-air in the room, the investigations of in-custody jail deaths are equally important. But what are the standards of care and what types of evidence do forensic experts need to review to determine what went wrong in those cases? World travelers DrRon Martinelli and Forensic Death Investigations Team member and corrections expert Bob Prevot delve into this special investigations environment from Vienna, Austria. DrRon and Bob discuss how prisoners are processed into jails after arrest, the medical, psychological and classification procedures and the specific evidence to be recovered and analyzed. Finally, the pair unpack the files of a couple of their complicated jail death cases and reconcile the evidence for you. Tune in for this interesting and unique forensic adventure as we investigate jail in-custody deaths.
Is it murder or self-defense homicide? That’s one of the critical questions that DrRon and Modoc County (CA) District Attorney Jordan Funk discuss as they unpack the bags of two fascinating cases: one a self-defense homicide and a gruesome multiple murder case in Northern California. Join these two forensic and prosecutorial experts as they delve deep into the forensic and legal evidence of both cases. Learn what separates a “murder” from a self-defense homicide and get into the mind of a heinous female multiple murderer who was ultimately sentenced to death for her crimes.
During the course of a normal criminal investigation, the District Attorney of a small, rural California county discovers bodycam forensic evidence that a sheriff’s deputy had used excessive force on a handcuffed prisoner. The force was not reported by the deputy in his incident reports. DrRon Martinelli and Modoc County (CA) District Attorney Jordan Funk discuss the forensic evidence in this case, why prosecutors use forensic police practices experts and the value these experts bring to criminal cases.
Police injured prisoner who becomes a quadriplegic; woman seriously injured by suspect in police pursuit; a tragic Blue on Blue shooting death analysis; a gay police captain refused employment by his former police department. DrRon Martinelli and retired Colorado Police Chief and now police practices expert Dan Montgomery discuss the wide variety of cases that forensic and police experts investigate and testify on in this fascinating episode of A Thread of Evidence.
Forensic criminologist and law enforcement expert DrRon Martinelli discusses the most complex forensic case of his career to date with Detective and former Cleveland Police Officer Association President Steve Loomis, when they review and analyze the officer-involved shooting incident and prosecution of Officer Michael Brelo on two counts of manslaughter. Learn how DrRon’s nationally renowned Forensic Death Investigations Team sprang into action, reconstructed a dynamic crime scene involving 13 shooting officers firing 137 rounds in 17.5 seconds, resulting in the death of two drug dealing suspects – when no weapon was recovered from the suspects. Murder of seemingly unarmed suspects, you say? Not exactly. Listen to the amazing circumstances and how the forensic experts discovered and analyzed new evidence leading to the acquittal of an officer who believed that he was fighting for his life and the lives of other officers. Image: Cleveland police officer Michael Brelo was acquitted on May 23, 2015 (Credit: CNN)
DrRon and homicide expert Bob Prevot discuss the forensic investigations involved in “deconfliction” of “Blue on Blue” deaths, corrections in-custody deaths and Internal Affairs investigations. Listen to the Forensic Death Investigations experts discuss these fascinating, but rarely heard of investigative procedures.
Dr Ron Martinelli and Forensic Death Investigations Team vision expert Dr. Paul Michel forensically analyze the tragic “Blue on Blue” officer-involved shooting death of Lakewood, CO Agent James Davies by a member of his own department’s entry team during a high-risk entry and search for a possible armed suspect. Learn all about the science of vision and how it is used in forensic investigations.
Enter the world of forensic investigations and peer into the darkest caverns of the mind to discover why parents kill their kids. Learn how forensic investigators reconcile these challenging and emotionally traumatic crime scenes to bring parents to justice. DrRon interviews death investigator Darren Dake of the Death Investigations Academy in St. Louis, MO about the rarely seen homicide dynamic of “filicide” or parents who murder their children. DrRon and Mr. Dake also provide insight into suicidal ideations, homicide classification and special clues used in solving homicide cases. This episode should not be missed.