Coroner Talk™ | Death Investigation Training | Police and Law Enforcement: Recent Episodes
Darren Dake
We are a community of professionals in the field of death investigation. Whether you’re a coroner, a member of local police or county law enforcement, an EMS professional, or medical examiner – or frankly, anyone in between, Coroner Talk™ is the right community for you. We provide training and resources to coroners and death investigators by and from professionals around the world, a peer to peer training environment. I recognized that the training available for coroners and small department investigators was limited by resources such as time away from department and expense. So, I developed Coroner Talk™.
Darren is a 30 year veteran of law enforcement and criminal investigations. He currently serves as an investigator for the Crawford County Missouri coroner’s office. He holds credentials as an instructor for the Missouri Sheriff’s Training Academy (MSA), Law Enforcement Training Institute (LETI). Has served as president of the Missouri Medical Examiners and Coroners Association, and is certified and credentialed in numerous fields of investigation.
He holds the position of lead instructor and facilitator for the Death Investigation Training Academy (DITA) and for the Coroner Talk™ community as he speaks and writes in the area of death investigation and scene management.
The number one cause of death for suicides in America is gunshot injury. This type of death can leave a lot of blood. That blood can tell a story if looked at with a critical eye.
In this episode, Jeff Gentry discusses blood pattern interpretation and specifically how it is used in suicide cases. After listening, you might look at death scenes differently next time.
https://coronertalk.com/infant-death-first-contactThe first few minutes upon arrival or notification of an infant death are very critical. Steps need to be taken to know where the infant is located and who the lead investigator is and ensure evidence is protected.
This episode is a portion of an online training course covering infant death investigation in detail. If you're interested in learning more, a link to that course can be found below.
Investigating Infant and Child Deaths
https://www.ditacademyonline.org/courses/infant-and-child-death
Someone must oversee a crime scene. This means one person is directing all activity. This might not be a ranking member of a department, though. If no one takes charge, the scene is chaotic, and nothing is done correctly.
The investigator in charge should oversee the investigation and scene documentation. He or she should ensure proper chain of custody and documentation of evidence. They are in charge of maintaining scene integrity.
As with any crime scene, cooperation is critical among differing agencies. But with a death scene, this cooperation is ever more important and strained. Due to the increased severity of the scene, the spotlight, and egos, these scenes can quickly become a disaster. Therefore, teamwork is vital, and it is the lead investigator's role to set a tone of cooperation and teamwork.
One of the most significant issues in a major case is the failure to communicate information to those working on the case. Some agencies seem to want to keep what they know to themselves. This primarily occurs from egos and "turf wars," which will compromise an effective outcome.
Everyone involved in the investigation has information gathered from the jobs they were assigned, and a lack of communication or an unwillingness to share information discovered for evaluation can prevent the entire team from finding the truth and bringing the case to a conclusion. It's imperative to remember that the cases you work aren't about you, but are for the victim, the family, and, at times, the protection of society.
One of the most frustrating mistakes at a death scene is when command staff show up on the scene with their own agendas, which have nothing to do with the actual investigation.
Sometimes, it's for political appearance or simple curiosity. However, unless they are an actual part of the investigative team, they should not insert themselves into the investigation.
In many instances, because they're at the scene, command-ranking personnel feel the need to direct the investigation. Consequently, they will have investigators running in different directions, which have nothing to do with the primary investigation.
The result is the loss of cohesive and central command and major miscommunication Many times, in these situations no one is willing to step up, make decisions and take control for fear of making the boss mad. The chaos continues and the investigation is compromised. When the outcome is delayed or not favorable, the command personnel directly responsible for the chaos will not see that they were the cause, but rather, the blame may fall on the lead investigator.
Crime scene photography, also called forensic photography, has been around almost as long as the camera itself. Investigators quickly realized that such technology could freeze time -- creating a supposedly incontestable record of a crime scene, a piece of evidence or even a body.
Today, forensic photographs are essential for investigating and prosecuting a crime. Photographs help preserve not only the most fleeting evidence -- like the shape of a blood stain that will soon be mopped up -- but also the placement of items in a room and the relation of evidence to other objects. Such images can prove vital to investigators long after the crime scene is gone.
Crime scene photographers must be methodical in their work. They can't afford to leave out an important piece of evidence or produce photographs that could be considered misleading in court.
There are three classifications of forensic photos -- overviews, mid-range and close-ups.
If the crime took place inside, overviews include photos of the outside of the building, its entrances and exits as well as images that place the building in relation to its surroundings. Photos of spectators at the scene can later help locate witnesses or suspects. Overviews also include images of all rooms, taken from overhead and from each corner.
The photographer then hones in on key pieces of evidence and captures images of them in the context. These mid-range photos might picture a piece of evidence, like a knife, but at enough distance to show its relation to furniture, a blood stain, or the rest of the room. Mid-range images establish the distance of the object from surrounding objects.
Finally, the photographer thoroughly documents evidence with close-up images. Close-ups include identifying marks like scars on a body or serial numbers on a bloodied piece of electronic equipment. A photographer often includes a ruler in the shot to establish scale but always takes a duplicate image without the measuring device. In court, the defense could claim the device covered something important.
Of course, pictures are of no value unless they're in context. The photographer keeps a photo log that includes every relevant detail, the photo number, any filters applied, the time and date, the location, and a description of the object.
Death investigations that include an active decomposing body can be challenging to work. There are many obstacles not seen in a 'fresh' death that will be present in a decomp case. In this episode, Jeff Gentry discusses many of these issues and how to successfully work a case involving a decomp.
Midweek training episodes are short-focused training to help you become a better investigator and human. These short tips are a production of the Coroner Talk podcast and the Death Investigation Training Academy. Training tips are given each week by an Academy instructor or industry peer.
Midweek training episodes are short-focused training to help you become a better investigator and human. These short tips are a production of the Coroner Talk podcast and the Death Investigation Training Academy. Training tips are given each week by an Academy instructor or industry peer.
Midweek training episodes are short-focused training to help you become a better investigator and human. These short tips are a production of the Coroner Talk podcast and the Death Investigation Training Academy. Training tips are given each week by an Academy instructor or industry peer.
Midweek training episodes are short-focused training to help you become a better investigator and human. These short tips are a production of the Coroner Talk podcast and the Death Investigation Training Academy. Training tips are given each week by an Academy instructor or industry peer.
Midweek training episodes are short-focused training to help you become a better investigator and human. These short tips are a production of the Coroner Talk podcast and the Death Investigation Training Academy. Training tips are given each week by an Academy instructor or industry peer.
Midweek training episodes are short-focused training to help you become a better investigator and human. These short tips are a production of the Coroner Talk podcast and the Death Investigation Training Academy. Training tips are given each week by an Academy instructor or industry peer.
Midweek training episodes are short-focused training to help you become a better investigator and human. These short tips are a production of the Coroner Talk podcast and the Death Investigation Training Academy. Training tips are given each week by an Academy instructor or industry peer.
Midweek training episodes are short-focused training to help you become a better investigator and human. These short tips are a production of the Coroner Talk podcast and the Death Investigation Training Academy. Training tips are given each week by an Academy instructor or industry peer.
Midweek training episodes are short-focused training to help you become a better investigator and human. These short tips are a production of the Coroner Talk podcast and the Death Investigation Training Academy. Training tips are given each week by an Academy instructor or industry peer.
Midweek training episodes are short-focused training to help you become a better investigator and human. These short tips are a production of the Coroner Talk podcast and the Death Investigation Training Academy. Training tips are given each week by an Academy instructor or industry peer.
Midweek training episodes are short-focused training to help you become a better investigator and human. These short tips are a production of the Coroner Talk podcast and the Death Investigation Training Academy. Training tips are given each week by an Academy instructor or industry peer.
Midweek training episodes are short-focused training to help you become a better investigator and human. These short tips are a production of the Coroner Talk podcast and the Death Investigation Training Academy. Training tips are given each week by an Academy instructor or industry peer.
Midweek training episodes are short-focused training to help you become a better investigator and human. These short tips are a production of the Coroner Talk podcast and the Death Investigation Training Academy. Training tips are given each week by an Academy instructor or industry peer.
Midweek training episodes are short-focused training to help you become a better investigator and human. These short tips are a production of the Coroner Talk podcast and the Death Investigation Training Academy. Training tips are given each week by an Academy instructor or industry peer.
Due to the very nature of sudden and/or violent deaths, many things can and do go wrong in the first few hours after discovery. Death scenes have a way of bringing together many individuals with various responsibilities and experiences. This unique group can consist of uniformed officers, detectives, crime scene investigators, forensic experts, coroner investigators, medical examiner investigators, as well as prosecutors and police administrative staff.
These scenes may also have fire and EMS staff or other agencies trying to do their jobs, not to mention families and onlookers. Because of this often chaotic scene, errors can happen. Let's look at the ten most common mistakes of a death investigation.
Links mentioned in the show
Death Investigation Academy
ditacademy.org
Death Investigator Magazine
DeathInvestigatorMagazine.com
Midweek training episodes are short-focused training to help you become a better investigator and human. These short tips are a production of the Coroner Talk podcast and the Death Investigation Training Academy. Training tips are given each week by an Academy instructor or industry peer.
Midweek training episodes are short-focused training to help you become a better investigator and human. These short tips are a production of the Coroner Talk podcast and the Death Investigation Training Academy. Training tips are given each week by an Academy instructor or industry peer.
https://coronertalk.com/theres-a-right-way-to-be-a-coroner-and-then-there-is-the-otherThere has always been a discussion on removing coroners and rebuilding it with a medical examiner system. However, that is rarely done because it just does not work like some would hope. It is important to keep in mind the reason for these discussions usually stems from a coroner not doing their job and, in some way, negative attention gets paid to the situation or office.
As a rule, in the United States, there are two types of Coroners and Coroner offices. One is the correct way, and the other is not. In this episode, I discuss the differences, what makes a good coroner, and why the bad ones are so bad for the field overall.
Midweek training episodes are short-focused training to help you become a better investigator and human. These short tips are a production of the Coroner Talk podcast and the Death Investigation Training Academy. Training tips are given each week by an Academy instructor or industry peer.
Midweek training episodes are short-focused training to help you become a better investigator and human. These short tips are a production of the Coroner Talk podcast and the Death Investigation Training Academy. Training tips are given each week by an Academy instructor or industry peer.
Hoarding is a psychological condition that results in a person accumulating an enormous amount of trash and things of little-to-no value, or worse, more animals than can be properly cared for. Hoarding of any kind can pose several dangers to the occupant and neighbors, and certainly to animals if they are involved. These hazards can be deadly, and all the more reason people with hoarding disorder should have professional help to restore them to healthy living conditions. If children and animals are in the home, exposed to these perilous dangers, hoarding is also a crime.
Read More at: coronertalk.com/dangers-of-hoarding
Death Investigation Academy
https:ditacademy.org
Learn more about our Medicolegal Death Investigator Course and several other online courses.
Midweek training tips are short focused training to help you become a better investigator, and human. These short tips are a production of the Coroner Talk podcast and the Death Investigation Training Academy. Training tips are given each week by an Academy instructor or industry peer.
Midweek training tips are short focused training to help you become a better investigator, and human. These short tips are a production of the Coroner Talk podcast and the Death Investigation Training Academy. Training tips are given each week by an Academy instructor or industry peer.
A paperless office is a workplace that has minimal paper-based processes and relies on digitized documents and storage instead. This includes on scene notes and document scanning from a mobile device rather than taking the actual papers. Some Coroner offices still use pen and paper rather than a simply reporting database created for death investigations. While still other use a self-made option combining a text document and a data base software like excel or numbers.
The use of digital fingerprint scanners, document scanners, e-signatures, and cloud storage has made many offices work smarter and more efficiently. This combined with a full cloud backup reduces the amount of actual paper files stored. This works for many, and yet still many others resist the change.
In this episode Darren talks to other investigators about technology and going to a paperless office option.
Medicolegal Death Investigator Course https://ditacademy.org/mldi/ This hybrid course is developed for the police detective, patrol officer, medicolegal and coroner investigator. Taught by skilled, accredited instructors working in the field of death investigation, this course will provide intermediate-level training in the skills required to properly work a death investigation. The format will develop confidence in the investigator and hone valuable skills.
After completing this course, the investigator will have the ability to better; understand the legal restriction of search and seizure, document a scene, locate and collect evidence, properly distinguish differing manners of death, better understand wound and injury interpretation, understand the dynamics of child death, conduct witness interviews, and properly complete reports and prepare for courtroom testimony.
This course will include several post-mortem examination photographs and video segments – as well as injury, death, and homicide scenes through photos and video of actual cases. This course is very graphic and intense.
Midweek training episodes are short-focused training to help you become a better investigator and human. These short tips are a production of the Coroner Talk podcast and the Death Investigation Training Academy. Training tips are given each week by an Academy instructor or industry peer.
Midweek training episodes are short-focused training to help you become a better investigator and human. These short tips are a production of the Coroner Talk podcast and the Death Investigation Training Academy. Training tips are given each week by an Academy instructor or industry peer.
A few years ago, the third Monday in January was labeled Blue Monday by many experts in the mental health field. But no matter what day of the week it occurs on, Anita Agers-Brooks, common trauma expert, and author of Getting Through What You Can’t Get Over, believes January 15th is a good barometer to predict the most depressing day of the year.
But why January 15th? If it takes about three weeks for a mindset to change, earmarking January 15th, 2024 ( or the third Monday) as the most depressing day of the year may just make sense. According to Brooks, based on several pieces of research she’s studied, as well as based on extensive interviews she’s conducted with everyday people, there are several contributors that solely, or linked with others, can throw even the hardiest soul into the pit of depression on or around this date.
Read more here
Death Investigator Magazine
Midweek training tips are short focused training to help you become a better investigator, and human. These short tips are a production of the Coroner Talk podcast and the Death Investigation Training Academy. Training tips are given each week by an Academy instructor or industry peer.
Midweek training tips are short focused training to help you become a better investigator, and human. These short tips are a production of the Coroner Talk podcast and the Death Investigation Training Academy. Training tips are given each week by an Academy instructor or industry peer.
In this episode Darren has a conversation with a student about spontaneous suicide. They discuss what it is and does it really exist. Referred to sometimes as Acute Suicide or Impulsive Suicide, the debate is whether there are suicide deaths by people who just decide for no apparent reason to end their life and no reasoning is known or can be found during investigation.
Also discussed in this episode is an invitation to you, the listener, to be a guest on the show. If you have a topic to discuss you feel others in our field would find interesting, or you have experience training on a specific topic and would like to share with others, reach out to the show and lets get you on as a guest.
Medicolegal Death Investigator
Medicolegal Death Investigator training is held twice per year at the Oasis Hotel and Convention Center in Springfield, Mo. To learn more about the course, and the exciting changes and upgrades, go to ditacademy.org/mldi
After having to identify her husband by his severed head, Jan Canty started a life journey of discovering what being a survivor of violent crime is like. In this episode we discuss the crime that changed her life forever and what she has done to survive this journey.
One accomplishment is her new book What Now - Navigating the Aftermath of Homicide and Suicide. This work is a guide, not only for survivor families, but also as a resource to investigators and support teams in how best to assist survivors.
Her new book can be found on Amazon and her web site at the link below.
https://jancantyphd.com/
In this episode I talk with Jeff Gentry about the importance of understanding blood stains. You don’t have to be an expert to recognize something is not adding up. We also discuss his new online courses and a new Blood Pattern Guide he has written.
Links to all material discussed can be found below.
New Guide to Blood Patterns
https://www.amazon.com/Visual-Guide-Bloodstain-Pattern-Analysis/dp/B0BLQSFDX9/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2JCZH3L5RPIGO&keywords=gentry+blood+pattern&qid=1685798433&sprefix=gentery+blood+pattern%2Caps%2C104&sr=8-1
Online Courses
Introduction to Blood Pattern
https://www.ditacademyonline.org/courses/bpa-introduction
Understanding Blood Patterns and What they can tell you
https://www.ditacademyonline.org/courses/blood-pattern-analysis
Death Investigation Academy
https://ditacademy.org/
In this episode, I introduce the all-new and expanded Medicolegal Death Investigator classroom course. The course has a new location, new training, and many additional perks and features.
You can learn more about the course and the updates at:
https://ditacademy.org/mldi
On this episode, I am a guest on the Don't F*up the Crime Scene Podcast with Kevin Hearst. You can find more of his show at - https://www.spreaker.com/show/dont-fuck-up-the-crime-scene
I also introduce the all-new Medicolegal Death Investigator classroom course. New location, new training, new experience. Check it out at https://ditacademy.org/mldi/
In this episode, I share a small portion of a new online course, Introduction to Blood Pattern Analysis. You can find more about that course at the link below.
https://www.ditacademyonline.org/courses/bpa-introduction
In this episode, you will learn the importance of detecting deception in interactions with victims, witnesses, and suspects and be introduced to techniques used to analyze verbal or written statements. I talked with Mark Bailey about how a written statement can be analyzed for truthfulness or deception. You can learn more about how to participate in classroom training on this topic by going to.
www.mebailey.com
Testifying in court can be terrifying if you are not used to it. Even experienced investigators need good reminders now and then on how to perform better.
When testifying in court; the eyes of the jury, the judge, the prosecutor, the defense, and the public– are on you! Your reputation and that of your department may be enhanced or destroyed by your courtroom presentation. A single ineffective presentation in the courtroom can result in the acquittal of a defendant, no matter the amount of solid evidence you may have collected.
Court Room Testimony There’s another equally important reason for you to care about being an effective witness in the courtroom. If you aren’t, all the work that you and your fellow investigators did on the case, all that the victims and their families endured, all that other witnesses may have done over the many months and sometimes years it takes for a criminal case to go to trial–will have accomplished nothing more than a containment arrest. A single ineffective presentation in the courtroom can result in the acquittal of a defendant, no matter the amount of solid evidence you may have collected.
For more information about the online course discussed in the episode, click over to: https://www.ditacademyonline.org/courses/courtroom-testimony
Online Course Click Here: Investigating Infant and Child Death
Death Investigator Newsletter: Click Here for Newsletter Info.
When it comes to all death investigations, but especially where an infant or child is involved, you should be led by the thinking that you only get one chance at your first chance. The trouble with infant death, more so than any other type of death, is the body is always moved from the place of discovery, making multiple scenes that need to be secured and looked at.
The other issue is the delay in notification. Many times, because of this moving of the body, the infant is often at a hospital, and hours have gone by before law enforcement and coroner/medical examiners are notified. This delay also frustrates the investigation by putting potential evidence at risk of being lost forever by never being found.
There are two areas of the investigation that need to be started as soon as possible; talking with the caregivers and inspecting the place of discovery. Caregivers, and anyone who found the child unresponsive, need to be talked to on the day of the death, not a few days later. Waiting may cause the caregivers to be reluctant to speak with investigators, even if they have done nothing wrong.
The next first thing that needs to be done is an inspection of the place of discovery. Do an initial walk-through looking at the environment as a whole. What are the living conditions like, is the environment safe for a child? Look for fragile evidence such as blood, vomit, mucus, etc. on bedding and crib rails. Locate bottles, diapers, medications, and food containers for later collection. What room does the infant sleep in normally, and where were they upon discovery?
Find out what the HVAC system is in the house and does the room the infant sleeps in have a different source. Be sure to photograph the entire house or environment as you walk through so you get the best representation of the scene before items are moved or destroyed.
Again, remember you only get one chance at your first chance. Every other inspection or evidence collection after that can be tainted or at least claimed to have been by future defense arguments.
Online Course Click Here: Investigating Infant and Child Death
Death Investigator Newsletter: Click Here for Newsletter Info.
When it comes to all death investigations, but especially where an infant or child is involved, you should be led by the thinking that you only get one chance at your first chance. The trouble with infant death, more so than any other type of death, is the body is always moved from the place of discovery, making multiple scenes that need to be secured and looked at.
The other issue is the delay in notification. Many times, because of this moving of the body, the infant is often at a hospital, and hours have gone by before law enforcement and coroner/medical examiners are notified. This delay also frustrates the investigation by putting potential evidence at risk of being lost forever by never being found.
There are two areas of the investigation that need to be started as soon as possible; talking with the caregivers and inspecting the place of discovery. Caregivers, and anyone who found the child unresponsive, need to be talked to on the day of the death, not a few days later. Waiting may cause the caregivers to be reluctant to speak with investigators, even if they have done nothing wrong.
The next first thing that needs to be done is an inspection of the place of discovery. Do an initial walk-through looking at the environment as a whole. What are the living conditions like, is the environment safe for a child? Look for fragile evidence such as blood, vomit, mucus, etc. on bedding and crib rails. Locate bottles, diapers, medications, and food containers for later collection. What room does the infant sleep in normally, and where were they upon discovery?
Find out what the HVAC system is in the house and does the room the infant sleeps in have a different source. Be sure to photograph the entire house or environment as you walk through so you get the best representation of the scene before items are moved or destroyed.
Again, remember you only get one chance at your first chance. Every other inspection or evidence collection after that can be tainted or at least claimed to have been by future defense arguments.
Online Course Click Here: Investigating Infant and Child Death
Death Investigator Newsletter: Click Here for Newsletter Info.
When it comes to all death investigations, but especially where an infant or child is involved, you should be led by the thinking that you only get one chance at your first chance. The trouble with infant death, more so than any other type of death, is the body is always moved from the place of discovery, making multiple scenes that need to be secured and looked at.
The other issue is the delay in notification. Many times, because of this moving of the body, the infant is often at a hospital, and hours have gone by before law enforcement and coroner/medical examiners are notified. This delay also frustrates the investigation by putting potential evidence at risk of being lost forever by never being found.
There are two areas of the investigation that need to be started as soon as possible; talking with the caregivers and inspecting the place of discovery. Caregivers, and anyone who found the child unresponsive, need to be talked to on the day of the death, not a few days later. Waiting may cause the caregivers to be reluctant to speak with investigators, even if they have done nothing wrong.
The next first thing that needs to be done is an inspection of the place of discovery. Do an initial walk-through looking at the environment as a whole. What are the living conditions like, is the environment safe for a child? Look for fragile evidence such as blood, vomit, mucus, etc. on bedding and crib rails. Locate bottles, diapers, medications, and food containers for later collection. What room does the infant sleep in normally, and where were they upon discovery?
Find out what the HVAC system is in the house and does the room the infant sleeps in have a different source. Be sure to photograph the entire house or environment as you walk through so you get the best representation of the scene before items are moved or destroyed.
Again, remember you only get one chance at your first chance. Every other inspection or evidence collection after that can be tainted or at least claimed to have been by future defense arguments.
But having a preparedness mindset is critical as an investigator. We get used to the day-to-day calls and never put a lot of thought into the time we will be thrust into a large investigation. Whether that be a large, emotionally draining investigation or one that might be, or seem to be, above our ability to manage.
We can never prepare for everything. But we can do a lot to prepare for the unexpected. In this episode, I talk about having a preparedness mindset and how to prepare for the unexpected. This is an excerpt from a larger online course but is packed with real training and ready-to-use advice.
Check out the online course at this link.
https://www.ditacademyonline.org/courses/prepardness-mindset
We have revamped an old idea into an interactive monthly newsletter—best of all, it's totally free.
To learn more and subscribe, go to deathinvestigatormagazine.com
Support Services staff are trained professionals from various fields, including medicine, mental health, and law enforcement. The team is committed to providing sincere and compassionate support at a pace survivors are comfortable with. We maintain the highest level of confidentiality. We are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
In the event of a death, Summit County provides support services to family and friends of the decedent. Services can include counseling, emotional support, financial assistance for burials, advocacy, help with paperwork, and referrals for other types of assistance.
To learn more about the Summit County, Colorado Program, go to https://summitcountyco.gov/1102/Survivor-Support
To learn more about the Death Investigation Academy and see what course you might be interested in, go to
https://ditacademy.org/
Check out the online course here:
https://www.ditacademyonline.org/courses/Suicide-and-Self-Harm
An initial exam while still on the scene is imperative for the overall determination of cause and manner of death as well as collecting time sensitive facts and evidence. This exam is only the first of two external exams. This one being on the scene and the second one at autopsy.
The on-scene exam documents what the investigator sees and what wounds, scars, tattoos, etc., are present on the body. At this stage, much of the trace evidence used in a case will either be located or preserved for future collection.
Check out the online course here:
https://www.ditacademyonline.org/courses/Suicide-and-Self-Harm
Victimology is the collection and assessment of any significant information as it pertains to the victim and his or her lifestyle. Investigators must know the victim and complete a victimology study on every suicide, you cannot properly investigate a death without it.
Ultimately you need to find out, in detail, who the victim was and what was going on at the time of their death. The best source of information will be friends, family, employers, and neighbors. Your goal is to get to know the victim better than they knew themselves.
Suicide deaths account for nearly 46,00 deaths in the United States, about one death every five minutes. The number per year has continued to grow for the past several years.
Investigators face many challenges in this death, including when to rule a death a suicide and what degree of certainty must be obtained before making that ruling.
More information and statistics can be found on the website at:
coronertalk.com
To learn more about the Death Investigation Academy, go to
ditacademy.org
Mid-Week tips are short episodes designed to give advice, tips, and ideas that can make your job easier and make you a better investigator. Some may be practical, and others may be experience-based opinions.
To learn more about the podcast go to coronertalk.com
To learn about our Academy and what courses we have that can prepare you for a career in the area of death investigation or to hone skills you currently have, go to ditacademy.org to learn more.
Mid-Week tips are short episodes designed to give advice, tips, and ideas that can make your job easier and make you a better investigator. Some may be practical, and others may be experience-based opinions.
To learn more about the podcast go to coronertalk.com
To learn about our Academy and what courses we have that can prepare you for a career in the area of death investigation or to hone skills you currently have, go to ditacademy.org to learn more.
Mid-Week tips are short episodes designed to give advice, tips, and ideas that can make your job easier and make you a better investigator. Some may be practical, and others may be experience-based opinions.
To learn more about the podcast go to coronertalk.com
To learn about our Academy and what courses we have that can prepare you for a career in the area of death investigation or to hone skills you currently have, go to ditacademy.org to learn more.
Mid-Week tips are short episodes designed to give advice, tips, and ideas that can make your job easier and make you a better investigator. Some may be practical, and others may be experience-based opinions.
To learn more about the podcast go to coronertalk.com
To learn about our Academy and what courses we have that can prepare you for a career in the area of death investigation or to hone skills you currently have, go to ditacademy.org to learn more.
Mid-Week tips are short episodes designed to give advice, tips, and ideas that can make your job easier and make you a better investigator. Some may be practical, and others may be experience-based opinions.
To learn more about the podcast go to coronertalk.com
To learn about our Academy and what courses we have that can prepare you for a career in the area of death investigation or to hone skills you currently have, go to ditacademy.org to learn more.
Put simply, IGG describes the process of using information about genetic similarities and known family relationships to generate investigative leads. The basic information used in IGG falls into two categories: genetic relative information, which is generated by a genetic genealogy database based on its internal comparison of SNP profiles in the database; and genealogical and other often publicly accessible information, such as information from census records and obituaries, that describes family relationships.
Law enforcement integrates these two categories of information to develop family trees and then identifies and investigates high-likelihood suspects within those trees.
Thus, IGG comprises two steps that are book-ended by standard police work. According to best practices, when an offender leaves a biological sample (e.g., blood or semen) at a crime scene, an accredited forensic laboratory first generates an STR profile from that sample, which is called the ‘forensic sample.’
If there are no suspects, the STR profile is then uploaded to CODIS to identify a possible match with any of the 18 million-plus profiles in the database. If the forensic STR profile matches a CODIS profile, following manual confirmation of the match to ensure no administrative errors occurred in connection with analysis of the CODIS sample, the name of the matching offender in CODIS is released to law enforcement as an investigative lead.
Continue Reading HERE
Mid-Week tips are short episodes designed to give advice, tips, and ideas that can make your job easier and make you a better investigator. Some may be practical, and others may be experience-based opinions.
To learn more about the podcast go to coronertalk.com
To learn about our Academy and what courses we have that can prepare you for a career in the area of death investigation or to hone skills you currently have, go to ditacademy.org to learn more.
In this episode, Darren and Wendy discuss the Evolution and challenges of locating and notifying NOK in a transient society. With the modern age we live in it is getting harder to located next-of-kin in some cases. Issues such as homelessness and a transient lifestyle of a deceased can create huge obstacles.
In addition to the victim being mobile, the family may not stay in one place for very long causing public records to search to be a failed lead.
We give tips on locating NOK as well as some cautions to ensure you are not caught up in a legal backlash when new family members appear and want to know why they were not notified.
In this episode, Darren and Wendy discuss the good and bad of Social media as it relates to death investigations. Social media can be a big help in certain areas and a huge obstacle in others.
We discuss the pros and cons and give some caution in how best to use and manage social media in your investigations.
Due to the very nature of sudden and/or violent deaths, many things can and do go wrong in the first few hours after discovery. Death scenes have a way of bringing together many individuals with various responsibilities and experiences. This unique group can consist of uniformed officers, detectives, crime scene investigators, forensic experts, coroner investigators, medical examiner investigators, as well as prosecutors and police administrative staff.
These scenes may also have fire and EMS staff or other agencies trying to do their jobs, not to mention families and onlookers. Because of this often chaotic scene, errors can happen. Let's look at the ten most common mistakes of a death investigation.
1. Improper Response and Arrival to the Scene
First, responding officers may not correctly respond to and secure the scene and the immediate surrounding area. Uniformed officers may not stop or detain people leaving or milling around the scene. Further, while waiting for investigation and CSI teams to arrive, it's not uncommon for first responding officers to gather to close to, or directly in the crime scene, inadvertently contaminating evidence.
Here are a few other examples of errors from the first responding officers. Failure to notify investigators soon enough, or at all; assuming the cause of death is a suicide or is natural, eliminating the need to treat the scene as a crime scene; failure to detain all persons present at the scene, which might include the suspect; or they may fail to separate possible witnesses and obtain initial statements. Also, failing to make an initial determination of the scene boundaries leads to an insufficient area of protection.
2. Failing to protect the Crime Scene
In all death investigations, but even more so in a homicide investigation, crime scene contamination can be and is a significant problem. No other aspect of these investigations is more open to mistakes than the preservation and protection of the scene and subsequent evidence.
Paramount to any investigation is ensuring by the first officers on the scene to isolate, protect, and maintain scene integrity as the investigation follows its standard path. This includes the monitoring of paramedics and EMS personnel in the scene as well as identifying them for a future interview. Officers must also watch family members or others in the area to ensure they are not contaminating the scene. After a perimeter is established and is locked down, officers should start a log of everyone entering and leaving the vicinity and the reason why they are there. Also, officers should be observing and taking notes of activities occurring in and around the scene.
3. Not Handling Suspicious Deaths and Homicides
All unattended death should be looked at and treated as suspicious, and an experienced officer/investigator should go to the scene. These deaths should be treated as homicides and crime scenes until the facts prove otherwise. Too many departments allow untrained patrol officers to conduct basic death investigations with the assumption of suicide or natural death and with the idea that it is unlikely to be a homicide. Without training, officers could likely miss-interpret a staged or altered scene.
If the scene is not handled correctly from the beginning and is later found to be a homicide, valuable evidence can be lost, and the integrity of the scene is compromised at best and at worst, non-existent.
4. Responding with a Preconceived Notion
It is imperative that investigators not allow themselves to respond to a death scene with any preconceived conclusion about the case. It’s common for investigators to get sent to a scene and given information based on the initial call. If the call came in as a suicide and the initial officer who responds arrives with the mindset of suicide, it is common to treat the death as a suicide and thus shortcut any other investigation. It looks like a suicide, so it must be a suicide, and no other investigation is conducted.
This type of preconceived investigation results in fewer photographs being taken, witness statements not being completed, evidence not being searched for or collected, and the integrity of the scene is destroyed.
It's not only suicide this can happen on, but reported natural deaths and accidents can also inadvertently be short cut if responding officers conclude their investigation based upon the initial reported call. If then, at a later time, the death becomes suspicious, the officer's reports and any investigative documentation will be lacking valuable information needed for future investigations. The tendency is for the uniformed officer to write the final report and collect the evidence necessary to fit the narrative given to him by the initial call.
5. Failing to Take Sufficient Photographs
In today's world of digital photography, photos are cheap and easy to obtain. Back when I started in this business, we used Polaroid™ instant photography and 35mm film cameras. These were expensive, and some departments wanted to limit "unnecessary" photographs in an attempt to stretch the budget. That's not the case today since hundreds of photographs can be taken and stored nearly free of charge.
Photos are a way to document the scene and to freeze that scene in time. They are used in court when necessary and may prove or disprove a fact in question. Therefore, it is vital that photographs be taken of the entire scene, area, and location where the crime took place, including any sites connected to the original crime. Remember, you only get one chance at your first chance to document a scene.
6. Failing to Manage the Crime Scene Process
The investigator in charge should oversee the investigation and scene documentation. He or she should ensure proper chain of custody and documentation of evidence. They are in charge of maintaining scene integrity. Never allow officers to use the restroom within the residence, or take food or drink from the kitchen. Never allow smoking in the investigative area, never bring food or drink into the scene from an outside source, and always keep non-essential personnel out of the scene area. Designate an area for them to congregate if needed, but it should never be inside your primary scene area.
Lead investigators must also direct crime scene personnel on where and what they are to collect. Many CSI staff are well trained and have a good idea of what needs to be done. However, since each scene is unique, the investigator in charge must ensure evidence is adequately searched for and collected.
The victim's body should always be inspected and searched for trace evidence prior to being moved or taken from the scene. Not doing so can result in loss of valuable evidence and leave many unanswered questions.
Also, and I cannot stress this enough, do not allow anyone to cover the body with anything found at or near the scene! I've arrived on death scenes to find victims covered with blankets officers found on beds, sheets from nearby laundry baskets, or coats covering victims' faces to preserve their dignity. If the body is found outdoors, barriers should be used. Using anything to "add" to and subsequently alter the initial crime scene is always harmful to the investigation. Don't do it and don't allow it.
Always stop and look around the scene; look up as much as around. See what is missing or what isn't. What looks right about the scene, and what looks wrong? Is what you are seeing matching what you are being told? Never leave a scene until you are confident every answer to any question you may have has been answered or documented. Remember, this is your only first chance.
7. Failing to Evaluate Victimology
Victimology is the collection and assessment of any significant information as it pertains to the victim and his or her lifestyle. It is imperative that investigators know the victim and that they complete a victimology study. You cannot properly investigate a death without victimology. Failing to have a complete picture of the victim will preclude you from developing motives, suspects, and risk factors unique to the victim. These risk factors are usually regarded as high, moderate, or low and based on lifestyle, living conditions, job skills, neighborhood, or anything specific to the victim.
This information includes areas such as personality, employment, education, friends, habits, hobbies, marital status, relationships, dating history, sexuality, reputation, criminal record, drug and/or alcohol use, and physical condition as well as facts about the area they grew up in and if different, the one they resided in at the time of their death.
Ultimately you need to find out, in great detail, who the victim was and what was going on at the time of their death. The best source of information will be friends, family, employers, and neighbors. Your goal is to get to know the victim even better than they knew themselves.
8. Failing to Conduct an Efficient Area Canvass Properly
First, understand the terms "area canvass" and "neighborhood canvass" may be used interchangeably. They are interviews conducted in the field, as opposed to statements taken on the scene or in the station. I will admit that conducting an area canvass can be tedious and very time-consuming. Sometimes, hundreds of contacts can be made without unveiling one shred of usable information. However, it is that one exhilarating jewel that is occasionally discovered that makes the process so rewarding.
There are right and wrong ways to conduct an area canvass that will yield better results for the efforts put out.
Ideally, patrol personnel and plainclothes detectives should perform separate canvasses. Some individuals respond more readily to an authority figure in a uniform, while others prefer the anonymity of the detective's plain clothes. Since it is impossible to know who will respond more willingly to either approach, both should be employed. This technique will give the investigator the greatest chance of getting vital information.
The canvass may be conducted in an area near the crime scene or, conceivably, hundreds of miles away from it. In the aftermath of a bank robbery, for example, the getaway vehicle may be located several counties, or even states, away. Two canvasses should, therefore, be undertaken: one at the original crime scene (the bank) and one at the secondary scene (the vehicle). If a suspect is developed, it may be advisable to perform an additional area canvass in the neighborhood where that person resides to learn about his/her reputation and habits. A complex case may require that a number of area canvasses are completed at various locations.
The primary goal of a neighborhood canvass is, of course, to locate a witness to the crime. It is this promise of the elusive witness that motivates the investigator. However, it is not only the “eye” witness you seek. On occasion, it may be just as significant to discover an “ear witness." Someone who may have heard a threatening remark heard gunshots or even heard how and in which direction the perpetrator fled.
This information can point the case in the right direction. A witness who hears a homicide subject flee in a vehicle with a loud muffler, for example, could be furnishing a valuable lead. Likewise, intimidating or threatening statements the witness may have overheard could refute a subsequent claim of self-defense. In an officer-involved shooting incident, a witness who hears the officer yell "stop, police!" or "drop the gun!" is invaluable to the investigation. Just as crucial as the eye-witness or the ear-witness is the "witness-who-knows-a-witness." Even though this person may not have first-hand knowledge of the crime, he or she can direct investigators to a person who does and is, therefore, of great value.
9. Failing to Work Together as a Team
As with any crime scene, cooperation is critical among differing agencies. But with a death scene, this cooperation is ever more important and ever more strained. Due to the increased severity of the scene, the spotlight, and egos, these scenes can become a disaster quickly. Therefore teamwork is vital, and it is the lead investigator's role to set a tone of cooperation and teamwork.
One of the most significant issues in a major case is the failure to communicate information to those working the case. Some agencies seem to want to keep what they know to themselves. This primarily occurs from egos and "turf wars," which will compromise an effective outcome. Everyone involved in the investigation has information gathered from the jobs they were assigned and a lack of communication or an unwillingness to share information discovered for evaluation can prevent the entire team from finding the truth and bringing the case to a conclusion. It's imperative to remember that the cases you work aren't about you, but are for the victim, the family, and, at times the protection of society.
A baseball game is won when everyone playing does his or her job and supports every other player in getting their job done. Imagine the bottom of the 9th, the game is tied and the next ball's hit to the pitcher who misses but scoops it up sits down, and refuses to throw or let anyone else take the baseball from them. The pitcher did their job and pitched, but the refusal to share the "scoop" with their teammates resulted in a complete failure for everyone.
10. Command and Administrative Staff Interfering
One of the most frustrating mistakes at a death scene investigation is when command staff shows up on the scene with their own agendas which have nothing to do with the actual investigation. Sometimes it's for political appearance or simple curiosity. But unless they are an actual part of the investigative team, they should not insert themselves into the investigation.
In many instances, because they're at the scene, command ranking personnel feel the need to direct the investigation. Consequently, they will have investigators running in different directions which have nothing to do with the primary investigation. The result is the loss of cohesive and central command and major miscommunication. Many times, in these situations no one is willing to step up, make decisions, and take control for fear of making the boss mad. The chaos continues and the investigation is compromised, and when the outcome is delayed or not favorable, the command personnel directly responsible for the chaos will not see that they were the cause, but rather, the blame may fall on the lead investigator.
Conclusion
Death investigations are not always simple step-by-step cutouts. They require real attention and specific actions to protect the investigation integrity. Many of the mistakes mentioned here are from shortcutting and not taking seriously the gravity of the scene you are working. Our job as death investigators, regardless of what function that is, is to get the truth for the victim and bring justice to anyone responsible for their death, if in fact, anyone is responsible. Developing and following strict procedures at every death scene will ensure that investigations are worked properly, and evidence is not missed.
Reference: Vernon J. Geberth, Practical Homicide Investigation Fifth Edition, (CRC Press 2015)
In this episode, Wendy and Darren discuss the laws surrounding doctors prescribing suicide prescriptions and other forms of suicide assistance.
Find all available training at. ditacademy.org
High altitude illness (HAI) is the current accepted clinical term for a group of disorders including acute mountain sickness (AMS), high-altitude cerebral edema (HACE), and high-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE), which occur in travelers visiting high-altitude locations. High-altitude illness is due to hypobaric hypoxia, is not associated with age or physical conditioning, and mild forms are easily treated. High-altitude cerebral edema and HAPE are medical emergencies that are fatal if not promptly treated and fortunately are uncommon.
The cause of most high-altitude fatalities is not related to HAI and can be easily distinguished from HACE and HAPE; however, other causes of death may have symptoms and physical findings that overlap with HAI, making postmortem diagnosis challenging.
Fatalities due to HAPE and HACE are diagnoses of exclusion. Medical examiners and coroners who work in jurisdictions with high-altitude locations should be aware of the risk factors, physiology, pathology, differential diagnosis, and classification of HAI to accurately recognize HAI as a cause of death. Medical examiners who do not work in jurisdictions with high-altitude locations may be asked to evaluate deaths that occur overseas associated with high-altitude trekking and mountaineering activities.
I wish you all a very happy and fun summer 2021. We are taking a break this year through the summer months and will return in September with an all-new line-up and shows.
Be a blessing and be safe!
In this episode, I give my opinion on the Derek Chauvin Trial and I talk about truth in journalism and podcasting in particular. With permission, I play a portion of a podcast from my good friend Dave Jackson from the School of Podcasting Podcast about media bias and how podcasting can help correct mistruth.
The school of podcasting can be found at:
https://schoolofpodcasting.com/
I also introduce a new survey being conducted by RTI International that addresses work-related stress in MDI jobs. This is a topic I have spent years discussing and I am so glad that it is starting to gain needed attention.
Link to MDI work-related stress survey:
https://forensicrti.org/understanding-work-related-stress-mdi-professionals/?fbclid=IwAR05eTElTSE7xNrL128nJBjdeKXd57kESN0vBBK6LoD2jSFooi6uC7obXnY
Several methods exist to properly identify a deceased person. It is critical that positive and accurate identification is made. This podcast is a portion of an online course about the identification of the deceased. This episode will give you several methods of identification and will warn you of pitfalls and mistakes to avoid in wrongful identification.
If you would like to check out the full course you can follow the link below to learn more.
https://www.ditacademyonline.org/courses/deceased-identification
In this episode, I read and give my answers to several questions that students in the MDI Academy or listeners have submitted relating to death investigation and scene management topics.
Questions with several topics such as Dry Drowning, Next-of-Kin Notification, Evidence, Purge Fluid, Scene cooperation, and many more topics.
Submit your Question
If you have a question that you would like answered and possibly shared on the show simply click on the contact link and send us your question. I will answer your question directly by email and it may be shared on a future show. I will be careful not to reveal your name if shared on air.
Abusive head trauma (AHT), which includes shaken baby syndrome, is a preventable and severe form of physical child abuse that results in an injury to the brain of a child. AHT often happens when a parent or caregiver becomes angry or frustrated because of a child’s crying. It is caused by violent shaking and/or with blunt impact. The resulting injury can cause bleeding around the brain or on the inside back layer of the eyes. Data shows:
- AHT is a leading cause of physical child abuse deaths in children under 5 in the United States.
- Babies less than one-year-old are at greatest risk of injury from AHT.
- AHT accounts for about one-third of all child maltreatment deaths.
Crying, including long periods of inconsolable crying, is a normal behavior in infants. Shaking, throwing, or hitting a baby is never the right response to crying.
Todays Guest Jim Twardesky https://twardeskyconsulting.weebly.com/
Jim has worked in law enforcement since 1999, serving as a cadet, patrol officer, field training officer, defensive tactics instructor, & detective. Since 2014, he has worked as a detective investigating violent crime, specializing in sexual assault & violent crimes against children. In that capacity, he has investigated hundreds of cases including multiple child homicides and serial rapists. A number of cases have received extensive local & national media coverage.
Since 2017, he has lectured regularly at police academies, colleges, and professional conferences throughout the State of Michigan on the subjects of sexual assault, child molestation, child abuse & child homicide. Audiences have included; prosecutors, police officers, detectives, nurses, child protective services workers, social workers, and college students. Jim has also written articles for PoliceOne.com & ILEETA on those topics as well.
Finally, Jim is an adjunct faculty member for the Macomb Community College Public Service Institute teaching undergraduate criminal justice classes both online & in-person. In addition, he has developed & taught advanced police training seminars for the Macomb Criminal Justice Training Center focusing on child abuse and sexual assault.
Understanding the Problem
About 4,300 US infants die suddenly and unexpectedly each year. We often refer to these deaths as sudden unexpected infant deaths (SUID). Although the causes of death in many of these children can’t be explained, most occur while the infant is sleeping in an unsafe sleeping environment.
Researchers can’t be sure how often these deaths happen because of accidental suffocation from soft bedding or overlay (another person rolling on top of or against the infant while sleeping). Often, no one sees these deaths, and there are no tests to tell sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) apart from suffocation.
To complicate matters, people who investigate SUIDs may report the cause of death in different ways and may not include enough information about the circumstances of the event from the death scene.
In this episode, I read and give my answers to several questions that students in the MDI Academy or listeners have submitted relating to death investigation and scene management topics.
Questions with several topics such as Dry Drowning, Next-of-Kin Notification, Evidence, Purge Fluid, Scene cooperation, and many more topics.
Submit your Question
If you have a question that you would like answered and possibly shared on the show simply click on the contact link and send us your question. I will answer your question directly by email and it may be shared on a future show. I will be careful not to reveal your name if shared on air.
In this episode, I highlight a conversation I had with a student of the MDI Academy where we discuss the training, finding internship programs, and general topics about the Medicolegal Field.
This recording was made during a live office hours session where students can log in and ask questions or discuss topics they need help with. This recording is used at the permission of the student.
In this episode, I talk about the new MDI course as well as rant about some bad reviews. However, the meat of the show is about interviewing witnesses and how to get the information you want.
To learn more about the new MDI course go to ditacademy.org/mldi
Please consider leaving a rating and review for the show.
**Is your** **loved one missing?** Turn to Missouri Missing to help you navigate this path. Each path is different in the unknown but they have walked in your shoes. They can help you navigate the system. They can create a flyer for you and reach out to the media to bring awareness to your case. They are here to answer your questions. Theyare here to walk beside you from the missing phase until your answer comes in and beyond. *From those that know.* - National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)
-
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC)
- Missouri State Highway Patrol Missing Persons Clearinghouse -
Kansas Bureau of Investigation Missing Persons Clearinghouse Missouri Missing approved resources. Missouri Missing is highly trained and experienced in the world of the missing. Most of our board members have or have had a loved one missing. Please contact us at info@missourimissing.org or (573) 619-8100. They have developed a list of suggestions that you may want to read:
Missouri_Missing_Suggestions_for_when_a_loved_one_goes_missing.pdf
The International Association of Coroners & Medical Examiners (IACME) has over 85 years of experience in the presentation of educational seminars for the purpose of assisting Coroners and Medical Examiners and other forensic specialists in the performance of their duties.
This commitment is enshrined in the Association’s mission statement, “Dedicated to the promotion of excellence in medicolegal death investigation through collaboration, education, and accreditation."
In This Episode In this episode, I talk with John Fudenberg, Executive Director of IACME. We talk about the importance of being a member of IACME and how to have an accredited office, and why this is important.
Contact IACME You can learn more about the International Association of Coroners and Medical Examiners at: https://theiacme.com/
Genetic or forensic genealogy combines direct-to-consumer DNA tests — like those purchased through 23andMe or Ancestry.com — with the age-old hobby of tracing a family tree with public records, such as birth certificates and land deeds.
The technique relies on the simple principle that, if you go back far enough in history, everyone is related, and therefore has thousands of relatives. Assuming that an average family has 2 to 3 kids, then a typical person would — statistically speaking — have nearly 200 third cousins, 950 fourth cousins and 4,700 fifth cousins.
If a genealogist can find a cousin of an unknown suspect who has left behind DNA at a crime scene, then they can use old school family trees — sometimes literally drawn on paper or whiteboards — to track down the perp.
That’s how the Golden State Killer and about 70 other suspects behind brutal cold cases — rapes, murders, and assaults — have been caught since April 2018
AdvanceDNA Services Learn more and contact AdvanceDNA at the link below:
https://advancedna.org/
AdvanceDNA Forensic Genealogy Research Providing information leading to the identification of DNA contributors from violent crime. This may include the identification of victim and/or assailant DNA contributors.
Decedent Identification Leverage our team of forensic genealogists to reunite an unknown decedent, such as a John or Jane Doe, with their identity. Our team accepts recommendations from the community, contact us to recommend a case.
Living Identification Our team supports the effort to end human trafficking. Our team applies AdvanceDNA techniques to support victim identification for both reunification and law enforcement adjudication purposes.
Projects AdvanceDNA supports small and large scale projects within the community that aligns with our values and mission. Contact us today with your ideas!
Education & Training With combined training experience in both law enforcement and genealogy, AdvanceDNA can provide training tailored to meet the needs of our clients.
Speaking & Events AdvanceDNA welcomes invitations to private or public events, contact us with your event details to learn more.
In this episode, I talk with Adam Kinakin of the ILET Network. Adam and I discuss the current state of law enforcement and public service professionals training, and what the future of training looks like. We go in-depth as to what we should all be expected when it comes to training going forward in the post CoVid world.
ILET Mission Our goal is to create a collaborative network of instructors, trainers, organizations, businesses, and agencies around the world.
Everything we do is to benefit our Men and Women of the Law Enforcement, Emergency Response, and Military Community.
It's time to change the narrative about training. It's time to cut out the red tape and get the most practical, actionable training and knowledge out to the people who need it.
Contact for ILET Network To contact the ILET Network or anyone on their team visit the web site at: https://www.ilet.network/
Many of us have one--a place where we store mementos that remind us of an earlier period in our lives--either happy or sad. Those ties to our past are commonly found in a similar place, hidden in a shoebox buried at the back of a closet shelf. It's called The Shoebox Effect--where you "forget", intentionally or unintentionally, about the contents of the box and what they represent.
Marcie Keithley's shoebox contained a secret, one she kept for decades, one released when her shoebox was unexpectedly revealed in a moment of grief. A flood of memories and emotions were unleashed when the lid was knocked off. No longer able to deny what she had sequestered away in her closet and in her spirit, the revelation created challenges for Marcie, but it also did something positively unexpected. Releasing the truth began a cascade that resulted in a freedom Marcie did not know was possible.
The dramatic story of this long-kept secret, which has been reported globally on major networks and in newspapers across America, will intrigue and enthrall you. But Marcie Keithley doesn't just make her story all about her. Now known as The Shoebox Sherpa, she helps people unpack their own shoeboxes, and teaches us how to face our truths, heal our pasts, and find the freedom we deeply desire. Be prepared to consider Marcie's question to all of us, "What's in your shoebox?"
You can contact Marcie at her web site: https://marciejkeithley.com/
In this episode, I discuss my current top five books I recommend every investigator should own or have access to. That list can be found below. I also talk at length about whether C/ME investigators should carry firearms. I make the case for why they should and address some known objections to the contrary.
Top Five Recommended Books to Own Top five books click here
In this growing attack on law enforcement by the far left and the mass media is it any wonder that police officers are suffering more mental health issues than ever before. Since the Michael Brown incident of 2014 in Ferguson Missouri, and the systematic destruction and division of the public trust toward police by then-President Obama and his staff, there has been a steady and growing attack on law enforcement by mass media.
Truth is not necessary to the media companies when their goal is to destroy and divide a nation. The best place to start is race-baiting and making the very men and women who protect society the enemy. Combine the two along with a strong bend toward a socialist society and they have all the tools they need to start the fire.
Law enforcement and other related role are suffering attacks both physical and mental at a rate never seen before. This buildup of hate and threats as well as actual harm is causing many officers to quit or at least back off from the front lines knowing they are not supported in their job duties. It’s not long before this weighs heavy on the minds and health of a person.
In the episode Anita Brooks and Darren Dake at length about this issue and how the media is adding to if not orchestrating this attack on law enforcement. This show contains strong opinions back by facts.
The role of the medicolegal death investigator is to investigate any death that falls under the jurisdiction of the medical examiner or coroner, including all suspicious, violent, unexplained and unexpected deaths.
A death investigation is a process whereby a coroner or forensic pathologist seeks to understand how and why a person died. A coroner or forensic pathologist must answer five questions when investigating a death:
- Who (identity of the deceased)
- When (date of death)
- Where (location of death)
- How (medical cause of death)
- By what means (natural causes, accident, homicide, suicide or undetermined)
Information may be obtained from several sources including, but not limited to family, co-workers, neighbors, doctors, hospital records, police and other emergency service workers. Contact with family is vital as they often have important information that can aid the investigation.
In This Episode - Medicolegal Death Investigations In this episode, I talk with Dr. Mary Dudley about the field of Medicolegal Death Investigations and where the field is progressing. We discuss some 'best practices' and obstacles faced by medicolegal death investigators across the country, as well as what new and up coming investigators need to do to have a better chance of entering the field
Mary H. Dudley, MD, is the chief medical examiner (retired 2015) for Jackson County in Kansas City, MO. She is board certified in Anatomic and Forensic Pathology by the American Board of Pathology. She completed a two-year fellowship in Forensic Pathology at the University of New Mexico following a four-year Anatomic and Clinical Pathology residency at Penrose Hospital in Colorado Springs. She has a diploma, BS, and MS in nursing and also founded the first forensic nursing certificate program in the United States in 1994. Dr. Dudley originated the first Forensic Medical Investigation course in the United States in 1996.
Dr. Dudley is a Board Member of the National Association of Medical Examiners, Fellow of the American Academy of Forensic Science, co-chair of the Medical Examiner Advisory Board of Musculotissue Foundation, member of the Missouri Child Fatality Review Board, and member of the National Disaster Medical Systems (Disaster Mortuary Operations Response Team). She is also an Associate Professor of Clinical Pathology – University of Missouri-Kansas City and on the teaching faculty at the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs and Metropolitan Community College-Penn Valley Campus in Kansas City, Missouri, USA.
Features * Includes an extensive section on injury recognition covering blunt, sharp, and patterned injury, forensic odontology, gunshot wounds, and craniocerebral injury * Covers all the essential aspects relating to death investigations as well as investigations involving abuse and injury * Illustrates concepts with graphic images throughout
Summary Introducing the basic concepts of clinical forensic medicine and death investigation, this book covers the main areas of forensic investigation. It provides an introduction to forensic science and coverage of injury patterns, natural disease, accidental trauma, child injury and fatalities, and domestic violence. Anyone who has direct contact with death, crime, and the medicolegal system, including nurses, physicians, attorneys, death investigators, forensic pathologists, and police detectives, will find this an invaluable reference.
Nearly 40,000 people are killed in car crashes each year. In each of these crashes, there is evidence on the body in the form of injuries. It is important for investigators to understand vehicle crash dynamics and how impact and movement cause injury to a human body.
Knowledge of the dynamics of these injuries and how they are inflicted will help the investigator come to some conclusions as to injury cause, seating position, and the crash type.
On July 20, 2012, a mass shooting occurred inside of a Century movie theater in Aurora, Colorado, during a midnight screening of the film The Dark Knight Rises. A gunman, dressed in tactical clothing, set off tear gas grenades and shot into the audience with multiple firearms, killing 12 people and injuring 70 others. The sole suspect, James Eagan Holmes, was arrested outside the cinema minutes later. It was the deadliest shooting in Colorado since the Columbine High School massacre in 1999.
The shooting occurred in theater 9 at the Century 16 multiplex (operated by Cinemark), located at the Town Center at Aurora shopping mall at 14300 E. Alameda Avenue. Police said the shooter bought a ticket, entered the theater, and sat in the front row; about 20 minutes into the film, he left the building through an emergency exit door, which he propped open with a plastic tablecloth holder.
He allegedly then went to his car, which was parked near the exit door, changed into protective clothing, and retrieved his guns. About 30 minutes into the film, police say, around 12:30 am, he reentered the theater through the exit door. He was dressed in black and wore a gas mask, a load-bearing vest (not to be confused with a bulletproof vest), a ballistic helmet, bullet-resistant leggings, a bullet-resistant throat protector, a groin protector and tactical gloves. Initially, few in the audience considered the masked figure a threat. He appeared to be wearing a costume, like other audience members who had dressed up for the screening. Some believed that the gunman was playing a prank, while others thought that he was part of a special effects installation set up for the film's premiere as a publicity stunt by the studio or theater management.
It was also said that the gunman threw two canisters emitting a gas or smoke, partially obscuring the audience members' vision, making their throats and skin itch, and causing eye irritation. He then fired a 12-gauge Remington 870 Express Tactical shotgun, first at the ceiling and then at the audience. He also fired a Smith & Wesson M&P15 semi-automatic rifle with a 100-round drum magazine, which malfunctioned after reportedly firing about 45 rounds. Finally, he fired a Glock 22 40-caliber handgun. He shot first to the back of the room, and then toward people in the aisles. A bullet passed through the wall and hit three people in the adjacent theater 8, which was screening the same film. Witnesses said the multiplex's fire alarm system began sounding soon after the attack began and staff told people in theater 8 to evacuate. One witness said that she was hesitant to leave because someone yelled that there was someone shooting in the lobby and that they should not leave.
The first phone calls to emergency services via 9-1-1 were made at 12:39 am. Police arrived within 90 seconds and found at least three .40-caliber handgun magazines, a shotgun and a large drum magazine on the floor of the theater. Some people reported the shooting via tweets or text messaging rather than calling the police. Sgt. Stephen Redfearn, one of the first police officers on the scene, decided not to wait for ambulances and sent victims to area hospitals in squad cars.
About 12:45 am, police apprehended Holmes behind the cinema, next to his car, without resistance. He was initially mistaken as another police officer because of the tactical clothing he was wearing. According to two federal officials, he had dyed his hair red and called himself "the Joker", although authorities later declined to confirm this. Three days later, at his first court appearance in Centennial, Colorado, Holmes had reddish-orange hair. The officers found several firearms in the theater and inside the car, including another Glock 22 handgun.Following his arrest, he was initially jailed at Arapahoe County Detention Center, under suicide watch. The police interviewed more than 200 witnesses. Investigators say that the shooter acted alone and was not part of a larger group or terrorist organization.
Explosive devices
When apprehended, Holmes told the police that he had booby-trapped his apartment with explosive devices before heading to the movie theater. Police then evacuated five buildings surrounding his Aurora residence, about 5 miles (8 km) north of the cinema. The apartment complex is limited to University of Colorado Medical Center students, patients, and employees. One day after the shooting, officials disarmed an explosive device wired to the apartment's front entrance, allowing a remotely controlled robot to enter and disable other explosives. The apartment held more than 30 homemade grenades, wired to a control box in the kitchen, and 10 gallons of gasoline.
Neighbors reported loud music from the apartment around midnight on the night of the massacre, and one went to his door to tell him she was calling the police; she stated that the door seemed to be unlocked, but she chose not to open it. A law enforcement official said that a Batman mask was found inside the apartment. On July 23, police finished collecting evidence from the apartment. Two days later, residents were allowed to return to the four surrounding buildings, and six days later, residents were allowed to move back into the formerly booby-trapped building.
Casualties
Eighty-two people were shot or otherwise wounded, reported by mainstream news as the most victims of any mass shooting in United States history. Four people's eyes were irritated by the tear gas grenades, and eight others injured themselves while fleeing the theater. The massacre was the deadliest shooting in Colorado since the Columbine High School massacre on April 20, 1999.
Fatalities
Twelve people were killed in the shooting. Ten died at the scene and two more in local hospitals. Those killed were:
- Jonathan Blunk, age 26
- Alexander J. Boik, age 18
- Jesse Childress, age 29
- Gordon Cowden, age 51
- Jessica Ghawi, age 24
- John Larimer, age 27
- Matt McQuinn, age 27
- Micayla Medek, age 23
- Veronica Moser-Sullivan, age 6
- Alex Sullivan, age 27
- Alexander C. Teves, age 24
- Rebecca Wingo, age 31
Almost two months earlier, Jessica Ghawi narrowly avoided a shooting at the Eaton Centre in Toronto, which killed two people and injured several others.
Injuries
The youngest person injured during the shooting was a four-month-old boy who was not shot. Ashley Moser, Veronica Moser-Sullivan's mother, was critically injured in the shooting and miscarried a week after the attack.
The injured were treated at Children's Hospital Colorado, Denver Health Medical Center, The Medical Center of Aurora, Parker Adventist Hospital, Rose Medical Center, Swedish Hospital, and University Hospital. On July 25, three of the five hospitals treating victims announced that they would limit medical bills or forgive them entirely.
The Community First Foundation collected more than $5 million for a fund for victims and their families. In September, victims and their families received surveys asking about their preferences for how collected funds should be distributed, either by dividing it equally among victims or through a needs-assessment process.On November 16, 2012, the Aurora Victim Relief Fund announced each claimant will receive $220,000.
Information in this written post was obtained from wikipedia and is only as valid as that site reports.
We have all heard about the science of Botany, but have you ever considered just how important it can be in solving your case? For instance; how plant cells from stomach contents can discredit an alibi, or how one seed in the shoelace of a suspect can bring an unknown serial murderer to justice, or just exactly what plant DNA can tell us about our victims last location. Using plants in criminal investigations is an underused forensic science , this may be that there are few forensic botanist in the United States, but it is certainly a science we all need to be reintroduced to.
Forensic Botany Forensic botany applies the knowledge and techniques of plant science to legal matters. Here, the term macroscopic plant remains is given to those plant materials not included within forensic palynology or microbiology. Research centered on spores, pollen, and certain microorganisms is well developed and will not be discussed here. For decades, these materials have been used successfully by archaeologists, geologists, anthropologists, and botanists to determine the cause of death for prehistoric or modern humans.
One of the early documented cases of forensic botany connected with macroscopic plant materials was the suicide death of Socrates. Plato described the death of his mentor as he attended the legally imposed suicide of Socrates. He was convicted of corrupting youth and disrespecting the state religion. Because Socrates was of high social standing, he was allowed to choose his own manner of death. He selected a deadly tea made from poison hemlock (Conium maculatum L.: Apiaceae).
In Plato’s Phaedo (Plato and Gallop, 2009), we read of Socrates’ symptoms after he drank the fatal brew. This narration agrees with contemporary descriptions of poison hemlock’s effect on humans (Lewis and Elvin-Lewis, 1977). From that time to this, in most of the world’s societies the knowledge of plants’ effects on humans has appeared in courts (Simoons, 1998). Forensic botany became accredited in the courts of the United States in the trial of Bruno Hauptman who was accused of kidnapping and killing Charles and Anne M. Lindbergh’s baby son in 1932 (Graham, 1997, 2006). Arthur Koehler, a wood anatomist with the US Forest Service, matched the wood from the ladder used to get into the second floor Lindbergh nursery with wood from Hauptman’s attic. Hauptman was convicted of the crime and executed. The US Federal Bureau of Investigation called Koehler’s evidence ‘critical.’ This crime also resulted in kidnapping becoming a federal offense.
Collection of Evidence The collection of plant material for use in criminal investigations differs from techniques taught in plant systematic courses. Forensic collections are assumed to be legal evidence. Such materials need to be collected, if possible, either by officers of law enforcement organizations or by a botanist in the presence of officers. Rules surrounding evidence are strict. When significant vegetation is collected, a chain of evidence must be established at once.
Notebook records of time and place and case numbers are required. It is wise, but not required, to assign your personal case number that will be linked to the number that will be used in court. This information must always remain attached to the evidence. Each person in possession of evidence must be clearly documented as the evidence passes among those involved in a case. Plant collections should be placed either in paper or cloth bags unless pollen analysis also is to be undertaken.
Bags need to be the smallest size to accommodate the material. Evidence can be stored in laboratories or evidence lockers for long periods of time, even years. Evidence rooms always are short of space, so economy of collection without minimizing the value of the specimens is essential. Plastic bags, glass jars, and tin cans are unacceptable for long-term storage because they encourage decay.
Download Full Paper Here: The Use of Macroscopic Plant Remains In Forensic Science
J H Bock, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA ã 2013 Elsevier B.V.
Episode Guest Jane Bock, PhD University of Colorado, Boulder, CO.
Fellow of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences. Member of Botanical Society of America.
Founding member of Necrosearch International.
80+ refereed publications, 3 books. Book in press, Forensic Plant Science - Academic Press. publication 2015 or 2016.
Filicide is the deliberate act of a parent killing their own child. The word filicide derives from the Latin words filius meaning "son" or filia meaning daughter, and the suffix -cide meaning to kill, murder, or cause death.
"Filicide" may refer both to the parent who killed his or her child, as well as to the criminal act that the parent committed.
Episode In this episode, I share a conversation I had with Ron Martinelli Ph.D on his radio show A Thread of Evidence. In the conversation, I detail three cases where mothers killed their children and how the investigation was conducted and the truth was revealed.
Ron Martinelli, Ph.D., CMI-V, BCFT, CFA
America’s Forensic Expert
“Dr. Ron Martinelli is a nationally renowned forensic criminologist who is the only police expert in the country who is also a Certified Medical Investigator at the physician’s level.
Dr. Martinelli directs the nation’s only multidisciplinary Forensic Death Investigations & Independent Review Team and specializes in forensic investigations including officer-involved and civilian self-defense death cases.
Dr. Martinelli is a retired San Jose (CA) Police Department detective with a background in investigations, medicine and applied sciences including forensics, psychology & psychological profiling; physiology and human factors; violent crimes and death scene investigations. He has been referred to in the forensics and legal community as the “expert’s expert.”
Dr. Martinelli provides forensic expert services to several State Attorney Generals’ Offices, major metropolitan cities, the USMC Judge Advocate General’s Office and numerous nationally prominent private law firms. He is also a contributing forensic investigations expert for FOX News, CNN, OANN, Discovery, History and Investigations Discovery channels and is a contributing writer to USA TODAY, POLICE Magazine, Law & Order Magazine, The Forensic Examiner, The Law Enforcement Executive Journal, PoliceOne.com and Officer.com.
Hoarding is a psychological condition that results in a person accumulating an enormous amount of trash and things of little-to-no value, or worse, more animals than can be properly cared for. Hoarding of any kind can pose several dangers to the occupant and neighbors, and certainly to animals if they are involved. These hazards can be deadly, and all the more reason people with hoarding disorder should have professional help to restore them to healthy living conditions. If children and animals are in the home, exposed to these perilous dangers, hoarding is also a crime.
Dangers of Hoarding Structural Integrity The weight of debris and hoarded items are often more than the floors are able to withhold. The sheer volume of debris in a room can push up against walls, not only damaging their integrity, but also putting the ceiling and roof at risk of collapse. Likewise, the collapse of walls, floors or ceilings can cause gas lines and water pipes to break, resulting in fire and flood damage.
Fire Large amounts of paper, such as newspapers, books, boxes, and discarded food wrappers and packaging, or improperly stored combustibles can pose extreme fire dangers. If space heaters are used, close proximity to any debris can also cause a fire.
Collapse of Debris Often, hoarders will create precarious paths between large piles of debris, or will crawl over mountains of trash to get around in the house. If these trash piles collapse, they could trap the hoarder underneath, burying the person alive. This could result in death from suffocation or inability to notify anyone they need help.
Decay/Decomposition As is often the case, hoarders not only collect relatively useless items, but they tend to not dispose of much of anything. The decay of spoiled food stuffs and waste can lead to terrible odors and airborne pathogens that can be harmful or even deadly. In a very unusual case in San Francisco, the mummified body of a 90-year-old woman was found in an extreme hoarding case. Officials believe she died 5 years previously.
Harmful Biohazards In almost all hoarding scenes, biohazards are present. Biohazards can be toxic or infectious, even deadly, and can lead to any range of illnesses and dangers to the resident or neighbors. Common biohazardous materials include spoiled food, feces and urine, blood, bodily fluids, pet waste and dead animals.
Infestations The decay and decomposition of organic materials and biohazards, undoubtedly attract pests. Rodents will leave waste and very often get trapped and die within a hoarding residence. This further increases the potential harm to the hoarder, as well as neighbors. This is why hoarding goes beyond an individual and becomes a community problem.
Personal Hygiene and Nutritional Issues A hoarding situation can become so extreme that debris blocks access to a kitchen and bathrooms. When the kitchen is blocked or is overwhelmed by harmful waste, proper food preparation becomes impossible. And when bathrooms become blocked, makeshift alternatives are used, with an absence of hygiene. In the extreme hoarding case in San Francisco, police found over 300 bottles of urine on the premises.
If a loved one or a neighbor is a hoarder and living in unsafe conditions, we can help with the cleanup and refer you to other helpful resources. If animals or children are at risk, we can also put you in touch with law enforcement agencies that can assist.
Episode Guest – Michelle Doscher Ph.D A forensic scientist specializing in investigative psychology and crime scene investigation. Diversified experience as an investigator, interviewer, instructor, expert witness, and an analyst. Currently conducting research in the transference of psycholinguistic cues to handwriting during deception. The current quantitative method unites psychological and physical evidence for more concise investigative leads, with expected applications for criminal interrogations and loss prevention interviews.
Evidence collection in and around a death scene is conducted in much the same manner as any crime scene. We are going to look at some scene search methods, evidence collection techniques, and scene interpretation.
There is a difference in personal property and evidence. Let's look at the definitions of each.
Personal Property
Is property on or near the body that belongs to the body (or decedent) and can be returned to next-of-kin.
Evidence
Is any material that may contribute to the cause and manner of death and is considered important in supporting facts of the case. What is determined evidence depends on the type and manner of death being investigated.
Crime scene investigation is an indispensable part of our work, which will have a direct impact on the success of the criminal investigation. With technological progress and changes in social situations, scene investigation work is facing unprecedented challenges.
The standardization of the crime scene investigation should be the goal of all police agencies. Therefore, promoting the standardization of the crime scene investigation is necessary.
As a criminal justice system, the crime scene investigation also has the basic rules and characteristics of the system. So the system can be applied in the field of the standardization of the crime scene investigation. Scientific investigation means applying the knowledge, methods and technology which is caused by the development of science and technology to the criminal investigation.
Crime scene investigation is the work conducted on the physical evidence at the scene. An investigation is a traditional method, in addition to which, many other measures can be used in the crime scene investigation. Scene investigation needs to integrate the use of a variety of scientific and technical means to detect, collect, and store the evidence, which is the most concentrated expression of scientific investigation.
Obstacles of Standardizing Crime Scene Investigations The biggest obstacle to standardizing crime scene investigations is funding. Many organizations and government committees are working on this issue of standardization and a lot of great ideas and methods are being adapted.
However, with standards in place, funding will have to made available for proper, ongoing training. Many, if not most, police agencies will agree with the fundamental fact that a set of standards are needed, but they will also quickly say that budgets restrict the resources of time and money to set in place and train for these standards
Why Standardizing Crime Scene Investigations is important We have all seen the issues when working with other agencies during an investigation or a new detective is hired into the department from another area. It becomes hard to work together for a while until both parties learn the other's way of doing things, neither may be right or wrong, but different.
This costs time, money, and can stall an investigation. Another primary reason for Standardizing Crime Scene Investigations is that these standards will equip investigators with the latest in technology and methods which will clear cases faster, and prosecutions will be more successful.
In the United States, there are over 21,500 police departments with 20 or fewer officers. These officers do the best they can with what they have, but many lack training and standardized approaches to criminal investigations.
Everett Baxter Jr. has an Associate Degree in Applied Science – EMS and a Bachelor’s of Science in Chemistry. He has over 23 combined years in law enforcement. He is currently assigned to the Crime Scene Unit of the Oklahoma City Police Department. Mr. Baxter was previously employed with the Norman Police Department where he worked in the EMS and Patrol Divisions. Mr. Baxter has presented numerous lectures and seminars at conferences, educational groups, and various civic groups. Mr. Baxter has been court qualified as an Expert in Crime Scene Investigations, Crime Scene Reconstruction, Bloodstain Pattern Analysis, Shooting Scene Reconstruction, and 3D Sketches in both District Court and Federal Court. Mr. Baxter has written papers on the Effects of Cleaning Products on Bloodstains (co-authored), Alternate Light Source. Mr. Baxter has written the books the Complete Crime Scene Investigation Handbook and the Complete Crime Scene Investigation Workbook.
Public Email address: everettbaxterjrforensics@gmail.com
Females in the United States accounts for 12% - 15% of ALL murders. Interestingly, women account for roughly the same percentage of serial murders.
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Most kill for gain - wives, Boarding-Home owners, etc,
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Caretaker killers - nurses and childcare workers.
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Family Annihilators - protecting their children
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Lust murder - extremely rare, usually at the urging of a man
Female serial murderers generally do not stalk or torture their victims and usually use poison to kill. They generally kill close to home or workplace rather than showing mobility found in many male killers. The median age at arrest is 37.9 years, with a range of 40 years (19-59). The average age when kills begin is 32.9 years. (18-53)
Everyday Murder Revenge Murder Revenge is defined as the act of committing a harmful action against a person or group in response to a grievance, be it real or perceived. It is used to punish a wrong by going outside the law.
•Victim did something to the suspect or his family
•Suspect sees victim as the cause of some trouble or issue
•The need to right a wrong
•Killing of parents
Anger Murder Anger murder is an act of killing based on high emotions of anger. Such as in a passion murder, domestic murder, or an immediate wrong that has resulted in intense anger. May be part of a revenge murder if planned. Usually not a planned event but rather an act of passion or circumstances.
Concealment of Other Crime These murders are committed out of a need to conceal another crime such as; Rape or Sexual Assault - Theft or Burglary - Eliminating a Witness
These are usually planned or at least determined to be a part of the crime event. Such as child assault/murder
Infanticide The crime of killing a child within a year of birth. Usually for very select reasons:
•Concealment of the birth
•No longer wants the child
•To save the child from danger or Hell
It is important for death investigators to have a working knowledge of all death scenarios. You should have a basic understanding of the characteristics and/or non-characteristic of what makes a serial killer, as opposed to a mass or spree kill.
In this way, you can identify the need for more expert involvement or discern if you may have a death committed by a serial killer in your area or one that has passed through.
Read more on the Coroner Talk web site HERE
Subsequent to the original murder case *Cain vs. Abel*, there has always been a small percentage of murders that were unsolved for a variety of case-specific reasons. There have also always been detectives who’d occasionally look back at “the one that got away,” but the idea of dedicating a group of professionals to work solely on clearing these cases didn’t originate until the 1980’s.
**The Beginnings – Cold Case Investigation**
The first cold case investigation unit is widely credited to detectives within the Miami-Dade police in the 1980’s. In 1995, the U.S. Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) used the Miami-Dade cold case protocols to staff and investigate the death of a U.S. Navy crew member in a two-year-old homicide in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. A task force of six NCIS Special Agents, five local detectives and a Deputy U.S. Marshal worked around the clock on this unresolved murder and 27 days later, the killer was taken into custody.
Following this success, NCIS initiated a full-time cold case investigation program in 1995 based on the Miami-Dade protocols. This was the first cold case unit commissioned by a federal agency. Seasoned special agents were trained in the methodologies, forensics, and concepts. Since 1995, NCIS agents, along with local police partners, have resolved 62 cold murders. NCIS began teaching the cold case protocols to other federal, state and local police, as well as international partners with hundreds of officers trained each year. (excerpt from Law Officer Magazine)
Cold cases are among the most difficult that investigators confront. For a variety of reasons? lack of evidence, strained resources, ineffective investigation. A case becomes cold when initial efforts to solve it prove futile. Clearance rates for homicides and other serious crimes are far below what they were 50 years ago. Lackluster rates of solution, combined with new technologies, such as (DNA) and automated fingerprint matching, have prompted the police to form cold-case units, designed to address cases that stubbornly resist solution.
Todays Guest
**Joseph Giacalone** – is a retired New York City Detective Sergeant and Commander of the Bronx Cold Case Squad. He is currently serving as a professor or criminal investigations and the author of *The Criminal Investigative Function: A Guide for New Investigators*. More about Joe and how he can help your agency can be found on his website at: joegiacalone.net
On this show, Joe and I talk about the steps to take in opening and investigating a cold case. We discuss obstacles and management principles that are required to solve these old cases. Joe brings years of experience to the conversation and our discussion of actual cases.
Due to the very nature of sudden and/or violent deaths, many things can and do go wrong in the first few hours after discovery. Death scenes have a way of bringing together many individuals with various responsibilities and experiences. This unique group can consist of uniformed officers, detectives, crime scene investigators, forensic experts, coroner investigators, medical examiner investigators, as well as prosecutors and police administrative staff.
These scenes may also have fire and EMS staff or other agencies trying to do their jobs, not to mention families and onlookers. Because of this often chaotic scene, errors can happen. Let's look at the ten most common mistakes of a death investigation.
1. Improper Response and Arrival to the Scene
First, responding officers may not correctly respond to and secure the scene and the immediate surrounding area. Uniformed officers may not stop or detain people leaving or milling around the scene. Further, while waiting for investigation and CSI teams to arrive, it's not uncommon for first responding officers to gather to close to, or directly in the crime scene, inadvertently contaminating evidence.
Here are a few other examples of errors from the first responding officers. Failure to notify investigators soon enough, or at all; assuming the cause of death is a suicide or is natural, eliminating the need to treat the scene as a crime scene; failure to detain all persons present at the scene, which might include the suspect; or they may fail to separate possible witnesses and obtain initial statements. Also, failing to make an initial determination of the scene boundaries leads to an insufficient area of protection.
2. Failing to protect the Crime Scene
In all death investigations, but even more so in a homicide investigation, crime scene contamination can be and is a significant problem. No other aspect of these investigations is more open to mistakes than the preservation and protection of the scene and subsequent evidence.
Paramount to any investigation is ensuring by the first officers on the scene to isolate, protect, and maintain scene integrity as the investigation follows its standard path. This includes the monitoring of paramedics and EMS personnel in the scene as well as identifying them for a future interview. Officers must also watch family members or others in the area to ensure they are not contaminating the scene. After a perimeter is established and is locked down, officers should start a log of everyone entering and leaving the vicinity and the reason why they are there. Also, officers should be observing and taking notes of activities occurring in and around the scene.
3. Not Handling Suspicious Deaths and Homicides
All unattended death should be looked at and treated as suspicious, and an experienced officer/investigator should go to the scene. These deaths should be treated as homicides and crime scenes until the facts prove otherwise. Too many departments allow untrained patrol officers to conduct basic death investigation with the assumption of suicide or natural death and with the idea that it is unlikely to be a homicide. Without training, officers could likely miss-interpret a staged or altered scene.
If the scene is not handled correctly from the beginning and is later found to be a homicide, valuable evidence can be lost, and the integrity of the scene is compromised at best and at worst, non-existent.
4. Responding with a Preconceived Notion
It is imperative that investigators not allow themselves to respond to a death scene with any preconceived conclusion about the case. It’s common for investigators to get sent to a scene and given information based on the initial call. If the call came in as a suicide and the initial officer who responds arrives with the mindset of suicide, it is common to treat the death as a suicide and thus shortcut any other investigation. It looks like a suicide, so it must be a suicide, and no other investigation is conducted.
This type of preconceived investigation results in fewer photographs being taken, witness statements not being completed, evidence not being searched for or collected, and the integrity of the scene is destroyed.
It's not only suicide this can happen on, but reported natural deaths and accidents can also inadvertently be short cut if responding officers conclude their investigation based upon the initial reported call. If then, at a later time, the death becomes suspicious, the officer's reports and any investigative documentation will be lacking valuable information needed for future investigations. The tendency is for the uniformed officer to write the final report and collect the evidence necessary to fit the narrative given to him by the initial call.
5. Failing to Take Sufficient Photographs
In today's world of digital photography, photos are cheap and easy to obtain. Back when I started in this business, we used Polaroid™ instant photography and 35mm film cameras. These were expensive, and some departments wanted to limit "unnecessary" photographs in an attempt to stretch the budget. That's not the case today since hundreds of photographs can be taken and stored nearly free of charge.
Photos are a way to document the scene and to freeze that scene in time. They are used in court when necessary and may prove or disprove a fact in question. Therefore, it is vital that photographs be taken of the entire scene, area, and location where the crime took place, including any sites connected to the original crime. Remember, you only get one chance at your first chance to document a scene.
6. Failing to Manage the Crime Scene Process
The investigator in charge should oversee the investigation and scene documentation. He or she should ensure proper chain of custody and documentation of evidence. They are in charge of maintaining scene integrity. Never allow officers to use the restroom within the residence, or take food or drink from the kitchen. Never allow smoking in the investigative area, never bring food or drink into the scene from an outside source, and always keep non-essential personnel out of the scene area. Designate an area for them to congregate if needed, but it should never be inside your primary scene area.
Lead investigators must also direct crime scene personnel on where and what they are to collect. Many CSI staff are well trained and have a good idea of what needs to be done. However, since each scene is unique, the investigator in charge must ensure evidence is adequately searched for and collected.
The victim's body should always be inspected and searched for trace evidence prior to being moved or taken from the scene. Not doing so can result in loss of valuable evidence and leave many unanswered questions.
Also, and I cannot stress this enough, do not allow anyone to cover the body with anything found at or near the scene! I've arrived on death scenes to find victims covered with blankets officers found on beds, sheets from nearby laundry baskets, or coats covering victims' faces to preserve their dignity. If the body is found outdoors, barriers should be used. Using anything to "add" to and subsequently alter the initial crime scene is always harmful to the investigation. Don't do it and don't allow it.
Always stop and look around the scene; look up as much as around. See what is missing or what isn't. What looks right about the scene, and what looks wrong? Is what you are seeing matching what you are being told? Never leave a scene until you are confident every answer to any question you may have has been answered or documented. Remember, this is your only first chance.
7. Failing to Evaluate Victimology
Victimology is the collection and assessment of any significant information as it pertains to the victim and his or her lifestyle. It is imperative that investigators know the victim and that they complete a victimology study. You cannot properly investigate a death without victimology. Failing to have a complete picture of the victim will preclude you from developing motives, suspects, and risk factors unique to the victim. These risk factors are usually regarded as high, moderate, or low and based on lifestyle, living conditions, job skills, neighborhood, or anything specific to the victim.
This information includes areas such as personality, employment, education, friends, habits, hobbies, marital status, relationships, dating history, sexuality, reputation, criminal record, drug and/or alcohol use, and physical condition as well as facts about the area they grew up in and if different, the one they resided in at the time of their death.
Ultimately you need to find out, in great detail, who the victim was and what was going on at the time of their death. The best source of information will be friends, family, employers, and neighbors. Your goal is to get to know the victim even better than they knew themselves.
8. Failing to Conduct an Efficient Area Canvass Properly
First, understand the terms "area canvass" and "neighborhood canvass" may be used interchangeably. They are interviews conducted in the field, as opposed to statements taken on the scene or in the station. I will admit that conducting an area canvass can be tedious and very time-consuming. Sometimes, hundreds of contacts can be made without unveiling one shred of usable information. However, it is that one exhilarating jewel that is occasionally discovered that makes the process so rewarding.
There are right and wrong ways to conduct an area canvass that will yield better results for the efforts put out.
Ideally, patrol personnel and plainclothes detectives should perform separate canvasses. Some individuals respond more readily to an authority figure in a uniform, while others prefer the anonymity of the detective's plain clothes. Since it is impossible to know who will respond more willingly to either approach, both should be employed. This technique will give the investigator the greatest chance of getting vital information.
The canvass may be conducted in an area near the crime scene or, conceivably, hundreds of miles away from it. In the aftermath of a bank robbery, for example, the getaway vehicle may be located several counties, or even states, away. Two canvasses should, therefore, be undertaken: one at the original crime scene (the bank) and one at the secondary scene (the vehicle). If a suspect is developed, it may be advisable to perform an additional area canvass in the neighborhood where that person resides to learn about his/her reputation and habits. A complex case may require that a number of area canvasses are completed at various locations.
The primary goal of a neighborhood canvass is, of course, to locate a witness to the crime. It is this promise of the elusive witness that motivates the investigator. However, it is not only the “eye” witness you seek. On occasion, it may be just as significant to discover an “ear witness." Someone who may have heard a threatening remark heard gunshots or even heard how and in which direction the perpetrator fled.
This information can point the case in the right direction. A witness who hears a homicide subject flee in a vehicle with a loud muffler, for example, could be furnishing a valuable lead. Likewise, intimidating or threatening statements the witness may have overheard could refute a subsequent claim of self-defense. In an officer-involved shooting incident, a witness who hears the officer yell "stop, police!" or "drop the gun!" is invaluable to the investigation. Just as crucial as the eye-witness or the ear-witness is the "witness-who-knows-a-witness." Even though this person may not have first-hand knowledge of the crime, he or she can direct investigators to a person who does and is, therefore, of great value.
9. Failing to Work Together as a Team
As with any crime scene, cooperation is critical among differing agencies. But with a death scene, this cooperation is ever more important and ever more strained. Due to the increased severity of the scene, the spotlight, and egos, these scenes can become a disaster quickly. Therefore teamwork is vital, and it is the lead investigator's role to set a tone of cooperation and teamwork.
One of the most significant issues in a major case is the failure to communicate information to those working the case. Some agencies seem to want to keep what they know to themselves. This primarily occurs from egos and "turf wars," which will compromise an effective outcome. Everyone involved in the investigation has information gathered from the jobs they were assigned and a lack of communication or an unwillingness to share information discovered for evaluation can prevent the entire team from finding the truth and bringing the case to a conclusion. It's imperative to remember that the cases you work aren't about you, but are for the victim, the family, and, at times the protection of society.
A baseball game is won when everyone playing does his or her job and supports every other player in getting their job done. Imagine the bottom of the 9th, the game is tied and the next ball's hit to the pitcher who misses but scoops it up sits down, and refuses to throw or let anyone else take the baseball from them. The pitcher did their job and pitched, but the refusal to share the "scoop" with their teammates resulted in a complete failure for everyone.
10. Command and Administrative Staff Interfering
One of the most frustrating mistakes at a death scene investigation is when command staff shows up on the scene with their own agendas which have nothing to do with the actual investigation. Sometimes it's for political appearance or simple curiosity. But unless they are an actual part of the investigative team, they should not insert themselves into the investigation.
In many instances, because they're at the scene, command ranking personnel feel the need to direct the investigation. Consequently, they will have investigators running in different directions which have nothing to do with the primary investigation. The result is the loss of cohesive and central command and major miscommunication. Many times, in these situations no one is willing to step up, make decisions, and take control for fear of making the boss mad. The chaos continues and the investigation is compromised, and when the outcome is delayed or not favorable, the command personnel directly responsible for the chaos will not see that they were the cause, but rather, the blame may fall on the lead investigator.
Conclusion
Death investigations are not always simple step by step cutouts. They require real attention and specific actions to protect the investigation integrity. Many of the mistakes mentioned here are from shortcutting and not taking seriously the gravity of the scene you are working. Our job as death investigators, regardless of what function that is, is to get the truth for the victim and bring justice to anyone responsible for their death, if in fact, anyone is responsible. Developing and following strict procedures at every death scene will ensure that investigations are worked properly, and evidence is not missed.
Suicides account for over 40,000 deaths in the United States annually, ranked the 10th leading cause of deaths in America. This number has been on a steady increase since the turn of the 21st century. By far the most significant manner of death a patrol or investigating officer will be involved in
The definition of suicide is; the act or an instance of taking one's own life voluntarily and intentionally especially by a person of years of discretion and a sound mind.
Accidents are not suicides regardless of the level of danger or risk involved in the act.
The need for continued advanced training in the area of suicide is the risk of becoming complacent in these investigations. Suicide deaths must be worked as a sudden, suspicious death until the facts and evidence available tell the investigator differently.
Your investigation and case report must support a ruling of suicide. You should NEVER rule a death suicide unless your investigation proves it.
Suicide is a ruling of exclusion of all other manners of death, and the ruling should be a joint conclusion of all investigators, coroner, and medical examiner.
Implications in suicide rulings
- Family Denial
- Stigma of Suicide
- Insurance Issues
As an investigator, you will need to understand these implications and why they exist. Your investigation will be scrutinized based on these implications. It is your responsibility to have completed a thorough investigation with the collaboration of all investigation parties.
Implications may exist, but your report should identify how your ruling was determined. If others do not agree with the ruling, they must understand how you arrived at it.
Here more about this topic on the podcast.
The scene of an autoerotic death can hold a wide variety of problems and issues for the investigator. Filled with deceiving information and abnormal behavior, these scenes offer challenges to even the most seasoned investigator. However, it is vital that you get these scenes worked correctly. First and foremost, it is your job to get the correct answers for the family, the victim, and any insurance companies needing the information. The stigma attached to suicide and the autoerotic can have devastating effects on survivors, proper determination can only be achieved through good scene work and investigation.
Proper Scene Work As in any investigation, you should never rely solely on what you see. Without doing a complete investigation you will never find the truth. DO NOT go in with preconceived ideas or basis. If you can not properly work a sexually charged scene then remove yourself and let someone else take lead.
The investigator must consider all aspects of the triangle of forensic investigation. There is an interdependence of all evidence, and none of these elements can be interpreted separately. Each of these elements are equally important.
Read more on the web site HERE
The assisted suicide movement is, if anything, indefatigable. Not only is it undeterred by its failures, but it is now more energized than any other time in recent years. By the end of March of 2015, bills were introduced in twenty-five state legislatures to legalize assisted suicide.
Defining the Subject
Many people remain confused about the exact nature of assisted suicide advocacy, sometimes confusing it with other medical issues involving end-of-life care. Thus, to fully understand the subject, we must distinguish between ethical choices at the end of life that may lead to death and the poison of euthanasia/assisted suicide.
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Refusing unwanted medical treatment is not assisted suicide: Fear of being “hooked up to machines” when one wishes to die at home has traditionally been a driving force behind the assisted suicide movement. But we all have the right to refuse medical interventions—even if the choice is likely to lead to death. Thus, a cancer patient can reject chemotherapy and a patient dying of Lou Gehrig’s disease can say no to a respirator. Indeed, in 1997, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled unanimously that the right to refuse medical treatment is completely different from assisted suicide.[9]
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Assisted suicide/euthanasia is not the same as a medical treatment for pain control: Because pain control may require strong drugs, which can cause death, assisted suicide advocates often claim that palliation and euthanasia are ethically the same under the “principle of double effect.” But this is all wrong:
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Any legitimate medical treatment can unintentionally lead to death, including pain alleviation. In assisted suicide death is the intended effect.
- We would never say that a patient who died during open-heart surgery was euthanized. Similarly, a patient who dies from the unintended side effects of pain control has not been assisted in suicide or euthanized.
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Pain control experts state that aggressive pain control generally does not shorten life.
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Assisted suicide/euthanasia is antithetical to hospice: Hospice was founded by the great medical humanitarian Dame Cicely Saunders in the late 1960s as a reform movement to bring the care of the dying out of isolated hospitals and into patients’ homes or non-institutional local care facilities. Its purpose is to provide dying people with proper treatment of pain and other disturbing symptoms as well as to render spiritual, psychological, and social support toward the end that life be lived as fully as possible until natural death.
In contrast, assisted suicide is about rushing death, making it happen sooner rather than later through lethal actions. Or to put it another way: Hospice is about living. Assisted suicide/euthanasia is about dying. As the noted palliative care expert and assisted suicide opponent Dr. Ira Byock has written, “There’s a distinction between alleviating suffering and eliminating the sufferer — between enabling someone to die gently of their disease and ending that person’s life with a lethal pill or injection.”
- Assisted suicide/euthanasia are acts that intentionally end life: In contrast to the above, the intended purpose of assisted suicide and euthanasia is to end life, e.g., to kill. In assisted suicide, the last act causing death is taken by the person who dies, for example, ingesting a lethal prescription of barbiturates. In euthanasia, the death is a homicide, an act of killing taken by a third person, such as a doctor injecting a patient with poisonous drugs.
From an Investigators Standpoint Read More HERE
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) collects data about mortality in the U.S., including deaths by suicide. In 2017 (the most recent year for which full data are available), 47,173 suicides were reported, making suicide the 10th leading cause of death for Americans. On average, someone in the country dies by suicide every 12 minutes. With those totals, we are all bound to be involved in investigating suicides. Suicides can be acute, meaning short term or spur of the moment final decision, or a well planned and risk assessed action. In this episode of Coroner Talk™ we are going to look at the pros if there be any, and the cons of a planned suicide.
Featured in this week's show is a PBS production of Frontline that deals with the topic of a well-planned suicide and the legal and moral implication that accompany such a decision. Regardless of where you stand on the topic, this episode will start you thinking of the other side.
The Assisted Suicide Debate Since Oregon legalized physician-assisted suicide for the terminally ill in 1997, more than 700 people have taken their lives with prescribed medication — including Brittany Maynard, a 29-year-old with an incurable brain tumor, who ended her life earlier this month.
Read More at the website HERE
Serial killers hold the fascination of the public, whether in true crime news accounts of individuals such as Ted Bundy or fictional depictions such as the television shows Dexter and Criminal Minds or popular movies such as the “Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” or “Silence of the Lambs.” Serial killers seem so purely predatory and unremorseful that our society cannot help but display a macabre interest in them.
Although they account for no more than 1% of the approximately 15,000 homicides in the U.S. annually, serial killers receive a disproportionate amount of media attention due to the incomprehensible savagery of their deeds.
Significantly, serial killers differ from mass murderers or spree murderers. Mass murder can be defined as the killing of multiple people at a single location where the victims may be either randomly selected or targeted. A mass murderer is often killed at the scene of the crime; sometimes by his/her own hand. A spree murder is the killing of multiple people at different locations over a short period of time (the maximum duration is usually 7 days). The killer in spree murders often but not always knows his/her victims, and most often targets family members or romantic partners.
I use the following list of behavioral criteria to define serial homicide for the purposes of my research:
Read more at www.coronertalk.com
Would you kill for love? True-crime master Ron Franscell tells the grisly story of a loving couple who killed at least four and lived happily ever after--while cops desperately tried for decades to piece together a petrifying tale of murder and secrets. The appalling details are made even more vivid by the author's familiarity with the Wyoming times and places that formed the backdrop of his national bestseller The Darkest Night.
After Alice, a desperate young mother in a gritty Wyoming boomtown kills her husband in 1974 and dumps his body where it will never be found, she slips away and starts a new life with a new love. But when her new love's ex-wife and two kids start demanding more of him, Alice delivers an ultimatum: Fix the problem or lose her forever. With Alice's help, he "fixes" the problem in an extraordinarily ghastly way ... and they live happily ever after. That is, until 2013, almost forty years later, when somebody finds a dead man's skeleton in a place where Alice thought he'd never be found.
Featuring a femme fatale whose manipulative, cold-blooded character rivals Lady Macbeth, this page-turner by bestselling true-crime author Ron Franscell revisits a shocking cold case that was finally solved just when the murderers thought they'd never be caught.
“MY MOMMY IS GOING TO DIE,” SHAINA SOBBED INTO THE PHONE.
When Piper Streyle failed to show up for work, a coworker called her home. Piper’s three-and-a-half-year-old daughter, Shaina, answered and said, “A mean man carried Mommy away.” Then the line went dead. In the tranquil region of southeast South Dakota, word of the young mother who was brazenly abducted from her home in broad daylight shocked residents. Piper was the second woman to vanish, following the startling incident of a young woman who narrowly escaped abduction by fighting for her life on a dark and secluded highway.
An intensive search by an elite team of investigators uncovered a secret crime location, but the discovery of a nightshirt cut in half, a burnt candle, and a homemade bondage board revealed the chilling truth behind the missing women. With the help of a quick-witted and streetwise maximum-security prison inmate, prosecutor Larry Long and his team were able to piece together the sinister facts of the diabolical crimes.
Bestselling authors PHIL AND SANDY HAMMAN, along with former Attorney General LARRY LONG, dive into the grim and demented world of Robert Leroy Anderson, a sexual sadist, rapist, and murderer. Duct Tape Killer is also the story of perseverance and proof that love will not be extinguished by the ruinous evil that seeks to take root in our world.
Tom and Jackie Hawks loved their life in retirement, sailing on their yacht, the Well Deserved. But when the birth of a new grandson called them back to Arizona, they put the boat up for sale. Skylar Deleon and his pregnant wife Jennifer showed up as prospective buyers, with their baby in a stroller, and the Hawkses thought they had a deal. Soon after a sea trial and an alleged purchase, however, the older couple disappeared and the Deleons promptly tried to access the Hawkses’ bank accounts.
As police investigated the case, they not only found a third homicide victim with ties to Skylar, they also uncovered an unexpected and unusual motive: Skylar had wanted gender reassignment surgery for years. By killing the Hawkses with a motley crew of assailants and plundering the couple’s assets, the Deleons had planned to clear their $100,000 in debts and still have money for the surgery, which Skylar had already scheduled.
Now, in this up-to-the-minute updated edition, which includes extensive new material, New York Times bestselling author Caitlin Rother presents the latest breaking developments in the case. Skylar, who was ultimately sentenced to death row for the three murders, transitioned to a woman via hormones while living in the psych unit at San Quentin prison. Recently, she legally changed her name and gender to female, apparently a strategic step in her quest to obtain taxpayer-subsidized gender confirmation surgery and transfer to a women’s prison. Combined with Governor Gavin Newsom’s recent moratorium on executions, this only adds insult to injury for the victims’ families, who want Skylar to receive the ultimate punishment for her crimes.
In this bonus episode, I talk with Anita Brooks about the emotional toll CoVid-19 is having on Coroners, MDI’s, Law Enforcement, and First Responders in general. Anita shares some real comments she has received from front line investigators and we talk about how we can guard our mental health and still protect the ones we serve as well as our families.
You can find the resources and free courses we talked about on the show at www.coronertalk.com
In 1977, four teenagers were kidnapped and attacked near and on Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. Only one survived. This book is written by the first responder to the call, Missouri State Highway Patrol Trooper J.B. King. He goes back in time to tell it how it was from the moment of the crime until the conviction of Military Police Game Warden Johnny Lee Thornton. Riveting!
His purpose is to tell the story of Pulaski County Missouri's ‘Crime of the Century’ in detail and with clarity. From the first minutes after this attack was reported, the United States Army, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Army’s Criminal Investigation Command (CID), and the United States Attorney’s office worked together to bring the killer to justice. This book is a first-hand, comprehensive look into the investigation--and the story is riveting!
Communication is not cliche and conflict does not just go away—on its own. Effective leaders are committed to improving communication and resolving conflict with courage, intentionality, and commitment. Yet, communication is continually an invisible drain for most people, stealing time, energy, money, resources, and even relationships from individuals and organizations.
In this session, you will learn how to plug the drains keeping you from the results you want and need. Influencing well begins by communicating well. It’s not enough to know what you need to do, wisdom means implementation.
We will discuss the best approaches for having difficult dialogues, how to diffuse emotions that magnify conflicts, and insights on invisible drains hiding beneath the surface. Real people asking real questions real-time about their real-life conflicts, make the content in this session especially relevant to the 21st-century woman or man. When you learn how to relate more effectively in your personal and professional relationships, you will increase your productivity, profitability, and peace, at work and at home.
To see a complete listing of resources and response guidelines go to our main page at:
https://coronertalk.com/covid19
If you want to be seen and respected as a professional, might I say you need to act like a professional first? In this episode, I talk about what I believe are the ten most important areas you should guard and improve if you want to build a professional image. These are not in any particular order and the list is in no way all-inclusive. Rather, these ten areas are what I feel are the most important.
10 tips for building a professional image 1. Keep your personal life personal Keep your opinions to yourself or within your tightest-closets friends. Do not use social media to voice your political or hot topic opinions. You are a public figure and although you may have an opinion, the public does not need to hear it.
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Create the right associates It’s important to associate yourself with people, pursuits, and organizations that help to further the professional image you want to project. Join associations or forums related to your field. You are the product of the five people you spend the most time with.
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Be Positive – Be Respectful Do you constantly find the faults in any argument, the flaws to any process, or the reasons why someone’s plans are bound to fail? While it’s great to be able to see problems before they arise, being relentlessly negative doesn’t make you liked or respected as a professional. If you want to be treated with respect – you have to show it and earn it. Take a positive attitude towards your work, and you’ll find that your professional image benefits.
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Know your job Know your job as per state statues and what your agency policies are. Knowing your job will help you work within your job requirements and not overstepping your bounds.
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Admit your shortcomings It’s okay not to know everything. Admit where you need more training and make it your responsibility to get that training.
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Keep your promises If you promise to do something, do it. Unless there’s a major catastrophe, a commitment is a commitment. If a reason comes up that you cannot full fill your promise then be sure you let the person know you’ve promised why you will be delayed.
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Do a good job – always If you do excellent work then others will notice you even if you are not promoting it. Build a reputation by doing amazing work. Your work and your reports have to stand the test of time and the scrutiny of lawyers and other investigators.
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Personal appearance Personal appearance is one of those subtle things that’s difficult to quantify. Mostly, it’s a collection of a lot of small investments of time and effort that add up to a slight but noticeable tweak in how people think of you. The difference is real, and over time these small differences in a lot of interactions and events can really add up.
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Avoid substance abuse Alcohol and prescription drugs are oftentimes abused by police and death investigators as a way to drown their sorrows and help to hide feelings and stress.
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Gaurd your mental health As death investigators, we see the worst life has to offer. We must watch out mental health and understand the warning signs of PTSD and how our job changes us.
There is no greater honor than writing the last chapter of someone’s life story. As medicolegal death investigators, that is what we do and, for the most part, we do it well. With seemingly innumerable courses, electronic mailing lists, and forensic science discussion groups, there is a plethora of available information on how to investigate just about every possible death scene and circumstance. Unfortunately, there is not a major focus on the management and administration of offices and personnel in the medicolegal death investigation field. With the exception of those offices under the law enforcement umbrella, many medicolegal death investigation managers and supervisors lack basic managerial training and the “big picture” purpose and role of a Medical Examiner/Coroner (ME/C) Office is often forgotten or overlooked not only by its employees but by its administrators. The lack of managerial training and resulting substandard managerial performance; misguided managerial focus; and managerial inaction, to include the ignoring and/or avoidance of problem issues and personnel; ultimately results in the creation and maintenance of a toxic work environment and the “big picture” becomes foggy, if not completely invisible. In this environment, “cancerous” employees infect the environment to the point that good employees either leave or lose the motivation and dedication to a job well done.
The primary focus of most medicolegal death investigation managers, administrators, and supervisors is to ensure ME/C personnel properly determine jurisdiction, document deaths reported to the office, conduct scene investigations, perform death notifications, conduct postmortem examinations, certify deaths falling under its jurisdiction, and document the investigative efforts in comprehensive and factual reports, in addition to many other ancillary functions. We are fortunate to work with many outstanding death investigators and support personnel who choose to do the noblest of jobs in an underpaid, under-appreciated, and overly-stressed work environment.
Read More at Web SIte- HERE
In this episode, we listen in as Anita Brooks talks with a group of team leaders about how what they do and how they do it has a great impact on the overall success of the team function. In this segment, we play the portion of the training where Anita describes the 7 Superpowers of an Effective Leader.
These superpowers as Anita describes them are
- Monitor your mind’s mouth – watch your self-talk
- Treat people as human beings, not as objects
- Listen (to hear) twice as much as you speak
- Practice Appreciation: Express it, Show it, Share it
- Choose integrity in Every Moment
- Become an Intentional Promise-Keeper
- Measure Your Progress with a Quarterly Leadership S.W.O.T Analysis
Have you ever wondered what being a part of CSI is really like? If so, here’s your chance to experience it…WALK inside the crime scene tape with retired Sergeant Tamara Mickelson as she shares her personal experiences of the most grueling and heartbreaking crime scenes she had ever worked. Catch a glimpse of what she saw, touched, smelled, and even tasted during an average workday. Dare to join her as she takes you through a difficult journey of memories, uncovering layers of emotional trauma left behind. Discover the ways she healed from yesterday's pain to live an emotionally balanced life today.
Get your copy by clicking the book cover below.
Infant Loss Resources serves as a source of information and support for healthcare professionals, childcare providers, parent educators, and police and other emergency workers who are the first to respond to a family who has experienced an infant death. Ongoing educational programs are presented both to students and working professionals throughout Missouri, and in surrounding counties in IL and KS. Education enables public health and social service professionals to provide well informed, consistent services for families.
Professional education is also offered to nurses, physicians, child care providers, parent educators, and health educators on the latest recommendations to improve infant health and reduce the risk of death, which includes training on safe sleep for babies.
What is SIDS/SUID? The definition of SIDS is the sudden, unexpected death of an apparently healthy infant, under one year of age. The death remains unexplained after a complete medical history review, autopsy and death scene investigation, all 3 of which are required by law.
While the exact cause of SIDS is unknown, researchers have been able to identify factors that are associated with infants and infant care practices that increase the risk of SIDS. As a result, risk reduction recommendations have been established. Parents and other caregivers should remember that if practiced, these risk reduction techniques will significantly reduce the risk of SIDS.
What is SUID?
Sudden Unexpected Infant Death is an umbrella term used for many sleep-related infant deaths for which an exact cause may not be immediately clear or may remain undetermined. SIDS falls under the umbrella of SUID. Other deaths that are under the umbrella of SUID are accidental suffocation or asphyxia. When we look at risk reduction for SIDS/SUID, the steps recommended reducing the risk are the same.
Interesting Facts Age Distribution:
90% of all SIDS/SUID deaths occur in infants less than 6 months of age. 70% of deaths occur in infants between 2 and 4 months of age.
Seasonal Distribution:
More deaths occur in the winter and fall months; most likely due to babies sleeping with too many layers of clothing or blankets in the winter
Population Distribution:
Approximately 3,000 – 3,500 babies die of sudden infant death in the U.S. each year. Annually in the state of Missouri, approximately 90 – 95 babies succumb to SUID. There is a gender difference in that 60% male vs. 40% female babies are affected. SIDS/SUID affects babies of all races, religions and ethnic groups; however the statistics show us that the incidence of SIDS/SUID is greater for:
- African American and Native American babies
- low birth weight babies (< 2,500 grams)
- babies born prematurely
- babies whose mothers smoke during and after pregnancy
- babies of multiple births (twins or triplets)
- babies born within 18 months of one another and babies of younger mothers
Contact Infant Loss Resouces: http://infantlossresources.org/
Evidence in infant and child death cases is many times very different than in older children and adult deaths, infants die differently than adults, in most cases; so the evidence surrounding their death will be different. Understanding what potential evidence is is critical as well as knowing how and what to collect. Remember – If you think it might be evidence or lead you to a reason for the death – take it, you can always give it back.
Personal Property v. Evidence
- Personal Property
Is the property on or near the body that belongs to the baby (or decedent) and can be returned to next-of-kin.
- Evidence
Is any material that may contribute to the cause and manner of death and is considered important in supporting facts of the case. What is determined evidence depends on the type and manner of death being investigated.
Chain of Custody
Every item secured from the scene, whether it is personal property or evidence to be processed – must be accounted for at every moment while in the custody of the investigative agency. Until such time that it is returned to the family or destroyed following court order when the evidence is no longer needed. Use a property log and ensure that every person handling or receiving the item(s) signs for it and can testify as to its integrity or secured storage.
Photograph – EVERYTHING FIRST!
Be sure that you have photographed and documented in your notes, anything you might be taking as evidence. Its placement will become critical in your final report.If the items had been moved by police, EMS, or family document the place you found it and note the move is you know it.
Collecting Evidence
Every item and material of evidence collected; must be identified, collect, and stored using proper methods. Different evidence has different containers it is important to store and transport correctly. Not doing so can cause evidence to become contaminated, chain of custody to be broken, or samples to be degraded beyond use
Some Evidence in Infants Deaths to Consider
- Bedding, Bed, and Sleeping area
- Any OTC or Rx Medications for baby – Or in the baby area
- Bottles – those with milk and those in sink or floor empty
- Baby food – or whatever the child has been eating
- Diapers – toxicology testing
- Clothing – recent, might have changed child after finding
- Items used as weapons
- Anything that looks like it could be involved- in and around the infant area – you can always give it back later
These topics and more are discussed in this week’s episode.
Check out online eLearning options by
https://www.ditacademyonline.org
Death Investigation is all we do ! Many training agencies are well rounded and can fulfill the training needs in nearly every category of public policing and investigation. At DITA we concentrate on death investigation and everything surrounding those investigations. By becoming hyper-focused in this field we are better able to provide intense and specific training you and your investigators need.
All infant and child deaths need to be investigated in a systematic and standardized method. The SUDI forms provided by the CDC is the national standard approach to investigating these deaths. Frequently, a cause of death is determined after a thorough investigation and autopsy by a medical examiner and coroner. The deaths that remain unexplained are defined as SIDS. Therefore, SIDS is a type of Sudden Unexpected Infant Death.
Infant Death Scene Investigation The U.S. Centers for Disease Control has developed the Sudden and Unexplained Infant Death (SUID) Investigation Reporting Form. The Reporting Form, a guide for its use and a training curriculum for infant death scene investigation are available online. The form will guide and standardize the work and practices of EMS professionals, law enforcement, death scene investigators, medical examiners and coroners, death certifiers and child death review (CDR) team members. Information obtained by using the form in infant death investigations can also be used to guide the development of strategies for the prevention of infant deaths.
All infant and child deaths need to be investigated in a systematic and standardized method. The SUDI forms provided by the CDC is the national standard approach to investigating these deaths.
What is Sudden Infant Death Syndrome? (SIDS) Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is the sudden death of an infant under 1 year of age, which remains unexplained after a thorough investigation including a complete autopsy, examination of the death scene and review of the clinical history.
In the United States, SIDS is the major cause of death in infants from 1 month to 1 year. Most deaths occur between 2-4 months of age. Typically, a seemingly healthy infant dies suddenly and unexpectedly, usually during a period of sleep. A diagnosis is made after all the possible causes of death have been excluded. SIDS can occur in families of any race, socio-economic status, religion or nationality.
Causes of SIDS remain unexplained. However, SIDS is not caused by suffocation, child abuse, immunizations, vomiting, choking or by minor illnesses such as a cold or infection. SIDS is not contagious.
Placed - Found Photos As talked about in this episode all child death investigations need to include scene reenactment photos of the position and place the child was last seen alive and the position and place they were found unresponsive. Using placed/found signs will help everyone viewing the photos to understand the reenactment.
Today's Guest Kathleen Hargrave kadie@slu.edu
Chief Forensic Investigator
St Louis Medical Examiner's Office
About 4,300 US infants die suddenly and unexpectedly each year. We often refer to these deaths as sudden unexpected infant deaths (SUID). Although the causes of death in many of these children can’t be explained, most occur while the infant is sleeping in an unsafe sleeping environment.
Researchers can’t be sure how often these deaths happen because of accidental suffocation from soft bedding or overlay (another person rolling on top of or against the infant while sleeping). Often, no one sees these deaths, and there are no tests to tell sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) apart from suffocation.
To complicate matters, people who investigate SUIDs may report the cause of death in different ways and may not include enough information about the circumstances of the event from the death scene.
Interpreting Infant Death Law enforcement, first responders, death scene investigators, medical examiners, coroners, and forensic pathologists all play a role in carrying out the case investigation.
A thorough case investigation includes
- An examination of the death scene.
- An autopsy (medical examination of the body after death).
- A review of the infant’s medical history.
Most SUIDs are reported as one of three types of infant deaths.
Types of SUID
- Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
SIDS is defined as the sudden death of an infant less than 1 year of age that cannot be explained after a thorough investigation is conducted, including a complete autopsy, the examination of the death scene, and a review of the clinical history. About 1,500 infants died of SIDS in 2014. SIDS is the leading cause of death in infants 1 to 12 months old. - Unknown Cause
The sudden death of an infant less than 1 year of age cannot be explained because a thorough investigation was not conducted and cause of death could not be determined. - Accidental Suffocation and Strangulation in Bed
Mechanisms that lead to accidental suffocation include:- Suffocation by soft bedding—for example, when a pillow or waterbed mattress covers an infant’s nose and mouth.
- Overlay—for example, when another person rolls on top of or against the infant while sleeping.
- Wedging or entrapment—for example, when an infant is wedged between two objects such as a mattress and wall, bed frame, or furniture.
- Strangulation—for example, when an infant’s head and neck become caught between crib railings.
Even after a thorough investigation, it is hard to tell SIDS apart from other sleep-related infant deaths such as overlay or suffocation in soft bedding. While an observed overlay may be considered an explained infant death, no autopsy tests can tell for certain that suffocation was the cause of death.
Arrival on the scene It is important an investigator take some immediate action upon first arriving on the scene. Unlike most death investigations, the decedent in an infant death has almost always been moved since discovery. Therefore, it is essential that the investigator uses this first opportunity to locate and evaluate the location(s) within the scene where the infant was reported to have been moved between placement and discovery. While also noting existing environmental conditions that may have affected the infant.
Upon arrival an investigator should:
- Identify the lead investigator at the scene and present your identification
- Identify other essential officials at the scene (e.g., EMS, emergency department personnel, childcare providers, social/child protective services).
- Explain your role in the investigation.
- Identify and document the first essential official(s) to the scene for identification for future follow up.
- Determine if the scene is safe to enter
To establish scene parameters and become familiar with the environment, the investigator should:
- Locate the first responder and/or lead investigator.
- Determine the location where the infant was discovered dead or unresponsive.
- Determine the location where the infant was last known alive.
- Determine the location where the infant was placed.
- Identify visible physical and fragile evidence.
- Document and photograph fragile evidence immediately and collect, if appropriate.
- Observe the physical living environment.
- Locate and view the decedent, if possible.
In August 1997, sixteen-year-old William Jenkins was on his second day of work at a fast-food restaurant in suburban Richmond, Virginia when the restaurant was robbed at closing time.
While cooperating fully with the robber, William was shot and died instantly. His father, Bill Jenkins, quickly found that there were virtually no readily available resources that could answer his many questions as a survivor of a traumatic loss.
He began looking for help and found it, after a fashion, scattered in the bookstores, on the
Internet, and in support groups and agencies. But nowhere was there a single, concise, practical, and eminently useful resource for bereaved families written by victims for victims containing the advice and guidance that he and his family needed following their loss. Several months later, using the information he had collected for his own personal well-being, this experienced teacher and speaker sat down to write the book that he should have received the night he was notified of his son’s death, What to do When the Police Leave: A Guide to the First Days of Traumatic Loss.
This landmark book on grief and bereavement quickly became an important resource for families dealing with the sudden or traumatic death of a loved one and the caregivers who work with them. Now, a recognized expert on victims and trauma, Bill has served on the boards of directors for Murder Victims for Human Rights, the National Coalition of Victims in Action, and is the founder, along with his wife, Jennifer Bishop, of IllinoisVictims.org, a statewide victim rights watchdog group. He is also active in many other victims’ rights and support activities and organizations, has been an instructor with the Virginia Institute of Forensic Science and Medicine, leads seminars on victims’ perspectives for national organizations such as the National Center for Victims of Crime, the National Organization of Victim Assistance, and Parents of Murdered Children and also addresses local and regional conferences for law enforcement and victim advocates. He and his wife also speak at victim impact panels for youthful offenders and in support of funding for programs for children and young
people that are proven to decrease crime.
In 2006, Bill received the Edith Surgan Victim Activist of the Year award from the National
Organization of Victim Assistance, a singular honor that recognizes to his expertise in the field and his commitment to making society more sensitive to victims’ rights and needs. In 2019, he was awarded the prestigious John Gillis Leadership Award by Parents of Murdered Children.
Bill has also written a full-length play, Hearts Full of Tears, that has been produced by two
professional theatre companies so far. It deals with the emotional struggle of a family dealing with the shooting death of their teen-aged son. Critical and audience reviews have been very positive.
Returning to his educational roots and love of biology, his latest research is in the
neurobiology of trauma and stress, how our brains respond to traumatic experiences, and what
treatments are most helpful to victims and their families. He hopes that his own personal perspective and unique voice using the latest authoritative scientific discoveries will help victims understand how their brains respond to crisis and inform caregivers how best to help trauma victims in their work. Bill is a professional artist and educator at the college level for over 25 years, he currently teaches and designs for the theatre program at Dominican University near Chicago, IL.
You can buy the book What to do When the Police Leave: A Guide to the First Days of Traumatic Loss. By clicking on the title link.
In this episode, I have a conversation with Anita Brooks about the real human side of grief and death notification. As investigators, we can become hardened and not see the real grief associated with the news we are delivering. We try to sound like we care and have compassion, but is it really coming out the way it should?
The 5 stages of grief and loss are: 1. Denial and isolation; 2. Anger; 3. Bargaining; 4. Depression; 5. Acceptance. People who are grieving do not necessarily go through the stages in the same order or experience all of them
Read More
Learn more about online and classroom training at the links below.
https://ditacademy.org/
Her son died in a car accident. The highway patrol came to her house to notify her and her husband of the accident and the death of their child. She states, "I remember them telling me like it was yesterday, but it has been 16 years".
In this episode, I speak to a mother about the night her son died and what went right and what went wrong with the notification process. This conversation gets very real and raw at times and this mother has some great advice for you as to how best to make notification to a loved one.
In this episode, we will kick off the theme for the month of January of proper death notification procedures. This episode is a replay of an online course that described the proper procedure for notifying families of the death of a loved one.
Death notification is acknowledged to be one of the most difficult tasks faced by law enforcement officers and other professionals because learning of the death of a loved one often is the most traumatic event in a person’s life. The moment of notification is one that most people remember very vividly for the rest of their life -- sometimes with pain and anger.
Basic Death Notification Procedures
These are some of the cardinal principles of death notification. Some of the points overlap, and all will be refined by the notifier’s experience and judgment.
Read the complete article at https://coronertalk.com/death-notification---best-practices
In this episode, the last of 2019, I discuss changes that are taking place in the new year. The podcast will go to monthly themes so we can dive deeper into training topics rather than bounce around through random unconnected topics.
We also discuss the improvements and changes being made to the Medicolegal Death Investigator Online Academy Course. This course has been moved to a new platform and many improvements have been made to the course design and available material. Check out the course at this link: https://www.ditacademyonline.org/
Also, I talk about the thought that "What we do Matter". What I do matters and what you do matters in the work we do. Everyone at the Coroner Talk Podcast understands that we make a significate influence in the area of death investigation and we do not take that lightly. What we do matter to investigators, families, and case outcomes. What you do everyday matters fo the same reasons.
Welcome to 2020, the year of clear vision. I truly thank you for coming along in the ride with me and look forward to a great year.
This Christmas and during this season I would like to wish every one of you a Blessed Christmas and Holiday Season. Regardless of your religious faith Christmas is a season for giving and giving back. Its a season to remember those less fortunate than us and to bring some happiness to someone's life.
I would also like the thank each of you listening and reading alike. It is because of you that I do what I do. I truly thank you and want to help in any way I am able.
Merry Christmas and God Bless.
Darren
In August 1997, sixteen year-old William Jenkins was on his second day of work at a fast-
food restaurant in suburban Richmond, Virginia when the restaurant was robbed at closing time.
While cooperating fully with the robber, William was shot and died instantly. His father, Bill Jenkins, quickly found that there were virtually no readily available resources that could answer his many questions as a survivor of a traumatic loss.
He began looking for help and found it, after a fashion, scattered in the bookstores, on the
Internet, and in support groups and agencies. But nowhere was there a single, concise, practical, and eminently useful resource for bereaved families written by victims for victims containing the advice and guidance that he and his family needed following their loss. Several months later, using the information he had collected for his own personal well-being, this experienced teacher and speaker sat down to write the book that he should have received the night he was notified of his son’s death, What to do When the Police Leave: A Guide to the First Days of Traumatic Loss.
This landmark book on grief and bereavement quickly became an important resource for families dealing with the sudden or traumatic death of a loved one and the caregivers who work with them. Now, a recognized expert on victims and trauma, Bill has served on the boards of directors for Murder Victims for Human Rights, the National Coalition of Victims in Action, and is the founder, along with his wife, Jennifer Bishop, of IllinoisVictims.org, a statewide victim rights watchdog group. He is also active in many other victims’ rights and support activities and organizations, has been an instructor with the Virginia Institute of Forensic Science and Medicine, leads seminars on victims’ perspectives for national organizations such as the National Center for Victims of Crime, the National Organization of Victim Assistance, and Parents of Murdered Children and also addresses local and regional conferences for law enforcement and victim advocates. He and his wife also speak at victim impact panels for youthful offenders and in support of funding for programs for children and young people that are proven to decrease crime.
In 2006, Bill received the Edith Surgan Victim Activist of the Year award from the National
Organization of Victim Assistance, a singular honor that recognizes to his expertise in the field and his commitment to making society more sensitive to victims’ rights and needs. In 2019, he was awarded the prestigious John Gillis Leadership Award by Parents of Murdered Children.
Bill has also written a full-length play, Hearts Full of Tears, that has been produced by two
professional theatre companies so far. It deals with the emotional struggle of a family dealing with the shooting death of their teen-aged son. Critical and audience reviews have been very positive.
Returning to his educational roots and love of biology, his latest research is in the neurobiology of trauma and stress, how our brains respond to traumatic experiences, and what treatments are most helpful to victims and their families. He hopes that his own personal perspective and unique voice using the latest authoritative scientific discoveries will help victims understand how their brains respond to crisis and inform caregivers how best to help trauma victims in their work. Bill is a professional artist and educator at the college level for over 25 years, he currently teaches and designs for the theatre program at Dominican University near Chicago, IL.
An asphyxial death refers to a multi-etiologic set of conditions in which there is inadequate delivery, uptake and/or utilization of oxygen by the body’s tissues/cells, often accompanied by carbon dioxide retention. This episode will introduce the listener to the four primary classifications of asphyxial deaths, which are; mechanical, inert-gas, environmental, and pathological. The podcast will cover each classification and describe how the deaths occur and what investigators need to know to properly determine death due to asphyxial means.
A common form of suicidal asphyxia is caused by the use of inert-gas. These deaths may also be accidental when located in an area compromised by a high level of gas. An inert gas is a gas that has no toxic or anesthetic properties and does not act upon the heart or hemoglobin. Instead, the gas acts simply to reduced oxygen concentration in the blood to dangerously low levels, thereby eventually depriving all cells in the body of oxygen.
Some common inert gases are;
- Argon
- Halon
- Helium
- Nitrogen
- Methane
This podcast also covers the asphyxial death classification of environmental asphyxial death. Environmental Asphyxia is due to insufficient oxygen in the environment. Deaths are almost always accidental. An oxygen concentration of 16% or less is dangerous, and with 5% concentration, consciousness is lost rapidly and death occurs within a few minutes. Environmental asphyxia deaths are typed in four manners:
- Confined Space
- Positional
- Compression
- Entrapment or Engulfment
The final classification discussed in this course is pathological asphyxia. Pathological is dealing with or attributable to disease or medical condition. These asphyxial deaths are caused by such things as anaphylaxis, pulmonary edema, and COPD.
In this episode, I answer several listener questions and discuss some upcoming training that I will be a student in. Plus, we look forward to the 2020 training schedule.
In this episode I speak with Venessa Tanner. Venessa shares her story of becoming a Death Investigator and getting a job with the local Sheriff’s office as a DI. Her story is one that many can relate to as she struggled to find an open door and anyone who would listen to her.
Through research and conversation with local agencies she found the online training at the Death Investigation Academy and through that training and interaction with instructors, doors started to open for her.
I may enjoy her story and may find a little of your own journey in their too.
Also, in this episode I give my opinion to the question; Did Epstein commit suicide.
Find out more about the training you can get at the Death Investigation Academy by clicking this link: trainingme
In this episode I play for you a recording from a presentation I gave at a session of the True Crime Conference in St. Charles Missouri.
A prevalent concern, but under-recognized, a public health problem of distressing and harmful resident-to-resident interactions in dementia in long-term care homes (LTC) (such as nursing homes and assisted living residences), is a major issue facing many countries today. This increase can, in part, be attributed to the growing population of older adults from the Baby Boom generation. These resident-to-resident incidents frequently lead to injurious and fatal consequences for vulnerable and frail elder residents.
Incidents Underreported For various reasons, these incidents are often underreported inside and outside the LTC home (such as to the Department of Health/state regulatory agency, police, and Coroners/Medical Examiners). Death investigators should play a critical role in timely and skilled investigations of these incidents. However, serious gaps in resources and training are a major barrier to change as they are the reality for many Coroner and Medical Examiner Offices and Law Enforcement Departments in the U.S. and abroad.
Partial Solution Improved communication and timely collaboration between external agencies is essential to addressing this phenomenon more effectively. A timely and skilled investigation can assist tremendously in determining the cause of death (which is critically important to family members of the deceased) and can also inform policy, legislation, systemic efforts, and training programs aimed at preventing similar tragic incidents in the future.
The burden of dealing with tragedies associated with the day-to-day duties of police officers, coroners, and medicolegal death investigators, often remains unspoken and follows the officers into their off-duty and personal lives. Failure to recognize and provide an acceptable outlet for the disappointment and frustration felt by officers and investigators at the end of their shifts can lead to:
- Alcohol and/or drug abuse
- Problems with personal relationships
- Self-rejection,
- Disillusionment and Depression
- Job loss
- Even suicide.
If asked what bothers them the most about their profession, many will offer concerns such as a lack of public respect, lack of manpower or equipment to do their job effectively, or a general frustration over the perceived ineffectiveness of the judicial system. Seldom will officers open their hearts to discuss the pain and frustration that stems from dealing with the injury, anguish, and distress suffered by the victims? Many officers are haunted by the effects of trying to resolve problems they encounter in their communities and with their victims only to find that the solution is beyond their control.
Officers do not discuss the sorrow they feel after having to notify loved ones about the loss of their spouse or child because of a vehicle collision. Nor do they discuss the tears that follow officers after having held an infant in their hands trying to breathe life back into the tiny body only to find that despite all of their training and practice their efforts are futile. Or the frustration of dealing with the children of a crack addict or an abusive parent who time after time evades the help of a system overburdened with cases that, left unresolved, ensure continued problems for generation after generation to come.
These unresolved and un-dealt with feelings will lead an officer or investigator to suffer a form of PTSD called ‘Secondary PTSD’ or compassion fatigue.
Suicide, depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), substance abuse, and many more emotional and stress-related problems plague the first-responder community. Hundreds of thousands of these brave public servants have unwittingly become victims of the professions they once loved. However, the suffering that results from a professional life of sacrifice and service can be prevented and mitigated.
Find Your Copy Here!
As a thirty-year law-enforcement veteran, retired police captain, and police academy instructor, Dan Willis has witnessed the damage of emotional trauma and has made it his personal mission to safeguard and enhance the wellness and wholeness of police officers, firefighters, EMTs, emergency-room personnel, and soldiers. Bulletproof Spirit offers field-tested expertise designed to be used by all first responders — and their families — to heal themselves and continue serving with compassion and strength.
If you want to be seen as a professional, you must present a professional image and attitude that will command respect. You WILL NOT get the respect you need simply by your title. Respect is earned not granted.
There has been a long history of perceived and actual unprofessionalism in the Coroner industry. This has spilled over into Medical Examiners office and police agencies as well. But by and large many coroners struggle with being accepted as a professional. Is it industry bias, or a reality of the image the coroner is projecting?
Five Areas You Must Address 1. Need for written policy
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All staff from top-down
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Procedures for all to follow
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Victim families
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Property
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Report deadlines
2. Attitude of cooperation
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With co-workers
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Other Agencies Stop power pulls
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Interactions with families
3. Office Organization
- Office area appearance
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Filing
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Reporting
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Returning messages Voice and Email
4. Dress code standards
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At office/morgue
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On scenes
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Proper Dress Proper Id on clothing
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On duty and in public
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This includes automobiles
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Is it marked
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Even Magnetic logos
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What type of vehicle
5. Training
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How trained are you
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Can you talk and understand the field
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Your responsibility to get it
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This podcast
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Reading
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Courses - local Sheriff Office
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ABMDI
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Use your ME
In order to determine the direction of an investigation and to prioritize leads, if necessary, death investigators must establish the manner of a death: natural, accident, homicide or suicide. The most overlooked aspect of death investigation is the psychological dimension, which can provide unique leads, correct false assumptions, enhance investigative awareness, and solve cases in surprising ways.
In an estimated 10–20% of cases, the manner of death cannot be determined, or worse, has been erroneously categorized.
In this episode, I spoke to Dr. Katherin Ramsland about the Psychology of Death Investigations. Both from the investigators perspective as well as the decedent and victim.
For attorneys and other professionals, Plan B Forensics will provide a comprehensive picture of what happened to the victim. For families, we are you. We’ve been where you’ve been. The way we have processed our tragedies is to understand as much as possible what happened to our loved ones. We cannot change the outcome, we cannot undo what was done. But we are a collective voice for the victim and an advocate for the survivors. In memoriam. For closure, for peace. For all of us.
We put the whole story together for you to gain an accurate picture of how things went wrong and a life ended. We don’t guess, make assumptions or chase theories. We’re not on anyone’s side but the victim and truth. We start with the most important evidence and the best witness, the body. If a scenario does not match the injuries the victim sustained, then it’s wrong, so we start at the source and work our way out in an enlarging spiral.
Dr. Entwistle’s extensive background and training in trauma surgery make it likely that she's seen these injuries before a fatality occurred and understands the mechanism required both before and after death -- a more comprehensive picture than a pathologist can give you. She was the real deal, “lifey-deathy” surgeon, for military and civilians, and will review medical records with the precision required in the operating room. Her certification as a medicolegal death investigator enables her to evaluate not just postmortem injuries but the process by which the death investigation was done.
Ms. Turpen, a DNA Scientist and Evidence Analyst, will look at all the evidence collected and see avenues for further exploration.
Are you a civilian crime writer who wants to use picture-perfect law enforcement details? Do you worry that your mystery novel or screenplay lacks credibility? Fiction and nonfiction author Sergeant Patrick O’Donnell has seen it all in his 24 years working for one of the largest police departments in the country. Now he’s here to help your writing honor the men and women who risk their lives in the line of duty.
Cops and Writers: From the Academy to the Street is your in-depth field guide for navigating the path from new recruit to seasoned patrol officer. Through O’Donnell’s accounts, you’ll get up close and personal with day-to-day challenges and out-of-the-ordinary emergencies including homicides, hostage situations, and bomb threats. Armed with this invaluable resource for decoding police jargon, tactics, and standard-issue gear, you’ll be well equipped to breathe new life into your stories.In Cops and Writers, you’ll discover: Stories from O’Donnell’s years on the force to help give your book credibility How the academy and field training shapes rookies so you can mold convincing characters Patrol officers' daily routines and working conditions to infuse your fiction with added depth Different techniques for arresting and defending against criminal threats to bring readers even closer to the action Different patrol units such as SWAT, K-9, Air Support, and Bomb Squad to add another layer of realism, and much, much more!
The term “burnout” is a relatively new term, first coined in 1974 by Herbert Freudenberger, in his book, Burnout: The High Cost of High Achievement. He originally defined burnout as, “the extinction of motivation or incentive, especially where one's devotion to a cause or relationship fails to produce the desired results.”
Burnout is a reaction to prolonged or chronic job stress and is characterized by three main dimensions: exhaustion, cynicism (less identification with the job), and feelings of reduced professional ability.
More simply put, if you feel exhausted, start to hate your job, and begin to feel less capable at work, you are showing signs of burnout.
Signs and Symptoms While burnout isn’t a diagnosable psychological disorder, that doesn't mean it shouldn't be taken seriously.
Here are some of the most common signs of burnout:
- Alienation from work-related activities: Individuals experiencing burnout view their jobs as increasingly stressful and frustrating. They may grow cynical about their working conditions and the people they work with. They may also emotionally distance themselves and begin to feel numb about their work.
- Physical symptoms: Chronic stress may lead to physical symptoms, like headaches and stomachaches or intestinal issues.
- Emotional exhaustion: Burnout causes people to feel drained, unable to cope, and tired. They often lack energy to get their work done.
- Reduced performance: Burnout mainly affects everyday tasks at work—or in the home when someone's main job involves caring for family members. Individuals with burnout feel negative about tasks. They have difficulty concentrating and often lack creativity.
It shares some similar symptoms of mental health conditions, such as depression. Individuals with depression experience negative feelings and thoughts about all aspects of life, not just at work. Depression symptoms may also include a loss of interest in things, feelings of hopelessness, cognitive and physical symptoms as well as thoughts of suicide.
Individuals experiencing burnout may be at a higher risk of developing depression.
Read More at: coronertalk.com
Tactical Reload offers a road map for police and MDI professionals eager to succeed as America transitions from unrest to a new age of social enlightenment.
Through honest personal stories and interviews with top police chiefs and thought leaders, Wilson thoroughly explores the present crisis of law enforcement and foreshadow a safer future.
- Embrace “Embarrassment School” as an important rite of passage
- Respect people who commit crimes as a humane strategy for building trust
- Reject Millennial entitlement and impatience or jeopardize rank promotions
- Win department and community accolades by behaving well in or out of uniform
- Discover why authentic cops don’t need to prove they are tough, but they had better heed mental fitness advice from a retired Navy Seal
- Learn how mandatory psychological tests for cops could remove the shame of vulnerability and decrease suicides
- Build character and improve advancement by blending new academic credentials with street smarts
Show Guest:
Adam Wilson is a highly decorated 14-year law enforcement veteran. He was recognized in 2018 by the National Association of Police Organizations that sponsors the annual TOP COP awards for his handling of a human trafficking investigation in North Carolina.
Sgt. Wilson has served as a SWAT senior operator and is trained to carry out specialized, military-style tactics in confrontations with violent criminals. He also collaborated with federal authorities in cases involving public corruption, sexual exploitation of minors and corrupt organizations. Concurrently, he served in a street crime unit that safeguarded against illegal guns, Gangs, and drugs.
Adam has received five commendations for outstanding service and is a two-time winner of an Exceptional Service award. He earned his master’s in Criminal Justice, is an E.A. Morris Fellow for Emerging Leaders in North Carolina and was appointed to the state Human Relations Commission by former Governor Pat McCrory.
Amanda Beasler was a hard-working emergency management professional employed by the state of Wisconsin. Her dream was to be a Medicolegal Death Investigator and like many others could not get her foot in the door. Although there is a loose connection between her “day job” and her dream job, she was not a boots on the ground investigators, or really anything to do with the Medicolegal Investigative process.
Amanda applied for an internship with her local Medical Examiner and was turned down, she applied for a part-time position and was also turned down. The reason given in each case was she did not have any experience or education in death investigation.
Amanda understood the reason but did not expect it as the final decision. Through her persistence and determination, she started doing research on how to get the training and/or experience she would need. She reached out to connections on LinkedIn and started intense Google searches. She knew she could not return to college for a degree and was that even necessary?
Through advice from peers and information found in her searches, she found the Death Investigation Training Academy. After deeper research and a few phone calls to clarify some questions, she knew she had found the training she needed and enrolled in the next online Academy session.
In this episode of the podcast, I speak to Amanda who tells her story in more detail and breaks down how the Online Academy course and subsequent Certification exam gave her the training and proof of knowledge she needed to land her part-time investigator position with her local Medical Examiner.
We will talk about what’s good with the course and what she feels could use some improvement. We talk very candidly and unscripted about the course, the process, and the exam.
If you are looking to enter the field of death investigation or need to have some good refreshers this course is what you are looking for. Learn more at the Academy web site.
https://deathinvestigation.com
Due to the very nature of sudden and/or violent deaths, many things can and do go wrong in the first few hours of discovery. Death scenes have a way of bringing together many individuals with various responsibilities and experience. This unique group can consist of uniformed officers, detectives, CSI, and forensic experts, medical examiner and coroner investigators, as well as prosecutors and police administrative staff.
These scenes may also have fire and ems staff or other agencies trying to do their respective jobs. Not to mention families and onlookers Because of this scene, chaos errors can happen. Let's look at the ten most common mistakes of a death investigation.
1. Improper Response and Arrival to the Scene
First, responding officers may not correctly respond to and secure the scene and the immediate surrounding area. It's not uncommon for the uniformed officers to not stop or detain people leaving or milling around the scene. Further, it's common that while waiting for investigation and CSI teams to arrive, first responding officers gather and congregate to close to, or in the scene inadvertently contaminating evidence.
Here are a few other examples of errors from first responding officers. They may fail to notify investigators soon enough, or at all, they may assume the death is a suicide or natural, and there is no need to establish a crime scene; they may fail to detain all persons present at the scene, which might include the suspect; or they may fail to separate possible witnesses and obtain initial statements. Also, failing to make an initial determination of the scene boundaries leads to an insufficient area of protection.
2. Failing to protect the Crime Scene
In all death investigations, but even more so in a Homicide investigation, crime scene contamination can be and is a significant problem. No other aspect of these investigations is more open to mistakes than the preservation and protection of the scene and subsequent evidence.
Paramount to any investigation is the assurance by the first officers on the scene to isolate and protect the scene as well as maintaining scene integrity as the investigation follows its standard path. This includes the monitoring and supervising to paramedics and ems personnel in the scene. These personnel must be identified for a future interview. Officers must also watch family members or others in the area to assure they are not contaminating the scene. After a perimeter is established, the scene is locked down, and officers should start a log of everyone entering and leaving the scene and the reason why they are there. Also, officers should be observing and taking notes of activities occurring in and around the scene.
3. Not Handling Suspicious Deaths and Homicides
All unattended death should be looked at and treated as suspicious, and an experienced officer/investigator should go to the scene. These deaths should be treated as a homicide and a crime scene until the facts prove otherwise. Too many departments allow untrained patrol officers to conduct basic death investigation with the assumption of suicide or natural death and with the thinking that it is unlikely to be a homicide. Without training, officers could likely miss-interpreted a staged or altered scene.
If the scene is not handled correctly from the beginning and is later found to be a homicide, valuable evidence can be lost, and the integrity of the scene is compromised at best and at worst, non-existent.
4. Responding with a Preconceived Notion
It is imperative that investigators not allow themselves to respond to a death scene with any preconceived conclusion about the case. It’s common for investigators to get sent to a scene and given information based on the initial call. If the call came in as a suicide and the initial officer who responds arrives with the mindset of suicide, it is common to treat the scene as suicide and thus shortcut any other investigation. It looks like a suicide, so it must be a suicide, and no other investigation is conducted.
This type of preconceived investigation results in fewer photographs being taken, witness statements not being completed, evidence not being searched for or collected, and the integrity of the scene is destroyed.
It's not only suicide this can happen on, but reported natural deaths and accidents can also be shortcutting if responding officers make the conclusion of their investigation based upon the initial reported call. If then, in fact, the death becomes suspicious at a later time officer reports and investigation will be lacking valuable information for future investigations. The tendency is for the uniformed officer to write the final report and collect the evidence necessary to fit the narrative given to him by the initial call.
5. Failing to Take Sufficient Photographs
In today's world of digital photography, photographs are cheap and easy to obtain. Back when I start in this business, we used Polaroid instant photography and 35mm film cameras. These were expensive, and some departments wanted to limit "unnecessary" photographs in an attempt to stretch the budget. That's not the case today, hundreds of photographs can be taken and stored nearly free of charge.
Photographs are a way to document the scene and to freeze that scene in time. They are used in court when necessary and will prove or disprove a fact in question. Therefore, it is vital that photographs are taken of the entire scene, area, and location where the crime took place, including any sites connected to the original crime. Remember, you only get one chance and your first chance to document a scene.
6. Failing to Manage the Crime Scene Process
The investigator in charge should oversee the investigation and scene documentation. He or she should ensure proper chain of custody and documentation of evidence. They are also in charge of maintaining scene integrity. Never allow officers to use the restroom within the residence, or take food or drink from the kitchen, never allow smoking in the investigative area, never bring food or drink into the scene from an outside source, and always keep non-essential personnel out of the scene area. Designate an area for them to congregate if needed, but it should never be inside your primary scene area.
Lead investigators must also direct crime scene personnel on where and what are to collect. Many CSI staff are well trained and have a good idea of what needs to be done. However, each scene can have unique situations, and the investigator in charge must ensure evidence is adequately searched for and collected.
The victim's body should always be inspected and searched for trace evidence prior to being moved or taken from the scene. Not doing so can result in loss of valuable evidence and can leave many unanswered questions.
Always stop and look around the scene; look up as much as around. See what is missing or what isn't. What looks right about the scene, and what looks wrong? Is what you are seeing matching what you are being told? Never leave a scene until you are confident every answer to any question you may have has been answered or documented. Remember, this is your only chance and a first chance.
7. Failing to Evaluate Victimology
It is imperative that investigators know the victim and completes a victimology study. You cannot properly investigate a death without victimology. Failing to have a complete picture of the victim will preclude you from developing motives, suspects, and risk factors unique to the victim. These risk factors are usually regarded as high, moderate, or low and are based on lifestyle, living condition, job skills, neighborhood, or anything specific to the victim.
Victimology is the collection and assessment of any significant information as it connects to the victim and his or her lifestyle, these include areas such as; personality, employment, education, friends, habits, hobbies, marital status, relationships, dating history, sexuality, reputation, criminal record, drug, and alcohol use, physical condition, and neighborhood of residence as well as where they grew up of different than where currently living.
The bottom line is, who was the victim and what was going on at the time they became a victim. The best source of information will be friends, family, employers, and neighbors. You need to know the victim better than they knew themselves.
8. Failing to Conduct and Efficient Area Canvass Properly
I will admit that conducting an area canvass can be tedious and very time-consuming. Sometimes hundreds of contacts are often made without one shred of usable information being unveiled. However, it is that one exhilarating jewel that is occasionally discovered that makes the process so rewarding.
Most criminal investigation courses and books talk little about an area canvass, other than to suggest doing one. There are right and wrong ways to conduct an area canvass that will yield better results for the efforts put out.
Ideally, patrol personnel and plainclothes detectives should perform separate canvasses. Some individuals respond more readily to an authority figure in a uniform, while others prefer the anonymity of the detective’s plain clothes. Since it is impossible to know who will respond more willingly to either approach, both should be employed. This technique will give the investigator the greatest chance of getting vital information.
First, understand the terms “area canvass” and “neighborhood canvass” may be used interchangeably. They are interviews conducted in the field, as opposed to statements taken on the scene or in the station. The canvass may be conducted in an area near the crime scene or, conceivably, hundreds of miles away from it. In the aftermath of a bank robbery, for example, the getaway vehicle may be located several counties, or even states, away. Two canvasses should, therefore, be undertaken: one at the original crime scene (the bank) and one at the secondary scene (the vehicle). If a suspect is developed, it may be advisable to perform an additional area canvass in the neighborhood where that person resides to learn about his/her reputation and habits. A complex case may require that a number of area canvasses are completed at various locations.
The primary goal of a neighborhood canvass is, of course, to locate a witness to the crime. It is this promise of the elusive witness that motivates the investigator. However, it is not only the “eye” witness you seek. On occasion, it may be just as significant to discover an “ear witness." Someone who may have heard a threatening remark heard gunshots or even heard how and in which direction the perpetrator fled.
This information can point the case in the right direction. A witness who hears a homicide subject flee in a vehicle with a loud muffler, for example, could be furnishing a valuable lead. Likewise, intimidating or threatening statements the witness may have overheard could refute a subsequent claim of self-defense. In an officer-involved shooting incident, a witness who hears the officer yell "stop police" or "drop the gun" is invaluable to the investigation. Just as crucial as the eye-witness or the ear-witness is the "witness-who-knows-a-witness." Even though this person may not have first-hand knowledge of the crime, he or she can direct investigators to a person who does and is, therefore, of great value.
Hearsay
Rumors, innuendo, and gossip may not have a place in the courtroom, but they are certainly welcome tidbits that help navigate any investigation. The type of approach the investigator uses to cultivate this information can often determine how successful he will be. In certain situations, it may be necessary to coax and cajole the witness. In others, it may be beneficial to appear to confide in the witness and reveal some "inside scoop" about the investigation. This works particularly well with the neighborhood "busy body" who will derive motivation from being "included" in the case. Also, remember that in certain situations, an area canvass may more resemble an interrogation than a simple interview. Eliciting information from a witness, who is not predisposed to furnish it, is the essence of any area canvass.
In high crime, drug infested neighborhoods retaliation for "snitching" to the police is a real-life possibility that must be appreciated. Witnesses who refuse or are reluctant to cooperate with authorities may have ample reason for their trepidation. That is why each person approached should be provided with a contact number and assurances that they may remain anonymous.
9. Failing to Work Together as a Team
As with any crime scene, cooperation is critical among differing agencies. But with a death scene, this cooperation is ever more important and ever more strained. Due to the increased severity of the scene, the spotlight, and egos, these scenes can become a disaster quickly. Therefore teamwork is vital, and it is the lead investigators role to set a tone of cooperation and teamwork.
One of the most significant issues in a major case is the failure to communicate information to those working the case. Agencies seem to want to keep what they know to themselves. This occurs from egos and turf wars, which will compromise an effective outcome. Everyone involved in the investigation is after the same conclusion. Each member has a job to do and has information gathered from that job; this information is combined and evaluated to set the direction and ultimate conclusion of the investigation.
A baseball game is won when everyone playing does his or her job and supports every other player in getting their job done.
10. Command and Administrative Staff Interfering
One of the most frustrating mistakes at a death scene investigation is when command staff shows up on the scene with their own agendas which have nothing to do with the actual investigation. Sometimes it's for political appearance or simple curiosity. But unless they are an actual part of the investigative team, they should not insert themselves into the investigation.
In many instances, because they’re at the scene, command ranking personnel feel the need to direct the investigation. Consequently, they will have investigators running in different directions which have nothing to do with the primary investigation. The result is the loss of cohesive and central command and major miscommunication. Many times, in these situations no one is willing to step up and make decision and take control for fear of making the boss mad, so the chaos continues and the investigation is compromised, and when the outcome is delayed or not favorable, the command personnel directly the chaos will not see that they caused the confusion but rather the blame may fall on the lead investigator.
Conclusion
Death investigations are not always simple step by step cutouts. They require real attention and specific actions to protect the investigation integrity. Many of the mistakes mention here are from shortcutting and not taking seriously the gravity of the scene you are working. Our job as death investigators, regardless of what function that is, is to get the truth for the victim and bring to justice to anyone responsible for their death, if in fact, anyone is responsible. Developing and following strict procedures at every death scene will ensure that investigations are worked properly, and evidence is not missed.
Reference: Vernon J. Geberth, Practical Homicide Investigation Fifth Edition, (CRC Press 2015)
. Coroners, Medical Examiner Investigators, Police, and Forensic students. This hybrid course looks at death investigation from a combined perspective of law enforcement and medicolegal death investigations.
MLDI online Academy is a Nationally Accredited online training designed to teach all aspects of death investigation and scene management. Unlike any other coroner training today, this course offers a blended learning style combining online self-paced video training, along with opportunities for live interaction with instructors several times throughout the program, and a unique private Facebook group open only to students of Coroner School™ where everyone can interact and ask questions.
MLDI online Academy is a six-week guided course with certified instructors. However, at the end of the six weeks, you still have access to all videos, downloadable material, and the private Facebook group. You can return to the online school anytime to finish up the courses or as a refresher in certain topic areas.
Postmortem fingerprint collection is a routine part of many forensic death investigations. Although the production of postmortem prints is usually straight forward, several obstacles and scenarios can make the collection difficult. A common challenge occurs when finger pads are mummified. Several current techniques allow for softening and rehydration of mummified finger pads; however, despite the employment of such techniques, the production of adequate postmortem fingerprints can remain difficult.
The Pima County Office of the Medical Examiner has earned national recognition for breakthrough work with fingerprinting unidentified bodies of people, including border crossers, who have died in the desert.
In arid conditions such as Southern Arizona’s desert, it doesn't take long to run out of water. This, as well as sickness, injuries and other accidents, can lead to fatalities and the dehydration process doesn’t stop after death. Many of the bodies brought to the PCOME’s well lit, tiled hallways have begun to mummify.
When nobody knows who the person was, mummification makes identification an even greater challenge.
It's possible to rehydrate the tissue using sodium hydroxide. The process can take up to 72 hours and requires a mixture of attention and patience.
If printing is attempted too soon, the prints are still distorted — but waiting too long can mean permanently losing the fingerprints.
“The risk again is always you can dissolve the tissue if your solution's the wrong concentration or you leave the tissue in the solution for too long and that kind of thing,” Hess said. “So we have a fairly rigid process.”
It was a process that Hernandez began helping to develop after he started working at the PCOME in 2000.
This article was an excerpt from a full article by the Tucson Sentinel January 2014, read the full article HERE
To hear the full story with Gene Hernandez with Pima County Arizona on how this process works listen to this episode.
On December 29, 1999, high school friends Lauria Jaylene Bible and Ashley Renae Freeman spent the evening together celebrating Freeman's sixteenth birthday. Bible received permission from her parents to spend the night at Freeman's home. Earlier that day, the girls had spent time at a local pizza restaurant with Kathy Freeman.
At approximately 5:30 am on December 30, 1999, a passerby called 911 reporting that the Freeman home was engulfed in flames. Law enforcement determined the fire had been arson. Inside the home, the charred remains of Kathy Freeman were discovered lying on the floor of her bedroom; she had been shot in the head. Initially, no other remains were relocated, leading local law enforcement to believe Dan Freeman had killed his wife and fled with both teenage girls. Lauria's parked car was in the driveway of the home with the keys in the ignition.
On December 31, Lauria's parents Lorene and Jay Bible returned to the scene, hoping to find additional clues law enforcement may have missed. While walking through the rubble, they discovered what appeared to be another body, and called police. The second body was determined to be that of Dan Freeman, Ashley's father; like his wife, he had also been shot in the head. After this discovery, the scene was reexamined, but no sign of Lauria Bible or Ashley Freeman was found. In 2010, the Freeman family initiated court proceedings to have Ashley declared legally dead
Suspects and confessions In the decade following the disappearance of Bible of Freeman, two convicted killer—Tommy Lynn Sells and Jeremy Jones—confessed to murdering them, but subsequently recanted their admissions. Jones had claimed that he murdered Dan and Kathy Freeman as a favor for a friend over drug debt, then took the girls to Kansas, where he sot them and threw their bodies into an abandoned mine. Searches of the mine Jones identified proved unfruitful, however, and Jones subsequently admitted he had fabricated the story in order to get better food and additional phone privileges in prison
In a 2001 profile on Unsolved Mysteries, it was mentioned that rumors had circulated among locals that the Craig County Police Department had been feuding with the Freemans at the time over the death of their son, Shane, who was shot by a deputy after stealing a car. While his death was ruled justifiable, the Freemans had threatened to file a wrongful death lawsuit. Dan Freeman's brother, Dwayne, claimed that Dan had confided that deputies had tried to intimidate him.
Article/Info Credit: Wikipedia
This Episode In this episode, I talk with Jax Miller and Sarah Cailean as to their involvement in this ongoing investigation and how Jax, as a true crime writer, and Sarah, as a police investigator, team up to uncover new clues and sparked the attention of Law Enforcement which moves this case forward.
The term every scene every time is certainly not new and is not unique to me. This term is credited to Steven C. Clark, Ph.D. of Occupational Research and Assessment, Inc. The term was first used in a 1999 NIJ research study setting out guidelines for death scene investigation and has since been updated to a 2011 revision.
However, regardless of who first said it, the term is reelevate today as any time and needs to be explored regularly. Many agencies have checklist and guidelines to help investigators properly complete an investigation and some are very detailed in their approach. The NIJ guidelines are a bit broader and are meant to establish investigative tasks that should be performed at every death. The direct quote from the publication is:
The principal purpose of the study, initiated in June 1996, was to identify, delineate, and assemble a set of investigative tasks that should and could be performed at every death scene. These tasks would serve as the foundation of the guide for death scene investigators……..
In this podcast, I break down the areas outlined by the NIJ publication. Each section has several points and will establish a path of investigation for every death scene. With these basic foundations, an investigator can insert their local policies and ensure a complete and appropriate investigation every time.
Every crime scene presents unique obstacles for the investigator, but in a death investigation, three elements will always exist to some degree. These three elements make up the investigative triangle.
Although independent in nature – they are interdependent in the investigation. A complete and accurate investigation cannot be accomplished without weaving these three elements together.
These elements are
- The Scene
- The Body
- The History
The Scene The scene of every death contains facts of the story. Regardless of the amount of actual physical evidence, the scene does tell a portion of the story; every scene must be worked slowly and methodically. It is our responsibility to listen to that story and let the evidence and subsequent facts, complete the story. The scene may be one location or many. Evidence can be overwhelming in scope, or minimal at best.
Cooperation between police investigators and the Coroner/ ME offices is critical. Each agency has a major, and no less important, function in the overall investigation of any death scene. Agencies should have an attitude of cooperation and communication with each other’s roles prior to any scene presenting itself. Neither agency can properly perform their function without the information and cooperation of the other.
The Body The body is the most important piece of evidence of any death scene. Without a body, you do not a death scene, (even if the body is presumed dead and ordered so by the courts). Information from the body is what directs the investigation. First, there must be a body. Then a determination of cause and manner will direct further investigation. Evidence such as; recovered bullets, wound patterns, DNA, wound type and trajectory, are just the basic information located within the body. In most states, the Coroner/ME investigators have complete control of the body and everything associated with it. Although it is part of the scene, it is a scene within itself. Here again, is where prior communication and complete cooperation is a must between agencies. Questions such as collecting evidence, initial photographs, movement of the body, and access for the time of death determination needs to have an attitude of cooperation.
History Decedent history is the third element of the investigative triangle and an equally important aspect of every death investigation. Anti-mortem activity should be known of every decedent to establish the activities immediately prior to death; although that time frame can be minutes or hours. An effort must be made to obtain medical history, psychological history, as well as social and sexual history, any and all of these can yield information necessary to establish cause and manner, as well as establish a suspect.
In this episode: This episode is a panel discussion of the three elements of the investigative triangle and how best to approach each one. I have included two experts from different parts of the United States as well as differing primary roles of investigation as well as myself; to discuss at length this investigative triangle approach to death investigation.
Everette Baxter Jr.
Supervising Crime Scene Investigator with the Oklahoma City, OK Police Department
Paul Parker
Los Angeles County Coroner Office
The human body burns predictably based it on its anatomical configuration of soft tissues and bones. Fire creates burn patterns to soft tissues: skin, fat, muscle, and then on select areas of the skeleton. These burn patterns convey how the body burned within its environment and if there was any traumatic injury present prior to the fire.
Normal burn patterns of the body involve blisters, skin splits, color banding of skin, exposure and rendering of subcutaneous fat, followed by protection from thick bulky muscles that overlie the inner skeleton. After the outer skin splits, subcutaneous fat melts and liquefies into a fuel source that keeps the fire burning, and can do so for several hours under the right conditions.
Muscles protect the skeleton but even they shrink and retract along the shafts of long bones when exposed to heat. Inner bones of the head, torso, and extremities gradually become exposed to the fire and they undergo color changes of blackened charring and calcination. Burned bone is durable and survives the fire when all of the other soft tissues have burned away, and therefore it stands as physical evidence of the body when all else is burned beyond recognition.
Burn patterns in bone can convey how the body burned and if there was any traumatic injury present during the fire, which would produce abnormal burn patterns, along with the skeletal injury patterns from gunshot wounds, blunt force and sharp force trauma. These injuries remain present throughout all stages of burning and are reflected in the bones after the fire.
Hoarding is a psychological condition that results in a person accumulating an enormous amount of trash and things of little-to-no value, or worse, more animals than can be properly cared for. Hoarding of any kind can pose several dangers to the occupant and neighbors, and certainly to animals if they are involved. These hazards can be deadly, and all the more reason people with hoarding disorder should have professional help to restore them to healthy living conditions. If children and animals are in the home, exposed to these perilous dangers, hoarding is also a crime.
Dangers of Hoarding Structural Integrity The weight of debris and hoarded items are often more than the floors are able to withhold. The sheer volume of debris in a room can push up against walls, not only damaging their integrity, but also putting the ceiling and roof at risk of collapse. Likewise, the collapse of walls, floors or ceilings can cause gas lines and water pipes to break, resulting in fire and flood damage.
Fire Large amounts of paper, such as newspapers, books, boxes, and discarded food wrappers and packaging, or improperly stored combustibles can pose extreme fire dangers. If space heaters are used, close proximity to any debris can also cause a fire.
Collapse of Debris Often, hoarders will create precarious paths between large piles of debris, or will crawl over mountains of trash to get around in the house. If these trash piles collapse, they could trap the hoarder underneath, burying the person alive. This could result in death from suffocation or inability to notify anyone they need help.
Decay/Decomposition As is often the case, hoarders not only collect relatively useless items, but they tend to not dispose of much of anything. The decay of spoiled food stuffs and waste can lead to terrible odors and airborne pathogens that can be harmful or even deadly. In a very unusual case in San Francisco, the mummified body of a 90-year-old woman was found in an extreme hoarding case. Officials believe she died 5 years previously.
Harmful Biohazards In almost all hoarding scenes, biohazards are present. Biohazards can be toxic or infectious, even deadly, and can lead to any range of illnesses and dangers to the resident or neighbors. Common biohazardous materials include spoiled food, feces and urine, blood, bodily fluids, pet waste and dead animals.
Infestations The decay and decomposition of organic materials and biohazards, undoubtedly attract pests. Rodents will leave waste and very often get trapped and die within a hoarding residence. This further increases the potential harm to the hoarder, as well as neighbors. This is why hoarding goes beyond an individual and becomes a community problem.
Personal Hygiene and Nutritional Issues A hoarding situation can become so extreme that debris blocks access to a kitchen and bathrooms. When the kitchen is blocked or is overwhelmed by harmful waste, proper food preparation becomes impossible. And when bathrooms become blocked, makeshift alternatives are used, with an absence of hygiene. In the extreme hoarding case in San Francisco, police found over 300 bottles of urine on the premises.
If a loved one or a neighbor is a hoarder and living in unsafe conditions, we can help with the cleanup and refer you to other helpful resources. If animals or children are at risk, we can also put you in touch with law enforcement agencies that can assist.
Episode Guest – Michelle Doscher Ph.D A forensic scientist specializing in investigative psychology and crime scene investigation. Diversified experience as an investigator, interviewer, instructor, expert witness, and an analyst. Currently conducting research in the transference of psycholinguistic cues to handwriting during deception. The current quantitative method unites psychological and physical evidence for more concise investigative leads, with expected applications for criminal interrogations and loss prevention interviews.
In this episode, I talk with Bill Patt. Bill has spent his career in EMS and for the last several years has been the supervisor of a large EMS district. Bill and I discuss the history of the EMS field in where the EMS field and the Coroner - death investigation field merge.
We talk about the first call he ever had that resulted in a death, that happened also be the first call the local coroner. We also talk about scene control, personal decontamination, and mental fatigue of the job.
Bill is due to retire within a few months after a long 30-year career in the EMS field, this conversation is very real and at times can get very humorous. Bill is a fascinating paramedic supervisor and will add a lot to this industry to this conversation.
Sworn Statement is a podcast exploring local cases and public safety issues here in Collier County.
The first three episodes will focus on the case of the deceased hiker known as Mostly Harmless.
Hikers found the man’s body in Big Cypress National Preserve in July 2018. Facebook tipsters quickly linked a composite image of the man to photos taken of him during his hike along the Appalachian Trail, beginning in 2017. But detectives have not yet made a positive ID.
Sworn Statement will take a deep dive into the case with first-hand accounts from the 911 caller, hikers who met him on the trail and CCSO’s own investigators.
Future episodes of the podcast will delve into other issues and cases taking place in our community.
Listen to the first three episodes here.
The Death Investigation Training Academy was founded to play an integral role in the death investigation community. The need for quality accredited training is in short supply and high demand. Using a combination of classroom training, live on site scenario exercises, and web-based training, the Death Investigation Training Academy is filling the need of 21st-century investigators.
Co-Hosted Training The Death Investigation Training Academy will gladly host most all of our offered courses at your agency. Co-Hosted training is often referred to as “free training”. In a Co-Hosted seminar, DITA requests that an agency supply a meeting facility, coffee, tea, and their hospitality in exchange for free seats in the training. DITA and the hosting agency will market the class to surrounding agencies and DITA will handle all student registration. DITA will then contract with our accredited instructors and supply all audio/visual equipment.
This saves you the expense of time and travel for your personnel and the personnel in your region.
Training packages and details are negotiated on a per-request basis. Discounts and tuition credits are available for staff of hosting agencies. Please contact us directly for quotes and package information.
What DITA Provides: * Assisted marketing to regional agencies * On-Site national coordinator to support the training * All student material including class roster, manual & handouts, and completion certificates * We handle student registration and payments * Accredited instructors
What Hosting Agency Provides * Training Facility for 30+ students * Audio/Video Equipment * Notifying surrounding agencies of the scheduled training
Benefits of Co-Hosting * 2 free seats in training of 10 or more paying attendees * 5 free seats for 20 or more paying attendees * Saving in time and expense of travel and per diem expenses * Acknowledgment on all marketing material * Recognition as a leader in state certified training
Virtual Classroom Bringing high quality, hyper-focused training, to your agency through the power of the internet. Capable of streaming around the world in real time saving you time and money without sacrificing quality and accreditation.
Why Chose this option A virtual classroom is a great option for in-service training. The virtual classroom allows you to have quality instructors and topics without the added cost of travel and lodging. Plus, it opens the opportunity for shorter training sessions of up to 4 hours.
How it Works Your agency hosts the training by providing a training room equipped with high-speed internet, monitor and/or projector, web camera, and audio. If you can Skype from the room it can become a virtual classroom. Your students see the instructor on the monitor or projected onto the screen and the instructor can see the students through your webcam. Students can see and hear what is being presented – both in lecture and presentation slides or video.
Interaction can take place between students and the instructor just like a Skype or facetime call, so questions can be asked and answered in real time.
Technical Issues Basic technical needs are low, again not much different than a skype or facetime call. However, you will need to ensure high-speed internet is present and not overburdened during the training session. It is recommended someone with a good understanding of the equipment be present and can work directly with our producer during setup and if any issues occur during the stream.
In most instances, the stream will be through the zoom.us platform streaming a broadcast from Wirecast studio. This will require you to download the zoom application onto your system. There is no cost or danger in this download and it can be removed after the class session.
When dealing with the internet we have all come to expect perfection and we get it most of the time. However, and usually when its most important, things happen and speeds slow down or are interrupted. Therefore, it is best to have someone present that can get the system reconnected and running should a problem occur.
A second connection will be established prior to starting the live feed in case issues arise. This second connection will allow our producer and your onsite tech to communicate outside of the internet being used for steaming. This connection, in most cases, will be cell phone calls and text messages which can be done without the internet.
Firewalls
Another issue to consider is your agencies firewall if you are hosting the training within your facility. Some government facilities have strict firewall protection and would not allow for a live stream to be sent through. Your IT professional can answer and/or test this for you and our producer is available to test the set up any time prior to scheduling a training.
Accreditation Courses taught through virtual classroom can receive accredited continuing education credits for the students through Missouri POST and ABMDI if certain obligations are met. Primarily we would have to have someone in supervision within your agency in the classroom during the training that can ensure the continued presence of students. Also, a sign-in roster would have to be signed by all students and confirmed by the person of authority on site. This roster would then need to be emailed to our academy and certificates would be sent to the agency.
Cost Cost of virtual classroom training is at a fraction of traditional on-site training. In most instances training, will be $125 dollars plus $80 per training hour. For example, if an agency wanted a 3-hour training on Injury and Wound Identification and Documentation. The course would cost $125 plus $240 for a total of $365. With 10 students present that would only be $36.50 per student, for three hours of accredited training.
Cost is calculated based upon the number of accredited training hours, not actual streaming hours. Instructors consider 15-30 minutes after the presentation for additional questions or conversation that is included in the session cost.
Additional Costs and Options Fees are based upon an average of 20 students. In as much as the number of students’ present does not affect cost, the certification and back-end work is affected. So, any training that would require our agency to issue more than 25 certificates would be billed at $1 (one dollar) per certificate.
Books and Manuals
Some courses have the option of having a workbook or reference book that goes along with the course. These books are optional and can be purchased prior to the training session in any amount requested.
Where to Begin The first set is to contact our academy and get the conversation started. We will help you decide on tailored training topics to fit your needs and work with you on the technical issues. It’s a simple and painless process that we will walk you through step by step.
You can email us through the contact link in the top menu bar, or call us at 888-556-0177.
SteelFusion Labs
SteelFusion offers rapid forensic and clinical toxicology testing utilizing Oral Fluid and Urine for the detection and quantification of illicit and prescription drugs.
SteelFusion is the post-mortem Oral Fluid experts! Are you unsure about the interpretation of your toxicology results? Do you need an expert testimony witness to consult with? Do you know if your laboratory is using the most up-to-date procedures and has the proper accreditations? Whether you are a coroner, deputy coroner, medical examiner, investigator or work for the judicial system, they can assist you with choosing the right sample and the right test to meet your specific needs.
Codeine is one of the fastest opiates to leave your system. A blood drug test can detect it within 24 hours while urine tests work for 24-48 hours. Saliva testing for codeine is effective 1-4 days after.
Testing blood, saliva, or urine can detect most drugs for 1 to 4 days after use. Oral fluid testing, in its similarity to blood, excels in the ability to detect drug use within the first moments of consumption. Urine testing must wait until the drugs have passed through the body.
Death Investigator Magazine A digital magazine focused on the death investigation community. Dedicated to improving skills and enriching lives of investigators.
“To the living we owe respect, but to the dead, we owe only the truth.” Voltaire
Medicolegal Death Investigation – Online Academy Coroners, Medical Examiner Investigators, Police, and Forensic students. This hybrid course looks at death investigation from a combined perspective of law enforcement and medicolegal death investigations.
MLDI online Academy is a Nationally Accredited online training designed to teach all aspects of death investigation and scene management. Unlike any other coroner training today, this course offers a blended learning style combining online self-paced video training, along with opportunities for live interaction with instructors several times throughout the program, and a unique private Facebook group open only to students of Coroner School™ where everyone can interact and ask questions.
MLDI online Academy is a six-week guided course with certified instructors. However, at the end of the six weeks, you still have access to all videos, downloadable material. You can return to the online school anytime to finish up the courses or as a refresher in certain topic areas.
"We found that dispatchers report significant emotional distress related to handling duty-related calls, and this type of distress is associated with increased risk for developing PTSD or PTSD symptoms," said NIU Psychology Professor Michelle Lilly, one of the authors of the study.
The #IAM911 movement is an effort to assist in the reclassification of public safety telecommunicators from "clerical" to "protective." But its much more than that. It's a movement that brings light to the job of 911 call takers and dispatchers who were previously all but forgotten about.
911 centers are the first line of communication with and for emergency service workers and their fields. If not for the central hub of communications and good direction from a dispatch 'traffic cop', the rest of us could not do our jobs as efficiently if at all in some cases.
__________
Coroners, Medical Examiner Investigators, Police, and Forensic students. This hybrid course looks at death investigation from a combined perspective of law enforcement and medicolegal death investigations.
MLDI online Academy is a Nationally Accredited online training designed to teach all aspects of death investigation and scene management. Unlike any other coroner training today, this course offers a blended learning style combining online self-paced video training, along with opportunities for live interaction with instructors several times throughout the program, and a unique private Facebook group open only to students of Coroner School™ where everyone can interact and ask questions.
MLDI online Academy is a six-week guided course with certified instructors. However, at the end of the six weeks, you still have access to all videos, downloadable material, and the private Facebook group. You can return to the online school anytime to finish up the courses or as a refresher in certain topic areas.
Medicolegal Death Investigation Scene Kit This exclusive first of its kind Medicolegal Death Investigation (MLDI) kit contains all the items you need to document and collect evidence from the most important piece of evidence at any death scene – The Body. Designed for Coroners, Medical Examiner Investigators, and anyone responsible to investigate and process a death.
This kit is equipped to collect fragile evidence such as DNA and fibers, take post-mortem temperatures, document the scene through photography and sketching, as well as properly collect transport, and store material evidence.
This MLDI Kit can be used in large agencies for multiple MDI’s or one single kit for smaller agencies. Packaged in a sturdy Pelican carry case with custom dividers and a pocketed pouch system. Built strong to withstand the demands from scene to scene.
Click HERE for more information
The Death Investigation Training Academy was founded to play an integral role in the death investigation community. The need for quality accredited training is in short supply and high demand. Using a combination of classroom training, live on site scenario exercises, and web-based training, the Death Investigation Training Academy is filling the need of 21st-century investigators.
911 emergency dispatchers often are the first people contacted when emergency assistance is needed. They’re responsible for determining the nature of the calls they receive, as well as the location of the callers. They also are responsible for monitoring the location of emergency service personnel in their assigned territory. Using this information, 911 emergency dispatchers direct the appropriate type and number of emergency service units to emergency scenes. 911 emergency dispatchers must maintain communication with the dispatched units to monitor their response, in addition to maintaining communication with callers to monitor emergency situations and give first-aid instructions if necessary.
Dispatcher Stress A May 2012 study, conducted by researchers at Northern Illinois University (NIU), linking on-the-job training exposure to trauma, placed dispatchers at risk for developing symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
The study was published in the Journal of Traumatic Stress.
“We found that dispatchers report significant emotional distress related to handling duty-related calls, and this type of distress is associated with increased risk for developing PTSD or PTSD symptoms,” said NIU Psychology Professor Michelle Lilly, one of the authors of the study.
Iam911 The #IAM911 movement is an effort to assist in the reclassification of public safety telecommunicators from “clerical” to “protective.” But its much more than that. It’s a movement that brings light to the job of 911 call takers and dispatchers who were previously all but forgotten about.
911 centers are the first line of communication with and for emergency service workers and their fields. If not for the central hub of communications and good direction from a dispatch ‘traffic cop’, the rest of us could not do our jobs as efficiently if at all in some cases.
Read More Here
The Science of Forensic entomology is the study of insects for medico-legal purposes. There are many ways insects can be used to help solve a crime, but the primary purpose of forensic entomology is estimating time since death.
Once a person dies his or her body starts to decompose. The decomposition of a dead body starts with the action of microorganisms such as fungi and bacteria, followed by the action of a series of insects (arthropods). Bodies decompose slowly or fast depending on weather conditions if they have been buried or are exposed to the elements, if there is a presence of insects or if they have a substance in their bodies that prevent their fast decomposition such as body size and weight, clothing.
Read More Here:
Reprint Article by Linda Cole
The Bloodhound is usually unfairly ranked as less intelligent than many dogs, but that doesn’t mean the breed isn’t smart. Finding people is where a Bloodhound outshines most dog breeds. They may not be the easiest breed to train, but if you’re lost in the woods this dog can put his nose to the ground and find you with his unfaltering determination. In fact, the Bloodhound’s scenting ability is so legendary that he’s described as “a nose with a dog attached to it.”
All dogs have an incredible sense of smell, but Bloodhounds were born to track. Their long, droopy ears and folds of loose, wrinkly skin around their neck enable these expert trackers to scoop up and trap a specific scent so they can follow it relentlessly, even if the trail has gone cold. Even the slits on the side of the dog’s nose provide extra time for exposure to smells, with a continuous stream of scent-filled air into the nostrils for up to 40 seconds or longer. Plus, each nostril can be moved independently of the other, making it easier to pinpoint where a specific smell is at based on which nostril picked up the scent. This is why a tracking dog will weave back and forth with his nose to the ground when following a trail.
Once a Bloodhound has your scent, it’s almost impossible to throw him off your trail. So, how is a Bloodhound able to find a specific scent and follow it until he locates what he’s tracking? Read on!
Tracking Basics
Humans have around 40,000 pieces of tiny flakes called rafts that are constantly shed from the skin. These rafts consist of skin cells, hormones, enzymes, fungus, bacteria, parasites and hygiene products. No skin rafts are identical, not even from identical twins, which means we all have our own unique scent that our canine friends can smell. Because some rafts are lighter than air, they are picked up and carried in air currents. Heavier rafts are dispersed around the ground and vegetation as we pass by. We also leave behind scents from our breath and sweat. In a way, we leave a sort of “scent cocktail” of individual smells that rush into the nasal cavity of a dog.
Bloodhounds can pick up a scent both in the air and on the ground. When a Bloodhound picks up and identifies an odor, an image of the scent is sent to his brain. Sniffing clothing or any other article touched by someone creates an image of that specific smell in a Bloodhound’s brain and is implanted in his brain as a scent photograph. To a tracking dog, a scent photo is more vivid to them than a photograph is to us.
Once a Bloodhound has learned a certain scent he never forgets it and can follow it regardless of all of the other smells he may come across while on a trail. Powerful legs and a sturdy body give this exceptional hound the ability to track a scent over even brutal terrains when necessary. This super detective dog has been known to follow his nose for 130 miles or more in pursuit of his quarry, and he can pick up a cold trail that’s almost two weeks old.
History of the Bloodhound Breed
The exact origin of the Bloodhound is unknown. Many experts say this dog was well known in Mediterranean countries well before the Christian period began, but the breed is an ancient dog with documented evidence going back to the third century A.D. The dog we know today was developed in Great Britain. They were originally bred to follow a blood scent from wounded deer, wolves and other large animals. As the deer population began to decrease, hunters turned their attention to fox and the Bloodhound was replaced with the much faster Foxhound. That’s when the Bloodhound’s expertise was repurposed to tracking down poachers, criminals and people who were lost.
Bloodhounds as Companions
Bloodhounds are gentle and friendly dogs. They were never bred to be aggressive, and selective breeding has always been focused on creating a dog to simply find people without harming them. Because the breed can be headstrong at times, you might need some extra CANIDAE treats when training him. However, the Bloodhound’s laidback nature is well suited as a family pet if he has a consistent and confident owner who uses positive reinforcement training. Harsh treatment will backfire with this sensitive dog.
On an interesting side note, Bloodhound does not refer to what a Bloodhound trails – it refers to the lengths early monastery and aristocratic breeders took in recording their ancestry, bloodlines, to keep the status of this “Blooded Hound” pure.
Read more articles by Linda Cole
https://www.canidae.com/blog/2017/07/how-do-bloodhounds-find-people/
Find Dry Creek Bloodhounds Here: Death Investigator Magazine A digital magazine focused on the death investigation community. Dedicated to improving skills and enriching lives of investigators.
“To the living we owe respect, but to the dead we only owe the truth.” Voltaire Medicolegal Death Investigation – Online Academy Coroners, Medical Examiner Investigators, Police, and Forensic students. This hybrid course looks at death investigation from a combined perspective of law enforcement and medicolegal death investigations.
MLDI online Academy is a Nationally Accredited online training designed to teach all aspects of death investigation and scene management. Unlike any other coroner training today, this course offers a blended learning style combining online self-paced video training, along with opportunities for live interaction with instructors several times throughout the program, and a unique private Facebook group open only to students of Coroner School™ where everyone can interact and ask questions.
MLDI online Academy is a six-week guided course with certified instructors. However, at the end of the six weeks, you still have access to all videos, downloadable material, and the private Facebook group. You can return to the online school anytime to finish up the courses or as a refresher in certain topic areas.
Medicolegal Death Investigation Scene Kit
This exclusive first of its kind Medicolegal Death Investigation (MLDI) kit contains all the items you need to document and collect evidence from the most important piece of evidence at any death scene – The Body. Designed for Coroners, Medical Examiner Investigators, and anyone responsible to investigate and process a death.
This kit is equipped to collect fragile evidence such as DNA and fibers, take post-mortem temperatures, document the scene through photography and sketching, as well as properly collect transport, and store material evidence.
This MLDI Kit can be used in large agencies for multiple MDI’s or one single kit for smaller agencies. Packaged in a sturdy Pelican carry case with custom dividers and a pocketed pouch system. Built strong to withstand the demands from scene to scene.
Click HERE for more information The Death Investigation Training Academy was founded to play an integral role in the death investigation community. The need for quality accredited training is in short supply and high demand. Using a combination of classroom training, live on site scenario exercises, and web-based training, the Death Investigation Training Academy is filling the need of 21st-century investigators.
Most Native American tribes believed that the souls of the dead passed into a spirit world and became part of the spiritual forces that influenced every aspect of their lives. Many tribes believed in two souls: one that died when the body died and one that might wander on and eventually die.
Burial customs varied widely from tribe to tribe. Indians disposed of their dead in a variety of ways. Arctic tribes, for example, simply left their dead on the frozen ground for wild animals to devour. The ancient mound-building Hopewell societies of the Upper Midwest, by contrast, placed the dead in lavishly furnished tombs. Southeastern tribes practiced secondary bone burial. They dug up their corpses, cleansed the bones, and then reburied them. The Northeast Iroquois, before they formed the Five Nations Confederation in the seventeenth century, saved skeletons of the deceased for a final mass burial that included furs and ornaments for the dead spirits' use in the afterlife. Northwest coastal tribes put their dead in mortuary cabins or canoes fastened to poles. Further south, California tribes practiced cremation. In western mountain areas tribes often deposited their dead in caves or fissures in the rocks. Nomadic tribes in the Great Plains region either buried their dead, if the ground was soft, or left them on tree platforms or on scaffolds. Central and South Atlantic tribes embalmed and mummified their dead. But during outbreaks of smallpox or other diseases leading to the sudden deaths of many tribe members, survivors hurriedly cast the corpses into a mass grave or threw them into a river.
Rites among Native Americans tended to focus on aiding the deceased in their afterlife. Some tribes left food and possessions of the dead person in or near the gravesite. Other groups, such as the Nez Perce of the Northwest, sacrificed wives, slaves, and a favorite horse of a dead warrior. Among many tribes, mourners, especially widows, cut their hair. Some Native Americans discarded personal ornaments or blacked their faces to honor the dead. Others gashed their arms and legs to express their grief. California tribes engaged in wailing staged long funeral ceremonies and held an anniversary mourning ritual after one or two years. Southwest Hopi wailed on the day of the death and cried a year later.
Some Southwestern tribes, especially the Apache and Navajo, feared the ghosts of the deceased who were believed to resent the living. The nomadic Apache buried corpses swiftly and burned the deceased's house and possessions. The mourning family purified itself ritually and moved to a new place to escape their dead family member's ghost. The Navajo also buried their dead quickly with little ceremony. Navajos exposed to a corpse had to undergo a long and costly ritual purification treatment.
Read more: http://www.deathreference.com/Me-Nu/Native-American-Religion.html#ixzz5d4EoTf6x
Choctaw Bonepickers Among the honored officials of the Choctaws were men - and possibly women - who were known as bonepickers. These undertakers were tattooed in a distinctive manner and allowed their fingernails to grow long for their revolting occupation. When the body had remained upon the scaffold the specified time, a bone-picker was summoned, and all the relatives and friends were invited for the last rites.
These mourners surrounded the scaffold, wailing and weeping, while the grisly undertaker ascended the platform, and with his long fingernails thoroughly cleaned the bones of the putrefied flesh.
The bones were then passed down to the waiting relatives, the skull was painted with vermilion, and they were carefully placed in a coffin curiously constructed of such materials as bark and cane. The flesh was left on the platform, which was set on fire; or was carried away and buried.
Episode Guest Jonathan Henderson
Johnathan holds a Bachelor's degree in Psychology and has been researching Native American mortuary customs for three years. He is an old soul and generally prefers the company of animals. His unique visionary approach to the subject allows insightful understanding of history and anthropology.
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Death Investigator Magazine A digital magazine focused on the death investigation community. Dedicated to improving skills and enriching lives of investigators.
“To the living we owe respect, but to the dead we only owe the truth.” Voltaire .
Medicolegal Death Investigation – Online Academy Coroners, Medical Examiner Investigators, Police, and Forensic students. This hybrid course looks at death investigation from a combined perspective of law enforcement and medicolegal death investigations.
MLDI online Academy is a Nationally Accredited online training designed to teach all aspects of death investigation and scene management. Unlike any other coroner training today, this course offers a blended learning style combining online self-paced video training, along with opportunities for live interaction with instructors several times throughout the program, and a unique private Facebook group open only to students of Coroner School™ where everyone can interact and ask questions.
MLDI online Academy is a six-week guided course with certified instructors. However, at the end of the six weeks, you still have access to all videos, downloadable material, and the private Facebook group. You can return to the online school anytime to finish up the courses or as a refresher in certain topic areas.
Medicolegal Death Investigation Scene Kit This exclusive first of its kind Medicolegal Death Investigation (MLDI) kit contains all the items you need to document and collect evidence from the most important piece of evidence at any death scene – The Body. Designed for Coroners, Medical Examiner Investigators, and anyone responsible to investigate and process a death.
This kit is equipped to collect fragile evidence such as DNA and fibers, take post-mortem temperatures, document the scene through photography and sketching, as well as properly collect transport, and store material evidence.
This MLDI Kit can be used in large agencies for multiple MDI’s or one single kit for smaller agencies. Packaged in a sturdy Pelican carry case with custom dividers and a pocketed pouch system. Built strong to withstand the demands from scene to scene.
Click HERE for more information The Death Investigation Training Academy was founded to play an integral role in the death investigation community. The need for quality accredited training is in short supply and high demand. Using a combination of classroom training, live on site scenario exercises, and web-based training, the Death Investigation Training Academy is filling the need of 21st-century investigators.
Coroner Recognition Week January 27th - February 2nd with the focus day being January 29th.
The first American Coroner was Thomas Baldridge of St. Mary's, Maryland Colony appointed on 29 January 1637.
The National Coroner Recognition week and the thin line color purple is a project focused on bringing awareness to the job of a Coroner and the need for better funding and training in the further development of the field.
Dealing with the worst that death has to offer several times a month can take a toll on anyone and those working in the Coroner and MDI fields of investigation knows first-hand how mentally draining it can be.
Often forgotten about or dismissed, the role and function of a Coroner or Medicolegal Death Investigation is vital in our criminal justice system as well as in identifying trends in causes of death and possible disease outbreaks.
Coroner A coroner is a public official, appointed or elected, in a particular geographic jurisdiction, whose official duty is to make inquiry into deaths in certain categories. The office of the coroner (or “crowner”) dates back to medieval times in England when the crowner was responsible for looking into deaths to be sure death duties were paid to the king.
The coroner's primary duty in contemporary times is to make inquiry into the death and complete the certificate of death. The coroner assigns a cause and manner of death and lists them on the certificate of death. The cause of death refers to the disease, injury, or poison that caused the death. The coroner also decides if death occurred under natural circumstances or was due to accident, homicide, suicide, or undetermined means or circumstances.
Last Responder The can be found at www.lastresponder.org Learn more about the National Recognition week and buy swag to show your support for Coroners and MDI's everywhere.
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Death Investigator Magazine A digital magazine focused on the death investigation community. Dedicated to improving skills and enriching lives of investigators.
“To the living we owe respect, but to the dead we only owe the truth.” Voltaire .
Medicolegal Death Investigation – Online Academy Coroners, Medical Examiner Investigators, Police, and Forensic students. This hybrid course looks at death investigation from a combined perspective of law enforcement and medicolegal death investigations.
MLDI online Academy is a Nationally Accredited online training designed to teach all aspects of death investigation and scene management. Unlike any other coroner training today, this course offers a blended learning style combining online self-paced video training, along with opportunities for live interaction with instructors several times throughout the program, and a unique private Facebook group open only to students of Coroner School™ where everyone can interact and ask questions.
MLDI online Academy is a six-week guided course with certified instructors. However, at the end of the six weeks, you still have access to all videos, downloadable material, and the private Facebook group. You can return to the online school anytime to finish up the courses or as a refresher in certain topic areas.
Medicolegal Death Investigation Scene Kit This exclusive first of its kind Medicolegal Death Investigation (MLDI) kit contains all the items you need to document and collect evidence from the most important piece of evidence at any death scene – The Body. Designed for Coroners, Medical Examiner Investigators, and anyone responsible to investigate and process a death.
This kit is equipped to collect fragile evidence such as DNA and fibers, take post-mortem temperatures, document the scene through photography and sketching, as well as properly collect transport, and store material evidence.
This MLDI Kit can be used in large agencies for multiple MDI’s or one single kit for smaller agencies. Packaged in a sturdy Pelican carry case with custom dividers and a pocketed pouch system. Built strong to withstand the demands from scene to scene.
Click HERE for more information The Death Investigation Training Academy was founded to play an integral role in the death investigation community. The need for quality accredited training is in short supply and high demand. Using a combination of classroom training, live on site scenario exercises, and web-based training, the Death Investigation Training Academy is filling the need of 21st-century investigators.
Serial killers hold the fascination of the public, whether in true crime news accounts of individuals such as Ted Bundy or fictional depictions such as the television shows Dexter and Criminal Minds or popular movies such as the “Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” or “Silence of the Lambs.” Serial killers seem so purely predatory and unremorseful that our society cannot help but display a macabre interest in them. Although they account for no more than 1% of the approximately 15,000 homicides in the U.S. annually, serial killers receive a disproportionate amount of media attention due to the incomprehensible savagery of their deeds.
Significantly, serial killers differ from mass murderers or spree murderers. Mass murder can be defined as the killing of multiple people at a single location where the victims may be either randomly selected or targeted. A mass murderer is often killed at the scene of the crime; sometimes by his/her own hand. A spree murder is the killing of multiple people at different locations over a short period of time (the maximum duration is usually 7 days). The killer in spree murders often but not always knows his/her victims, and most often targets family members or romantic partners.
I use the following list of behavioral criteria to define serial homicide for the purposes of my research:
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At least three murdered victims.
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The murders take place in separate events, at different times.
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The killer experiences an emotional cooling off period between murders.
The key distinction between serial killers and mass or spree killers is this emotional cooling off period in which the killer blends back into his/her seemingly normal life. The predator reemerges to strike again when the urge to kill becomes overwhelming. The duration of the cooling off period can vary from weeks to months or even years, and varies by a killer. Dennis Rader or “Bind, Torture, Kill” (BTK) had 10 known victims over nearly 30 years!
There is some disagreement over the serial killer definition, mostly about the number of killings required. There is also debate as to whether organized crime hit-men should be considered serial killers. Doc Bonn argues that they are not serial killers because their motivation is purely business and their killings fulfill no emotional needs. Serial killers are driven to murder by urges and fantasies that they frequently do not comprehend.
Doc Bonn’s Research Doc Bonn is currently researching and writing a popular book on the public’s fascination with serial killers titled, "Why We Love Serial Killers," published by Skyhorse Press for release in 2014. This book examines the social processes through which serial killers often become morbid pop culture celebrities. The book seeks to answer the following:
- What are the roles of the popular media, state officials and the killers themselves in the social construction of serial killers’ public identities?
- Why are so many peop
A few years ago, the third Monday in January was labeled Blue Monday by many experts in the mental health field. But no matter what day of the week it occurs on, Anita Agers-Brooks, common trauma expert, and author of Getting Through What You Can’t Get Over, believes January 21st is a good barometer to predict the most depressing day of the year.
But why January 21st? If it takes twenty-one days for a mindset to change, earmarking January 21st as the most depressing day of the year may just make sense. According to Brooks, based on several pieces of research she’s studied, as well as based on extensive interviews she’s conducted with everyday people, there are several contributors that solely, or linked with others, can throw even the hardiest soul into the pit of depression on or around this date.
- Coming off the high of the holidays.
- Family member/friend goodbyes, after holiday reunions.
- Fewer activities to look forward to.
- Holiday bills coming in.
- Cabin fever.
- Less exposure to fresh air, and nature's other healing properties.
- Cold and windy weather.
- Less sunshine.
- Cold and flu season peak.
- Reduced amounts of exercise.
- Less exposure to the blues, greens, yellows, reds, pinks, and oranges, that are known energizers according to the spectrum of the psychology of color.
- Fewer face-to-face social interactions with other human beings.
- New Year's resolutions have now failed.
So how do you personally off-set some of these melancholy contributors? When it comes to post-holiday blues, there are a few simple tips that can help.
Intentionally focus your thoughts on something challenging, fresh and positive — a different kind of activity from anything you currently do. Take up a new hobby. It can be something you’ve always wanted to try, but choose something that requires concentrated effort. The human mind cannot think two distinctly different thoughts simultaneously, so for those used to the analytical world of left-brain work, try a creative right-brain project, like taking up drawing, painting, writing, or learning a musical instrument.
If none of those sound appealing, take up a new kind of physical activity, different from anything you’ve tried in the past. Pick a change of pace in the martial arts, kick-boxing, training for a 5K or half-marathon, or if your spouse is willing, really think outside the box and rev up your marriage at the same time by taking up dancing lessons. Swing, ballroom, waltz, latino, whatever pushes you out of your comfort area, and requires your full attention.
When sadness lingers long after your loved ones’ holiday visit is over, begin planning your next get-together. It’s been proven that anticipation is as good or better than an actual event.
If you aren’t necessarily sad over missing a person, but boredom and the blahs are your nemeses, plan once-a-month mini-vacations or weekend getaways. Your destinations don’t have to be extravagant or costly, you can even transform your home into a tropical fantasy island for a couple of days. Just choose something you can outline to give you a positive event to work toward, and allow your mind to look forward to the big date.
If holiday bills are stressing you out, take thirty minutes to an hour, and create a budget that you write on paper or a computer. By putting things in black and white, you’ll give yourself a true perspective. Often, a situation feels more overwhelming when we aren’t clear on the details. What we fear i
January 9th, 2019 There are over 900,000 law enforcement officers in the United States, and they are honored on National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day (L.E.A.D.), being shown that the community recognizes the difficulty of their job and supports them as they provide a public service. The day is dedicated to all members of law enforcement, but the focus is on police and similar state and local agencies. It was started by Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S), which partners with organizations across the country to make the day happen.
First observed in 2015, National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day came about in the wake of the 2014 Ferguson, Missouri, officer-involved shooting of Michael Brown, at a time when there was much scrutinization of police officers and concerns about police brutality. Observants of the day spend it thanking police officers, wearing blue, and turning on blue lights at their homes.
Having a police force is a relatively new concept in the scope of history. During colonial times, forces were part-time and privately funded. Volunteer night watches were also common. Boston started one in 1636, followed by New York City in 1658 and Philadelphia in 1700. These were not very efficient, and those who were put on duty were often put there for punishment.
When cities grew larger, night watches were even more ineffective. The first full-time, publicly funded police force in the country was formed in Boston in 1838. Boston was a large shipping area and the need for policing grew out of the need to protect shipping. Merchants had long hired officers to watch over their goods, and then found a way to pass off the costs to the public by convincing them it was for the common good.
In the south, slavery was the original driving force behind the creation of police forces. Beginning in the early eighteenth century, officers chased down runaway slaves and prevented slave revolts. Following Reconstruction, many local sheriffs did similar work to that of the earlier patrols, by enforcing segregation and the disenfranchisement of freed slaves.
By the late 1880s, all major cities had police forces. Officers were there to protect public order, which meant different things to different people. Businessmen with connections to politicians did not want disruptions to their workforce from labor-union organizers and immigrants. Political machines were also rampant at the time, and heads of police were picked by political bosses. It was not until well into the twentieth century that there was a move towards the professionalization of police officers.
National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day, also known as L.E.A.D., is observed next on Wednesday, January 9th, 2019. It has been observed annually on January 9th since 2015.
Death Investigator Magazine A digital magazine focused on the death investigation community. Dedicated to improving skills and enriching lives of investigators.
Post-Mortem Facial Reconstruction A Postmortem Reconstruction is developed by reconstructing facial characteristics of an unidentified deceased person with decomposed or damaged human tissue. The image will first show trauma to the victim and is repaired digitally or by applying paints directly to the photograph, covering the injured area making the features recognizable. The drawing repairs the trauma to the victim so that the final image will be more presentable when asking for law enforcement or the public's assistance in identification. The final reconstruction is used as an investigative aid for identification and can help to expedite an investigation to lead to the discovery of the unknown.
SketchCop® FACETTE Face Design System Software is arguably the first facial composite software capable of yielding the same quality product offered by that of a police sketch artist. It is designed to help produce a consistent end-product to assist in the reduction of investigative cycle times.
SketchCop® FACETTE is portable and easy to use. Our database is populated with sketched facial components. This is especially helpful for non-artists who want to create high-quality facial composites. Our Adobe® licensed editing tools allow users to fine-tune their composite images to make the same subtle changes a police artist would using a pencil and eraser. Those who want to increase eyewitness satisfaction can use our latest version of SketchCop® FACETTE to import their composite images into Adobe® Photoshop® to further refine their images. With SketchCop® FACETTE, users can focus on the most important part of creating any facial composite – the eyewitness interview.
Sergeant (Ret.) Michael W. Streed is an internationally-recognized forensic facial imaging expert providing facial identification services to America's largest police agencies.
Web Site URL: www.sketchcop.com
Public Email address: michael@sketchcop.com
Death Investigator Magazine A digital magazine focused on the death investigation community. Dedicated to improving skills and enriching lives of investigators.
Many investigators are unaware of the extreme risks that are present when dealing with blood and bodily fluids. There are many bloodborne pathogens (BBP) infections that can be transmitted through contact with another person’s blood or bodily fluid that may contain blood including but not limited to, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and HIV. Most exposures are caused by a lack of universal precautions on some level, whether they are the result of failure to use proper personal protective equipment (PPE) or are due to an unintentional sharp left in an inappropriate container for disposal.
Once you look at some crime scene bio-hazards statistics you will have a new respect of crime scene protection. The caution here is; don't let the day to day work desensitize you from the real dangers of blood and body fluids.
Some Statistics 1 out of every 24 people has Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C or HIV. That’s a pretty sobering statistic, but very real. Here are the CDC stats to prove it:
1 in every 26 people has Hepatitis B.
- Approximately 12 million Americans have been infected with Hepatitis B.
- Over 1.4 million are chronically infected.
- About 50% of the people in the United States with Hepatitis B are unaware of their infection.
- Up to 100,000 new people will be infected each year.
- Approximately 5,000 people will die each year from Hepatitis B and its’ complications.
- Hepatitis B is 100 times more infectious than the AIDS virus.
- The virus is transmitted through contact with the blood or other body fluids of an infected person.
1 in every 77 people has Hepatitis C.
- Approximately 3.2 million people in the United States have Hepatitis C.
- Over 75% of the people in the United States with Hepatitis C are unaware of their infection.
- Hepatitis C is the most common bloodborne pathogen infection in the US.
- Hepatitis C is the most common cause of death from liver disease.
1 out of every 258 people has HIV.
- There are an estimated 1.1 million people living with HIV in the United States.
- 1 out of 5 are unaware of their infection.
- There are 50,000 new HIV diagnoses every year.
- Every 9.5 minutes someone in the United States is infected with HIV.
- Over 25% of people living with HIV or AIDS also has Hepatitis
Sources: Centers for Disease Control, WHO
Death Investigator Magazine A digital magazine focused on the death investigation community. Dedicated to improving skills and enriching lives of investigators.
I this episode I share the conversation I had on the podcast Tending Your Dreams. The host draws out background information not regularly shared on this show. We also talk about the development of the Academy and the book CODE. This is an interesting episode because it gives a good behind the scenes look at this show and the Academy.
Find the Tending Your Dreams Podcast on Apple Podcast or your favorite podcast directory.
Death Investigator Magazine A digital magazine focused on the death investigation community. Dedicated to improving skills and enriching lives of investigators.
“To the living we owe respect, but to the dead we only owe the truth.” Voltaire .
Medicolegal Death Investigation – Online Academy Coroners, Medical Examiner Investigators, Police, and Forensic students. This hybrid course looks at death investigation from a combined perspective of law enforcement and medicolegal death investigations.
MLDI online Academy is a Nationally Accredited online training designed to teach all aspects of death investigation and scene management. Unlike any other coroner training today, this course offers a blended learning style combining online self-paced video training, along with opportunities for live interaction with instructors several times throughout the program, and a unique private Facebook group open only to students of Coroner School™ where everyone can interact and ask questions.
MLDI o
Water intoxication, also known as water poisoning, hyperhydration, overhydration, or water toxemia is a potentially fatal disturbance in brain functions that results when the normal balance of electrolytes in the body is pushed outside safe limits by excessive water intake.
Under normal circumstances, accidentally consuming too much water is exceptionally rare. Nearly all deaths related to water intoxication in normal individuals have resulted either from water drinking contests, in which individuals attempt to consume large amounts of water or from long bouts of exercise during which excessive amounts of fluid were consumed. In addition, water cure, a method of torture in which the victim is forced to consume excessive amounts of water, can cause water intoxication.
Water, just like any other substance, can be considered a poison when over-consumed in a specific period of time. Water intoxication mostly occurs when water is being consumed in a high quantity without adequate electrolyte intake.
Pathophysiology At the onset of this condition, fluid outside the cells has an excessively low amount of solutes, such as sodium and other electrolytes, in comparison to fluid inside the cells, causing the fluid to move into the cells to balance its concentration. This causes the cells to swell. In the brain, this swelling increases intracranial pressure (ICP), which leads to the first observable symptoms of water intoxication: headache, personality changes, changes in behavior, confusion, irritability, and drowsiness.
These are sometimes followed by difficulty breathing during exertion, muscle weakness & pain, twitching, or cramping, nausea, vomiting, thirst, and a dulled ability to perceive and interpret sensory information. As the condition persists, papillary and vital signs may result including bradycardia and widened pulse pressure. The cells in the brain may swell to the point where blood flow is interrupted resulting in cerebral edema. Swollen brain cells may also apply pressure to the brain stem causing central nervous system dysfunction. Both cerebral edema and interference with the central nervous system are dangerous and could result in seizures, brain damage, coma or death.
Dr. Banerjee has been a practicing forensic pathologist for 6 years after training at the top programs such as The Johns Hopkins Hospital and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. She is board certified in both Anatomic and Forensic Pathology by the American Board of Pathology. In addition, she brings a unique perspective with insight into medical conditions as she completed a year of internal medicine training at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.
During her career, she has conducted over 1400 postmortem examinations including handling over 100 homicide cases. She also has been called to multiple crime scenes to provide immediate expertise.
In addition to postmortem examinations, she prides herself in academic endeavors. Dr. Banerjee is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Pathology at Brown University. She has also published multiple articles in peer-reviewed journals.
Rules that Govern an Investigation The purpose of an investigation is to obtain information that will provide clues for further inquiry, establish facts on which to base probable cause and develop enough evidence to convict the perpetrator
All of these actions are governed by a number of rules that apply to all facets of the investigation. Those rules are commonly referred to as rules of evidence. If an investigator violates any of the rules of evidence during the investigation the evidence gathered may be declared inadmissible in court and therefore create an obstacle for the prosecution.
Using Deception While there are times when it is permissible to use deception when performing an investigation, it is important to understand the limited times when deception is appropriate. Undercover operations employ deception when investigators pose as criminals to gain the confidence of suspects or suspect groups.
However, the use of deception has its limitations and does not include the actual evidence, reports, or other types of information submitted to be true and accurate.
If an investigator does any of the following it not only negates the value of the evidence but also may be the basis for the investigator to become the subject of a criminal investigation.
- Creating evidence or planting evidence
- Lying in court (testifying)
- Lying in reports, notebooks, or other administrative or investigative reports
- Lying in any administrative or civil proceedings
Searches Investigators often must conduct searches to obtain physical evidence. Those searches must fall within the restrictions of the 4th amendment to be considered reasonable and the evidence obtained from the search to be admissible.
Searches for evidence fall into two primary categories.
1.) A search pursuant to a duly executed search warrant; and
2.) A warrantless search.
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In our society, Public support is key in every aspect of policing from the needed appropriations to fund a department to the cooperation of individuals on the street. It is important to consider public perception when examining both the role and consequences of police in a democratic society. How the public views the police can determine the legitimacy of police authority and citizen compliance with the law.
Public perception has a tremendous impact on the success on an investigation in the interview process. Statements are more easily gotten when both the investigator and the agency present a positive and professional image.
We live in an era where law enforcement is coming under greater scrutiny as advances in technology has armed members of the public with the ability to video record and publish law enforcement contacts through a variety of social media outlets.
Sir Robert Peel said, “Police must secure the willing cooperation of the public in voluntary observance of the law to be able to secure and maintain the respect of the public.”
There are two major factors that influence the public’s perception of law enforcement. Those factors are:
- The investigator’s appearance
- The investigator’s behavior
Investigator Appearance A well-groomed investigator can portray confidence, professionalism, and a command presence that helps to enlist the cooperation of those with whom the investigator must interview. Beards, long mustaches, offensive tattoos, morbid obesity and any other element of unprofessional appearance creates a negative image in conflict with the professional objective that the investigator is attempting to achieve.
To enlist public support, an investigator must first earn the public’s respect. An investigator’s presence sends a message and the degree of support that the investigator receives depends on whether the message is positive or negative.
The first level of force on the force continuum is often a police presence. A professional image that exudes confidence is an effective force and can be instrumental in maintaining control when interacting with members of the public.
Investigator Behavior It is often said that investigators live in a glass house. It is certainly true that uniformed investigators draw the public’s attention and are often scrutinized more closely than the general public. The public holds investigators to a higher standard than that of other citizens and expects those investigators to be an example to the community. Any violation of the law will be noticed and likely reported.
Investigators who have a reputation for even minor violations begin to lose their effectiveness as an investigator once the habitual violations become known.
We are living in an era that encourages citizens to become more watchful of law enforcement and to report any violations. With today’s technology and the proliferation of cell phones with video capability, the report of such violations are often supported with video footage. Even the slightest indication of bias can have a negative effect on the professional image.
The Impact of Public Perception In our society, Public support is key in every aspect of policing from the needed appropriations to fund a department to the cooperation of individuals on the street. It is important to consider public perception when examining both the role and consequences of police in a democratic society. How the public views the police can determine the legitimacy of police authority and citizen compliance with the law.
Public perception has a tremendous impact on the success on an investigation in the interview process. Statements are more easily gotten when both the investigator and the agency present a positive and professional image.
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Todays Guest Summer Yancey
Experienced Investigator with a demonstrated history of working in the executive office industry. Skilled in Emergency Management, Death Investigation, Private Investigations, Confidential Document Management, Event Management, Team Building, and Public Speaking. Strong mental/behavioral health and medicolegal professional with a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), focused in Criminal Justice/Psychology from the University of Alaska Anchorage.
Death Investigator Magazine A digital magazine focused on the death investigation community. Dedicated to improving skills and enriching lives of investigators.
“To the living we owe respect, but to the dead, we only owe the truth.” Voltaire
Medicolegal Death Investigation – Online Academy Coroners, Medical Examiner Investigators, Police, and Forensic students. This hybrid course looks at death investigation from a combined perspective of law enforcement and medicolegal death investigations.
MLDI online Academy is a Nationally Accredited online training designed to teach all aspects of death investigation and scene management. Unlike any other coroner training today, this course offers a blended learning style combining online self-paced video training, along with opportunities for live interaction with instructors several times throughout the program, and a unique private Facebook group open only to students of Coroner School™ where everyone can interact and ask questions.
MLDI online Academy is a six-week guided course with certified instructors. However, at the end of the six weeks, you still have access to all videos, dow
A thousand questions littered my brain. The three letter word everyone waited for was lodged in my throat. My stomach wanted to heave. My knees buckled. Arms supported mine. I was a marionette. They waited patiently but no words came. The procedure was repeated. I again faced the decomposing, torn mask of a face that used to smile at me, at a mouth that offered encouragement. I finally blurted “Yes!”
In her own words This arcane cavity was a vault, a cage, a bunker. I felt cooler and weaker with each footstep. We stopped. I tried not to breathe. The pungent odor inside that chamber was a suffocating mix of used kitty litter, rotten eggs and unwashed Styrofoam meat tray from the market carelessly left out overnight. Disinfectant did not neutralize the foulness of death, grief, or confusion. He’d been submerged inside a desolate, warm, bog for a week before being exhumed.
My eyes closed reflexively. Detective Landeros leaned in and quietly said: “When you’re ready.”
I felt I’d never be ready. How can a wife ever be prepared to gaze upon the bludgeoned, detached head of her spouse five feet away? Seconds passed like minutes. My eyes slowly opened whereupon I saw Al’s contorted face, supported by a white sheet wrapped tightly around his severed neck. His eyeglasses were missing. His face was knotted, his eyes puffy and black, incongruent with his light gray skin. Wide lacerations crisscrossed his head like a network of roads. His mouth was open and round with a swollen tongue which protruded off to the right at an angle. A cavernous gash framed his badly swollen right eye where a section of scalp was missing.
It was horrific. He was badly defaced. What did he do to deserve this viciousness? What kind of monster inflicted this destruction?
A thousand questions littered my brain. The three letter word everyone waited for was lodged in my throat. My stomach wanted to heave. My knees buckled. Arms supported mine. I was a marionette. They waited patiently but no words came. The procedure was repeated. I again faced the decomposing, torn mask of a face that used to smile at me, at a mouth that offered encouragement. I finally blurted “Yes!”
News Report: On a summer day in July 1985, police made a grisly discovery in Northern Michigan: a satchel buried a mere couple of feet beneath the forest floor. A collection of garbage bags were inside, each one containing the severed limbs of a human body. The hands, feet, and head all belonged to Alan Canty—a local man who had disappeared the previous week. The rest of Canty's blood-encrusted remains would be found days later, scattered across the state.
To his family and friends, Alan Canty was a married, successful psychologist from the affluent Grosse Pointe neighborhood. Behind closed doors, he was something else entirely: the "Sugar Daddy" to teenage sex worker Dawn Spens. Over the course of their two-year relationship, Canty showered her with gifts, shelling out thousands to support her and her pimp-boyfriend John Carl Fry—who was known as "Lucky."
But even a man as wealthy as Alan Canty could not maintain such a lifestyle. When he revealed that his money had run out, Spens and Fry's patience had run thin. Furious that Canty wanted to end the relationship, Fry attacked the psychologist with a baseball bat. The grisly mutilation that followed, all done with a serrated Ginsu knife, was also Fry's handiwork.
John Carl Fry received a life sentence for his crimes. Spens, who was just 19 at the time of the murder, escaped with dismemberment charges and probation. Today, she walks free. Partial Reprint from https://the-line-up.com/murder-and-dismemberment-in-the-motor-city
Today's Guest
In this episode, I talk with Malory, a new Medicolegal Death Investigator. Malory knew she wanted to be a Coroner Investigator at 16 years old. Her career path took her down the Surgical Technologist route but the investigation dream still smoldered inside. Then, 20 years later, she was able to see her dream realized. I talk with Malory about what lead her to this career choice and how she was able to find the education needed to pursue it.
Death Investigator Magazine A digital magazine focused on the death investigation community. Dedicated to improving skills and enriching lives of investigators.
"To the living we owe respect, but to the dead we only owe the truth." Voltaire .
Medicolegal Death Investigation – Online Academy Coroners, Medical Examiner Investigators, Police, and Forensic students. This hybrid course looks at death investigation from a combined perspective of law enforcement and medicolegal death investigations.
MLDI online Academy is a Nationally Accredited online training designed to teach all aspects of death investigation and scene management. Unlike any other coroner training today, this course offers a blended learning style combining online self-paced video training, along with opportunities for live interaction with instructors several times throughout the program, and a unique private Facebook group open only to students of Coroner School™ where everyone can interact and ask questions.
MLDI online Academy is a six-week guided course with certified instructors. However, at the end of the six weeks, you still have access to all videos, downloadable material, and the private Facebook group. You can return to the online school anytime to finish up the courses or as a refres
Handwriting is more than a personality-type indicator. Handwriting is brain writing; the communication transaction concludes with a tangible time-stamped view of a person's inner thoughts and emotions
Twenty Reasons why to use handwriting as a supplement to pre-employment screens, interviewing for internal positions, forensic interviews, recruiting screens, and investigations.
- Dr. Doscher's method ...is noninvasive
- ...is a screening tool for truthful and deceptive statements.
- ...recognizes and differentiates truth and deception from the truth and cognitive load.
- ...is not a subjective analysis based on correlations.
- ...is an individualized, measurable analysis, specific to the person writing the statement.
- ...is an analytical screening method.
- ...is brain activity on paper.
- ...is not language specific; it has been tested in 5 languages!
- ...addresses the unpredictable nature of human behavior.
- ...presents a time-stamped, tangible representation of a person’s cognitive responses.
- ...indirectly measure of neuro-psychological responses.
- ...is applied before initial interviews/interrogations.
- ...statements may be written on lined or unlined paper, with a pen or a pencil.
- ...statements may be written in cursive or print.
- ...baselines are obtained simultaneously with the written statement.
- ... is not tolerant to manipulative behaviors, found in sex offenders and repeat criminals.
- ...results are not race or gender dependent.
- ...results are based on intra-subject ratios.
- ...samples are not compared or based on other subjects’ behaviors.
-
...results are presented as court-ready documents.
Full description and explanation during the full audio podcast
Episode Quest Michelle Doscher, PhD has 25+ years combined experience in various areas of investigative work, encompassing chemical analyses, crime scene investigations, expert testimony, research and development, forensic interviewing, and instruction/training.
https://www.mindsleuth.us/home.html
Death Investigator Magazine A digital magazine focused on the death investigation community. Dedicated to improving skills and enriching lives of investigators.
"To the living we owe respect, but to the dead we only owe the truth.
Handwriting is more than a personality-type indicator. Handwriting is brain writing; the communication transaction concludes with a tangible time-stamped view of a person's inner thoughts and emotions
Twenty Reasons why to use handwriting as a supplement to pre-employment screens, interviewing for internal positions, forensic interviews, recruiting screens, and investigations.
- Dr. Doscher's method ...is noninvasive
- ...is a screening tool for truthful and deceptive statements.
- ...recognizes and differentiates truth and deception from the truth and cognitive load.
- ...is not a subjective analysis based on correlations.
- ...is an individualized, measurable analysis, specific to the person writing the statement.
- ...is an analytical screening method.
- ...is brain activity on paper.
- ...is not language specific; it has been tested in 5 languages!
- ...addresses the unpredictable nature of human behavior.
- ...presents a time-stamped, tangible representation of a person’s cognitive responses.
- ...indirectly measure of neuro-psychological responses.
- ...is applied before initial interviews/interrogations.
- ...statements may be written on lined or unlined paper, with a pen or a pencil.
- ...statements may be written in cursive or print.
- ...baselines are obtained simultaneously with the written statement.
- ... is not tolerant to manipulative behaviors, found in sex offenders and repeat criminals.
- ...results are not race or gender dependent.
- ...results are based on intra-subject ratios.
- ...samples are not compared or based on other subjects’ behaviors.
-
...results are presented as court-ready documents.
Full description and explanation during the full audio podcast
Episode Quest Michelle Doscher, PhD has 25+ years combined experience in various areas of investigative work, encompassing chemical analyses, crime scene investigations, expert testimony, research and development, forensic interviewing, and instruction/training.
https://www.mindsleuth.us/home.html
Death Investigator Magazine A digital magazine focused on the death investigation community. Dedicated to improving skills and enriching lives of investigators.
"To the living we owe respect, but to the dead we only owe the truth.
Forensic Training Unlimited/Forensic Science Academy What is Forensic Training Unlimited?
Forensic Training Unlimited and their flagship program, the Forensic Science Academy, provide hands-on training, seminars, workshops, online courses, and webinars. These courses are specific to students who are looking for forensic experience and training. The training students receive will help them enhance their formal education and help market their forensic career.
http://forensicscienceacademy.org In this episode In this episode, I talk with Terri Armenta, the founder, and director of Forensic Science Unlimited and the Forensic Science Academy. I talk with Terri about what got her into the field of forensics and where she started. We move through our conversation from how she started volunteering in a local animal clinic to where her career has taken her to train some of the words best criminal science investigators.
Links Mentioned in the Show:
Certification Testing https://ditacademy.org/certification
Online Training https://ditacademy.org/education
MLDI Level-1 https://ditacademy.org/mldi
Death Investigator Magazine A digital magazine focused on the death investigation community. Dedicated to improving skills and enriching lives of investigators.
"To the living we owe respect, but to the dead we only owe the truth." Voltaire .
Hyperthermia is elevated body temperature due to failed thermoregulation that occurs when a body produces or absorbs more heat than it dissipates.
The determination of the cause of death from exposure to extreme temperatures is a diagnosis of exclusion. Because both clinical and autopsy findings are nonspecific, a thorough investigation of the background and scene, evaluation of temporally relevant environmental conditions, and assessment of the victim's underlying state of health with appropriate laboratory studies, which frequently include autopsy, are essential to establish the cause of injury and/or death with reasonable medical probability. Individuals may encounter environmental extremes in many settings during any season.
The normal human body temperature can be as high as 37.7 °C (99.9 °F) in the late afternoon. Hyperthermia requires an elevation from the temperature that would otherwise be expected. Such elevations range from mild to extreme; body temperatures above 40 °C (104 °F) can be life-threatening.
Hyperthermia—as distinguished from fever (temperature > baseline euthermia) and hyperpyrexia (temperature >106.7°F [>41.5°C]), which characteristically occur in concert with an increased hypothalamic set point from severe infection or central nervous system hemorrhage— is diagnosed clinically by a core body temperature more than 104°F (>40°C) and occurs when the body's thermoregulatory mechanisms are no longer capable of effectively dissipating heat. In high ambient temperatures, evaporation is the most efficient mechanism for mediating heat loss, yet it is ineffective with humidity levels of more than 75%. Excessive heat retention results in hyperthermia or heat illness of varying degrees of severity.
Links
Death Investigator Magazine
Coroner Talk Podcast
Death Investigation Academy
MLDI Online Academy
Most forensic archaeological investigations take place outdoors, where considerations of scene location and weather must be made. One must make carefully consider logistics to determine what equipment is necessary and potentially useful. A consideration of logistics also implies planning for broader issues such as how to approach the site and how to delimit the area under investigation.
In the case of buried evidence, a forensic archaeologist will excavate. Excavation refers to the process of digging out or uncovering objects in the ground. In a forensic investigation, an archaeologist may be called to excavate a grave.
Before the destructive process of excavating a grave begins, all evidence on the ground surface must be documented and collected. Surface evidence can include plants, insects, objects such as clothing or a weapon, and human remains.
All evidence should be photographed and mapped, showing the location of each item in relation to other evidence as well as to other important features such as buildings, streams, roads or fences. Once the location of evidence is documented, investigators may collect it. How each piece of evidence is collected and cared for depends on various factors, explained in the section: Inventory of Evidence.
Excavation is destructive, so careful documentation of the work is very important. At a scene with a grave, the forensic archaeologist's first task is to define the shape and size of the grave. Then, they remove the soil inside the grave carefully - documenting, photographing and collecting everything that is found that might help understand how that person died, was buried and who they are. Excavated soil is often screened to look for small objects, bones, insects or other evidence that can help with the investigation.
Read More at website: https://coronertalk.com
Important Links:
Magazine Link: https://deathinvestigatormagazine.com/
Online Training Options http://ditacademy.org/education/
Forensic anthropology is the analysis of skeletal, badly decomposed, or otherwise, unidentified human remains, and is important in both legal and humanitarian contexts.
Forensic anthropologists apply standard scientific techniques developed in physical anthropology to analyze human remains, and to aid in the detection of crime. In addition to assisting in locating and recovering human skeletal remains, forensic anthropologists work to assess the age, sex, ancestry, stature, and unique features of a decedent from the skeleton.
Forensic anthropologists frequently work in conjunction with forensic pathologists, odontologists, and homicide investigators to identify a decedent, document trauma to the skeleton, and/or estimate the postmortem interval.
In this episode In this episode, I talk with Dr.MariaTeresa A. Tersigni-Tarrant about what is forensic anthropology and how it can help you in solving your case or answering the unanswered. We dive into the how-tos of scene work and the obstacles that come with recovering and packaging skeletal remains.
Links
Membership Subscription ditacademy.org/membership
Online Education Options ditacademy.org/education
Certification Exam ditacademy.org/certification
Membership has its privileges! At the Death Investigation Training Academy, we believe education is a lifelong pursuit, and we want to empower you to achieve your goals throughout your life and career. We’re continually working to improve our courses and platform to give you access to relevant content, and to help you learn more efficiently and effectively.
We’re excited to announce Academy Membership– a new payment model that allows you to purchase access to all content in the online Academy on a month-by-month basis, with no long-term commitment required.
Learn More at: https://ditacademy.org/membership/
New Medicolegal Investigator Certification
The Medicolegal Death Investigator certificate is designed to give the graduate a recognized credential that can translate into greater recognition within their respective field. Successful completion of the exam demonstrates the student has an understanding of the death investigation process and has met the minimum knowledge standard. The scope of knowledge for the certification exam is defined in the National Institute of Justice publication Death Investigation: A Guide for the Scene Investigator.
This certification is intended to fill a gap in certification and basic knowledge of death investigation not previously available. Many professionals working death investigation or those wanting to enter the field of death investigation do not yet qualify for the Registry Certification of the American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators ABMDI. Therefore no standardized minimum knowledge certificate exists.
Learn More Here
Monthly Training Membership - Click Here At the Death Investigation Training Academy, we believe education is a lifelong pursuit, and we want to empower you to achieve your goals throughout your life and career. We’re continually working to improve our courses and platform to give you access to relevant content, and to help you learn more efficiently and effectively.
We’re excited to announce Academy Membership– a new payment model that allows you to purchase access to all content in the online Academy on a month-by-month basis, with no long-term commitment required.
Death Investigation Academy
The Death Investigation Training Academy was founded to play an integral role in the death investigation community. The need for quality accredited training is in short supply and high demand. Using a combination of classroom training, live on site scenario exercises, and web-based training, the Death Investigation Training Academy is filling the need of 21st-century investigators.
For a split moment, Josie’s imagination tried to take over her mind. Is it someone I know? My niece, Stephie just got her license and she’s a blonde.
Josie took an intentional deep breath and admonished herself. Stop. Get a grip. Stay focused on the job. “Okay sir, I know this is difficult, but I need you to hold it together. Help is on the way.”
“Tell them to hurry. Except I’m afraid it’s too late for her.”
Josie forced herself to maintain a professional composure, though adrenalin flooded her veins and her blood pressure pumped more powerfully than it did during most calls. Something about this one felt different. And it was more than location, something in Josie’s gut told her she wasn’t going to like the outcome. She would soon find out her gut was absolutely right.
The caller hung up after the first responders arrived on scene, but the tension in the air of the 9-1-1 office did not dissipate. Across squawking radios, it was evident in all of the voices attending the accident; county deputies, state highway patrol, and EMS, something wasn’t being said. There was a vibe that said there was something uniquely wrong. Moments like this made the physical disconnect between 9-1-1 and those who worked directly with victims feel like a punch in the stomach. Josie wished she could know exactly what was going on.
It would take over an hour before she found out why everyone seemed exceptionally on edge. Sergeant Troy Matthews walked into the office, his face so low it appeared as if his chin might drag the ground.
Sergeant Matthews made his way directly to Josie. “You took the call about the girl out on 49?”
Tears pooled in Josie’s eyes. “Yes.”
Troy, whose own eyes glistened, placed his hand on Josie’s shoulder.”It was Mandy Sellers’ daughter, Bella.”
Josie raised out of her chair instinctively, “What? No. Not Bella! She—we— all of us loved. . . .”
“I know,” Troy broke in. “It was like she belonged to all of us, like she was our own daughter.”
Josie fell back onto the seat, Mandy was a well-respected sheriff’s deputy who had been on the force for over fifteen years. “I—we. We practically raised her with Mandy. After she started school, she came every day when they let out. In the summer, she ran and got us lunch, or on really hot days, a small vanilla cone for both of us. From the time she was a little thing, she had been a bright light and energizing force that lifted our spirits on mundane or difficult days. We all looked forward to her visits, I can’t imagine her not bouncing through the door.”
Troy nodded his head in agreement. “I know what you mean. Her innocence made you remember the good in this world — something it’s easy to forget in this line of work.”
The 9-1-1 line lit up requiring Josie’s immediate attention. In that instant, Josie knew the expectation. Turn your feelings off and turn the calm on. She had no choice but to delay her grief until later.
But one thought disturbed Josie the most as she turned to take the call. How did Bella die?
* For Complete Story go the CoronerTalk.com ep183 ***
Police work and in particular, death investigation, is one of the most stressful jobs in this country. Day after day, investigators see the worst of humanity; absorb the world’s negativity, and come home to families who love them. How can you not expect this to have an effect on your mind, body, and soul? Not to mention the effect it has on your family, so ask yourself the question; is your job destroying your family? We need to recognize the warning signs of stress and how it can affect our lives and the lives of our family. The biggest danger in law enforcement related stress is ignoring it!
Children According to a 2002 study led by Rudy Arredondo, law enforcement children “can develop traumatic stress vicariously” through watching and listening to their parents experiencing symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This exposure can cause symptoms such as hyperarousal, intrusive thoughts, eating disorders and aggressive agitated behaviors. Children can even share the same memories or re-enact the LEO’s trauma by knowing that a traumatic event was experienced by the parent.
Spouses The research conducted on law enforcement marriage rates has mixed conclusions. Matthews (2011) indicates that some studies have law enforcement divorce rates as high as 75% while other studies indicate law enforcement divorce rates to be lower than the national average.
Tips for Strengthening a Law Enforcement Marriage:
- Leave the stress of the job, at the job. Learn to switch gears and pay attention to your spouse when you walk in the front door at home.
- Become an active listener to your spouse’s needs.
- Avoid the law enforcement culture and do not accept that the workaholic lifestyle is acceptable to your spouse. It is not healthy for a marriage to spend limited time together.
- Emotional detachment is needed for the job, but learn to turn it off at home.
- Make a Planned Date Night around your work schedule… and do it often!
- Do not allow “Partner Envy” or a feeling of competition for your time to enter your home.
- Be spontaneous, let your spouse know you care and think about him/her often.
- Keep your civilian friends (not everything needs to be cop, cop, and cop).
- Share the workload around the house and partner with your partner (hint-hint)
- Seek the help of a marriage counselor or help with PTSD if needed.
Tips from an article written by Mark Bond- for full article click here: Married to the Badge
Protecting Yourself Police officers have one of the highest suicide rates in the nation, possibly the highest. They have a high divorce rate, about second in the nation. They are problem drinkers about twice as often as the general population. These facts are warning signals for unseen problems that are not being handled.
Researchers use suicide, divorce and alcoholism rates as three key indexes of stress in a group of people. Clearly, police work is stressful. Hans Selye, the foremost researcher in stress in the world, said that police work is “the most stressful occupation in America even surpassing the formidable stresses of air traffic control.”
We need to recognize the warning signs of stress and how it can affect our lives and the lives of our families. The biggest danger in law enforcement related stress is ignoring it.
Police stress is not always unique nor obvious. Almost any single stressor in police work can be found in another occupation. What is unique is all the different stressors in one job. Many people see the dangers of acute stressors such as post-shooting traum
One thing you can count on in life is the fact that you are going to die. How’s that for a buzzkill? Most people diligently ignore the reality of their future demise. Thinking about death somehow seems wrong. Luckily, a real-life coroner challenged a few thousand internet strangers to do the thinking for you.
The result is a collection of morbid and slightly embarrassing questions all about The End. Honest, and often hilarious, answers from a woman who has made a career out of death will leave you with a new perspective on life.
This is a meaningful and sincere book with a lighthearted, funny feel. Truly something only a coroner could write. In addition to answering all of your (umm, rather interesting) questions about death, we have laid out all of the options available to you when you die as well as a comprehensive list of key information to help your loved ones (and coroner!) handle your passing. This book is the perfect place to begin thinking about death, and life, in an entirely new way.
It all starts with this book! Spoiler Alert: You’re Gonna Die is a collection of questions provided by thousands of people just like you, and answers from our favorite coroner, Jacquie.
About the Authors Jacquie Purcell is a Deputy Coroner from Yorkville, Illinois, with over 20 years of experience (and an abundance of fancy titles) in the death industry, ranging from funeral service to death investigations. In addition to being a national board certified Funeral Director and Embalmer, Jacquie is a Diplomate of the American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators. Korttany Finn is from Camano Island, Washington. With a unique flair for shaping stories, she helped bring this book about death, to life. It is their combined hope that this book will help people to think about death in an entirely new (and important) way. Death happens and we need to be talking about it as well as preparing. If the conversation starts with all the intriguing or funny aspects, well, all the better!
Visit their web site at askacoroner.com
Medicolegal Death Investigation - Online Academy Coroners, Medical Examiner Investigators, Police, and Forensic students. This hybrid course looks at death investigation from a combined perspective of law enforcement and medicolegal death investigations.
MLDI online Academy is a Nationally Accredited online training designed to teach all aspects of death investigation and scene management. Unlike any other coroner training today, this course offers a blended learning style combining online self-paced video training, along with opportunities for live interaction with instructors several times throughout the program, and a unique private Facebook group open only to students of Coroner School™ where everyone can interact and ask questions.
MLDI on
TOTAL EM is an educational website. It stands for "Tools Of the Trade and Academic Learning in Emergency Medicine." The main focus is to provide training to all of those in emergency medicine, especially those practicing in a rural or remote setting and those who are PAs (but we also love our NP and physician colleagues).
They believe in the importance of education. Their website is divided into three main sections. One is devoted to medical professionals and the information offered directly by the TOTAL EM project. A second section is devoted to layperson education in emergency medicine which covers mostly basic topics. The final section is an access to multiple projects that we support and use frequently.
TOTAL EM is a project devoted to increasing emergency medicine knowledge both to providers and the public. As demonstrated with previous studies, it can take too long for information to reach the bedside. The Leaky Pipe model has been suggested as reasons why this happens.
They want to do our part to help shorten the period of time it takes for important medical knowledge in emergency medicine to reach the provider and the patient. They also want to help educate people across the world in how emergency medicine is an important and lifesaving profession.
Total EM's goal is to provide regularly updated information through the method of FOAMED or Free and Open Access to Medical EDucation. The plan is to do this with blogs and podcasts. With your help, we plan to accomplish just that. TOTAL EM is an educational website. It stands for "Tools Of the Trade and Academic Learning in Emergency Medicine." The main focus is to provide training to all of those in emergency medicine, especially those practicing in a rural or remote setting and those who are PAs (but we also love our NP and physician colleagues).
Training Links discussed on the show:
eLearning
Classroom
.
Medicolegal Death Investigation - Online Academy Coroners, Medical Examiner Investigators, Police, and Forensic students. This hybrid course looks at death investigation from a combined perspective of law enforcement and medicolegal death investigations.
MLDI online Academy is a Nationally Accredited online training designed to teach all aspects of death investigation and scene management. Unlike any other coroner training today, this course offers a blended learning style combining online self-paced video training, along with opportunities for live interaction with instructors several times throughout the program, and a unique private Facebook group open only to students of Coroner School™ where everyone can interact and ask questions.
MLDI online Academy is a six-week guided course with certified instructors. However, at the end of the six weeks, you still have access to all videos, downloadable material, and the private Facebook group. You can return to the online school anytime to finish up the courses or as a refresher in certain topic areas.
On December 29, 1999, high school friends Lauria Jaylene Bible and Ashley Renae Freeman spent the evening together celebrating Freeman's sixteenth birthday. Bible received permission from her parents to spend the night at Freeman's home. Earlier that day, the girls had spent time at a local pizza restaurant with Kathy Freeman.
At approximately 5:30 am on December 30, 1999, a passerby called 911 reporting that the Freeman home was engulfed in flames. Law enforcement determined the fire had been an arson. Inside the home, the charred remains of Kathy Freeman were discovered lying on the floor of her bedroom; she had been shot in the head. Initially, no other remains were relocated, leading local law enforcement to believe Dan Freeman had killed his wife and fled with both teenage girls. Lauria's parked car was in the driveway of the home with the keys in the ignition.
On December 31, Lauria's parents Lorene and Jay Bible returned to the scene, hoping to find additional clues law enforcement may have missed. While walking through the rubble, they discovered what appeared to be another body, and called police. The second body was determined to be that of Dan Freeman, Ashley's father; like his wife, he had also been shot in the head. After this discovery, the scene was reexamined, but no sign of Lauria Bible or Ashley Freeman was found
This Episode In this episode, I talk with Jax Miller and Sarah Cailean as to their involvement in this ongoing investigation and how Jax, as a true crime writer, and Sarah, as a police investigator, team up to uncover new clues and sparked the attention of Law Enforcement which moves this case forward.
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Coroner and Medical Examiner Offices play an important role in the organ and tissue donation process. Since all unexpected deaths require Coroner or Medical Examiner review, their cooperation and support is vital for ensuring successful organ and tissue donations, benefiting thousands of transplant recipients each year.
What is an OPO? In the United States, an organ procurement organization (OPO) is a non-profit organization that is responsible for the evaluation and procurement of deceased-donor organs for organ transplantation. There are 58 such organizations in the United States, each responsible for organ procurement in a specific region, and each a member of the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN), a federally mandated network created by and overseen by the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS).
The individual OPOs represent the front-line of organ procurement, having direct contact with the hospital and the family of the recently deceased donor. Once the OPO receives the consent of the decedent's family, it works with UNOS to identify the best candidates for the available organs and coordinates with the surgical team for each organ recipient.
OPOs are also charged with educating the public to increase awareness of and participation in the organ donation process.
Episode Guest In this episode, I talk with Midwest Transplant Network about the need the C/ME system to work closely together and what that can mean to the people needing a donation. We discuss what types of donation can be made and what most OPO's are wanting to see from the C/ME network across the country.
Medicolegal Death Investigation - Online Academy Coroners, Medical Examiner Investigators, Police, and Forensic students. This hybrid course looks at death investigation from a combined perspective of law enforcement and medicolegal death investigations.
MLDI online Academy is a Nationally Accredited online training designed to teach all aspects of death investigation and scene management. Unlike any other coroner training today, this course offers a blended learning style combining online self-paced video training, along with opportunities for live interaction with instructors several times throughout the program, and a unique private Facebook group open only to students of Coroner School™ where everyone can interact and ask questions.
MLDI online Academy is a six-week guided course with certified instructors. However, at the end of the six weeks, you still have access to all videos, downloadable material, and the private Facebook group. You can return to the online school anytime to finish up the courses or as a refresher in certain topic areas.
A prevalent concern, but under-recognized, a public health problem of distressing and harmful resident-to-resident interactions in dementia in long-term care homes (LTC) (such as nursing homes and assisted living residences), is a major issue facing many countries today. This increase can, in part, be attributed to the growing population of older adults from the Baby Boom generation. These resident-to-resident incidents frequently lead to injurious and fatal consequences for vulnerable and frail elder residents.
Incidents Underreported For various reasons, these incidents are often underreported inside and outside the LTC home (such as to the Department of Health/state regulatory agency, police, and Coroners/Medical Examiners). Death investigators should play a critical role in timely and skilled investigations of these incidents. However, serious gaps in resources and training are a major barrier to change as they are the reality for many Coroner and Medical Examiner Offices and Law Enforcement Departments in the U.S. and abroad.
Partial Solution Improved communication and timely collaboration between external agencies is essential to addressing this phenomenon more effectively. A timely and skilled investigation can assist tremendously in determining the cause of death (which is critically important to family members of the deceased) and can also inform policy, legislation, systemic efforts, and training programs aimed at preventing similar tragic incidents in the future.
Death of Elders Due to Resident-to-Resident Incidents research findings poster.
Download your copy HERE
Eilon Caspi, Ph.D., is a Gerontologist and Dementia Behavior Specialist. He started working in the aging field in 1994 as a nurse aide in a nursing home where his grandfather lived. Both of his grandmothers had dementia. He later worked as a social worker with elders with low income at the Department of Social Services for Elders, Tel Aviv Municipality, and then at a long-term care home for elders with dementia in the city of Jaffa. His work applied research, volunteering, and advocacy focuses on enhancing the quality of care, quality of life, and safety of people living with dementia as well as supporting and educating their family and professional care partners. His passion is in bridging between academia/research and practice.
Medicolegal Death Investigation - Online Academy Coroners, Medical Examiner Investigators, Police, and Forensic students. This hybrid course looks at death investigation from a combined perspective of law enforcement and medicolegal death investigations.
MLDI online Academy is a Nationally Accredited online training designed to teach a
The act of killing one’s child is unthinkable for any parent, but owing to long-standing cultural, emotional and biological factors, a mother who kills her offspring has the power to inspire special shock and revulsion. Such a mother is seen as someone who is not only guilty of a crime but has violated a law of nature and rebelled against instinct.
But the motives behind maternal filicide, as it is known, are much more complex, even counterintuitive — and troubling, even for those professionals who have devoted their careers to trying to understand them. Read More on Website Show Notes:
Episode Guest - Michelle Doscher Ph.D A forensic scientist specializing in investigative psychology and crime scene investigation. Diversified experience as an investigator, interviewer, instructor, expert witness, and an analyst. Currently conducting research in the transference of psycholinguistic cues to handwriting during deception. The current quantitative method unites psychological and physical evidence for more concise investigative leads, with expected applications for criminal interrogations and loss prevention interviews.
http://mindsleuth.net/
_________________________________________________ Free 12 week email course. Receive a new training and video to your inbox every week for 12 weeks. This is real training and will give in detailed actionable steps to becoming a better investigator. Sign up today at: coronertalk.com/investigator _______________________________________________________ Medicolegal Death Investigation - Online Academy Coroners, Medical Examiner Investigators, Police, and Forensic students. This hybrid course looks at death investigation from a combined perspective of law enforcement and medicolegal death investigations.
MLDI online Academy is a Nationally Accredited online training designed to teach all aspects of death investigation and scene management. Unlike any other coroner training today, this course offers a blended learning style combining online self-paced video training, along with opportunities for live interaction with instructors several times throughout the program, and a unique private Facebook group open only to students of Coroner School™ where everyone can interact and ask questions.
MLDI online Academy is a six-week guided course with certified instructors. However, at the end of the six weeks, you still have access to all videos, downloadable material, and the private Facebook group. You can return to the online school anytime to finish up the courses or as a refresher in certain topic areas.
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Filicide is the deliberate act of a parent killing their own child. The word filicide derives from the Latin words filius meaning "son" or filia meaning daughter, and the suffix -cide meaning to kill, murder, or cause death.
"Filicide" may refer both to the parent who killed his or her child, as well as to the criminal act that the parent committed.
Episode In this episode, I share a conversation I had with Ron Martinelli Ph.D on his radio show A Thread of Evidence. In the conversation, I detail three cases where mothers killed their children and how the investigation was conducted and the truth was revealed.
Medicolegal Death Investigation - Online Academy Coroners, Medical Examiner Investigators, Police, and Forensic students. This hybrid course looks at death investigation from a combined perspective of law enforcement and medicolegal death investigations.
MLDI online Academy is a Nationally Accredited online training designed to teach all aspects of death investigation and scene management. Unlike any other coroner training today, this course offers a blended learning style combining online self-paced video training, along with opportunities for live interaction with instructors several times throughout the program, and a unique private Facebook group open only to students of Coroner School? where everyone can interact and ask questions.
MLDI online Academy is a six-week guided course with certified instructors. However, at the end of the six weeks, you still have access to all videos, downloadable material, and the private Facebook group. You can return to the online school anytime to finish up the courses or as a refresher in certain topic areas.
Medicolegal Death Investigation Scene Kit This exclusive first of its kind Medicolegal Death Investigation (MLDI) kit contains all the items you need to document and collect evidence from the most important piece of evidence at any death scene? The Body. Designed for Coroners, Medical Examiner Investigators, and anyone responsible to investigate and process a death.
This kit is equipped to collect fragile evidence such as DNA and fibers, take post-mortem temperatures, document the scene through photography and sketching, as well as properly collect transport, and store material evidence.
This MLDI Kit can be used in large agencies for multiple MDI's or one single kit for smaller agencies. Packaged in a sturdy Pe
Medicolegal / Death Investigation can provide a contextual view of the empirical evidence in both death and non-death cases. We have found that the use of a full medicolegal / death investigation is underutilized - from the investigator to the forensic pathologist.
Associates in Forensic Investigations specialize in the expert medicolegal consultation and legal investigation of cases involving persons with traumatic injuries or death, as well as cases involving serious criminal charges. Whether you facing serious criminal charges, have been victimized by a traumatic event, are a family member of a victim or decedent, or a law firm representing a victim or family - their agency has the experience and subject matter expertise to assist with civil, criminal and probate cases involving personal injury, negligence, and death. As an expert component, full investigative services, or both.
Their team and affiliated experts include Forensic Investigators, a Forensic Pathologist, and a Forensic Toxicologist, with experts in related fields available as needed. Everything from a document, report and photograph reviews to scene investigation, and autopsy reviews and both second and private autopsies. We are your unique private sector medicolegal investigation agency.
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No matter what anyone else says, no matter what we tell ourselves, trying to leave our personal problems at the door just doesn’t work. They follow us inside. Every. Single. Time.
Whether we want to leave work problems at the job site, or problems at home inside our four walls, we can’t escape the things niggling at our minds. We get it. Both of us, Darren and Anita, know what it’s like to juggle deadlines and private crisis. Who of us hasn’t battled one or more of the following? Financial hardship, broken relationships, worry over family members, concern for friends, deadline pressures, someone upset with us, unexpected health crisis, a death of someone we love, or any other difficult news.
You are not alone in dealing with big problems while trying not to fall behind. We’ve been there, and though we don’t have all the answers, we offer compassion, encouragement, and hope, in our efforts to help you accomplish all you are meant to do.
Problems Versus Productivity Analysis:
- Make sure you have a clear understanding of the true problem. We often lose volumes of time and energy barking up the wrong tree. Go directly to those you are in a conflict with, (not to others), and with listening ears, seek to make sure you understand the heart of the real problem. Often, we discover what we believed to be true was not the case at all. An open mind, and willing spirit often resolve a problem with no more effort than taking the courage to go directly to the source.
- Get intentional about separating facts from your emotions. Take a pen and paper, or use a computer program, to make two lists. On one, list every specific fact you have regarding the situation. A fact is verifiable, specific, and supportable through documentation, recorded footage, unbiased witnesses, etc. Now do the same with your feelings. This may get uncomfortable but facing your emotions with truth and clarity is a real key to solving problems. Compare the lists and see how much of what you perceive is based on fact, and how much is based on feeling. This will enable you to release imagined and inflated issues, freeing you to make informed decisions and move back into a productive swing.
- Don’t run too far and too fast ahead of yourself. In our efforts to tackle problems, and move past them as quickly as possible, we sometimes rush to a quick-fix solution. However, an immediate decision may actually prolong your attempts to find a true resolution. Don’t get us wrong, this doesn’t mean analyzing something to death, but it does mean slowing down enough to evaluate the facts, and asking others to give you a precise amount of time to process your thoughts clearly. If possible, give yourself twenty-four hours after coming to a conclusion, before taking action.
- Compare your pros and cons. Most of us have heard this before. But how many of us take the time to actually compare lists of pros and cons? There’s something powerful about visualizing things to help us see things from a different angle. This kind of exercise can provide just the creative leap we need, moving us from problem paralysis to productive progress.
- Make a decision and stand by it. Untold hours are lost to questioning ourselves once a decision is made.
Sponsor Link
Medicolegal Death Investigation Scene Kit.
coronertalk.com/mldikit
This kit is equipped to collect fragile evidence such as DNA and fibers, take post-mortem temperatures
The term "shaken baby syndrome" (SBS) was developed to explain those instances in which severe intracranial trauma occurred in the absence of signs of external head trauma. SBS is the severe intentional application of violent force (shaking) in one or more episodes, resulting in intracranial injuries to the child. Physical abuse of children by shaking usually is not an isolated event. Many shaken infants show evidence of previous trauma.
Prevention, education, treatment and the provision of ongoing services for victims and their families are all essential elements in dealing with child maltreatment. In addition, professionals involved with child abuse know that a proper investigation is critical. As a police officer involved for many years in child abuse cases, my job was to conduct thorough, professional, investigations that elicited all available details, with a minimum of trauma to the child victims. The intent of my training is to provide professionals with the necessary skills to carry out an effective yet compassionate, child abuse investigation.
Full Show notes at website: coronertalk.com
In this Episode We reveal letters and journal entries written by a 14-year-old boy who suffered deep depression and ultimately chose to end his life. Through these letters, written in a personal journal, the investigator could see a downward spiral in emotions and past attempts.
This episode is raw and very real!
One in five teenagers in the U.S. seriously considers suicide annually, according to data collected by the CDC. In 2003, 8 percent of adolescents attempted suicide, representing approximately 1 million teenagers, of whom nearly 300,000 receive medical attention for their attempt; and approximately 1,700 teenagers died by suicide each year. Currently, the most effective suicide prevention programs equip mental health professionals and other community educators and leaders with sufficient resources to recognize who is at risk and who has access to mental health care.
To see full post go to: coronertalk.com
Subsequent to the original murder case Cain vs. Abel, there has always been a small percentage of murders that were unsolved for a variety of case-specific reasons. There have also always been detectives who’d occasionally look back at “the one that got away,” but the idea of dedicating a group of professionals to work solely on clearing these cases didn’t originate until the 1980’s.
We are on the move. We have moved into our new facility and moving forward and upward. The new location combines three locations into one. The training center, audio-video production, and business office all in one location.
An external body examination of a decedent is essential at two stages in the forensic science process. The first time an external examination is carried out is upon discovery of a corpse. At this point, the body should be checked for visible signs of injury and those injuries that are most likely to have caused subsequent death. At this stage both the medicolegal death investigator or coroner and authorized police personnel are present, and the body is checked over in what is known as a preliminary external examination.
When Joyce Bosen was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder in 2012 after losing her son, a doctor prescribed medication. When it didn’t help, she turned to yoga. Now she’s helping the first responders who saved lives the night of the Oct. 1 shooting and Clark County coroner’s office employees who dealt with its horrific aftermath […]
The post Las Vegas Shooting | Trauma Recovery Yoga appeared first on Coroner Talk™.
A few years ago, the third Monday in January was labeled Blue Monday by many experts in the mental health field. But no matter what day of the week it occurs on, Anita Agers-Brooks, common trauma expert, and author of Getting Through What You Can’t Get Over, believes the third week is a good barometer to […]
The post Blue Monday :-( appeared first on Coroner Talk™.
In order to determine the direction of an investigation and to prioritize leads, if necessary, death investigators must establish the manner of a death: natural, accident, homicide or suicide. The most overlooked aspect of death investigation is the psychological dimension, which can provide unique leads, correct false assumptions, enhance investigative awareness, and solve cases in […]
The post The Psychology of Death Investigation appeared first on Coroner Talk™.
911 Call Takers and Dispatchers are often the first investigators involved in death calls 911 emergency dispatchers often are the first people contacted when emergency assistance is needed. They’re responsible for determining the nature of the calls they receive, as well as the location of the callers. They also are responsible for monitoring the location […]
The post Iam911 appeared first on Coroner Talk™.
According to a recent Gallup poll, only 32% of Americans say they have a “fair amount” of trust with news media, (website HERE.) KUSA Chanel 9 in Colorado has demonstrated they are an example of why Americans are lacking trust in Media. A 9News staff reporter by the name of Kevin Vaughan has decided to go on […]
The post KUSA 9News – Attacks Colorado Coroners | Bonus Episode appeared first on Coroner Talk™.
C.O.D.E. addresses this reality in a real, raw, and relevant way, telling stories inspired by true events and authentic cases. Horrific accidents, savage beatings, murder, suicide, autoerotic deaths, overdoses, burned and mutilated bodies: these are nearly every day occurrences for the extraordinary women and men who work in emergency services fields. These selfless […]
The post Thin Line C.O.D.E appeared first on Coroner Talk™.
Cadaver dogs. Also known as human remains detection dogs, have been trained to smell death. Specifically, the dogs are trained to smell decomposition, which means they can locate body parts, tissue, blood, and bone A trained human cadaver dog will not signal a living person or an animal (except pigs), but it will signal a recently deceased, […]
The post HRD Dogs appeared first on Coroner Talk™.
Psychological autopsy is one of the most valuable tools of research on completed suicide as well as many other types of death. The method involves collecting all available information on the deceased via structured interviews of family members, relatives or friends as well as attending health care personnel. In addition, information is collected from available […]
The post Psychological Autopsy | Living and Dead appeared first on Coroner Talk™.
The burden of dealing with tragedies associated with the day-to-day duties of police officers, coroners, and medicolegal death investigators, often remains unspoken and follows the officers into their off-duty and personal lives. Failure to recognize and provide an acceptable outlet for the disappointment and frustration felt by officers and investigators at the end of their […]
The post Is it okay not to be okay? appeared first on Coroner Talk™.
The number of forensic apps available for mobile phones appears to be growing with many current technologies focusing on document and evidence collection. As death investigators we many times cannot afford bigger equipment, but now these apps bring the otherwise ‘out of reach’ technology into every investigator’s pocket. Crime scene investigators are using smartphone apps […]
The post Crime Scene Phone Apps appeared first on Coroner Talk™.
Hoarding is a psychological condition that results in a person accumulating an enormous amount of trash and things of little-to-no value, or worse, more animals than can be properly cared for. Hoarding of any kind can pose several dangers to the occupant and neighbors, and certainly to animals if they are involved. These hazards can be deadly, and […]
The post Hoarding Behavior appeared first on Coroner Talk™.
Infant Loss Resources serves as a source of information and support for healthcare professionals, childcare providers, parent educators, and police and other emergency workers who are the first to respond to a family who has experienced an infant death. Ongoing educational programs are presented both to students and working professionals throughout Missouri, and in surrounding counties […]
The post Infant Loss Resources | Affiliate Instructors appeared first on Coroner Talk™.
BoneID is a visual guide for forensic anthropologists, law enforcement, naturalists, and the simply curious. This site’s extensive and easy-to-use database will help you identify bones from many common species regardless of your academic training.” The need for an online osteological database became apparent due to the overwhelming amount of faunal material– mistaken to be […]
The post BoneID.net and 31 Genders appeared first on Coroner Talk™.