What Blood at Suicides Can Tell You
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...
Infant Death – First Contact
The 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...
Managing the scene – Working as a team.
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...
Photographs – Why, How, and How Many
Forensics Photography 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 —...
Obstacles in Decomp Cases
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...
Predetermined Manners – Don’t do this!
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...
Treat all death with some level of suspicion
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...
Investigating Train Deaths
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...
Proper Scene Arrival
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...
Manner Classification – Not as simple as you might think.
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...
Why Use the SUIDI Form?
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...
Avoid These Scene Mistakes
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...
There’s a right way to be a Coroner, and then there is the other.
There 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...
Dangers of Hoarding
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...
Police v. MDI Death Investigations
. 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...
Perception v. Reality – One matters more than the other.
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...
Technology and Paperless Offices
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...
Do you inspire or manipulate?
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...
Report Writing – (Listen Anyway)
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...
Get up – Don’t be Blue
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...
External Body Exams – Yes or No?
. 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...
Having a Preparedness Mindset
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...
Spontaneous Suicide
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...
What Now – Navigating the aftermath of homicide and suicide
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...
Understanding Blood Patterns with Jeff Gentry
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...
Introducing the all new MDI Investigator Course ep310
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...
Don’t F*up the Crime Scene
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...
Introduction to Blood Pattern Analysis
Introduction to Blood Pattern Analysis In this episode, I share a small portion of a new online course, Introduction to Blood Pattern Analysis. You can find more about that...
Analyzing Written Statements for Deception
In this episode, you will learn the importance of detecting deception in interactions with victims, witnesses, andsuspects and be introduced to techniques used to analyze verbal or written statements....
Courtroom Preparation and Testimony
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...
Evidence in Infant Deaths ep. 305
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...
Infant Death – Scene Arrival First Contact
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...
Infant Death Investigation – Foundations
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...
Having a Preparedness Mindset
We all have talked about it, some people even think they have it. But having a preparedness mindset is critical as an investigator. We get used to the day-to-day...
Survivor Support Programs
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...
Suicide Investigations – What can the Body Tell Us?
Suicide Investigations – What can the Body Tell Us? 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...
Suicide Victimology
Suicide Victimology 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...
Suicide Statistics Degrees of Certainty
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...
Genealogy DNA Case Study
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...
Challenges of locating NOK in a transient society
. 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...
Challenges of social media in death investigations ep295
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...
Avoiding Scene Mistakes
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...
Death with Dignity –
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 Deaths
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),...
Summer Break 2021
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...
Truth in Podcasting ep 290
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...
Establishing Decedent Identification
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...
Detecting Deception Part 2 – Classroom Training
In this episode, you get to listen in to a live classroom training where Mark Bailey is teaching on detecting deception by talking with witnesses or suspects. This is...
Detecting Deception Part 1 – Classroom Training
In this episode, you get to listen in to a live classroom training where Mark Bailey is teaching on detecting deception with talking with witness or suspects. This is...
Listener / Student QandA
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...