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...

Crime wreaks havoc on the very framework of our society, no one is immune from it.  Regardless of race, background, or financial status, crime can and will touch your...

Toxicology testing is a vital piece of  the post mortem investigative puzzle.  Many investigators confuse the importance of toxicology in cases where no autopsy is being conducted. An even...

  A  prevalent concern, but under-recognized, 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...

As we begin 2017 I want to thank you for a great 2016 and look forward to everything possible in 2017.  I plan to expand training options and continue...

What does a medical examiner do? What is the responsibility of the Medicolegal Investigator?  Do you know how to properly answer questions on a death certificate relating to cause...

What does a medical examiner do? What is the responsibility of the Medicolegal Investigator?  Do you know how to properly answer questions on a death certificate relating to cause...

Medical error has been defined as an unintended act (either of omission or commission) or one that does not achieve its intended outcome,3 the failure of a planned action...

In the real world, not everything goes well, not everyone is happy, there is always bad news as well as good, troubled waters as well as smooth. Very few investigators...

 In this episode I talk with a mother of  who’s son died in a car accident.  She shares what happened the night she was notified and what she remembers....

Nursing home residents comprise a large and rapidly growing segment of the national population. Despite this fact, the majority of deaths occurring in nursing homes are not investigated because...

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...

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...

It is believe by many, and often lived out in reality, that entering the death investigation field is not easy. In fact, its not even a ‘start at the bottom and...

Secrets to Handling Cultural Diversity Effectively When you hear complaints, resolve not to tune out, but to tune in. Respond positively and productively — don’t allow yourself to become...

What is Culture Culture includes the beliefs, customs, and arts of a particular society, group, or place. Cultural background, as well as individual personalities, directly affects how people respond...

Can BlueStar be used to solve a 50 year old case? In this episode I talk with Karen Smith of Bare Bones Forensics about her work in a cold...

  Professional Ethics Professional Ethics encompass the personal, organizational and corporate standards of behavior expected of professionals. Professionals, and those working in acknowledged professions, exercise specialist knowledge and skill. Most...

“The FingerSCAN DecedentID application has enabled us to identify decedents within hours of the death, rather than the following day, as was the case with inked prints. As the...

Your investigation is only as good as the report that supports it. The coroner’s report focuses on a medical examination or autopsy of the body at a morgue and on...

Nationally, there are more than 122,000 people waiting for much-needed organs. As these patients and their families hold out hope for their second chance at life, organ donation organizations  manages...

All infant and child deaths need to be investigated  in a systematic and standardized method.  The SUDI forms provide by the CDC is the national standard approach to investigating...

Medical examiners and coroners (MEs/Cs) play an integral role in organ and tissue donation. Because the majority of donation cases fall under their jurisdiction, MEs/Cs are responsible for investigating unexpected and...

Does coroner and medical examiner office’s  need a chaplain program? What benefit could it have for your staff, your community, and the families you serve? Traditionally, a chaplain is...

Understanding the Problem About 3,500 US infants die suddenly and unexpectedly each year. We often refer to these deaths as sudden unexpected infant deaths (SUID). Although the causes of...

Online learning, or e-learning, offers a number of advantages for people and agencies looking to develop a new content program or curricula — none bigger than the ability to...

The Mayo Clinic defines infectious diseases as disorders caused by organisms — such as bacteria, viruses, fungi or parasites. Many organisms live in and on our bodies. They’re normally...

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...

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...

Witnesses are people with information, information you want.  These may be witnesses at the scene, a co-worker, employers, a suggested person from another witness, or those contacted during and...

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...

An independent autopsy provides cause and manner of death, and answers any remaining questions. About 20 percent of US deaths are subject to investigation by coroners or medical examiners....

I have a tendency to try and do everything myself and in some ways it is good and in many ways its bad. It is important to know and...

In the United States (US), Medical Examiners and Coroners (ME/Cs) have the legal authority for the management of mass fatality incidents (MFI). Yet, preparedness and operational capabilities in this...

Fear is the biggest obstacle to your success and the most controllable  by you . In nearly every situation fear is a state of mind beyond the reality. More...