This three day death investigation course instructs fellow members of law enforcement in the successful investigation and prosecution of violent offenders. Because of it's unique presentation and course content, This continues to be one of the most requested death investigation training courses available today.

This training stresses the 4 main functions of death investigations:

1) Investigate the unlawful taking of a human life
2) Identify those responsible
3) Arrest those responsible
4) Prosecute those responsible

Successful prosecution always begins at the initial crime scene. The recognition of physical evidence and it's documentation, collection and analysis are key to an accurate and reliable reconstruction. This course also teaches and stresses the importance of proper crime scene protocol that will ensure the thorough process and documentation of any homicide scene, which often is followed by arrest of the offender and successful prosecution.

Course Objectives:

• Provide an understanding of crime scene management and control - to include personnel responsibilities and duties
• Injury recognition and establishing time of death.
• Increase knowledge of evidence recognition, documentation and recovery
• Recognizing crime scene indicators and contaminants
• Gain an understanding of equivocal death
• Recognition of bloodstain patterns
• Recognize SIDS deaths vs. potential infant homicide
• Instilling confidence in those who are tasked with investigating the ultimate crime
• The overall objective of this training course is simply to stress that there is a proper way to approach and document the homicide or suspicious death crime scene. Proper documentation also allows the investigator to identify and use all five categories of evidence to aid in scene reconstruction. There is no doubt that this course will have a great influence over those who attend on how they approach future scenes. The end result is usually a higher clearance rate

Course Topics:

• Case review (Adrian Robinson & multiple crime scenes)
• Medicolegal death investigation to include time of death and pattern injuries
• Suicide and equivocal death investigation
• SIDS and infant homicide scenes and crime scene event reconstruction
• Crime scene management

* Crime scene management models
* Proper crime scene protocol and identified resources
* Crime scene contamination & cross contamination
* Crime scene evaluation & crime classification
* Proper method of search based on scene classification
* Evidence recognition / documentation / collection & analysis
* Bloodstain pattern analysis
* Scene staging
* Scene indicators
* Multiple scenes and the canvass
* Review beltway snipers time line and physical evidence (Malvo & Muhammad)
* Establishing victim ID & proper victimology documentation
* DNA updates/ touch evidence/ nuclear vs. Mitochondrial DNA
* Specific types of crime scenes & plan for forensic process
 

Suicide & Equivocal Death Investigation

This block of instruction shows the investigator what crime scene indicators are normally present at suicides vs. homicides, and how to recognize and distinguish between the two. Victimology is always key to equivocal death investigation. Several case examples are shown to illustrate the difference in injuries and patterns.

Bloodstain Pattern Analysis

Blood has three characteristics which will cause it to behave according to the laws of physics once it leaves the body. This allows the investigator to testify to its reliability and consistency as it is found and documented at the crime scene. Patterns covered are to include:

• High velocity spatter
• Medium velocity spatter
• Low velocity spatter
• Cast off patterns
• Swipe patterns
• Wipe patterns
• Points of convergence
• Points of origin
• Blood photography & documentation
• Bloodstain collection
• Blood spatter analysis for crime scene reconstruction

Crime Scene Reconstruction

A crime scene reconstruction model is presented which allows the investigator to take and examine all categories of physical evidence and review the analysis along with the autopsy protocol, and place into a logical sequence the most likely order of events at the scene of a violent crime. The initial and final detailed reconstruction phases are covered in detail, and will explain the overall importance and objectives of having a detailed reconstruction completed. Actual case reviews are also incorporated in this phase to give a practical example as to how this reconstruction model can be used to not only make sense of a dynamic and confusing scene(s), but also place the order of events in a proper sequence supported by the physical evidence.

SIDS & Infant Homicide

Several cases are reviewed in order to enable the investigator to recognize injuries associated with infant abuse and infant homicide. The investigator will also be taught how to manage SIDS and Infant Homicide Deaths. Other topics covered include:

• Infanticide
• Neonaticide
• Angry or Impulse Homicide
• Gentle Homicide
• Neglect by Act or Omission/Homicide vs. SIDS
• Pedophilia

Criminal Investigative Analysis (Profiling)

This topic is an option and covers the organized vs. disorganized offender. The crime scene will often times show that the suspect exhibited varying degrees of control over the victim and the crime scene. The investigator can use these signs and indicators to aid in characterizing the offender. This forensic discipline can often aid the investigator in pointing him in the right direction, when the investigation fails to identify a suspect. The investigator will also learn how to classify the type of homicide based upon initial evaluation, and learn how to identify characteristics such as M.O., signature, high risk vs. low risk scenes, the type of physical evidence normally produced by a specific type of murder scene classification.

Cost: $250

A discount is offered to agencies sending multiple students.

Register 3-4 students and tuition cost is $225 per student
Register 5 or more students and tuition cost is $200 per student

Agencies who register 3 or more students will be invoiced for the discounted rate.
Agencies paying for 3 or more students by credit card must call us to get the discount.
 

This robbery investigation training course is a three day presentation directed to any member of law-enforcement who may encounter or have to respond to an initial robbery scene, or be involved in its investigation including the interview of witnesses and suspects. Each important area of the robbery scene and the overall investigation will be covered in detail to include the following categories of robberies:

Financial Institutions
Retail Commercial
Street Level Robberies
Delivery Driver Robberies
Taxi Cab Robberies
Car-Jackings
Home Invasions

Topics covered also include the management of the robbery scene by the first responder and the first arriving investigators, the proper interview of witnesses, suspect interrogations, preparing and executing both photographic and physical lineups and gang motivated robberies.
 

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2 day course training specifically in the area of scene photography, video taping and computer sketching. This two day documentation course also teaches photographic enhancement of the crime scene and proper evidence collection techniques. Outstanding training for those whose obligations involve the actual forensic process of a homicide scene. Instructed by Investigator Rob Quick who is a 19 year veteran of the Norfolk Police Department, graduate & instructor of the Virginia State Division of Forensic Science and experienced in the process of over 3000 crime scenes.

Course Objectives:

• Demonstrates the proper initial response and documentation of a homicide scene
• Provides instruction on the use of digital photography and videotaping of the crime scene
• Provide an understanding of the various types of crime scene sketches employed at a homicide scene based on evidence classification and scope of the scene
• Demonstrate the use of crime scene photograph enhancement techniques
• Describe through the use of actual case studies the proper techniques for evidence recognition and recovery within a homicide scene
• To assist in providing an overall understanding of the crime scene as related to the trial judge or jury for prosecution

Course Topics:

• Initial scene response, security and documentation
• Methods of crime scene search
• Photographic documentation to include overall, mid-range and close-ups
• Proper photographic documentation of pattern evidence and recovery
• Proper video taping documentation of the homicide scene
• Preparation of the rough crime scene sketch at the scene
• Final computer homicide scene sketch to include the floor plan, exploded, perspective and elevation
• Methods of the homicide scene search, evidence recognition and recovery
• Homicide scene photograph enhancement

"Inside the Tape" Death Investigation & Crime Scene Management Training is designed to benefit members of law-enforcement from all branches and with all levels of experience. From rookie first responders all the way to the seasoned investigator, this course will provide a wealth of knowledge and information. Lead investigator's develop a sense of what their ultimate objective and goals are within the crime scene, and how to recognize what forensic application would be appropriate based on the evaluation of each scene.

Medical examiner investigators and coroners are also encouraged to take part in this training because of the important role each plays at the crime scene regarding the body and cooperation with the investigating agency.

Prosecutors also benefit from this training because it teaches them the proper process and protocol that should be developed and followed regarding violent crime scenes, and makes the process of preparing the prosecutions case for trial much easier. It also assists them in providing useful information regarding negative witnesses and evidence that is not uncovered, and how the education of the jury can go a long way to successful prosecution. (For example, a piece of evidence lacking latent prints or trace. Does this lack of evidence indicate the suspect did not have contact with the object?  A common argument presented by the defense, but one that can also be easily countered by the prosecution.

Supervisors also benefit tremendously from this training because they learn the various models for crime scene management and the various roles each investigator should have. They are exposed to the benefits of division of labor and the overall importance of managing the crime scene from the lead investigator's perspective. Proper protocol is discussed that can easily be adapted by the various models of management, based on each individual agencies needs and access to resources.
 

Newman and Wray examine evidence in Virginia Beach in the Adrian Robinson homicide

March of 2003, Adrian Robinson murdered his father in Hamilton Georgia. Not only was the level of violence horrific, but this act set off a chain of events that would a trail of crime scenes from Georgia to Norfolk. This case ended even more tragically in Norfolk with the abduction and murder of a Nun from Hamilton. This is an example of just one of the cases covered in detail throughout the course to illustrate not only the need for crime scene management at a local level, but cross jurisdictional also. Multiple crime scenes always present a challenge to Homicide Investigators, and the management and coordination of these scenes becomes an even greater challenge when involving multiple agencies. Adrian Robinson is currently serving a life sentence for the murders in Hamilton and Norfolk.