Penn State Forensic Science Program works with DCC to enhance students’ experiences by allowing them to apply their knowledge to a real case. The students work on the case of William Thomas Zeigler. This case was made available by the Zeigler Defense Team exclusively to the Penn State FSP students.
The students will be able to study the original crime scene with notes, autopsy reports, and photographs. They get copies of the trial transcripts, DNA reports, and more. My partner at PSU is Ralph Ristenbatt and he generously donates his time to answer my questions re crime scene reconstructions and blood patterns. More information on Ralph can be found here.
Second, with Joe Giacalone (retired Detective Sergeant at the NYPD and former Commanding Officer of the Bronx Cold Case Homicide Squad) we review cold cases and try to get more media attention for them. One of the cases we worked on is the 1975 Canadian cold case of Sharron Prior. More cases analysis will be posted on our blogs.
On February 25th, 2011, we launched “Cold Case Live Chat” on Twitter (follow hashtag #CCLiveChat)! We discuss unsolved homicides, forensics, missing persons and the unidentified with cops, medical examiners, law students, lawyers, authors and everyone interested in justice for victims of unsolved homicides! Book reviews related to the above mentioned topics will be discussed as well. We also talk to police and inquire what kind of help they can use right now. The live chats are monthly and the schedule is on DCC’s home page.
Third, guest blogger and UK forensic scientist Sue Carney will post on DCC about DNA, in particular its use in cold cases. Sue was a senior forensic scientist at the Forensic Science Service, Chorley laboratory, Lancashire, UK, for almost ten years. She now runs Ethos Forensics and works as a freelance forensic consultant and trainer. Her field of expertise is the examination of body fluid evidence and the interpretation of DNA profiling results, including Low Copy Number (LCN) DNA Profiling, the specialist DNA technique used frequently in cold cases. Sue’s area of special interest is the forensic investigation of sexual offences and she has worked on many rape cold cases from the UK.
Fourth, Richard Case is a registered UK “Fingerprint Expert,” who has worked for a number of law enforcement agencies for over 18 years. He has experience working on a variety of crime types from low-level crime to homicides and terrorism. He is currently working for the National Policing Improvement Agency’s (NPIA) Forensics21 programme. The NPIA work with the police forces of England and Wales to assist in implementing business change and good practice. He is also on the committee of The Fingerprint Society where he holds the position of webmaster and looks after The Society Website and social network feeds. His blog posts contain his own personal views and may not reflect those held by the National Policing Improvement Agency or The Fingerprint Society.
Fifth, Hal G. Brown is Deputy Director of the Delaware Office of the Chief Medical Examiner and States Forensic Sciences Laboratory, Wilmington, DE. Brown is the Delaware Case Manager for NamUs Unidentified/Missing Persons. He is also an Assistant Deputy Medical Examiner in New Hampshire, still going into the field on occasion. Brown is a retired Police Captain of the Investigations Division, City of Keene NH Police Department, where he served for 29+ years. Upon retirement in 2004, the department established an annual award and plaque in his honor titled the “Hal Brown Award for Investigative Excellence”, given to the most outstanding detective of the year. Brown is a member of the National Association of Medical Examiners (NAME), American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors (ASCLD), New York State Association of Medical Examiners & Coroners (NYSAMEC) and many other organizations. Brown served as Adjunct Faculty at Keene State College, Keene, NH for over 25 years. Hal will be guest blogging to educate us about post mortem and autopsy related issues.