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!

Coroner Talk™ | Death Investigation Training | Police and Law Enforcement

Summer Break 2021

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

Truth in Podcasting

 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 

Establishing Decedent Identification

Detecting Deception Part 2

Detecting Deception Part 1

 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. 

Student Questions March 2021

 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.    

Investigating Abusive Head Trauma

 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. 

Lisa Mayhew- Child Death Investigation

Student Questions

 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. 

Student Chat

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.     

Interviews and Rating Rant

 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 

Missouri Missing and Scarlett's Sunshine Act

 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/ 

Why IACME - International Association of Coroners and Medical Examiners.

 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.    

Genealogical DNA - Solving Cases

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/  

ILET Network - Its time to change the narrative about training

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.

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Coroner Talk™ | Death Investigation Training | Police and La...

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