As investigators we get the opportunity to investigate all aspects of a case.  Sometimes

a case may require some scene work.  Even if at first it appears that the case does not require a visit to the scene, if you have the opportunity, it is always recommended to go back where the event first began.  Whether the case involves a death, a motor vehicle accident, or some type of crime, take the extra time, go that extra mile and visit the scene.  You might be surprised once you visit the scene to find out that something could not have occurred the way the witness, victim or police officer claims.  It is best not to rely on others to do the work you need to do yourself.  You are the investigator, and someone is depending on you to see, hear, and get an overall feel of what the scene was like.

Once you have made up your mind that you should go visit the scene for yourself, the next thing to think about is the date and time of when the original event took place.  Sometimes it may be a year or even a few years after the event occurred and you may have more work cut out for you than what you originally suspected.  Let’s take for instance a case that is a couple of years old where a motor vehicle accident occurred at a particular intersection on May 12, 2008 at 6:00pm.  You head back to the scene and after canvassing the area, you discover this is in the middle of a subdivision.  After interviewing some of the people in the neighborhood, you discover that the traffic light that is now at the intersection was not there two years prior.  Also you are told that when the traffic light was installed, there were sidewalks put in place and some shrubbery was cut down.  This information will give you some things to work on and measurements to take regarding the motor vehicle accident.  When you compare the photos taken at the scene, hopefully someone did their job and took some photos, and with the awesome photos you will take; you will be able to find the comparison facts necessary in the case.  

One very important aspect to take into account when you plan to visit the scene is the time of year.  Say you were given this case in December, 2010.  You must take into account the fact that the lighting and weather will be different in December versus in May.  So you will need to calculate by using either a site that you are familiar with, or this site http://www.timeanddate.com   Let’s take for instance the sunrise time for May 12, 2008 in Denver, CO was at 5:48am and the sunset time was 8:05pm.  We know the accident took place at approximately 6:00pm on May 12, 2008; however, you receive the case on December 12, 2010.  The sunrise time for December 12, 2010 is 7:12am and the sunset is 4:36pm.   

So to continue on for the example case, the best time to visit the scene to get close to a similar light source, you would need to visit the scene at approximately 2:30pm on December 12, 2010 since the accident occurred approximately 2 hours before sunset on May 12, 2008.  This may seem like too much trouble to some investigators, but if you want to see what others saw in similar daylight, or if the case was during evening ambient light, then this extra step is worth doing in order to get as close to that time frame as possible.  Something as simple as figuring out the best time to visit a scene will assure your client that they hired the right investigator and this will give them confidence in your work product. 

Also, if you get the case shortly after the motor vehicle accident occurred, you will have more than one scene to visit.  Consider all options available that are connected to the main scene and go visit the mini scenes.  For instance, if the vehicle or vehicles are still available to view, it is important to go see these vehicles with your own eyes and take several photos.  Again, you as the investigator need to investigate the damage of the vehicles, do not rely on what other people say they saw or thought they might have seen.  You might just be amazed at what you see in the photographs you take versus what you saw in person. 

When there are motor vehicle accidents involving an intersection with a traffic light, you will want to go to that site, again using the time analysis as described, and sit and watch the light change for yourself.  Once you investigate the traffic light and document all necessary information, you will want to take this a step further and contact the traffic engineers who maintain that particular intersection.  The traffic engineers could be a private company or department of a jurisdiction which may be at the state, county or municipal level. 

These are important extra steps necessary in order to either collaborate what witnesses have stated, or dismiss their statements.  Another reason to check traffic lights yourself, and then make contact with the traffic engineers is to ensure there was not a power outage, maintenance, or weather related issues on the date in question.  By checking the pattern of the lights yourself, you will then be able to discuss what you documented with the traffic engineers.  Perhaps you might even alert them to an issue they did not realize they had with that particular traffic light.

Times and dates are not the only thing to think about when you visit a scene.  The temperature, as well as the type of weather has an influence on the entire scope of your investigation.  To find the temperatures and weather on a given date and time, one site to use is http://www.wunderground.com, and you will find more than enough weather information to complete your investigation.

Don’t forget water and the rate of flow during certain times of the year as well.  If you need to go back to the scene of an accident involving water; the water levels, weather, time and date will all have an effect on how you need to conduct your investigation.  To find water flow and temperatures an informative site to use is http://www.usgs.gov, which is full of information on water past and present of the United States.  For other countries Google the words “water flow data” for your region as well as the name of the water resource you are interested in finding more information about.

When you are hired by a client, whether an attorney, another investigator, or a private citizen, the client needs to feel confident that you will do a thorough investigation, not a haphazard or simple investigation (unless of course they specifically ask for a simple investigation).  Also, if you are being contacted to do an investigation or a reinvestigation, more than likely the first investigation was not conducted thoroughly or satisfactorily from the beginning.  By explaining to clients that you take these extra steps in your investigations, you are telling them you go that extra mile that others may not.  You are completing, instead of simply conducting, an investigation.  These added ideas could be simple things even your clients have not thought about, which might give them that “aha” moment, and sometimes that is all it takes to get you the job.  Remember, just a few more steps in the investigative process can gain you leaps in your quality of work as well as gains in the confidence of your clients, the choice is up to you.

A story today regarding a death that occurred in 2010 is a perfect example of why you do not jump to a conclusion when you first enter the scene where a death has occurred.  It takes several angles of an investigation in finding all of the facts to have an accurate determination of a death.  A decedent found with a gun close by could be a suicide, a homicide or an accident, so assumptions and/or tunnel vision should not come in to play.  A proper fact finding investigation with all of the professional team members involved will be what is necessary in making an important ruling on a death.   To see the newspaper article along with the related stories involving this case out of Durango, Colorado here is the link:  http://www.durangoherald.com/article/20111223/NEWS01/712239916/0/20111104/Garcia-faces-new-charges-in-shooting-case

What does it mean to conduct an Equivocal Death Investigation or Analysis (EDI, EDA)?  We get asked this question time and time again.  An Equivocal Death Investigation is an in depth investigation into a death that has lingering questions.  Many families have come to us for help in understanding the circumstances surrounding a loved ones death.  The manners of death can be classified as any of the following:  homicide, suicide, natural, accident or undetermined.  Sometimes the family/loved one of the deceased individual does not agree with the final determination and have a yearning for more answers. 

We will analyze all of the information the family/loved one has on the decedent and comb through the information step by step to trace the steps in the original investigative process.  We will answer any questions the family/loved one has regarding the death, and we do this with an unbiased open mind. 

Reconstructing a death and the investigation will assist the family/loved one in the healing process.  Sometimes our minds can get carried away creating numerous scenarios which only adds to our lingering questions and distress over a loved ones death.  We can help quiet some or even all of those questions so that you may heal and carry on with your life.  Many times a professional second opinion regarding whether the investigation was conducted properly in the first place with be enough to ease your mind.

If we find discrepancies in the original reports, or find that the evidence does not match the final decisions, we will point out these concerns, which can sometimes mean reopening the case for further investigation.  Providing family/loved ones with answers to ease their minds is our main goal.  Life can be stressful and difficult enough without the constant worry surrounding a loved ones death.

Due to the overwhelming need for an Equivocal Death Analysis, we have created a flat-rate fee to further assist families in finding answers.  An affordable, small price to pay for peace of mind. 

It is important to understand in medicolegal death investigation what 'homicide' is.  From our book and course: "Death resulting from intentional harm (explicit or implicit) of one person by another, or by grossly reckless behavior." - In death investigation, homicide is the medical determination.  Without making any judgment on this case, this demonstrates that it is important in both civil and criminal, and even probate cases, the value of understanding the autopsy, process, rulings and criteria.

It is also important to understand that the difference between a fatality and serious bodily injury is often only a series of events or fractions of an inch.  Autopsy means "to see with one's own eyes", which a trained medicolegal death investigator and forensic pathologist can assist with in serious bodily injury cases.

http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_19168983

On October 1st we will celebrate 24 years!We have changed our agency name to 'Associates in Forensic Investigations' to better reflect our growing national footprint as Expert Consultants and Legal Investigators of Personal Injury, Negligence & Death in Civil, Criminal and Probate litigation. Our clients will remain attorneys and investigators representing families and victims of traumatic injuries and death. Visit our updated website at www.DeathCaseReview.com.  This change also reflects our affiliation with experts in forensic pathology, forensic toxicology and a neurosurgeon (retired).

We also have new contact phone numbers:  (970) 480-7793 Office and (970) 480-7794 Fax.  Watch our newsletter the first few days of October for details and share with your office and colleagues.

Regards, Dean and Karen
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Dean A. Beers, CLI, CCDI and Karen S. Beers, BSW, CCDI
Board Certified Legal Investigator / Expert
Board Certified Criminal Defense Investigators
Certified Death Investigators

Colorado, Rocky Mountain Western Region & National - 'Quaero Indicium - To Find the Evidence'

Expert Consultants and Legal Investigators of
Personal Injury, Negligence & Death - Civil, Criminal and Probate
Certified Death Investigators / former Deputy Coroners
author 'Practical Methods for Legal Investigations' and 'Professional Locate Investigations'
www.PracticalMethodsForLegalInvestigations.com ~ www.ProfessionalLocateInvestigations.com ~ CE www.MedicoLegalDeathInvestigations.com
Member:  PPIAC/Chairman, NALI/CLI (Region 6 CLI Committee), NCISS/Region 5A Director (CO, WY, NE & AZ), WAD, CDITC (Forensic Investigations Advisor), NAME and IAI-RMDIAI; Mensa USA