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Death of CSU-Fort Collins student appears to be drug related - or is it?

11/30/2011

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You will have to read this story to completely understand this post - http://www.coloradoan.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2011111128010.

The answer is - no one knows yet.  But, details - more than printed in this story - were provided by the deputy coroner / investigator before toxicology results were available.  I originally learned of this the same way as the media - a press release from the investigating deputy coroner.  The media reported, following up on the press release.  What this follow-up story mentioned is that drugs were found on or about the decedent and needle tracks in his arm.  There is no mention of preliminary results (urine drug screen for alcohol and drugs of abuse).

This is not something you should be reporting to the media in an active investigation.  Here's why...

I had a case a few years ago, while at the coroner's office, in which another agency 'unidentified source' reported a college student died of a drug overdose and cocaine was in the room. No one attempted to speak to me, as the deputy coroner / death investigator that was on scene.  Our policy, at that time at least, was to not release details of an active investigation or inconclusive autopsy results.  In fact, I had explicitly promised the family that our office (my employer at that time, coroner/ME office) did not release information and they would hear all details from me, personally, first.  Guess who I heard about the breaking news from?  Yes, the family!  I had a long chat with the other agency supervisors and that reporter to assure it would not happen again.  I should note that the reporter did a follow-up story based upon our conversation. Unfortunately damage was done - the decedent's and family's reputation was impugned.  It was devastating to the family to read this before I could even report back to them after autopsy, including that toxicology was pending and the preliminary drug screen was negative. 

In my case, it turned out neither were true. Although the family was glad the end result was not a drug overdose - or any found in his system - they were still devastated about the release of false preliminary information. As professional investigators - private or government - we have to be really careful what we release to the media and public.

Unfortunately, this was not the first time - and it won't be the last - that this particular investigator has impugned the decedent or released information in an active investigation.  He is known for disgracing the dead, and their families. Unfortunately, due to a close - very close - relationship within that office (cronyism and nepotism), nothing as usual will happen.  In death investigation, private or public sector, you work for the decedent first, families second. 

I don't know if this college student died of a drug overdose - to be honest, no one does.  If the toxicology comes back negative, does it 'prove' this story - and those maligning the decedent - right?  Maybe factually, but not morally.  Investigations are to be completed, not simply conducted - and this has not happened in this investigation or the reporting.  Reporters report what they are given, that's their job.  Investigators are to investigate - not malign decedents or provide information to form unfounded facts in an active investigation.

Voltaire - "To the living we owe respect.  To the dead we owe only the truth."  Remember, its the families that have to live with this, not the rag reader.
_
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Agency Newsletter for November 2011

11/13/2011

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_Colorado is feeling the chill of winter, and so are several other states.  That means its time to change your clocks 'fall back' this Saturday!  Its also time for the warmer climate and register for the annual Mid Winter Conference of the National Association of Legal Investigators!

We have also completely redesigned our agency website, with updates still being developed.  As one of our specialties is death investigation and injury causation, visit www.DeathCaseReview.com for a look.

Each month our agency publishes an interactive and informative newsletter for clients and colleagues.  However, some groups strip out the html code - so we have created the following links.

The current issue is at< AFI-LLC Newsletter - November 2011 >
THIS JUST IN!  For those that were at the PPIAC conference in Blackhawk (2010) or the NALI conference in Nashville TN (2009), you had an opportunity to see the defense presentation of this case and evidence.

Good friend and colleague, and fellow CLI, Terry R. Cox is a legal investigator in Booneville, MS (Lonewolf Group); and the National Director for the National Association of Legal Investigators.  He was the defense investigator on the nationally captivating Mary Winkler case - 'The Pastor's Wife' will be aired Saturday (11/05) on the Lifetime Movie Network (and will likely be repeated).  The story of Mary Winkler captivated the Mid-South, and now her saga has become a made-for-television movie premiering Saturday on Lifetime.  Winkler admitted to shooting and killing her preacher husband, Matthew Winkler, in 2006 in their home in Selmer, Tennessee.  Having seen the presentation of Terry Cox, and defense attorney Steve Farese, it will be interesting to see how this is portrayed.

Also, the crossword puzzles for this month and last month are about the death penalty.  Hear the story of "Dead Man Walking Exonerated" Jeremy Sheets, in his words, as just aired on PI's Declassified.


'Practical Methods for Legal Investigations' has been released by CRC Press!  Details at www.PracticalMethodsForLegalInvestigations.comAlso, as a reminder to our investigator friends and colleagues: NEW! "Medicolegal Death Investigations for Private Investigators"

A continuing education at www.PIEducation.com developed by Associates in Forensic Investigations and based upon the education, training and experience of Dean and Karen.

THIS MONTH!
Our agency featured in the Fort Collins Coloradoan
Was it Homicide or Accident?  Exploring Manner of Death and a look at a death following an incident of resisting arrest
In the News
-- Five Tips for Winter Driving
-- Larimer County Sheriff rolls out new website
-- Larimer County Sheriff Deputies help burglary victim
-- Free directory listing for PIs

Association News
-- Professional Private Investigators Association of Colorado
-- National Association of Legal Investigators
-- National Council of Investigation and Security Services
-- World Association of Detectives
-- Texas Association of Licensed Investigators wants to give you a complimentary digital copy of 'The Texas Investigator'
What is your association news that we can share?

Finally, to help with the books and courses developed by our agency, we have created the following Yahoo Groups for interaction:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/theInvestigators - open networking for all private sector investigators!

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PracticalMethodsForLegalInvestigations
– official book website is www.PracticalMethodsForLegalInvestigations.com

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ProfessionalLocateInvestigations
- official book website is
www.ProfessionalLocateInvestigations.com


http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MedicoLegalDeathInvestigations
- continuing education for private investigators, criminal justice and investigative-legal professionals.  Direct link to course information is www.MedicoLegalDeathInvestigations.com

Training and Seminars – www.PrivateInvestigations.org

The newsletter archives and press releases can be found at < Newsletters and Press Releases Archives >.  You can sign up to directly receive newsletters and press releases at < Subscribe to Newsletters and Press Releases >.  Information covers industry news, association news, legislative news and topical information contributed by other investigators.

Thank You!  If you have news to share or considerations to share in our newsletter, let us know.
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Statement Analysis - How Much Does a Statement Reveal?

11/12/2011

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This is not meant to be a political review, but given this well-known statement and alleged incident, a cursory review reveals more questions than answers, and perhaps some insight into truth v. deception.

First, the underlying incident is said to have occurred in July 1997, 14 years ago, how accurate does a person remember personal interactions and conversations?  Pretty well if you follow this statement.  However, that can and should be individualized during the interview process.

“...he asked how I liked my room...I've got this great suite, it’s gorgeous. [he] said, ‘I upgraded you." [and followed by a general description, though quoted conversation, of dinner and asking for assistance finding a job.]
-- Remember, she reports that he upgraded her to a suite without her knowledge.  Why did she not wonder about this?

“While we were driving back to the hotel, he said that he would show me where the ... offices were. He parked the car down the block.  I thought that we were going to go into the offices so he that could show me around. [accurate clothing description for her, general for him]. 
-- Remember, he parked the car down the block.  Why did she not wonder about this, or why not park in the parking garage or facility?  Most adults are not keen on city block roadside extra-marital activities.

"But instead of going into the offices, he suddenly reached over and he put his hand on my leg under my skirt and reached for my genitals. He also grabbed my head and brought it toward his crotch.
-- There is no conversation, no flirting - just straight to the point (this is sexual assault as described); he didn't even unzip, unbutton or remove his pants.  Picture yourself in the driver's front seat of a vehicle (to make it easy, even a bench seat) and now reach with your right hand as if under a skirt while concurrently grabbing her head.  Doesn't work well.  Switch hands - even less likely.  Notice the good gal / bad guy descriptors - her genitalia and his crotch.  The other question - why park on the street when you have 1) an office that is likely private; or 2) a suite that you upgraded your prey to?

-- In reviewing this full statement, there are several time gaps, but we'll let most of those go because this was a statement for a press conference.  However, for the most part the significant time and information gap is when the car is parked down the block.  What truly happened approximate to this?  Whatever it was, its not in her statement.  She then describes first seeing him after 14 years giving a speech...

“During his speech ... As I sat there in the audience, I kept wondering to myself, has he done to other women what he had done to me, and whether anyone was going to speak up about it?  I really hoped for his sake that and his candidacy that mine was an isolated incident and that he had not exhibited those behaviors with other women."
-- She describes in this statement that she wondered if he had done this to other women...and it the same sentence if anyone - others - would speak up.  Did she think she was the only one or not?  She then reverts back to hoping hers was isolated and not other women.

paragraph continues...."I didn't file a complaint against Mr. Cain as some of the other women did because I wasn't employed by the foundation when this occurred."
-- Now we're back to including other women - which was it...was she alone or had she been provided knowledge of other women?

Statements like these are why attorneys should always have investigators on their team, and complete the investigative process before going public with what are, apparently, at least partially false statements.
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