One of the most fundamental skills, and staple offering, of Professional Investigators is the Due Diligence Investigation. These types of investigations range from personal to business clients - and personal to business subjects. Not including business due diligence - such as IPO or merger projects - most investigators find themselves learning and being able to specialize in Individual Locates, Backgrounds, Assets & Liabilities, and Heirs for Civil, Criminal and Probate litigation. Like most of our colleagues, it is also how we started. These types of investigations not only cover the basic skills and resources, but are also a necessity in almost every type of investigation conducted. They are also specialties in themselves, and share common practices, resources and methodologies. Learn the basics of one - and you will know the basics for another.
-- Learn more from our latest informational commentary at www.DeathCaseReview.com/afi-llc-blog/necessity-of-due-diligence-investigations
In addition to Covert Cameras and Digital Forensics USB devices, My007Spy Online now offers GPS Tracking Devices and activation services. These are discounted only to certain association memberships, military or law enforcement status! Visit www.My007Spy.com/gps-tracker-devices.html or email info@My007Spy.com
-- Due Diligence Investigations
-- Added to My007Spy store - GPS Tracking Devices and services
-- Commentary from the archives of AFI-LLC
- Proper Death Investigation Protocols Vital to Families
- The Fear of Getting in Trouble
- Death Investigation for Private Investigators Homestudy Course
- Balancing the Scales of Justice
-- Now Available - "Death and Serious Bodily Injury Investigation for the Professional Investigator"
-- Case Studies from our Agency
- Suspicious Death - Suicide or Homicide (Independent Investigation)
- Wrongful Death - Homicide or Justifiable Self-Defense (Expert Consultation)
-- Time is Money! Efficiency and Multi-Tasking Tips for PIs
-- Global Investigators Media Group (GIMG.tv) Facts & Forensics
- Cell Phone Call and Tower Mapping - Robert Wyman
-- Tidbits From Our Profession
-- Associations and News
-- News From Our Profession
- CDITC National Criminal Defense Investigation Academy
- Text to 911 Update
- Congrats to Rory McMahon, CLI CCDI, and Kelly Riddle, TCI CCDI
- The Science That Could Revolutionize Time Measurements in Forensic Investigations
- NCISS / Duffy Award Presentation - Special Photo Album
-- Legislative News You Can Use... from NCISS
-- The Quint-Essential Qualities of a Professional Investigator
-- IN CLOSING...
Together We're Better - Together We Make the Difference!
What is your association news that we can share?

Rocky Mountain West Agency owned by Dean A. Beers, CLI CCDI CFI-FTER and Karen S. Beers, BSW CCDI CFI-FTER.
We provide Expert Consultations and Legal Investigations of Personal Injury, Negligence & Death in Civil, Criminal and Probate litigation. We are Subject Matter Experts in Equivocal Death Investigation and Analysis, Medicolegal Investigations of Death and Serious Bodily Injury.
Based in the Rocky Mountain West, we provide expert consultations nationally. Learn details at www.DeathCaseReview.com

www.DeathCaseReview.com/afi-llc-blog.html
Keep up with the current events of our agency and profession through our blog. Dating back to the fall of 2011, there are dozens of articles, tips and resources for professional investigators.
Proper Death Investigation Protocols Vital to Families (06/19/2013)
All deaths are tragic, especially to family and friends. When they are young and unusual circumstances, this is more so. The primary responsibility of the death investigator is to respect the family and find the truth for the decedent. Our hearts go out to the family and friends of this young man.
-- continued at www.DeathCaseReview.com/afi-llc-blog/proper-death-investigation-protocols-vital-to-families
The Fear of Getting in Trouble (08/30/2013)
That “trouble fear” can cause many emotions and thoughts rush through our bodies and minds. What to do what to do? As adults, we know what to do; we know the best way to face any fear is with the truth. We also know that when someone is physically hurt, or they are not quite acting what we might perceive as “normal” mentally, we call 911. We, as responsible adults know we must act, and we cannot let the “trouble fear” factor play any role in our decisions to help another human being.
-- continued at www.DeathCaseReview.com/afi-llc-blog/the-fear-of-getting-in-trouble
Death Investigation for Private Investigators Homestudy Course (10/24/2013)
Associates in Forensic Investigations, LLC, are the developers of the Death Investigation for Private Investigators homestudy course, approved in several states for continuing education. This course has previously available only for continuing education through PI Education. In partnership with PI Education, our agency is now making the course directly available for those that do not need the continuing education credits and have an interest in learning more about death and injury causation investigations.
-- continued at www.DeathCaseReview.com/afi-llc-blog/death-investigation-for-private-investigators-homestudy-course
Balancing the Scales of Justice (01/01/2014)
Indigent cases are difficult and they are taxpayer funded - resources and funding are very low. On average, the investigator might get $35 per hour. That may seem like a lot - but most expenses are not covered and this is contractual, self-employed. So, 15% in self-employment taxes, federal and state income taxes (not withheld), licenses and insurance, and overhead - and a lot of billing is forgiven because it won't be compensated (it can take 10 hours to review discovery, that could be the whole budget. Witnesses might not be interviewed, etc.
-- continued at www.DeathCaseReview.com/afi-llc-blog/balancing-the-scales-of-justice

We believe that medicolegal investigation and consultation is a team effort. Stephen Cina MD and Harold Schueler PhD are our agency affiliated experts in our respective fields offering our clients comprehensive medicolegal services.
Dr. Cina, based in Colorado, is the former Chief Medical Examiner of Cook County IL. and now provides contract and independent forensic autopsies and consultations.
Dr. Schueler is now a profession at mid-Atlantic university, and is the former Chief Forensic Toxicologist of a large mid-Atlantic metropolitan area.
Contact our office to consult on medicolegal death and injury causation. The CVs of both Dr. Cina and Dr. Schueler are available by Contacting Us
We are proud of our working relationship with Dr. Cina, since 2002 and Dr. Schueler since 2010.
We have recently reached out to some of our fellow expert friends and asked them to join our Affiliated Experts Referral Program! Each are available nationally.
- Forensic Nursing
- Forensic Photography
- Digital Forensics - Cell Phones
- Digital Forensics - Computers
- Digital Forensics - GPS / Vehicles
- Forensic Debugging / Technical Surveillance Countermeasures
"Death and Serious Bodily Injury Investigation for the Professional Investigator"
FALI is offering, for a limited time, our latest - and very detailed book (over 200 pages) on Investigating Death & Serious Bodily Injuries for civil or criminal cases, "Death and Serious Bodily Injury Investigation for the Professional Investigator," by Dean & Karen Beers.
These are for a limited time! The guide is under revision and will be released Spring 2018 for $95 - save 1/3 off the price now at just $70, including shipping with 50% net proceeds going to FALI!
https://fali.site-ym.com/store/ViewProduct.aspx?id=8948697
The manual is over 200 pages and begins with the core of the Beers's distance learning course manual. It includes over 20 additional forensic, death and serious bodily injury based articles.

www.DeathCaseReview.com/sample-cases.html
We are often asked about the types of traumatic injury and death cases we review - from family equivocal deaths to civil and criminal cases for attorneys and investigators. Each month we will present two previous cases - of hundreds - with a variety of circumstances, evidence, and conclusions.
Suspicious Death - Suicide or Homicide (Independent Investigation)
Our agency was retained by next-of-kin to review the official records, reports, photographs and additional evidentiary information into the shooting death of a relative. The decedent was found inside his locked apartment, by co-workers after not reporting to work. He was lying supine with a semi-automatic handgun near his left leg, between a dining table and kitchen counter. There was no indication another person had been with him approximate to the time of his death. He resided alone and the front door was locked; however the sliding glass balcony door was unlocked (2nd level). Prior to his death he had experienced multiple life stressing experiences, including relationship breakups.
The law enforcement investigation revealed multiple investigative deficiencies, and the death was ruled a suicide. It was determined that these were mostly protocol that did not inhibit the investigation. The most significant discrepancy was failing to note or investigate the unlocked sliding door.
The evidence suggests and supports that the decedent was alone at the time of his death. Additionally, the decedent was not moved from another location or position within this location, including within the apartment. There were no indications of assault, mutual combat or defense. There is no evidence to suggest or support homicide, or that the scene and evidence were staged or altered.
This case was previously reviewed by multiple forensic experts, who concluded Undetermined as the appropriate Manner of Death. These reviewed reports did not take into account multiple key points of evidence (such as no ability for another person to have been present and positioned to act). Another example, was that perhaps the decedent mistook the handgun for his cell phone and was calling 911 (even intoxicated, as he was, the weight and manner of holding and completing a call are not the same as the operation of a semi-automatic handgun; and his cell phone was in his bedroom).
Our agency review of the empirical evidence and events concluded that the fatal shot could not have been from a person, other than the decedent, due to his location and furnishings, and final resting position. Consequential evidence, including body position and blood spatter, were consistent with the bullet trajectory (into the walls and ceiling).
Conclusively, this death was not as a consequence of homicide.
Wrongful Death - Homicide or Justifiable Self-Defense (Expert Consultation)
Our agency was retained by next-of-kin to review the official records, reports, photographs and additional evidentiary information into the shooting death of a relative. The decedent was found outside his residence, deceased, with two gunshot wounds. Responding family members found two neighbors approximate to the decedent. By report, the neighbors were returning to their home when observing the decedent being aggressive towards them. At that time one neighbor retrieved his firearm, discharging three times and striking the decedent twice; the first shot was reported to be a warning shot.
Responding law enforcement personnel initially investigated the incident as self-defense. However, independent review noted: 1) the vehicle incident position and final resting position; 2) trajectory of the ejected shell casings relative to likely and less likely positions of the neighbors and the decedent; and 3) positions of neighbors.
Our agency concluded that the empirical evidence with the series of events, as described by the neighbors, are inconsistent with the evidence of the official investigation. Specifically, the following findings present reasonable concerns that the findings of the official investigation are inconsistent with the evidence of the same. This includes the position of the decedent at the time of firearm discharge, position of the shooter at the time of discharging the firearm, position of the second neighbor at the time of the discharges of the firearm, and the position of the vehicle at the time of the discharges of the firearm and its final resting position. Of primary concern due to being unsupported by the reviewed evidence, is the position of the shooter.
It is our opinion that there is foundation for consideration of limited continued official investigation for the purpose of reconciling those issues presented herein.
- Inconsistent statements of the neighbors, together and individually, as to the actions of the decedent, location of the decedent at firearm discharge, and number of shots fired.
- Wound trajectories are inconsistent with the statements of the neighbors, together and individually, as to the actions and location of the shooter at the time of firearm discharge.
- Location of the spent shell casings are inconsistent with the statements of the neighbors, together and individually, as to the actions and position of shooter at the time of firearm discharge.
- Wound trajectories are inconsistent with the statements of the neighbors, together and individually, as to the actions and position of the decedent at the time of firearm discharge.
- Location of the spent shell casings are inconsistent with the statements of the neighbors, together and individually, as to the actions and position of the decedent at the time of firearm discharge.

Learn how we efficiently multi-task using these tools. Visit this article on our blog at www.DeathCaseReview.com/afi-llc-blog/time-is-money-multi-tasking-is-time-recovered!
- DropBox - http://DropBox.PrivateInvestigations.org
- Right Inbox for Gmail - www.RightInBox.com
- Desktop Texting - www.MySMS.com
- Ring Central Faxing - http://Fax.PrivateInvestigations.org
- Ring Central VOIP - http://RingCentral.PrivateInvestigations.org
- Toll-Free Numbers - http://Kall8.PrivateInvestigations.org (PIs - contact our office for more uses)
- Split View - www.SplitView.com
Be sure and look for our latest article on this topic in the upcoming issue of The Legal Investigator, official journal of the National Association of Legal Investigators!

Facts & Forensics
About every other month Dean host a podcast featuring topical information in the areas of legal investigations and forensic investigations. He is joined by his wife and business partner, Karen for 'Conversations with Karen' on special topics of interest. Dean closes each episode with a 'Special Guest' who is an expert in a forensic specialty. Tune in this, and every, month!
All shows are posted at http://gimg.tv - the latest podcast topics include:
Conversations with Karen
Updates on trends and current events from our agency and profession!
Special Guest with Dean
This month - around the 15th of this month, we will be having our good friend and expert consultant (photography and GPS), Roberty Wyman, tell us about his most current offering of Cell Phone Call and Tower Mapping!
* Obtaining the subscriber’s Call Detail Records via subpoena
* Contacting the cellular telephone companies (“carriers”)
* Extracting usable data from the Call Detail Records
* Mapping the cellular telephone towers which have hosted the calls with Google Earth or a mapping program
* Advanced mapping of each call’s directionality from a tower using a Computer Aided Drafting (CAD), mapping or diagramming program
* Tabulating the Call Detail Records for additional analysis in Excel, including sorting records to uncover common telephone numbers and subscriber relationships
* Preparing exhibits and illustrations of the call and tower analysis
* Testimony regarding the accuracy and precision of the mapping effort

Do you have news of your associations and members to share? Please let us know!
The associations conference season is coming to a close. Stay tuned for upcoming state, national and international association conferences.
JOIN NALI TODAY!
Legal Investigators working cases for civil plaintiff or criminal defense - join the National Association of Legal Investigators! (http://nalionline.org/become-a-member - please contact our office and use us as a reference on the application)
ASSOCIATION CONFERENCES
California Association of Licensed Investigators
Jun 07th-09th - CALI 50th Annual Conference in Long Beach CA.
Details at www.cali-pi.org/2018-conference
Texas Association of Licensed Investigators
Aug 22nd-25th - TALI 2018 Annual Conference in Lake Conroe TX.
Details at www.tali.org
Osmosis
Oct 07th-09th - Osmosis Annual Conference in Las Vegas NV.
Details at www.osmosiscon.com
National Council of Investigation & Security Services
Nov 08th - NCISS Mid-Term Meeting
Details at www.NCISS.org
2018 Investigators Superconference
Nov 08th Pre-Conference / Nov 09th-10th Conference / Nov 11th Post-Conference
Details at www.2018Investigators.com
Is your association planning a conference we can share? Email us the details - associates@DeathCaseReview.com!

Professional Private investigations Association of Colorado (www.PPIAC.org) Monthly meetings, including a training speaker, are the first Wednesday of each month, usually in the Denver metro area. PPIAC continues to hold specialized training sessions for new and veteran investigators, and also specific to the new licensing program.
PS - be sure and visit the new and updated site for PPIAC!
National Association of Legal Investigators (www.NALI.com)
NALI is the premier association for legal investigators for civil plaintiff and criminal defense, and oversees the prestigious Certified Legal Investigator (CLI) program. Experience is required to join and all members are subject to a background check.
Legal Investigators working cases for civil plaintiff or criminal defense - join the National Association of Legal Investigators! (http://nalionline.org/become-a-member - please contact our office and use us as a reference on the application)
The current issue of NALI's official journal - The Legal Investigator - is now available online at www.nalionline.org/publications.htm
National Council of Investigation and Security Services (www.NCISS.org)
Each day we find an increasing number of problems confronting the orderly growth of our profession. These problems include, among others: overly restrictive legislation regarding training and standards, proliferation of legislation requiring local licensing, public misunderstanding and misinformation on the role and contribution of private investigators and security services, and an uninformed media. It is the role of NCISS to meet and solve these problems while seeking to uncover and recommend action on any hidden potential problems which may have an effect on our profession.
The current issue of NCISS's official journal - Your Advocate - is available online at www.nciss.org/your-advocate
Special news and alerts are at www.nciss.org/important-nciss-news
World Association of Detectives (www.WAD.net)
W.A.D. is a global alliance of investigators and security professionals with origins dating back to 1921 and formalized in 1925. W.A.D. is the longest established and largest association of its kind in the world.
Karen is the W.A.D. Administrative Manager, and Dean is the Governor of the Americas (North, Central and South America). Together we work to further the mission of W.A.D. and provide resources to clients needing assistance in these regions. The W.A.D. magazine,
The current issue of WAD's official newsletter - Beyond Global - is available online at www.wad.net/newsletters-beyond-global
Additional memberships include FALI, TALI and CALI state associations, as well as specialty specific national associations (see right sidebar). If your association has news, please send it to us for inclusion in our newsletter.

CDITC National Criminal Defense Investigation Academy
Certification Course - June 11th-15th, 2018
TUITION & FEES:
Full Program: $ 995.00 or $ 795.00 discounted fee if registered and paid by May 11, 2018.
The 3-day Component Method alone is $595 without discount and with would be $479.
The 2-day FTER would be $395 and $315 with the discount.
Text books included with tuition fees.
Details at www.CDITCtraining.com/cdiacademyprogram.html
Helpful Tip - Text to 911 Calls
Many jurisdiction nationwide are rolling out Text to 911. This is in part, due to a generation that makes less and less voice calls, and texting may be safer for a victim of an active crime - such as one in hiding during a home invasion. When making requests for dispatch calls, 911 calls, and other communications - be sure to inquire if text messages are available, how they are documented, and how they are requested - if not already part of your initial request.
Similarly, when checking for communication of law enforcement with dispatch, and inter-personnel, be sure and request any available text or Mobile Data Terminal (MDT - the laptop in law enforcement vehicles) information, or how to obtain the information.
For the most part, our research has found text messages should be entered into the printed call history; however, they will not show up on the recording. Most often, there will not be a separate request needed - perhaps some additional wordsmithing in your request.
Congrats to Rory McMahon, CLI, CCDI and Kelly Riddle, TCI, CCDI
Congrats and well done Rory J McMahon and Kelly Riddle!! Rory was Dean's CLI proctor, almost a decade ago, and Kelly has been a good friend for at least a couple decades - since our early days for writing for the original PI Magazine. Although this was a very uncommon, and justice served outcome, the caliber these two bring is no surprise - both are fellow CCDIs with Dean and Karen!
From the CDITC National Director, Brandon Perron, CCDI -
"The talent of the team was supplemented by Texas Investigators to include Private Investigator friend and colleague Investigator Kelly Riddle. The case involved an Aggravated Assault charge in Broward County, Florida. The case was scheduled to start yesterday but was dismissed at the last moment. The prosecutor was presented with overwhelming evidence supporting that the defendant was in fact the victim of abuse! The defense investigation was relentless and uncovered the facts and evidence needed to facilitate a just resolution.
Rory McMahon stated, "It is rare that we get a case dismissed before trial and it is so gratifying that our Client’s good name and reputation have been restored". An aggressive impartial and objective investigation conducted by first class professionals can make a difference. It is just another shining example of CDITC Board Certified Criminal Defense Investigators defending the 6th Amendment and the right to a fair trial!"
The Science That Could Revolutionize Time Measurements in Forensic Investigations
(contributed by Bob Wall, Wall Investigations – Grand Junction, CO)
Forensic science techniques are of incredible benefit in criminal investigations. But while they can help reveal who a piece of evidence came from or how it got there, there is a major capability gap within the forensic sciences – and it’s all to do with time. When did a person die or when was a stain deposited? Answers to such questions are crucial, in particular for defence lawyers trying to establish alibis.
Luckily, research is constantly throwing up new results. Over the last few years, a series of new findings have made great contributions to the area of “temporal forensics”, some of which could vastly improve our understanding of what happens to our bodies after we die.
NCISS / Duffy Award Presentation - Special Photo Album
Here is a special photo album of the NCISS 2018 Hit the Hill and Duffy Award Presentation to the US Capitol Police
The planning and attendance of each Annual Meeting and Hit the Hill event starts early – from choosing a venue to lining up volunteer training speakers, and coordinating special events, elections and awards. Each year is fun and unique.
Our special thanks to the US Capitol Police, US Capitol House and Senate Sergeant at Arms, Offices of Sen. Chuck Grassley and Sen. Jeff Flake, Offices of Rep. Steve Scalise and Rep. David Young, and members Brad Duffy, Wes Bearden, Dean Beers, Terry Myer, and Francie Koehler for their assistance in bringing this ceremony and luncheon together.
You will see the honor and gratitude from NCISS in this album.
Also inside are photos from the Board meetings, and Annual Member meeting, as well as elections, swearing in, and the presentation of the Wayne J. Wunder Memorial Award, and the Vinson Award. Its not all business, there is also time for networking, fun and camaraderie! Attending were over 50

Its been very quiet for the investigation and security professions in Congress and regulatory agencies. That's a good thing - for now. We must always be prepared. One way we do that is to personally visit our Senators and Representatives every year - and stay in contact with them throughout the year. We also stay in touch with our members.
PS - be sure and catch the latest NCISS Digital Your Advocate at http://nciss.org/your-advocate-february-2018
To stay current, please visit www.nciss.org/important-nciss-news
The Quint-Essential Qualities of a Professional Investigator Skills Appropriate for the Assignment Law firms and medical offices specialize - Professional Investigators also specialize. Their casework and continuing education should also be in your specialized areas. Experience and Knowledge Professional Investigators strive to maintain and further these. All professions have requirements of continuing education. The CLI and CCDI programs both require extensive compliance with continuing education. Responsible and Ethical Conduct Every component of the investigation has evidentiary considerations. Professional Investigators hold themselves to a higher standard and leaves no question as to the admissibility of their evidence. Information without ethics is not evidence. Effective Communication Professional Investigators maintain communication with the attorney, client, witnesses, and other key persons in the investigation. Moreover, reports are the product of an organized investigation and should reflect the work product you expect. Keyword - 'Professional' Honesty, Integrity & Intelligence. These define Professional Investigators and gives you the confidence that your case is in competent and skilled hands. |

Specializes in the Expert Consultations and Legal Investigations of Personal Injuries, Negligence and Death in Civil, Criminal and Probate litigation.
We provide investigations and consultations of any death or serious bodily injury case nationwide with the conveniences of modern technology and assistance of our local professional friends and colleagues.
In addition, we continue to provide Due Diligence Investigations of Individual Locates, Backgrounds and Assets & Liabilities, and Heirs / Relatives for your Civil, Criminal, Probate and Domestic Relations litigation. Additional information at www.DeathCaseReview.com/general-services.html
Call us today, we're glad to help!
Experience the PRIDE of Associates in Forensic Investigations, LLC - Professional Reliable Investigators Defining Excellence in every assignment.
With appreciation,
Dean A. Beers, CLI CCDI CFI-FTER* and Karen S. Beers, BSW CCDI CFI-FTER*
Associates in Forensic Investigations, LLC - Associates@DeathCaseReview.com
Colorado (970) 480-7793 - Dean x1 and Karen x2 - Voice / TXT
*Certified Criminal Defense Investigators ~ Certified Forensic Interviewers / Forensic Testimonial Evidence Recovery ~ Certified in Medicolegal Death Investigations

www.IsItHomicide.com
- Legal Investigations - Civil, Criminal & Probate - Pre-Litigation & Litigation
- Expert Consultations and Medicolegal Investigations of Death & SBI
- Individual Locates, Backgrounds, and Assets & Liabilities
- Estate Heirs, Relatives and Next-of-Kin
We specialize in helping other PIs and attorneys assisting families. Contact our agency any time – we’re there when you need us.
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Always 10% off retail, with additional professional discounts! Visit www.My007Spy.com or email info@My007Spy.com NOW! | We are excited to announce we are now an authorized retailer for LawMate USA for DVRs, Digital Audio Recorders, Batteries and Accessories, Body Worn Cameras, Nanny Cams, Personal Cams, Car and Travel Cams, Home Office Cams, and Counter Surveillance products! We have also added the most popular Paraben Digital Forensic Recovery Sticks for iPhones, Android, PC, Chat, Images, and more! |
In addition to Covert Cameras and Digital Forensics USB devices, My007Spy Online now offers GPS Tracking Devices and activation services. These are discounted only to certain association memberships, military or law enforcement status.! Visit www.My007Spy.com/gps-tracker-devices.html or email info@My007Spy.com
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* 3 month or 12 month service must be purchased separately.
* Laws vary by state - consult your state and local laws before purchasing. My007Spy makes no warranty of lawful purposes and is not liable for any violations or misuse, or consequential damages.
These GPS Tracking Devices are easy to use, with built in magnets, and a rechargeable battery (duration depends on GPS model). Each device can go on standby and log per-minute tracking (duration depends on GPS model).