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Welcome 2018 - How We Can Help You - AFI-LLC Newsletter January 2018

1/2/2018

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In 2017 we found ourselves celebrating 30 years in business as professional investigators! We are excited to usher in 2018 with you - our friends, clients and colleagues. Some we have known 30 years - others 20, 10, 5 or very recently. To each of you - Thank You and we wish you a very healthy and prosperous 2018 for you and your families!
Our beginnings were pretty humble and some of life's circumstances found us with new and better opportunities. This is a good time to remind you - from attorneys to investigators - what we can do for you, and what we have planned for 2018. Start with visiting our updated and re-designed agency website at www.DeathCaseReview.com! 

​We have also added a special page for Attorneys and Investigators, with information and important forms - please email our agency for specific links and details - associates@DeathCaseReview.com.

​​What We Can Do For You!
Our agency provides Legal Investigations and Expert Consultations in Personal Injury, Negligence and Death in Civil, Criminal and Probate litigation. From non-fatal traumatic and serious bodily injuries, to fatal events of wrongful and equivocal deaths - we are here to help you and your clients. We have not forgotten our roots, as pioneers of 'Finding People...Finding Out About Them' with Individual Locates, Backgrounds, Assets & Liabilities, and Heirs & Relatives Records Checks and Investigations, also in Civil, Criminal and Probate cases. 

​We do not accept contingency cases, and have several flat rate bases services. We always offer free initial case evaluations and consultations. We are also expanding our Affiliated Experts program - stay tuned for more next month!


If you have any questions about what we offer in an expert death case review, contact our agency on our Contact Page, or: 
  • Office (970) 480-7793 ~ Fax (970) 480-7794
  • Email us - associates@DeathCaseReview.com

​Find out more at our latest blog commentary - www.DeathCaseReview.com/afi-llc-blog/our-services-how-we-can-help-you-in-2018-and-beyond
IN THIS NEWSLETTER: 
-- Happy New Year - 1987 to 2017 - 30 Years!
-- New Commentary - What We Can Do For You in 2018 and Beyond!
-- Commentary from the blog archives of AFI-LLC
 - Wrongful Convictions and Comprehensive Investigations
 - Proving a Person Deceased
 - What Legal Investigation Books are Recommended?
-- Expert Affiliations - and NEW Expert Affiliations in Forensics
-- Now Available - "Death and Serious Bodily Injury Investigation for the Professional Investigator"
​-- Case Studies from our Agency
​ - Update - The Mysterious Death of Phoenix PD Sgt. Sean Drenth
 - False Reports of Victim to Attorney
​-- Time is Money! Efficiency and Multi-Tasking Tips for PIs
-- Global Investigators Media Group (GIMG.tv) Facts & Forensics
-- Tidbits From Our Profession
-- Associations and News
-- News From Our Profession
​ - Protecting Aging Loved Ones from Abuse and Neglect
 - How Do Investigators Match Paint Chips to Cars Involved in Crimes?
​ - Area Man to Lead Group of Investigators (Ken Shelton and NALI)

-- 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!
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Associates in Forensic Investigations LLC is a 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

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Commentary from the blog archives of AFI-LLC
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.

Wrongful Convictions and Comprehensive Investigations (from 01/16/2013)
False confessions and false accusations seem to be the “norm” these days.  Add to the mix one-angle sighted police officers, prosecutors, and jurors, you get wrongful convictions.  These wrongful convictions take years to undo and those years taken away from the wrongfully convicted can never be given back.
 
Even when a lawsuit brings monetary gains to the wrongfully convicted, the wrong done can never be erased from their minds as well as the minds of others.  Even when you have “exonerated” on your criminal record, some people believe you must have done something and are only getting off on some legal technicality.  Yes, those legal technicalities do exist although rare, and the numbers keep mounting up for the innocent victims of our judicial system.
-- continued at www.DeathCaseReview.com/afi-llc-blog/wrongful-convictions-and-comprehensive-investigations1
 
Proving a Person Deceased (from 01/18/2013)
There are many reasons to need to prove a person deceased, usually it involves probate, or the unavailability of a victim or witness, and sometimes in a civil case that a witness or party is deceased.  We have also seen it when investigating identity theft and false identities.  20 years ago it was much easier to verify a death through public records, but identity theft and other personal privacy concerns changed that.
 
Proving a death depends on several factors - from where to how, and if they were transient, etc.
-- continued at www.DeathCaseReview.com/afi-llc-blog/proving-a-person-deceased1
 
Ethics for the Professional Investigator and Attorney (from 01/21/2013)
One of the most common mistakes a professional investigator makes is understanding that the attorney-PI relationship is an attorney-agent relationship, and all actions by the PI are governed by the same ethics as the attorney.
-- continued – with free e-book download – at www.DeathCaseReview.com/afi-llc-blog/ethics-for-the-professional-investigator-and-attorney2
 
What Legal Investigation Books Are Recommended? (from 01/23/2013)
There are many good investigative books to choose from, with two written by the principals of this agency.  Your choice of books is directly related to your choice of specialties, certifications and educational desires.  We have put together some of the < best books used in investigative certifications. One of the most current books is AFI-LLC's own < Practical Methods for Legal Investigations:  Concepts and Protocols in Civil and Criminal Cases'
-- continued at www.DeathCaseReview.com/afi-llc-blog/what-legal-investigation-books-are-recommended1
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Expert Affiliations
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.


NEW Expert Affiliations!
We have recently reached out to some of our fellow expert friends and asked them to join our Affiliated Experts Referral Program! More updates next month - here are two additions:
  • Forensic Debugging / TSCM - nationwide, available when and where your needs require!
  • Digital Forensics for Computers - nationwide, available when and where your needs require!
  • Digital Forensics for Cell Phones - nationwide, available when and where your needs require!
Contact our office for more details and a direct referral.

Latest book available...
"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.
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Case Studies from AFI-LLC
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.

Agency Case Study Update – The Mysterious Death of Phoenix PD Sgt. Sean Drenth
Suspicious Death - Independent Investigation (Expert Consultation) - Updated 06/10/2013 and 08/12/2017
UPDATE 08/12/2017 - in May of 2015 our agency was informed an insurance company was litigating this case to deny life insurance policy claims. As a result, this case study was removed pending litigation. Under subpoena, our expert files were turned over to opposing counsel, as required under Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. From May 2015 to August 2017, our agency received no further communication. On 08/12/2017 we were notified by our attorney-client, representing Sgt. Drenth's widow, of closure in the form of law enforcement widow's pension from the City of Phoenix, collection of all life insurance policies, and having Sgt. Drenth's name added to the Phoenix Police Department Fallen Officers Memorial Wall - without any further litigation.
 
AFI-LLC is proud to have been part of this important investigation for the family - to the living we owe respect, to the dead we owe the truth.  We feel this standard has been met.  Our agency played a small role, and we recognize the primary investigator, family attorney, and other forensic experts that provided a team effort to reach this outcome for the family.  A special thanks to the attorney and primary investigator - Joel Robbins and Jon Colvin, CLI
-- continued at www.DeathCaseReview.com/sample-cases.html
 
Agency Case Study Update – False Reports of Victim to Attorney
Our agency was retained by an attorney to review the official records, reports and photographs of a reported student peer-to-peer sex assault at high school. Filed in federal court, allegations included teacher witnessed bullying, forced rape, failure to report by school authorities, failure to investigate by law enforcement, and victim self-reported inability to get pregnant due to sustained injuries from rape.
-- continued at www.DeathCaseReview.com/sample-cases.html

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Time is money!
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.comwww.deathcasereview.com/afi-llc-blog/time-is-money-multi-tasking-is-time-recovered

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Global Investigators Media Group (GIMG.tv)
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
This month we will wrap up 2017 and our experiences! Then we will talk about what we have planned for 2018!
 
Special Guest with Dean
Stay tuned - around the 15th of this month we will be having our good friend and expert Forensic Photographer and GPS Analyst, Robert Wyman, return!

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Tidbits From Our Profession
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.

National Association of Legal Investigators (www.NALI.com) -
2018 Mid-Winter is January 18th and 19th in Orange Beach, AL. Details at http://nalionline.org/events/mid-winter-conference-2018

National Council of Investigation & Security Services (www.NCISS.org) - 2018 Hit the Hill and Annual Meeting will be held March 19th-21st. Details at www.nciss.org/2018-hit-the-hill-annual-meeting!

2018 Hit the Hill and Annual Conference - Speakers and special guests announced!
NCISS is fortunate to have many members with expertise in multiple investigative and security services disciplines. We appreciate them giving of their time to join us for the Hit the Hill and Annual Meeting events, as well as speak to our group on a variety of important trends and topics important to each of us. The conference committee has recently secured the following speakers. Details of the full schedule and registration will be coming soon!
  • Terry Kilburn
Terry will use his decades of database and records experience to speak on trends and techniques of effective database use.
  • Timothy A. Dimoff, CEO/President
SACS Consulting and Investigative Services, Inc.
The Escalating Trends of Aggression and Violence Sweeping Our Nation.
  • Cynthia Hetherington
Hetherington Group
Cynthia will speak on the Internet, open sources and database offerings.

​IMPORTANT UPDATE!
​In addition, NCISS is pleased to announce that members of the National Association of Missing & Exploited Children (NAMEC) and the Council of International Investigators (CII) will be joining us. Many associations work together for the best interests of all, and both NAMEC and CII also have members and supporters of NCISS - including officers and directors.

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Associations and News
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

NEW!! Members Only Page - www.nciss.org/members-only
State Legislation Awareness Monitoring (SLAM), Membership Directory (PDF), Member contributed articles.

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.

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News From Our Profession
Protecting Aging Loved Ones from Abuse and Neglect
(Mark Murnan, CLI - Complete Legal Investigations – FL)
Many of us find ourselves caring for loved ones as they age and may need to turn to caregivers outside of our homes to do so.  Unfortunately, there are many people out there that take advantage of the elderly. There are various ways these predators try to scam seniors.
-- continued at https://completelegalinvestigations.tumblr.com/post/168287804426/protecting-aging-loved-ones-from-abuse-and-neglect
 
How Do Investigators Match Paint Chips To Cars Involved In Crimes?
(by Heather Brown – CBS Minnesota)
Through surveillance video, witnesses and paint analysis from the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, investigators now believe the vehicle that hit Solano is a 2008-2010 metallic sage green Hyundai Santa Fe. So, how does the BCA match paint chips to cars?
-- continued at http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2017/12/07/gq-paint-chips
 
Area man to lead group of investigators
From NALI – “Here is an excellent article about our National Director, Kenneth Shelton. Are you a member of NALI?”
-- continued at www.journalgazette.net/news/local/police-fire/20171217/area-man-to-lead-group-of-investigators


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Legislative News You Can Use... from NCISS
Legislative Activity Summary
It remains relatively quiet on the state and federal legislative activity. Most state legislatures are not in session, and Congress remains mostly busy with domestic economic and healthcare issues.


For additional information on these items, please visit www.nciss.org/important-nciss-news 

Legislative Report from Lobbyit
November 2017 NCISS Monthly Report from Lobbyit at http://conta.cc/2CfaMuI
In the month of November, Lobbyit tracked developments at the Federal Communications Commissions (FCC) regarding "Net Neutrality" regulations, met with the Senate Commerce regarding the same, and continued tracking developments in funding for fiscal year 2018 (FY18).

NCISS is the National Voice of the Investigative and Security Professions - Your Voice in Our Nation's Capital!

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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.

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Associates in Forensic Investigations, LLC
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 Individual Locates, Backgrounds and Assets & Liabilities 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. 

Sincerely,
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

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IN CLOSING... We are honored to provide legal investigations for 30 years! Visit our updated agency website at  www.4N6Associates.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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Are you a member of your state association, NALI, NCISS, WAD, CDITC, or NRA - active or retired military or law enforcement?
Email info@My007Spy.com for a discount code and save another 10%!

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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!


Our agency has developed, and shared those developed by professional colleagues, distance learning courses valuable to you in continuing education credits, expanding your skills and knowledge - and services you can provide clients.
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