Cold Case Homicides: Practical Investigative Techniques
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Summary
Written by a seasoned professional with over 30 years of experience in law enforcement, Cold Case Homicides: Practical Investigative Techniques provides effective and accessible information to those responsible for investigating and resolving previously examined - but still unsolved - cold case homicides.
The book merges theory with practice through the use of case histories, photographs, illustrations, and checklists that convey essential, fundamental concepts while providing a strong, practical basis for the investigative process. It combines proven techniques from forensics, psychology, and criminal investigation, and focuses on technologies that may not have been available at the time of the crime.
This guide defines the characteristics of a cold case homicide; details various investigative methods used by law enforcement agencies; explores the actual experiences of detectives in re-opening case files; and presents current technologies such as ViCAP, HITS, and TracKRS used in the identification of cases related to the re-opened case, or its perpetrator. It also highlights technological changes that contribute greatly to law enforcement's abilities to solve cold case homicides such as computerized print technology, the specificity of DNA, and the expanding data banks that enable the linkage of previously unknown suspects to the crimes they committed.
Addressing methods particularly valuable to cold cases, Cold Case Homicides: Practical Investigative Techniques assists the investigator in being prepared, focused, objective - and successful in obtaining the truth.
Table of Contents
The Cold Case Problem
Case File Review
Reading the Book: Learning the Case
Investigation
The Prosecution of Cold Case Murders, Anne Marie Schubert, J.D.
Databases: ViCAP, HITS, and TracKRS
CJIS: Criminal Justice Information Services
Interviewing Senior Citizens
Death Certificate and Obituary
The Coroner's Inquest
Cold Case Squads
The Media in Cold Case Investigation
Friction Skin Impressions, Edward Palma
Automated Fingerprint Identification Systems, Peter D.
Komarinski
From Serology to DNA in Cold Case Investigations, Michael J. Grubb
Mitochondrial DNA Examination of Cold Case Crime Scene
Hairs, Terry Melton
DNA as a Witness, Zach Gaskin
Combined DNA Index System (CODIS)
National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN)
Forensic Anthropology In Cold Cases, Madeleine Hinkes, Ph.D.
Forensic Dentistry in Cold Case Homicide Investigation, Norman
D. Sperber, DDS
Forensic Exhumation
Criminal Investigative Analysis In Cold Case Investigations,
Sharon Pagaling Hagan
Warming up with Wiretaps, Robert P. Hickey
Bloodstain Pattern Analysis in Homicide Cold Case
Investigations, Tom Bevel
Luminol, Rod Englert
Forensic Document Examination, Paul R. Edholm, Jr.
Forensic Art in Cold Cases, Karen T. Taylor
Cold Case Polygraph, Paul Redden
Geographic Profiling in Cold Case Investigations, D. Kim
Rossmo, Ph.D.
"El Segundo"
Other Cold Case Resources
Conclusion
Index
Editorial Reviews
"The International Association of Chiefs of Police and the National Sheriff's Association should require that every law enforcement agency in America have at least one copy of this very valuable book."
—Tom Cronin, Criminal Profiler, Commander (Retired) Chicago Police Department
"Richard Walton has successfully created a repository of information for both new and experienced cold case detectives. Drawing from his own experience as well as that of hundreds of detectives, supervisors, prosecutors, agencies and other experts, Walton developed more than just a "how to" guide; his book is a valuable resource for anyone involved with cold case investigations. …Most importantly, throughout the book, Walton demonstrates practical application through case studies, which is how law enforcement learns best. The last chapter of the book list additional valuable resources that are available to the cold case investigator. Walton details the services available from both the public and private sectors, many of which are not as well known to law enforcement, as they should be. Cold Case Homicides: Practical Investigative Techniques is destined to be a classic in investigative literature."
—Jim Trainum , Detective, Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Police, in Subject to Debate, Police Executive Research Forum Newsletter
"…I have read material written by the FBI, NCIS, and others, but none of them compare to Mr. Walton's book. Not only is it thorough and professionally written but it speaks to officers/detectives from another officer's/detective's point of view. It is the only piece of literature that I could find on the topic area that was complete and described what has been done and what may be helpful to do while working a cold case investigation. … Mr. Walton should take pride in a book that I consider my Cold Case Homicide Bible. …The Fayetteville Police Department has utilized this book to revise and realign the Cold Case Homicide Unit in accordance with several suggestions that I made after I read this book."
—James Nolette, Cold Case Homicide Detective, Fayetteville Police Department, North Carolina
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