FORENSIC TAPHONOMY
SAN DIEGO, CA | AUGUST 24 - 26, 2020
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Instructors:
Melissa Torpey, MS & Mel Bishop, MSc Location: Marine Corps Air Station - Provost Marshal's Office Miramar Way, Bldg. 7117 San Diego, CA 92145 Hosted By: San Diego Police Department Hours: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm Tuition: $649.00 This course is presented in partnership with the International Association for Identification. |
Forensic Taphonomy
The Forensic Taphonomy Course provides students with an in-depth, hands-on workshop that focuses on the field investigative techniques of collecting, processing, and analyzing taphonomic evidence for the purposes of estimating time since death, interpreting the circumstances surrounding death, and the location of scattered or buried human remains. Emphasis is placed on collecting, preserving, and interpreting insect evidence, plant and soil evidence, and the search and recovery of human skeletal remains.
Students learn how to manage an outdoor crime scene, properly collect and preserve insect evidence, document and collect any associated physical evidence, strategically search for buried bodies, and properly exhume human skeletal remains.
This course is taught by both a forensic anthropologist and a forensic entomologist. It also involves hands-on group activities, mock outdoor death scenes, and mock burials.
Upon successful completion of this course, students will demonstrate the ability to survey and process an outdoor death scene, identify taphonomic evidence of forensic importance, search and recover insect and human skeletal evidence, as well as display the ability to work as a team and properly collect and package evidence to be analyzed by a forensic entomologist or forensic anthropologist.
DAY 1
DAY 2
DAY 3
The Forensic Taphonomy Course provides students with an in-depth, hands-on workshop that focuses on the field investigative techniques of collecting, processing, and analyzing taphonomic evidence for the purposes of estimating time since death, interpreting the circumstances surrounding death, and the location of scattered or buried human remains. Emphasis is placed on collecting, preserving, and interpreting insect evidence, plant and soil evidence, and the search and recovery of human skeletal remains.
Students learn how to manage an outdoor crime scene, properly collect and preserve insect evidence, document and collect any associated physical evidence, strategically search for buried bodies, and properly exhume human skeletal remains.
This course is taught by both a forensic anthropologist and a forensic entomologist. It also involves hands-on group activities, mock outdoor death scenes, and mock burials.
Upon successful completion of this course, students will demonstrate the ability to survey and process an outdoor death scene, identify taphonomic evidence of forensic importance, search and recover insect and human skeletal evidence, as well as display the ability to work as a team and properly collect and package evidence to be analyzed by a forensic entomologist or forensic anthropologist.
DAY 1
- Morning - (8am-11:30am) Classroom discussion/ PowerPoint presentations
- Defining forensic taphonomy. Students will learn insects of forensic importance, basics of forensic botany and environmental changes after death, and learn the importance of forensic anthropology at a death scene.
- Afternoon - (12:30pm-4:30pm) Field training
- Finish classroom introduction of forensic taphonomy topics.
- View pigs for insect activity to estimate relative time since death and learn proper procedures for approaching, documenting, and processing an outdoor scene.
DAY 2
- Morning - (8am-11:30am) Classroom discussion/ PowerPoint presentations
- Overview of evidence collection procedures at the death scene and equipment needed. Learn proper search and recovery techniques for surface and buried human remains.
- Afternoon - (12:30pm-4:30pm) Field training
- Students will demonstrate skills on insect evidence collection and practice insect collection procedures.
- Students will practice search techniques for human remains; flag possible buried body sites. Students will begin the exhumation of buried human remains.
DAY 3
- Morning - (8am-11:30am) Classroom discussion/ Field Training
- Case studies and class discussion on forensic entomology techniques.
- Students will finish exhumation of buried human remains and discuss techniques and areas of importance.
- Afternoon – (12:30pm-4:30pm) Final discussion/Finish field training
- Finish any field training activities from Day 1 and 2.
- Final Exercise- Student demonstrations on their ability to collect and secure insect evidence; student discussion on proper techniques for search and recovery of human remains.
LODGING
Holiday Inn San Diego \ Miramar
9335 Kearny Mesa Road
San Diego, CA 92126
858-695-2300
Booking Rate: $149 plus tax | Free Wi-Fi, Free Parking
Booking Info: Call the hotel directly or use the hotel booking link below.
Holiday Inn San Diego \ Miramar
9335 Kearny Mesa Road
San Diego, CA 92126
858-695-2300
Booking Rate: $149 plus tax | Free Wi-Fi, Free Parking
Booking Info: Call the hotel directly or use the hotel booking link below.
REGISTRATION
To register for this course, please download the Course Registration Form (PDF file). Fill out the form and email the completed PDF file to Phil Sanfilippo at phil@tritechusa.com.
To register for this course, please download the Course Registration Form (PDF file). Fill out the form and email the completed PDF file to Phil Sanfilippo at phil@tritechusa.com.