Category: Death Investigations

The Criminal Investigative Function: A Guide for New Investigators 4th ED

The Criminal Investigative Function: A Guide for New Investigators – 4th Edition

By: Joseph Giacalone

Great news! In March 2023, The Criminal Investigative Function: A Guide for New Investigators has been completely revised and updated to the 4th Edition. I am very proud how this edition has turned out.

Not only is this a brand new edition, I also have a new publisher, Blue 360 Media which bought out the original publisher, Looseleaf Law.

In 2011, the original text was published. Since then it has been updated every few years to keep readers informed of the latest changes in criminal investigations.
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The Homicide Victims’ Families’ Rights Act: Is it Enough?

The Homicide Victims’ Families’ Rights Act was signed into law recently by President Joe Biden. Did it go far enough?

The Cold Case Problem

Cold case homicides have become a national problem. In recent years, homicides continue to surge and case clearances continue to drop. What has made matters worse, is the rocky start of the the FBI’s new National Incident-Based Reporting System or NIBRS for short. Many cities, including both Los Angeles and New York City, did not report homicide data to the FBI in 2021. In 2023, the FBI announced that it will make an ‘estimation’ of crime statistics. That’s not a good plan.
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Shannan Gilbert: 10 Years Later

Shannan Gilbert: 10 Years Later

It’s been ten years since Shannan Gilbert’s body was discovered in the marshes behind the Oak Beach Community. Shannan was last seen on May 1, 2010, running and screaming for her life. It was more than a year later before Suffolk Police finally found her remains.
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Long Island Serial Killer Map

Long Island Serial Killer Map

By: Joseph Giacalone

The Long Island Serial Killer map is a work in progress. I’ve been working on it for awhile now and it’s time to let you decide what else gets added. The map included every victim from Hempstead Lake Park, to Manorville, Fire Island, and Gilgo Beach. I will add new information as it becomes available. With your help, we can make it better. Continue reading “Long Island Serial Killer Map”

Is the Long Island Serial Killer Case Ice Cold?

Is the Long Island Serial Killer Case Ice Cold?

By: Joseph Giacalone

Is the Long Island Serial Killer case ice cold? Yes. There has been little movement in the case. That’s all that we know. At this point in the investigation, it might be a good idea to release everything they have. Did the police record any of those call with Melissa Barthelemy’s sister? I have lots of questions. Continue reading “Is the Long Island Serial Killer Case Ice Cold?”

Digital Forensics and the Physiological Time of Death

Digital Forensics and the Physiological Time of Death

By: Frank Thornton

During an investigation, the Physiological Time of Death (TOD) is often critical to investigators. This is especially true in homicide cases when the investigator tries to determine the victim’s last movements and whom they might have been in contact with at a given moment in time. Digital forensics can play an important role in determining the physiological time of death. Continue reading “Digital Forensics and the Physiological Time of Death”

Jumpstart the Cold Case Files

Jumpstart the Cold Case Files

By: Joseph Giacalone

Jumpstart the Cold Case files now! Homicide clearance rates continue to fall and violent crimes continues to rise in the United States. Now, more than ever, a focus on who is wanted for murder becomes an important task that may lead to a reduction in violence. Violence often begets violence as retaliation becomes common.

Every detective has one case that still haunts them. There were a number of cases that I wish we were able to solve during my tenure as the Commanding Officer of the Bronx Cold Case Squad. We had a person of interest in most, but lacked the physical evidence, forensic evidence, confession, or eyewitnesses. Continue reading “Jumpstart the Cold Case Files”

Recording the Time of Death

Caveats of Death Investigations:
Recording the Time of Death

By: Joseph Giacalone

Recording the time of death can often be a tricky situation for investigators. There are a number of things that are out of the investigator’s control, Time of Death (TOD) is only one of them. The golden rule for death investigations is to treat every one as if it is suspicious until evidence proves otherwise.

Investigators have to deal with many things at the beginning of a death investigation to enable the medical examiner (or coroner) to make the proper Manner of Death classification. First and foremost, make sure that the crime scene is secured. Death investigations require a team. This team consists of: investigator, medical examiner (or coroner) and/or a medicolegal investigator (MLI). One of the most important and often confusing caveat of investigations is the TOD.
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