Forensics Seminar

This course examines several areas of Forensic Work. It includes 6 hours of IAI approved training by Heidi Sievers, expert blood stain analyst.

Dr. Elayne Pope, recognized research and expert in Fatal Fire Forensics shares her research on how the human body burns. She also covers fire scene excavation and remains recovery.

Retired Deputy Commonwealth Attorney Phil Evans shares essential court preparation, legal issues and courtroom testimony.

Medical Examiner's Office plays a big role in Forensic Pathology and recovery of trace evidence.

Mass Fatalities present many challenges to forensic investigators, hear from presenters that have handled these scenes.

Human remains recovery is often a challenge in water. Case presentations will be presented that are best practices to these cases.

New technology in forensic work is also presented.

This is a must course for forensic investigators, supervisors and death investigators.

Hotel: Double Tree by Hilton, 1900 Pavillion Dr. Virginia Beach, 757-422-8900 Rate: $109 plus taxes per night

Course Availability
January 13, 2025 - January 15, 2025 27 Seats Left
Virginia Beach Police Department Virginia Beach, Va

Instructors

Philip G. Evans

Deputy Commonwealth's Attorney, Retired

Philip G. Evans, recently retired after 27 years service as Deputy Commonwealth's Attorney, Norfolk, Virginia, 1994-2021. Supervised the Adult Violent Crime Prosecution Team for 24 years and personally prosecuted all types of violent crime cases to include approximately 150 murder cases which included twenty-five defendants charged with capital murder; Recipient, 2018 Warren B. Von Schuch Award, Distinguished Prosecutor Award; Recognized by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Biometric Identification Award [Next Generation Identification System] in both 2019, Commonwealth v. Daniel Johnston: [Jury Trial, 1981 cold case homicide] and 2015, Commonwealth v. Amin Garcia, [Jury trial: cold case sexual assault]; Served as Faculty Instructor from 2004-2020 for the Virginia Commonwealth’s Attorneys’ Services Council (CASC) and/or Virginia Association of Commonwealth’s Attorneys (VACA) for multiple instruction courses to include Prosecuting Homicides, Prosecuting Capital Murder Cases, Virginia DNA Procedures; Virginia Post-Conviction DNA Petitions/Evidence Retention; Member, 2016 Association of Prosecuting Attorneys (APA) National Workgroup: “Police Officer Use of Force Project”; Instructor on Criminal Procedure, Norfolk Police Department, 1994-2021. Served in the United States Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps, 1987-1994, as both prosecutor and defense counsel: 82d Airborne Division, Fort Bragg; United States Army Berlin, Germany; United States Army Trial Defense Service. Juris Doctor [Law Degree], Loyola University of Chicago; Bachelor’s Degree: Journalism, The Pennsylvania State University. Resident of Chesapeake, Virginia.

Dr. Elayne Pope

Forensic Anthropologist/Fatal Fire Expert

Dr. Elayne Pope is a Forensic Anthropologist and the Director of Fatal Fire Forensics www.burnedbone.com. Dr. Pope’s research has focused on how the human body burns within in different types of fire environments (structures, vehicles, confined space, outdoor, and incendiary) and what types of physical evidence remains of the victim’s body at the fatal fire scene for crime scene and fire investigators. She completed her doctorate from the University of Arkansas in 2007 for “The Effects of Fire on Human Remains.” Dr. Pope worked as the Autopsy Supervisor and Forensic Anthropologist for 6 years at the Tidewater Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Norfolk, Virginia (2011-2017). Currently, Dr. Pope provides ongoing instructional course lectures and training, forensic expert consultation and examination of fatal fire casework for fire investigators, law enforcement, medical examiners/coroners, attorneys, and court testimony. She has conducted ongoing field research that examines the process of how human bodies burn under different fire scene conditions and environments in collaboration with the San Luis Obispo Fire Investigation Strike Team (SLO FIST) Fatal Fire Death Investigation Course (FFDIC) in San Luis Obispo, California where she has been an instructor since 2008 (www.slofist.org).

This training was very, very informative. Bryan, Lena, Dawn and Donnie are all dynamic instructors. I learned a lot from all.

Great instructors, from top to bottom for both days. I feel they were able to relate the information to the entire class, regardless of the students' expertise or experience.

The class absolutely exceeded our expectations. To say we were satisfied, would be an understatement. Dr. Pope's command of the subject matter was evident right out-of-the gate. We will certainly recommend Investigative Concepts and Dr. Pope in the future.