Associates in Forensic Investigations, LLC
A Colorado Limited Liability Company and Licensed Private Investigators
www.DeathCaseReview.com ~ (970) 480-7793
Quaero Indicium -'To Find the Evidence'
Please distribute to others that may have an interest
|
Dear (Contact First Name),
Summer is wrapping up as we begin to look towards Labor Day and getting all the summer fun we can. If you are in, or want to see, the beautiful Rocky Mountains, here are two opportunities:
First up: Death Investigations, presented by Dean Beers on August 23rd.
This all-day seminar is presented by Dean Beers, CLI, CCDI, and provides a fascinating look at the many types of death investigations: shaken baby evidence, death scene evidence, forensic autopsy, accident vs. suicide and much, much more. Box lunches will be provided. WARNING: There will be very graphic content in this class.
Second: The 2013 Rocky Mountain PI Conference, September 13-14 in Golden, Colorado
This event is not to be missed! We are very fortunate to have top-notch speakers this year: John Lajoie, Kelly Riddle, H. Ellis Armistead, Jeff Saviano, and Ray Pezolt! Located at the beautiful Table Mountain Inn, this conference promises to be educational and provide terrific networking opportunities.
For details, please contact Tan Smyth, VP of Training for the Professional Private Investigators Association of Colorado (PPIAC) at training@ppiac.org. These are open to investigators, attorneys and paralegals.
HAVE A HEART FOR THOSE WITH TROUBLED HEARTS
Meet Dean's cousin Erik. He was born with a congenital heart defect almost 25 years ago. This year his mom and dad will be walking, and mostly pushing Erik, for the Atlanta (GA) American Heart Association - on Erik's 25th birthday. FYI - that's about 25 more years than the doctors gave him. His life expectancy? Three days. In the first 14 weeks of his life he had two consecutive open heart surgeries. He has had a total of seven open heart surgeries and eleven pacemakers. He will be 25 because of the medical care from the research this walk raises money for. This is what Erik wants us to share with you, "If it wasn't for the research and education that the AHA supports, I wouldn't be here today. I am lucky to live in a country with the best doctors and hospitals in the world, and the work that the AHA does helps make that a fact. So, thank you very much for your donation." Have a heart, and help those with troubled hearts - please use this link to donate: We donate to several worthy causes that we share in this newsletter - from disasters to children's causes and veterans. Please join us in supporting the AHA.
NEWS YOU CAN USE: -- Rocky Mountain area training opportunities -- Donate to the American Heart Association -- Interesting articles from Forensic Magazine -- NALI member testifies as expert in Zimmerman trial -- Drug use to be alert for -- Colorado Cold Case needs closed -- In the News -- AND MORE!
AFI-LLC - Our agency is called upon for many reasons - from investigations to consultations, and from finding the right investigator to the right expert. We have recently added to our case examples found at http://www.DeathCaseReview.com/sample-cases.html.
|
Bits and Pieces from AFI-LLC
| |
GEORGE ZIMMERMAN - AN EXPERT WITNESS MEMBER OF NALI
Dean is a member of the National Association of Legal Investigators (NALI), and is a Certified Legal Investigator conferred by NALI ( www.NALI.com/cli.php). Hearing the televised background of the trial, Dean recognized a name and saw Dennis Root testifying as the use of force expert. Dean met Dennis at the NALI conference in Memphis. His experience and drive when talking were pretty revealing and he demonstrated excellent knowledge and witness skills on the stand.
NALI is the premiere association for the best of the best in legal investigation. If you are a legal investigator - working cases for civil plaintiff or criminal defense, you should seriously consider joining the National Association of Legal Investigators. This is a group of knowledgeable investigators, great networking and conferences. You should join your state association -- and a national association that includes your areas of specialty, NALI is for us. They are also on FB at www.facebook.com/NALIonline. Visit NALI at www.NALI.com - Together We're Better!
FROM THE AFI-LLC BLOG
'Our Mission Statement' and 'Quint-Essential Qualities of PRIDE' (Professional Reliable Investigators Defining Excellence) at
'How to Select a Qualified Professional Investigator'
- Licenses and Certifications
- Experience and Reputation
- Reports and Affidavits
- Return on Investigation
Detailed at http://www.deathcasereview.com/1/post/2012/12/how-to-select-a-qualified-professional-investigator1.html
'How do errors happen with databases?'
AFI-LLC's response at
BOOKS FOR INVESTIGATORS
AFI-LLC has put together some of the best fiction and non-fiction books available from Amazon. These range from studying for certifications to best practices, and investigative fiction and non-fiction. Most of these are written by our friends and colleagues, including fellow CLIs and CCDIs. See the complete list of books at
|
|
Our Expert Forensic Affiliations
|  We believe that medicolegal investigation and consultation is a team effort. Stephen Cina MD, Harold Schueler PhD, and our agency are affiliated as experts in our respective fields offering our clients comprehensive medicolegal services.
Dr. Cina is the Chief Medical Examiner of a large metropolitan area in the upper mid-west, and Dr. Schueler is currently is the Laboratory Director in a private laboratory in California, and has been a Chief Toxicologist for over 22 years at government laboratories in Cincinnati, Ohio and Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Through Forensic Toxicology Consulting Services, he provides private consultations nationally.
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.
Dr. Cina is also the co-author of the non-fiction historical look at "When Doctors Kill" available at http://whendoctorskill.PrivateInvestigations.org and his consultation website is at www.AutopsyReview.net.
We are proud to continue our working relationship with Dr. Cina, since 2002.
|
|
Agency News and Updates
|
CUTTING CORNERS IN OFFICIAL DEATH INVESTIGATIONS
Is it common for coroners or forensic pathologists to cut corners in a death investigation if a case does not look like foul play was involved?
A forensic pathologist shares her thoughts on her blog at http://pathologyexpert.blogspot.com/2013/07/corners.html
FYI - We are currently working on a handbook for families and survivors - to help them understand the official investigation process. DEAN ENDORSED AS AN EXPERT IN FORENSIC INVESTIGATIONS
Dean recently testified in Grand Junction for the defense of a young man facing multiple serious felony charges. The prosecution wanted one day for jury selection and another for their case in chief. After three days of jury selection, the prosecution took the next 7 days on their multiple expert witnesses and a co-defendant-turned-witness. Dean testified for several hours as the primary, and only expert, defense witness. The defense attorneys were skilled and prepared.
Here is what Bob Wall, a friend and colleague in Grand Junction said, "Dean Beers - As the grandaddy of investigators in the Grand Valley, I just want to say, "YOU ROCKED IT ON THE STAND IN GJ, MAN!" Mr. Sutton should be pleased with his defense, going into the weekend." As of this writing the jury will be instructed and given the case. We will share the verdict and details in the next newsletter - and also on our agency blog (www.MedicolegalPI.com) and Facebook page (www.facebook.com/4N6Associates).
Our agency is a team effort. A lot of work goes into these cases by both me and Karen. If only it could be demonstrated how much behind the scenes work is done, often with only the interest and compensation of knowing -- as I to the jury -- everyone deserves the best, even when they can't afford it and we do all we can. Dean was asked by the defense attorneys and investigators to thank Karen for all of her contribution (she had to stay behind) -- and extends his own personal thanks and appreciation. Together We're Better!
BEERS WITH OUR FOUNDING FATHERS
Dean's book at www.BeersWithOurFoundingFathers.com is now available in paperback and Kindle at Amazon. Details at http://www.beerswithourfoundingfathers.com/order.html
LETTERS FROM YESTERYEAR
Karen's book is now available in paperback and Kindle at Amazon. The book is a collection of actual letters she transcribed from the late 1800's.One of the best ways to learn about history is from people who actually lived and documented what they experienced. Letters From Yesteryear is a collection of letters written between the years 1879 and 1900. Letters From Yesteryear, a book by Karen Beers - www.LettersFromYesteryear.com
Dean and Karen are Colorado licensed private investigators and full-time RV Investigators (Team Beers) with offices in Colorado and South Dakota, covering the Rocky Mountain states and nationally.
Dean is a subject matter expert in the areas of death investigation and personal injury causation. He is the only Board Certified Legal Investigator (CLI) in northern Colorado, a faculty consultant and Certified Criminal Defense Investigator (CCDI) and is also certified in Medicolegal Death Investigations, having trained and worked as a Deputy Coroner at two medical examiner's offices. He continues to speak extensively on investigative techniques and principles and has authored multiple peer-reviewed white papers, and self-published "Professional Investigations: Individual Locates, Backgrounds and Assets & Liabilities"and recently published "Practical Methods for Legal Investigations" (CRC Press) He currently consults nationwide as an expert in criminal defense homicide and civil equivocal death investigations.
Karen has been a Legal Investigator and research specialist, since 1996. She has a Bachelor's in Social Work from Colorado State University (Magna Cum Laude) and in 2011 earned the designation Certified Criminal Defense Investigator (CCDI) and is also certified in Medicolegal Death Investigations. Together they operate Associates in Forensic Investigations, LLC. In addition to her skilled interactions with troubled youths, she also trained and worked as a Deputy Coroner at a medical examiner's office. This background provides essential skills and knowledge in their Personal Injury, Negligence and Death investigations and consultations in Colorado and nationally. In addition, she has written for prominent professional investigation journals and was instrumental in the revisions and contributions to both agency books, as well as the co-development of "Death Investigations for Private Investigators" for PIEducation.com
|
Associations and News of Our Profession
|
Professional Private investigations Association of Colorado (www.PPIAC.org)
Monthly meetings are the first Wednesday of each month, usually in the Denver metro area. Visit the PPIAC website for details.
Death Investigation Seminar in Colorado - open to all investigators
Our agency will be giving a death investigation and injury causation seminar to benefit PPIAC. Our agency is volunteering our time and materials, PPIAC is hosting the event and costs, and the Colorado Public Defenders office is providing the venue, reducing the cost per attendee! We appreciate the sponsorship of PPIAC and host CPD to bring this low cost training. This will be August 23rd and is open to all investigators. This may be the only time we provide this along the front range of Colorado. Contact our agency or PPIAC (training@ppiac.org) for details and registration (please do not contact the CPD to register - they are not taking registrations).
Seminar payments via PayPal are at http://ppiac.org/ai1ec_event/death-investigations?instance_id=49
The PPIAC annual conference will be September 13-14 in Golden, Colorado. Golden is a beautiful city nestled in the foothills west of Denver, and home to Coors! Watch the PPIAC website (www.PPIAC.org) or email training@ppiac.org for details and registration. Confirmed speakers include Saviano, John Lajoie CLI (MA), Kelly Riddle TCI (TX) with more speakers being confirmed and great topics!
National Association of Legal Investigators (www.NALI.com)
NALI is the premier association for legal investigators - civil plaintiff and criminal defense, and has overseen the prestigious Certified Legal Investigator (CLI) program. Experience is required to join and all members are subject to a background check.
The newest issue of NALI's official journal - The Legal Investigator - is now available online at http://www.bluetoad.com/publication?i=159376
National Council of Investigation and Security Services (www.NCISS.org)
The NCISS annual conference will be held in Charleston, SC with special co-hosts the South Carolina Association of Licensed Investigators (www.scalinv.com). AFI-LLC will be giving a presentation, entitled 'Living with Death'. Visit the NCISS website, or contact the NCISS office for details and registration.
NCISS is the voice of investigators and security personnel at the federal level. The primary mission of NCISS is to watch federal legislation and work with members to take appropriate action to support beneficial, or oppose harmful, legislation in the course of performing their professional services. Members of NCISS receive a copy of the twice-yearly published 'The Report' has just been posted online at http://www.nciss.org/documents/The_Report_Fall_2013.pdf. The bi-monthly eReport newsletter is also available online. The Summer issue will have a pull-out directory of all NCISS members.
NCISS wants to share this great savings with you - super discounts at Office Depot for supplies at http://nciss.ctcshares.com (the discounts could be enough to pay our annual dues).
NCISS also sends out important legislative alerts. If you are interested in these alerts, consider joining NCISS. These alerts are immediately posted on our agency website at
At the very least, drop us an email and we will make sure you get the alerts as they happen.
NCISS Legislative Alert: Bill Introduced on Cybersecurity
A cybersecurity bill and opposition to a recent EEOC ruling by state attorneys general.
Both of these issues could impact security and investigative professionals. Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) introduced S 1353, the "Cybersecurity Act of 2013". Please see the details from the NCISS Legislative Committee and legislative advocate, below.
Presently NCISS is watching this activity and bill, and will keep our members and profession advised of any progress and concerns. See the alert details at
World Association of Detectives (www.WAD.net)
The value of networking extends beyond your local clients, and should include statewide, nationally and internationally. This should include your state association, NALI, NCISS and of course WAD for international camaraderie. You can contact us for membership information for any of these associations. As the WAD Governor of the Americas (USA, Canada, Central America, Caribbean and Argentina), Dean is interested in answering your WAD membership questions. You can also contact any of the WAD Ambassadors.
The WAD magazine, Beyond Global, is available online at http://www.wad.net/page/newsletter.aspx. WAD Rome 88th Annual Conference Details The WAD 88th Annual Conference will be held at the Waldorf Astoria Rome Cavalieri Hotel, high on the hillside overlooking the beautiful city of Rome. The hotel is a short walk from Vatican City, and you will love the homes and shops of the surrounding neighborhoods. Many members will arrive on August 26th and take advantage of a free day for touring on their own. Registration will take place on the afternoon of Tuesday, August 27th and the Gala Banquet will take place Saturday evening, August 31st. https://www.wad.net/page/calendar.aspx - click on WAD 88th Annual Conference - Rome, Italy
Other Association News
The Florida Association of Private Investigators ( www.myFAPI.org) is having their annual conference September 26th-28th. Contact FAPI for details and registration at http://myfapi.org/2013-annual-litigation-investigators-conference
The Minnesota Association of Private Investigators (www.MAPI.org) is having their annual conference November 7th-8th. Dean will be a keynote speaker with an extended block for Death Investigation and Injury Causation. Contact MAPI for details and registration, we look forward to seeing you there.
If your association has news, please send it to us for inclusion.
|
|
In the News
| 
News happens so fast, please visit our agency blog for daily and weekly posts on news of interest - www.MedicolegalPI.com or our business Facebook page at www.facebook.com/4N6Associates
Interesting Private Investigator Facts http://insightservices.wordpress.com/2013/07/29/interesting-private-investigator-facts From Forensic Magazine ...
The Value of Bloodstain Pattern Recognition at Crime Scenes http://www.forensicmag.com/articles/2013/06/value-bloodstain-pattern-recognition-crime-scenes-probative-sample-selection-dna-analysis Know When to Call in the Experts Although written for law enforcement, this is very true of attorneys and investigators working civil and criminal cases. "In order to take advantage of the latest advances in technology and science, a crime scene officer needn't acquire the same level of knowledge as the experts, but must have enough knowledge to recognize what the experts can accomplish with the right evidence." Continued at http://www.forensicmag.com/articles/2013/08/know-when-call-experts Coaches, parents seek more education for youth athletes about the dangers of prescription drug abuse This is sad but all too common serious - deadly - problem.
Deaths attributed to prescription drugs nearly doubled in Colorado from 2000 to 2010, climbing from 228 to 414, according to the Denver County Sheriff's Office. More than twice as many people in Colorado died from prescription drug overdoses in 2010 than from drunk-driving crashes.
At first, Dawn [mother] said Mike [deceased son] medicated with prescription marijuana. Soon he moved on to recreational use of narcotic pain relievers.
http://www.coloradoan.com/article/20130723/NEWS01/307230028?source=nletter-top5 Safe Handling of Biological Evidence Do you handle, or need to know the protocol, for handling biological evidence? Here is a helpful handbook:
http://www.nij.gov/pubs-sum/nist-biological-evidence-preservation.htm Colorado police seek help with 30-year-old cold case murder This homicide was when Dean was in high school in Fort Collins, near Boulder, and he remembers it well. An arrest warrant has been issued for Thayne Smika - now in his 50s and possibly fled the country. Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/08/02/colo-police-seek-help-with-high-profile-cold-case/?test=latestnews#ixzz2aoNMNsuw Investigation Books - fiction and non-fiction - for every PI AFI-LLC has compiled some of the leading books for private investigators, by private investigators, including those for specialized certifications. Many of the authors are also friends of AFI-LLC. Included are fiction and non-fiction novels. You can find these books and order direct from Amazon at http://amazon.privateinvestigations.org Do you have a book to be reviewed or special announcement? Let us know! If you want to send a complimentary copy, we will gladly review it for you and also provide a customized press release and distribution.
|
| 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 program requires 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.
|
|
In Closing...Dru Sjodin National Sex Offender Registry
|
Who is in your neighborhood?
The Dru Sjodin National Sex Offender Public Website (NSOPW) is a public safety resource available free to the general public to search for sex offenders registered by states, U.S. territories, and Indian tribes from a single Website.
What makes NSOPW different from other sex offender search websites?
* NSOPW is the only U.S. government-run sex offender search website.
* There is no cost to use NSOPW; it is free.
* NSOPW contains the most up-to-date information about sex offenders. The jurisdictional information used on NSOPW is the most current information available and is provided with the full support of state, tribal, and territory databases.
A good friend and colleague of AFI-LLC, Bob Heales, is a Colorado and Minnesota based private investigator that is still active in missing children and young adults, and the national sex offender registry. Find out about the tragedy of Dru Sjodin from her parents and Bob on August 25th - 'On the Case with Paula Zahn'.
From Bob, "DRU'S STORY On Sunday evening August 25th at 9:00 Central there will be a special about Dru Sjodin on the Investigation Discovery Channel. The series, "On The Case with Paula Zahn", will review what happened to Dru in Grand Forks nearly 10 years ago. Dru's Mom Linda Walker, Dad Allan Sjodin, Chris Lang and I, along with others involved in the investigation and search, participated in the preparation of the documentary over the past few weeks. Speaking personally, I hope that this story helps raise awareness and is a fitting tribute to Dru as a part of her legacy. I think of Dru every day as many of you do, and it breaks my heart. Also, remember, "Dru's Run" is August 10th 8:00 am at Dru's Garden in Pequot Lakes. Stop by and show your support even if you aren't running. The following day is the Dru Golf Tourney at Whitefish Golf Course Pequot Lakes."
Don't forget to share our newsletters and if your receiving this from a friend, subscribe directly! < subscribe here >Personal Injury, Negligence & Death in Civil, Criminal and Probate litigation.
|
|
Associates in Forensic Investigations, LLC
 | | Dean and Karen Beers |
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 injury causation case from any location with the conveniences of modern technology and assistance of our local professional friends and colleagues.
Call us today, we're glad to help!
We are the PRIDE of Associates in Forensic Investigations, LLC - Professional Reliable Investigators Defining Excellence in every assignment.
Thank You. Please contact us with any questions or for additional information on these topics and our related services.
Sincerely,
Dean A. Beers, CLI, CCDI (beersda@DeathCaseReview.com)
Karen S. Beers, BSW, CCDI (beersks@DeathCaseReview.com)
Associates in Forensic Investigations, LLC
Office: (970) 480-7793 (Dean x1 and Karen x2) ~ Fax: (970) 480-7794 |
|
|
|
Newsletter and Press Release Archives from July 2010
click here
|
Download our Agency Information and Case Request Packetclick here
We directly and securely accept the following credit cards:
|
 | | Flat Fee Equivocal Death Analysis |
|
|
| |
| |
Featured Articles
Dean and Karen have several articles published, some are available for reprint.
For details email:
Associates@Forensic-Investigators.com
|
Find Us at:
 | | Find us and 'Like' us! |
Dean is at:
Karen is at:
|
Professional Associations
Professional Private Investigators Association of Colorado (PPIAC)
National Association of Legal Investigators (NALI)
National Council of Investigation and Security Services (NCISS)
World Association of Detectives (WAD) Criminal Defense Investigation Council (CDITC) National Defender Investigator Association (NDIA) Florida Association of Licensed Investigators (FALI) Texas Association of Licensed Investigators (TALI) California Association of Licensed Investigators (CALI) National Association of Medical Examiners (NAME) International Association for Identification (IAI) and (RMDIAI) |
|
|
