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Chicora Foundation Preserving the Past for the Future INC. CHICORA MARCH 2008 CHICORA FOUNDATION, CHICORA STAFF ATTENDS MEDICO-LEGAL DEATH INSIDE THIS ISSUE: INVESTIGATION CLASS IN ST. LOUIS MEDI-LEGAL 1 There are only three death in- overview of TRAINING vestigation training classes the role of the CLASS offered in the United States – death investi- BOSTON AREA 1 CEMETERY VIS- and one of the most grueling is gator, forensic ITED that offered by the St. Louis odontology, WORKSHOPS 2 University School of Medicine. It forensic an- PROVIDED TO SCIAI is designed for investigators, thropology, VIRGINIA 2 law enforcement officers, foren- toxicology, SOUNDS ALARM sic scientists and physicians and varying ON LOOTING that are involved in death inves- identification WHAT MAKES 2 Group picture of the training class CHICORA’S AR- tigations for medical examiners techniques. CHAEOLOGY or coroners offices across the attendees. Mike and Debi are in PUBLIC? Over the next several days we the second grow, far left. United States. MUSINGS OF 3 received specialized training in THE DIRECTOR The week-long class was re- gunshot wounds, explosion- tive of the medical examiner cently attended by Chicora staff related deaths, motor vehicle CHICORA’S 4 and homicide detective, foren- EDUCATION Michael Trinkley and Debi fatalities, suicide, head trauma, PROGRAMS sic entomology, deaths in police Hacker. Given the amount of asphyxia deaths, cutting and custody, and appropriate notifi- forensic archaeology work con- stabbing deaths, fire and elec- cation of the next of kin. Also ducted by Chicora, we wanted trocution, and infant deaths. covered were issues relating to to have solid training in how Also covered was detailed infor- serial murders, mass SPECIAL POINTS other fields view death investi- mation on the process of death OF INTEREST: gation. The week began with an investigation from the perspec- Continued, page 3 • This is the second Boston area cemetery BOSTON AREA CEMETERY VISITED we have been retained to assess. Chicora’s Director, Michael North Attleborough monuments • Although most of our Trinkley, visited North Attlebor- are of slate. ough’s small but interesting projects are in the We were retained by Barbara Southeast, we have Mann Family Cemetery in Sep- Donahue, a preservation con- examined cemeteries tember. Like family cemeteries as far west as Mon- sultant in West Newton, Massa- here in the southeast, the tana, New Mexico, and chusetts to assess the condi- graveyard consisted of only a Arizona. tion of the stones and provide small handful of graves. It also long-term preservation recom- Nicole Southerland examining • Cemetery assessments has been purely treated over adipocere formation on a body in are the best way to mendations. Our report will be the years. Unlike more local a cast iron coffin under a Colum- begin a preservation part of her much more plots, however, the bulk of the bia church.. project. Continued, page 3 CHICORA RESEARCH Page 2 WORKSHOPS PROVIDED TO SCIAI Michael Trinkley and Debi The first workshop was Inves- The second half-day work- Hacker provided workshops tigation of Cemetery Crimes. shop was an overview of to the August meeting of the It provided an overview of the techniques associated with South Carolina Chapter of the South Carolina laws relating determining the time since International Association of to cemeteries, as well as how death, such as algor mortis, Identification (IAI). The IAI is archaeologists and historians rigor mortis, and livor mortis, the largest and oldest foren- approach the investigation of focusing on errors and prob- sic organization in the United a reputed cemetery. Topics lems inherent in these vari- States, found in 1915. Today included not only accidental ous techniques. Most of the Example of burned human there are over 6,800 mem- discoveries and impact from workshop was devoted to remains. bers nationwide, with special- development, but also crimes decomposition – and deter- ists in such areas as blood such as vandalism and dese- mining the time since death splatter, crime scene investi- cration. on more difficult cases. gation, and Forensic Art. VIRGINIA SOUNDS ALARM ON LOOTING With Confederate belt plates Shootout and the Git R Dun pieced together from purely “These digs are selling for $12,000, looters Hunts. historical sources and the like reading a have begun organizing artifacts that could have told “These digs are like reading a book, ripping the “safaris.” In 2006, for exam- the story have been dis- book, ripping the pages out ple, “Diggin’ in Virginia” at- persed far and wide, with pages out as you as you read and setting them tracted more than 200 metal many being sold and traded. on fire,” said Kathleen read and setting detector hauling relic collec- Kilpatric, director of Virginia’s Other states have also been tors for a three-day hunt. The them on fire.” Department of Historic Re- hard hit by thieves of time. North-South Hunt has been sources. “It’s an outrage.” For example the September held since at least 2002 and Members of the Council of 2007 Grand National Relic is already again scheduled Virginia Archaeologists like- Shootout was held in a Lou- for 2008. Each of the 200 wise protected the wanton isiana cotton field. participants are charged destruction of history by writ- $200 for the privilege of at- Unfortunately nei- ing state legislators and other tending – resulting in the ther the South Virginia officials. generation of $40,000 a Carolina Depart- year! The location of the hunt is ment of Archives particularly ironic since it was and History or the For the past three years home to one of the few regi- South Carolina these looters of history have ments of U.S. Colored Troops. Institute of Archae- roamed Fort Powhatan on the On May 21, 1864, they, ology have pro- James River during the Texas along with a Pennsylvania posed legislation -based North-South Hunt, artillery regiment, repulsed a that would protect jockeying to see who could Artifacts like these are daily Confederate assault. Now, South Carolina’s fragile ar- mine the most Revolutionary being sold on Ebay by relic because of the widespread chaeological resources from and Civil War relics. This is collectors more interested in looting, much of their story this sort of wholesale slaugh- the same group that holds profiteering than preserving has been destroyed. Unfortu- ter. history. the Grand National Relic nately, the story can’t be MARCH 2008 Page 3 MUSINGS FROM THE DIRECTOR There are a growing number and workmanship. Is that a ity research, clear specifica- of professionals beginning to good way to do science? Can tions, good organization, the realize that competitive bid- science even be done under ability to provide price ding is not good for business. such circumstances? checks, responsiveness, and Besides the time spent doing on-time performance. Cost is Competitive bidding rewards an estimate for a job you may of course a consideration – it the lowest price and offers not get, there is an additional always has been and always absolutely no advantage to element that is equally impor- will be. No one has unlimited good workmanship. Are ar- tant. funds to spend on archaeo- chaeologists simply selling a logical or historical research. A competitive bid is all about commodity – like toilet paper But there is much more – cutting costs – shaving cor- – or are we selling a profes- and it is increasingly impor- ners, material, labor – in sional service? tant to understand these order to get a project. The There are a variety of attrib- other dimensions to the sci- lower cost of the job typically utes that are important and ence of compliance archae- involves lowering the quality should be considered – qual- ology. BOSTON CEMETERY . CONT. FROM PG. 1 comprehensive study of the well as techniques to make it was paved in concrete, re- cemetery, providing the Town more accessible to the gen- sulting in many stones being of North Attleborough with eral public. broken. Its removal will be the history of the property, as one of the first tasks. Over the years the cemetery MEDICO-LEGAL TRAINING . CONT. FROM PG. 1 Sketch of the historic Mann Cemetery casualties, and courtroom gation. Fellows in South Carolina: testimony. Bradd Bunce (Newberry), Among the 160 participants Bobbi Jo O’Neal (Charleston The class is geared toward were several colleagues from If the law has County Coroner’s Office), and allowing death investigators South Carolina, including made you a Rae H. Wooten (Charleston to take the registry and board Charlie Boseman from the County Coroner’s Office). You witness, remain a certification exams for The Anderson County Coroner’s can find a list of these indi- man of science. American Board of Medicole- Office, Bucky Mock from the viduals at http:// gal Death Investigators Clarendon County Coroner’s You have no victim www.slu.edu/organizations/ (ABMDI). In 2005, ABMDI Office, and Hayes Samuels, to avenge, no abmdi/index.phtml? became one of four profes- Jr. also from the Clarendon page=registry_new. guilty or innocent sional boards in the nation to County Coroner’s Office. be accredited by the Forensic Although we are not death person to convict South Carolina is fortunate to Specialties Accreditation investigators, the training or save . You must have 24 Diplomats. In the Board. Like other voluntary provided by the class helps Richland County Coroner’s bear testimony accreditation organizations, it us more effectively interact Office, for example, Christine within the limits of is designed to recognize the with coroners and law en- Benson and Bill Stevens are highest level of skill and pro- forcement across South Caro- science. both Registered Diplomats. fessionalism in death investi- lina. - P.C.H. Brouardel There are also three ABMDI Chicora Foundation is pub- We’re on the web lic, non-profit research foun- www.chicora.org dation with 25 years of experience.
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