This past week, investigators Wright and Watkins from the Lawrence County Medical Examiner’s Office engaged in an intensive Medicolegal Death Investigation Program hosted by the Department of Pathology at Saint Louis University. This esteemed four-day program, which has garnered national recognition, attracted death investigation professionals from various regions across the United States and even from international locations.
Throughout the course, participants were immersed in a series of lectures and practical workshops that encompassed a wide array of topics essential to the field. These included forensic pathology, the intricacies of scene investigations, effective communication with families and first responders, trauma analysis, and specialized child death investigations. Additionally, attendees delved into crime lab procedures, the complexities of asphyxia and fire/explosion-related fatalities, toxicology, as well as forensic anthropology and odontology.
The training is designed to equip investigators with vital knowledge and hands-on skills, enabling them to learn from some of the foremost experts in forensic science. In a commitment to maintaining high standards of service, the remaining death investigators from Lawrence County are slated to participate in the program during the upcoming spring session. This initiative underscores the office’s dedication to delivering thorough, professional, and compassionate support to the community it serves.