Secrets From the Crime Lab

practicalforensics.science
  • 5.0 (4)
  • SCIENCE
  • UPDATED SEMIWEEKLY

A podcast for practitioners, professionals, and enthusiasts of forensic science, applied science, and science related topics: exploring the truth of true crime. Learn about the real forensic science behind the cases, how it actually works behind the closed doors of the crime lab, and what happens when it fails or is misunderstood. Hosted by a scientist with over twenty years of laboratory experience, this podcast discusses the challenges and nuances of the forensic fields from her own experiences and with forensic and subject matter experts.

  1. FEB 19

    A Glimpse into Advanced Investigations: Exploring the Role of Private Investigators with William Losefsky

    In this episode of 'Secrets from the Crime Lab,' host Angela Swarts returns after a brief hiatus to delve into an enlightening conversation with William Losefsky of Investigative Concepts. With a background in law enforcement and extensive experience in private investigation, Losefsky shares his expertise in forensic death investigation, drug diversion in hospitals, and statement analysis. He emphasizes the importance of unbiased investigation and provides insights into how defense investigations can uncover critical truths overlooked in initial prosecutions. Angela and William discuss their shared experiences and the critical role of continuous learning in the field of forensic science. To learn more about our guest please visit his website at https://investigate-it.com/ Bill will be speaking about "Complex Investigations and Special Investigative Techniques" at the Florida Association of Private Investigators annual conference March 3-5, 2025, visit https://myfapi.org/speakers-2025/ to learn more. Bill is the principal owner of Investigative Concepts, LLC a private investigation agency operating in New Hampshire since 2002. He is a Board-Certified Criminal Defense Investigator CCDI, Board Certified Forensic Death Investigator, Certified Master Investigator, CMI and a Certified Anti-Terrorism Specialist, CAS. Bill has presented on investigative techniques, drug diversion investigation, active shooter, leadership/mentoring, use of force and project management. Bill is the recipient of the Prestigious Lindberg Bell award through the (IAHSS) International Association for healthcare safety and security. William is the current President of the New Hampshire League of Investigators. 00:00 Introduction and Podcast Overview 00:53 Host's Background and Apology for Hiatus 01:24 Podcast Accessibility and Listener Support 02:07 Host's Professional Background 04:22 Guest Introduction: William Losefsky 05:13 William's Law Enforcement Journey 06:12 The Importance of Lifelong Learning in Investigations 07:06 Advanced Crime Scene Analysis Techniques 11:30 Challenges in Law Enforcement and Investigations 15:18 The Role of Evidence in Crime Scene Investigation 19:42 The Complexities of Death Investigations 31:03 Becoming a Certified Death Investigator 35:00 The Value of Specialized Skills in Investigations 41:29 Identifying Deceptive Behavior 42:41 Poker Tells and Real-World Applications 43:21 Investigations in Hospitals 46:44 Understanding Drug Diversion 53:26 Handling Hospital-Related Deaths 01:02:06 The Role of Private Investigators 01:12:23 Advice for Aspiring Investigators 01:13:37 Upcoming Conference and Contact Information Support the show Want to be on an episode? Have ideas for an episode you would like to hear? Want to sponsor the podcast? General enquiry? email hello@secretsfromthelab.com

    1h 16m

  2. 10/05/2023

    PART II - Case Solved? Unraveling a DNA thread in the Zodiac killer enigma. Featuring Forensic Scientist George Schiro

    Part II of George Schiro’s story about his involvement in unraveling the identity of the notorious Zodiac Killer. What did he find in his examination of the alleged DNA profile of the Zodiac and Gary Stewart? Is Gary Stewart the biological son of the infamous Zodiac? This is part II! Be sure to listen to Part I first to get the whole story! To learn more about or to contact the guest, George Schiro, M.S., visit his website. Links to materials mentioned in this episode: ABC Primetime 2002 (where Gary Stewart obtained the Zodiac's DNA information) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ia_vGxvXOiU The Most Dangerous Animal of All, Documentary https://www.hulu.com/series/the-most-dangerous-animal-of-all-9a6e8380-72c4-45c4-b3c9-5bff434d4eb5 Become a subscriber (no longterm commitment), help us keep the show going: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1936265/support Support the show Want to be on an episode? Have ideas for an episode you would like to hear? Want to sponsor the podcast? General enquiry? email hello@secretsfromthelab.com

    35 min

  3. 06/27/2023

    Case Solved? Unraveling a DNA thread in the Zodiac killer enigma. Featuring Forensic Scientist George Schiro.

    The Zodiac case remains one of the most notorious unsolved murder mysteries in American history, and it continues to capture public interest and speculation. The self-proclaimed Zodiac killer was a serial killer who operated in Northern California, primarily in the late 1960s and early 1970s. In 2014 a man named Gary L. Stewart published a book, co-written by journalist Susan Mustafa, The Most Dangerous Animal of All, about how he came to the conclusion that his biological father was the Zodiac killer. In this episode, Forensic Scientist George Schiro speaks about his involvement - examining the alleged DNA profile of the Zodiac and Gary Stewart. Is Gary Stewart the biological son of the infamous Zodiac? Mr. Schiro will be presenting on this topic at the Association of Forensic DNA Analysts and Administrators annual meeting, July 27-28, 2023 in San Antonio, Texas. To learn more visit afdaa.org To learn more about or to contact the guest, George Schiro, M.S., visit his website. Support the show Want to be on an episode? Have ideas for an episode you would like to hear? Want to sponsor the podcast? General enquiry? email hello@secretsfromthelab.com

    38 min

  4. 03/09/2023

    S2E3: Space Forensics! Bloodstain Pattern Analysis in Microgravity with Detective Zack Kowalske

    On this episode I spoke with Det. Zack Kowalske, an expert in bloodstain pattern analysis, crime scene reconstruction, and a pioneer in Space Forensics! We discussed BPA (bloodstain pattern analysis), some concerns in the field (error rates), and Zack's research on bloodstain pattern analysis in microgravity. Support the Show! Become a subscriber: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1936265/supporters/new Make a one-time contribution (uses Paypal): Buy Me a Coffee Get Zack's new book: "Gaming the Reaper: How to Win at Life and Optimize the Sh#t Out of Your own Potential" https://www.zackkowalske.com/ Learn more about topics we discussed in this episode The "black box study" Accuracy and reproducibility of conclusions by forensic bloodstain pattern analysts, Forensic Science International. R. Austin Hicklin, Kevin R. Winer, Paul E. Kish, Connie L. Parks, William Chapman, Kensley Dunagan, Nicole Richetelli, Eric G. Epstein, Madeline A. Ausdemore, Thomas A. Busey. Forensic Science International, Volume 325, 2021,110856,ISSN 0379-0738,https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2021.110856. ASB TECHNICAL REPORT 033 Kish, Sutton https://www.amazon.com/Principles-Bloodstain-Pattern-Analysis-Investigations/dp/0849320143 Bevel, Gardener https://www.amazon.com/Bloodstain-Introduction-Reconstruction-Practical-Investigations/dp/1420052683 Visit practicalforensics.science/podcast for more information and links.   Support the show Want to be on an episode? Have ideas for an episode you would like to hear? Want to sponsor the podcast? General enquiry? email hello@secretsfromthelab.com

    51 min

  5. 01/05/2023

    S2EP2: Joining the Dark Side.The Role of the Forensic Science Defence Expert. Dr. David Schudel

    "The role of a forensic science defence expert is often referred to by those working for the police/state/government forensic labs as being on the "dark side." In Joining the Dark Side, author David Schudel outlines the evolution of a fascinating career that starts out in the dark side and looks at what problems can appear in forensic cases. The book delves into the problems inherent to forensic science, in particular cognitive bias and scientific philosophy. It also looks at the emotional impact and specific challenges behind forensic science and provides the reader with some sage advice on giving evidence in Court." Get the book here: World Scientific ENJOY 25% OFF WITH PROMO CODE: NEWYEAR25 Enjoy Dr. Schudel's crime fiction: Saving Lizzie Compound Murder Incendiary Man Listen to more stories from Dave in Secrets from the Crime Lab Season 1, Episode 3. Join our mailing list: https://practicalforensics.science/ Support the show Want to be on an episode? Have ideas for an episode you would like to hear? Want to sponsor the podcast? General enquiry? email hello@secretsfromthelab.com

    1h 6m

  6. 11/08/2022

    S2Ep1 - Cognitive bias in forensic pathology decisions with Dr. Itiel Dror

    In this episode I spoke with Dr. Itiel Dror, a cognitive neuroscientist known in the forensic realm for his contributions to revealing the unconscious implicit biases in forensic decisions and providing tools to minimize them. He recently published several papers examining - for the first time - cognitive bias in forensic pathology. The Maryland Attorney General has announced an independent audit of in-custody death determinations made by the OCME during the tenure of Dr. David Fowler. Dr. Fowler provided expert testimony for the defense in the trial of Derek Chauvin for death George Floyd. The audit team of forensic pathology experts and behavioral scientists will look to ascertain whether or not the determinations of manner of death were free from implicit biases. "...it's important to distinguish between what I'm talking about with cognitive bias versus the way people usually talk about bias. So the usual term bias refers to intentional discrimination like racism and sexism and antisemitism, where it's intentional bias and discriminatory. I'm talking about the way the brain actually works, which affects all of us...It developed because of the architecture of the brain, but sometimes it can lead us to make mistakes, and this is where we want to minimize the way it goes off track, and the cognitive bias gives us a mistake, and it's unconscious implicit bias, so people are not aware of it." - Itel Dror Links for this episode: Biases in forensic experts. SCIENCE . 20 Apr 2018 Vol 360, Issue 6386 p. 243 https://www.science.org/doi/full/10.1126/science.aat8443 The fallacies and sources of bias: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.analchem.0c00704 Papers of Bias in Forensic Pathology 1) First paper: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/1556-4029.14697 2) Second paper: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589871X22000705 Linear Sequential Unmasking: an approach to minimize bias: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589871X21000310?via%3Dihub More information and articles about the Guest: http://www.cci-hq.com/forensic-identification.html  Support the show Want to be on an episode? Have ideas for an episode you would like to hear? Want to sponsor the podcast? General enquiry? email hello@secretsfromthelab.com

    1h 30m

  7. 07/27/2022 · BONUS

    Ep. 9 (Season 1 Bonus) Massively Parallel Sequencing - Tools for forensic laboratories learning to handle terabytes of genetic data, how it improves investigations, and a free workshop.

    Massively Parallel Sequencing has revolutionized laboratories' ability to harness more and more information from our genetics. This has led to massive improvements in medical diagnostics, public health (think SARs-CoV-2 variant identification), ancestry determinations, and now forensic science has begun adapting this technology to criminal investigations. In this episode I speak with Professor Megan Foley, Teresa Snyder-Leiby, and Sarah Copeland about the challenges laboratories are facing as they adopt this type of DNA testing and tools that are available not only to labs, but also to law enforcement, prosecutors, and defense - including the Innocence Project. This episode is in partnership with the Association of Forensic DNA Analysts and Administrators (AFDAA). Visit afdaa.org to learn more about this professional organization. Are you part of a not for profit organization and would like to have a featured episode promoting your organization or upcoming events, please email hello@secretsfromthecrimelab. To learn more about the guests, see their bios at https://practicalforensics.science/podcast. Simply scroll down to the post for episode 9. Megan Foley is a visiting assistant professor in Forensic Molecular Biology at the George Washington University... Her current research focuses on evaluating new products in order to develop recommendations and strategies for laboratories for implementation. Especially focusing on next generation sequencing platforms and analysis software in order to develop analytical parameter recommendations for analysis and probabilistic genotyping.  Sarah Copeland is Senior Biologist SoftGenetics (3+ years) involved in software development, testing and support for forensic fragment CE data analysis and MPS data analysis... Teresa Snyder- Leiby (one of those older guys with about ½ her career in molecular bio, the last half in forensic DNA analyses). She obtained her degree (BS, MS, PhD) are from Juniata College, North Dakota State Univ. and Penn State. I was a technician at Penn State way back when RFLP was the new DNA fingerprinting method (mid-1980s)….. She joined SoftGenetics in 2008... Resources https://softgenetics.com/ Review article about MPS and mitochrondrial MPS https://wires.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/wfs2.1431 Norah Rudin and Keith Inman book mentioned in the episode https://www.amazon.com/Introduction-Forensic-DNA-Analysis/dp/0849302331 Also visit ISOGG for more information about mitochondrial DNA, haplogroups, etc https://isogg.org/wiki/Wiki_Welcome_Page Support the show Want to be on an episode? Have ideas for an episode you would like to hear? Want to sponsor the podcast? General enquiry? email hello@secretsfromthelab.com

    51 min

  8. 04/21/2022

    Ep. 8 Identical Twins, drugs, smoking, and crime. Applied Epigenetics with Dr. Athina Vidaki, Erasmus MC, Netherlands

    Epigenetics: The clothes of your DNA. While the DNA sequence contains the instructions, your epigenome controls which part of the instructions are read and used. But how do we use this in forensic science? Learn more about biomarkers linked to smoking, age predication, differentiating between identical twins, narrowing the suspect pool, generating investigative leads, and more. Athina Vidaki, PhD, with Erasmus Medical Center in Rotterdam Netherlands, is a professor of Applied Epigenomics. Her lab is focused on researching biomarkers and developing technologies to apply epigenetics in forensics. Learn more about Dr. Vidaki and the research at Erasmus See a list of Dr. Vidaki's publications Learn  more about Epigenetic discrimination of identical twins from blood under the forensic scenario Speaking engagements 2022 GRC conference 12th ISABS CONFERENCE on Forensic and Anthropological Genetics and Mayo Clinic Lectures in Individualized Medicine The 29th Congress of the International Society for Forensic Genetics (abstract submitted) Join our discussion and let us know your thoughts. E: hello@secretsfromthecrimelab.com OR Join our Facebook Page! https://www.facebook.com/SecretsfromtheCrimeLab Instagram: secretscrimelab Comments? Feedback? Suggestions? Or if you would like to be a guest?  E: hello@secretsfromthecrimelab.com Support the show Want to be on an episode? Have ideas for an episode you would like to hear? Want to sponsor the podcast? General enquiry? email hello@secretsfromthelab.com

    51 min
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About

A podcast for practitioners, professionals, and enthusiasts of forensic science, applied science, and science related topics: exploring the truth of true crime. Learn about the real forensic science behind the cases, how it actually works behind the closed doors of the crime lab, and what happens when it fails or is misunderstood. Hosted by a scientist with over twenty years of laboratory experience, this podcast discusses the challenges and nuances of the forensic fields from her own experiences and with forensic and subject matter experts.

Information

  • Creator
    practicalforensics.science
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2025
  • Episodes
    16
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Secrets From the Crime Lab
  • Show Website
    Secrets From the Crime Lab

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