Three members of the Wayne County Coroner’s Office, Coroner, Shari Winter and Deputy Coroner’s Beth Wilson and Lisa Clark recently participated in a two-day training session on Advanced Crime Scene and Death Investigation, held January 20th & 21st in Mt. Vernon. The training was sponsored by the Illinois Coroner’s & Medical Examiner Association.
The comprehensive program covered a variety of topics, including crime scene processing methodology, the critical roles and responsibilities of first responders, and advanced death scene investigations. Instruction included differentiating types of death, identifying consistent versus inconsistent indicators, conducting altered scene examinations, and following child death protocols. Participants also observed a unique demonstration of child death reenactment practices.
Additional areas of focus included the evaluation of ante-mortem, peri-mortem, and post-mortem injuries, analysis of defects and artifacts, identification of causal sources, and assessment of natural processes. The training aimed to enhance investigative skills and improve outcomes in complex death investigations.