Page 109 - CFDI Guide

Certified Forensic Death Investigator (CFDI) Program
Dean A. Beers, CLI, CCDI, CFDI-Expert and Karen S. Beers, BSW, CCDI, CFDI-SME
Associates in Forensic Investigations, LLC
Criminal Defense Investigation Training Council (CDITC) Accredited

important, as these are the first communications of the event and status of the child. Initial law
enforcement interviews of caregivers and witnesses should include any who had contact with the child in

the previous 24-72 hours, and specific to the time of the incident. Each should be able to describe normal
routines and anything unusual. Law enforcement should conduct these interviews in both chronological

and reverse chronological order, with all persons separated.

The specificity of the interviews are important. Skilled interviewers will let subjects talk and then come
back to any blank areas and details. For example, a common scenario is for the subject caring for the child

to jump from a healthy time to finding the child hurt and may span minutes to hours – “I put Little Johnny

down for a nap at 12pm and at 2pm went to check on him and he was moving.” This should be followed up
with details of those two hours of all activities, noises, other children, etc. This should be detailed
chronologically, and then ask the subject to start with when they called 911 to when the child woke up or

first became in their care that day.

The purposes of this simple interview process for law enforcement is to develop a no-wiggle-room box of

facts and circumstances for any subject who becomes a suspect. This information is also crucial to the CFDI
and any interviews lacking detail should be of concern, and if involving the defendant also be explored.

The case investigation will also include the living, sleeping or general care environment. Were there any

toys or items in the child’s reach which could be harmful? Was care appropriate – from bathing and
clothing to food and naps? Was any child treated differently – better or worse – by the caregiver or other

persons present, including other children? Were common items appropriate for the child and safe – cribs,
beds and bedding, strollers and car seats, swings and sleepers, common furniture, etc.?

The law enforcement investigation will continue to other circumstances, including activities, in which it is

often reported the child was unintentionally injured or injured by circumstances of their own actions –
such as falling, trapped in furniture, etc.

Included in the scene investigation are any medications – prescription and over-the-counter – the child

was given (including historically) and the location with access to the child noted. Any adult medications,
the location, and access should also be noted. Observation of any illicit or abused drugs – including

prescription – paraphernalia, alcohol, and potential poisons or harmful chemicals and agents and their

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