Page 53 - 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

all reviewed files are easily found, and only those documents needed for the Detailed Review are saved.
This will also save time on any memos, reports, and status calls with the client.

Here is where the CFDI will begin to think and analyze critically, and demand evidence. Let’s go through

each of these specifically and prepare for the Case Studies module of this certification program:

1. Initial Review the Photographs (videos, etc.)*
We start with the photographs primarily to generally familiarize ourselves with the incident
environment and events described in the records and reports. In this initial review stage the

purpose is not to make determinations of what did, did not – or likely – happen. The process is to

review and mark items of interest based on experience – decedent, wounds, instruments,
positions and locations, ingress and egress, items possibly introduced to the scene (i.e. cell phone

on a table vs. a lamp always on the table), indications of the investigative process (evidence
markers, items moved from one image to the next, etc.). It is always the opportunity to make any

notations and questions for future reference and the Detailed Review. Finally, this is the time to
mentally prepare for the review of the records and reports. You may know information the client

has shared, but not detailed from the records and reports. A mental picture (or movie) begins to
form. Now to add the script (records and reports).

*We usually hold on video and audio recordings until after either the Initial or Detailed Review the

Records and Reports (2) or (4). Doing so allows us to triage the recordings and determine their
status of importance in the interest of time and expense to the client; there usefulness otherwise is

not in question and may be reason to request more time and funding.

2. Initial Review the Records and Reports
Applying the same principles as the Initial Review of the Photographs, we now move to the

incident script – the records and reports. This will also primarily be to generally familiarize
ourselves with the incident environment and events, with the advantage of visually knowing what

is in the records and reports. In this initial review stage the purpose is the same – not to make
determinations of what did, did not – or likely – happen. The process is to review and mark items

of interest based on experience – important factors such as dates and times, involved persons and
roles, witnesses, those involved in the investigation, evidence identification and collection, chain

of custody, scene security, and so on through the progression of the investigation. We recommend

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