Page 57 - 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

defendant’s statements – and position – false. This is as important to know as the validity of their
statements. For the CFDI and this analysis – defendants are the same as victims and witnesses;

they do not get more or less credibility because they are the client. The evidence is the credibility.

Here we want to know what the defendant (or any person) has stated which is different, to any

degree, or omitted from the records, reports, and photographs. In detail. What were the positions
of the defendant and victim? What were the points of ingress and egress? What were the actions
before the fatal / non-fatal event – and during and after? Why did the event happen – and leading

up to it? A decedent is found dead in a park, beaten to death with an unknown instrument(s) and

by unknown person(s). The defendant was captured on nearby store video with two other people.
The defendant is the only person charged. The autopsy revealed multiple patterned injuries of at

least three different types of instruments. The defendant will not state anything about other
persons and only that they were not involved. There is other evidence placing them at the scene

and at the time, and having been in a violent altercation consistent with the decedent’s death. The
CFDI may be able to show little more than the defendant was not the only person involved, and

both law enforcement and the prosecution knew so, and only focused on the decedent who had
previous encounters with law enforcement.

8. Determine the Evidence to Cause and Manner of Death / SBI

Here the CFDI may be working closer with the attorney-client and legal strategy and development.
A detailed review of the evidence, and independent expert findings, are coming together and most

relevant at these final stages. This focus is solely on the COD and MOD (or SBI). If either are not
consistent with the evidence, there is strong support of reasonable doubt – better plea

negotiations or even dismissal. Using their knowledge and reference materials, the CFDI carefully
considers the circumstances of the fatal or non-fatal event, and the types of instruments in

evidence if they are consistent with a) the reports, records and photographs, and/or 2) any
independent considerations of the CFDI and independent experts.

9. Determine the Evidence to Charges / Defense Strategy

This final step is bringing together the full review and analysis process, as well as the investigative
protocol, and to answer the most important question as to reasonable doubt, and especially if no

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