Page 71 - 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

specified. The affidavit will be signed by a law enforcement officer. Most warrants are edited copy
and paste from the affidavit and will be signed by a judge or magistrate. These limit the scope of

the search and evidence collected.
• Documentation of the evidence collected – such as video and photographs.

o Ideally the scene will be video recorded at the initial stage, and a final walk-through after the

investigations, searches and evidence collection. If so, these are potentially valuable videos. The
initial videos, and photographs, are after discovery of the decedent and the scene ‘cleared’ to be
safe and secure. For this reason it will not be 100% as found by first responding officers.

Next ideally would be similar purpose photographs.

o Prior to the marking and collection of any evidence, overall photographs are taken, then specific to
the evidence
o Every item of evidence collected, or even considered for collection or not, should be documented

by photograph. There should be at least two photographs – without a marker and/or scale before

collection, and with a marker and/or scale at collection.
• Reporting of the evidence collected – within their report, and by an evidence log.

o Photographs do NOT serve as evidence logs (and photograph logs are less common).
o Every collected item of evidence must be logged by the person collecting, date (and usually time

or time frame), the evidence marker used, any item identification (i.e. firearm serial number),
where from, and any quantity.

o Every collected item should be included in the narrative report, at least by reference and
identifying information, as well as location found.

• Reporting of the evidence submitted for examination.
o Not all evidence will be sent for examination. The reasons will vary based on law enforcement

need, laboratory policy, viability, and other considerations. These considerations should be noted

in any report of submission, unsubmitted, or laboratory declined.
o At the time of submission the evidence identification numbers and logs are doubled – the
laboratory will issue separate internal logs and internal numbers, and should be cross referenced

with the law enforcement log and information.

o All evidence submitted should include a submittal letter or form. This document will summarize
the case background, purpose of the request, and evidence to be examined. This document,

unfortunately, usually identifies defendants, suspects, persons of interest, victims, and witnesses.
The purpose is not disputed – to know the circumstances and parties. However, identifying

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