The first few years of experience I gained in the field was filled with memories of sights, smells and facts that would cause many sleepless nights. I had not expected the learning curve to be quite so steep. There were more than a few occasions where I wondered if I was taking this new ‘hobby’ a little too far. It did seem that I was providing a really needed service for the medical examiner and the families of the victims. Slowly, my tolerance to the material I examined became more manageable. 

Every day, victims of crimes and accidents enter Medical Examiner’s Offices across the country. In most instances, the identification of these victims are made quickly and routinely. But in some cases, the identity of the victim is a complete unknown. There are numerous circumstances that leave authorities with little or no evidence to aid in the identification of unknown victims.

If you’ve watched television in the past decade, you’ve encountered a program that deals with, or describes crime scene investigation, (CSI), and/or forensics. You’ve probably watched how effortlessly your favorite television character cracks the case with speed, perfection and the ability to sniff out even the most minute clues. Unfortunately, that’s entertainment – it’s not real life.