Suspicious Death Investigations: Finding the Right, Eliminating the Wrong

Suspicious Death Investigations: Finding the Right, Eliminating the Wrong, and Avoiding the Undetermined

This comprehensive two-day training program provides law enforcement professionals and tribal partners with practical expertise in death investigation techniques. Participants will analyze real-world case studies drawn from the professional experiences of seasoned forensic pathologists and homicide detectives, examining critical scene evidence and correlating findings with autopsy results to enhance investigative outcomes.

Course Overview

The training emphasizes the vital importance of strong collaboration between investigating agencies and medical examiner offices. Through examination of actual cases, students will develop an understanding of how distinctive case characteristics can influence investigation direction and case resolution. The course explores how medical examiners determine cause and manner of death, and the significant ways that investigations can impact those determinations.

Key Learning Objectives

Upon completion, participants will be able to:

• Apply case study analysis to identify critical scene findings and reconcile or dispute those findings with autopsy results
• Recognize how supplementary information may support or contradict scene and autopsy observations
• Enhance communication protocols between law enforcement agencies and medical examiner offices to achieve improved investigative outcomes
• Assess death scene characteristics to establish appropriate investigative procedures that extend beyond initial emergency personnel determinations
• Understand the medical examiner's methodology for establishing cause and manner of death and the investigation's role in influencing these determinations

Schedule and Duration

The training runs for 16 hours over two days, with sessions from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM each day. Instruction covers topics including suspicious deaths, postmortem changes, traumatic injuries, deaths during confrontations, domestic violence cases, and suspicious natural deaths.

Instructors

David C. Winston is a retired forensic pathologist with 27 years of experience. He served at the Pima County Office of the Medical Examiner in Tucson, Arizona for 22.5 years and as a Regional Forensic Pathologist for North Carolina at Wake Forest University School of Medicine for 4.5 years. He currently maintains a part-time forensic pathology position at the Office of the Medical Investigator in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Dr. Winston holds board certification in Anatomic, Clinical, and Forensic Pathology and is a Fellow of the National Association of Medical Examiners and the American Academy of Forensic Sciences.

William "Bill" Hanson is a retired detective from the Tucson Police Department with over 26 years of law enforcement experience. His career included positions in patrol, burglary investigation, aggravated assault, and extensive homicide work, including cold case investigations. Detective Hanson was named Officer of the Year in 2008 and also served 22 years in the U.S. Air Force and Arizona Air National Guard, retiring as a First Sergeant.

Location and Venue

The November 16-17, 2026 session will be held at the Irving Police Training Academy, 2603 Esters Road, Irving, Texas 75062. The registration deadline is October 5, 2026.

Cost and Registration

The training fee is $350.00 per participant. This fee covers 16 hours of instruction, course materials, and instructional costs. Participants are responsible for arranging and paying for meals, travel, and lodging. Multiple session dates and locations are available throughout 2026 and 2027.

Lodging Options

Several hotels are available near the Irving venue, including the Marriott Dallas Las Colinas, Omni Las Colinas Hotel, Texican Court Valencia Hotel Collection, and The Westin Irving Convention Center at Las Colinas.

This training is designed for law enforcement professionals and tribal partners seeking to enhance their investigative skills and develop stronger working relationships with medical examiner offices.