ACTION RESPONSE: Forensic Pathology. Science linking the past to the present and the cause. 1800's Maryland Cemetery to 2025 Mississippi Hangings.

Response from member.  Our members are about 'ACTIONS'.

Action Plan — “Maryland Secret Cemeteries” & “2025 Mississippi Hangings”

1) Spin up a proper case file (today)

·        Create two folders: MD Secret Cemeteries (19th–20th c.) and MS Hangings (2025).

·        In each, keep a chain-of-custody log, contact list, and an evidence index (who has what, when collected, where stored). Use standard death-investigation scene practices to preserve admissibility later. American Academy of Forensic Sciences

2) Lock to accepted autopsy & death-investigation standards

·        Ask if a forensic autopsy was done by a NAME-accredited office (or equivalent). If yes, request the report; if not, document why and consider a second autopsy by an independent forensic pathologist per NAME guidance. The Name+2The Name+2

·        Ensure all requests reference Forensic Autopsy Performance Standards (NAME) and scene-to-lab evidence handling best practices (NIJ/OSAC). The Name+1

3) Mississippi “hangings” — what to verify (facts > narratives)

Key questions a pathologist investigates in suspected hangings/strangulation:

·        Ligature pattern & position (knot, direction of the furrow), petechiae, facial/neck injuries, internal neck structures (hyoid, thyroid cartilage), and nonspecific findings of asphyxia.
• Note: Hyoid fractures are not required to diagnose strangulation/hanging and are age-dependent; their absence does not exclude homicidal violence. Pak J Med Health Sci+3PMC+3ScienceDirect+3

·        Scene consistency: anchor point height/strength, reachable objects, slip marks, footwear/soil transfers, and any post-mortem manipulation indicators. Follow standardized scene protocols to reduce ambiguity. American Academy of Forensic Sciences

What to request, in writing:

·        Full autopsy (external + internal) report, all toxicology, histology, and photographs/video.

·        Scene photographs, body diagrams, investigator notes, and 911/CAD logs.

·        Surveillance/body-cam within the time window; ask for an export hash and metadata.

·        Cell tower records and device location history (if appropriate) via counsel.

4) Maryland “secret cemeteries” — treat as forensic archaeology

For possible unmarked/“secret” burial sites tied to foster/boarding institutions:

·        Use forensic archaeology/anthropology standards for survey, controlled excavation, recovery, and anthropological analysis (don’t disturb sites without a plan, permits, and community consent). American Academy of Forensic Sciences+1

·        Build a non-invasive first pass: archives, ground-level interviews, historical plats, aerials/time-series imagery, ground-penetrating radar (where permitted), and GIS overlays before any spade hits soil. eaaf.org

5) Leverage Mississippi GIS & satellite imagery (properly)

·        Pull parcels, aerials, and historic basemaps from Mississippi GIS/MARIS for the 2025 sites; export layer lists and data sources for your evidentiary appendix. MS.gov+3gis.ms.gov+3maris.mississippi.edu+3

·        Satellite imagery and GIS can be admissible when authenticated and presented by a qualified expert under Daubert; treat it like photographic evidence (foundation, method reliability, and chain). Keep originals, processing steps, and analyst CVs. zellelaw.com+3OnGeo Intelligence+3Opinio Juris+3

6) Use AI the right way (assistive, transparent, audit-ready)

·        Video triage: AI to detect persons of interest, time-stamps, vehicle plates—then a human reviews and certifies.

·        GIS/imagery change-detection: AI flags disturbances or new overhead features; preserve the raw tiles, model version, and parameters used.

·        Document control: run an evidence-locker index that hashes every file and logs every access. (AI outputs are leads, not conclusions; the expert renders opinions.)

7) Community & family engagement

·        Offer a family liaison protocol: regular updates, access to public records, and clarity about what science can/cannot say at each step.

·        For historical/Native burial work, include tribal/First Nation consultation and consent processes in the plan (prior to any ground disturbance).

8) Quick request templates (you can paste these)

A. Records to Medical Examiner/Coroner

We respectfully request the complete medicolegal file for [Decedent, DOB, Case #], including autopsy report (external/internal), histology, toxicology, photo/video documentation, and all investigator notes. Please also provide scene documentation and chain-of-custody logs per NAME standards and NIJ/OSAC guidance.

B. Law-enforcement/video

Please provide original-format body-worn camera, dash, and fixed-camera footage for [location/time window], exported with associated hashes and metadata logs, plus CAD/911 and supplemental narratives.

C. GIS/Imagery

We request access to original-resolution aerial/satellite tiles and associated metadata for [coordinates/time window], along with any available WMS/WFS service descriptors from MARIS/Mississippi GIS.

9) What “answers” should the science deliver?

·        Cause of death (e.g., hanging/asphyxia), manner of death (suicide, accident, homicide, undetermined), with specific support (ligature analysis, internal neck exam, tox, scene). The Name

·        For the historical cemetery work: presence/absence of human remains, minimum number of individuals, context (burial practices, disturbance), and—only if ethical/approved—identification pathways.

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On Sat, Sep 27, 2025 at 11:16 AM Charles D Sharp <cdsharp@blackemergmanagersassociation.org> wrote:

Trust in Science, Investigating, trust in Forensic Pathology