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.
--------------------
On
Sat, Sep 27, 2025 at 11:16 AM
Charles D Sharp <cdsharp@blackemergmanagersassociation.org> wrote:
Trust in Science,
Investigating, trust in Forensic Pathology
