The Chronology of the Journey Continues From the Quest for Truth page.

Thank you for taking time to visit the “New Development” page for updates about my sister Gina Renee Hall and our Quest for Truth. As I have often said ... It is my absolute honor to be Gina Hall’s sister, to be her voice, and speak her truth. I am sure there are some who might ask, “Dlana - Honor? Really? Is honor the right word? Yes…It has been a blessing to be a part of this extraordinary and amazing journey… an absolute honor to bring her voice, her truth and to share the absolute power of God at work shining Light into the darkness.

The New Development page’s last entry addressed the unidentified human bone fragments and bottle nose fly carcasses retrieved from my sister’s killer Stephen Epperly’s bedroom closet subfloor in August 2020. Since then and during all of 2021, the journey has been intense — full of successful activity and answers in our quest for truth. I will one day share all about our every step to Finding Gina…but before I share the miracles, I will release the information that led to “Web of Lies Unveiled: A Day Made in Hell”. This factual information will find its way to those most interested in knowing only the facts - not my opinion - just the facts - for those who still need them…Please, Watch for that release date.

Now, as promised in my last two videos released in the Fall 2021, the soil analysis reports. If you missed the details about this news, watch “Finding Gina - Part One - “We Did Not Quit”” for specific details. “Finding Gina - Part Two - “The Science of Decomposition”” is a reading of the letters sent to regional authorities regarding these reports. Both videos can be found on this website under The True Story of Gina Hall tab.

The Environmental Lab Analysis Reports summarizes the human chemical compounds found to be present in the soil excavated from Gina’s final resting place locations. These reports are clear and conclusive: the soil from the sites excavated contain chemical compounds indicative of late stage human decomposition and is present in the soil from those specific sites. The soil samples collected and packaged, and sent by me to be analyzed were taken from four separate digs: three of Gina’s locations and one deemed to be relevant for Angela Rader, a 14 year old teen missing since 1977.

Please see the actual 27 page report and analysis received from an Independent Lab in California, a summary table, a picture of Volume 222,10th of October Forensic International Journal that contains a peer-reviewed, published article of scientific research done by Dr. Arpad Vass, and a copy of Dr. Vass’ letter regarding the reports to me.

In light of the facts that we have retrieved human bone at various sites, larger bone from the final excavation site as well as a small gold bracelet, and other items signaling positive for Gina’s frequency specific identification, i.e.remnants of human decomposition absorbed into the cloth fibers signal not only as human organic remains but also as Gina specific remains. And now that we can add to the list the environmental lab’s findings and conclusions regarding the soil, there should be no question that the only way we located this very small area on a large, vast steep mountain to excavate and retrieve human bone is that the Quantum Oscillator works. The QO first identified the locations as Gina specific positive sites, and then the human remains detection dogs identified and confirmed the same places, and excavation unearthed the remains in which DNA profiling will be done. Gina is on their calendar. No matter the outcome of any of this…We know Gina’s truth. It will be my honor to tell ALL of her story so that her Light lives on in the possibilities of a brighter future for so many when this world changing instrument becomes the beacon of hope and truth that it is. And, as always, I give the glory to Finding Gina to whom the glory is due...

DATE: Sept 19, 2021

TO: Dlana Bodmer

FROM: Arpad Vass, Ph.D

SUBJECT: Gina Hall

Summary of Virginia soil chemical composition results

Table 1 summarizes the chemical profile of soil collected at locations in Virginia identified as possibly linked to the murder of Gina Hall, which showed both positive responses from K-9 dogs and the Quantum Oscillator. This refers to the reference listed below which details the chemical compounds produced during decomposition and which is segregated into early, mid, and late phases as well as by soil type, environmental conditions, and marker types. Values in the Table are presented in ug/m3.

These profiles were analyzed by Environmental Analytical Services, Inc., San Obispo, CA, Project number 17652.

Of the 56 possible compounds that could be present, only 30 match the age criteria, and of these, only 22 match the environmental criteria for this case which would indicate a perfect match if all 22 were present.

Results:

Meadow Creek

The chemical profile had 68% of what is considered a perfect match with the presence of human specific markers. No animal markers were detected.

Meadow Creek dog alert

The chemical profile had 50% of what is considered a perfect match with the presence of human specific markers. No animal markers were detected.

Dumpsite 2 ft.

The chemical profile had 41% of what is considered a perfect match with the presence of one human specific marker. Animal markers were also detected.

Dumpsite 4 ft.

The chemical profile had 64% of what is considered a perfect match with the presence of human specific markers. Animal markers were also detected.

Conclusions

As decompositional sites age, environmental factors, (e.g., rain, bacteria, fungi) tend to reduce the number of chemicals present in the soil; therefore, it is unrealistic to assume that all chemicals that should be present will be. For this reason, profiles with a > 50% match are considered to have a strong indication that a decompositional event occurred in the vicinity of the sampling. This applied to all samples except the Dumpsite 2 ft. sample. For the Meadow Creek sample, the Meadow Creek dog alert sample, and the 4 ft Dumpsite sample this indicates a human decompositional event. Additionally, both Dumpsites chemically indicate that there were co-mingling of animal bones present and this was confirmed during the excavation at this site when some animal bones were recovered.

Reference

Vass, A.A. Odor Mortis, Forensic Science Int. 222 (2012) 234-241.

​

 Click here for the 23 page soil analysis report 

The bone fragments found under the wooden floor of Epperly’s former bedroom closet were
confirmed last fall as not just human bone, but also as female bone and from four different
females. One of the four individuals matched a missing Roanoke girl named Angela Rader -
Her families’ sample was the marker that led us to that exact spot in the floor of that house.
The three unidentified females’ frequencies register as human bone of two Caucasian and one
African American—Three Jane Doe’s.

Some might contend that I should not refer to these girls as ‘victims’ without proof. I would
simply ask them to contemplate this:
Why else would four females’ decaying flesh be hidden in the bedroom closet under the
floorboards of a convicted murderer’s home, confirmed by the human bone fragments and
bottle nose fly carcasses found there. The report by the entomologist confirmed the flies that
were found were bottle nose flies. Thank heaven’s a PHD scientist with extensive knowledge of
decomposition was with me...someone who could recognize the significance of what we were
actually seeing when we first shone the light down under the floor of the exact place the
instrument led us to, and the small area where the wood flooring was then removed. Thank
heavens I have the actual video as Dr. Vass and I both peered down into the sub-flooring
expecting to find a small ‘trophy box’, but finding instead tiny, loose bone fragments and
hundreds of dead flies covering the small contained area. Bone is bone. I have learned in the
sifting and searching of many containers of dirt what human bone looks like. Its feel is different
and its coloring is unique especially under a high quality ultraviolet light and yellow glasses,
which we did use even though what we saw when we first opened the flooring was evident to
even our naked eye. But still, we realized the importance of collecting the samples very
carefully and sending the flies and the bone to outside professionals to confirm. Those reports
are posted on the ‘Finding Gina’ and ‘New Developments’ Pages of The Miraculous Journey
website. And a summary of that day and the reports were sent to various authorities in the fall
of 2020. It is important to note, We asked for assistance from authorities to help us follow
through once the instrument had identified the VARIOUS positive places on this premise
known as the residence of Stephen Epperly, but were denied because of probable cause even
though the current owner gave permission to search. He genuinely wanted to help Angela’s
family for his own reasons.

So, now with these identifying samples found, the next right thing to do was to use this specific
organic matter and begin scanning by using these human bone fragments to search for
possible other locations of each of the three Unidentified victims. If we were to get a positive
signal, then we might find where they lived, where their relatives lived or still live, and hence
maybe determine if any young girl in that family ever went missing, then identifying who they
might be and why their bones were found in a convicted killer’s bedroom closet floor - his
trophy place. We might even determine where they were buried, and then could triangulate to
the exact place of these “Jane Doe” burial sites, as we did with Gina, and excavate and find
more proof. With these female samples, even if no hit regionally, we agreed we would continue
to scan, broadening the search until we got a positive. Just a quick scan everywhere traveled.
So, the weekend of January 29, 2021, We had planned to continue scanning and sifting
through the many containers of excavated “Gina dirt” to keep finding what is needed to prove
exactly what happened to Gina, and also, we wanted to follow through on the unidentified
bone. We decided to first allocate Friday afternoon for a trip up 81. We began atop the highest
mountain in the area—Draper Mountain, the same mountain that in November 2019, we began
our quest to locate Gina’s remains, and later, Angela Rader. We had planned to start there at
the high place in Pulaski county, and then continue checking every 20 Miles north to Roanoke.
We began our search hoping for any sign from each victims’ past to register to help us identify
them. The samples of each Unidentified individual’s human bone were labeled by their
frequencies—Jane Doe # 1- Caucasian 30.95 frequency, # 2 Caucasian 31.05, and #3 African
American 27.97. We all have our own unique frequency just like our DNA has its own specific,
individual markers. And bone also differs in frequency between Caucasian bone, African
American bone, Native American bone, etc. If we get a positive match from the familial organic
matter, then we can calculate the map degree and direction, get an estimate of how far away
the match is and when narrowing in on the location, Dr. Vass can also determine if any bone
mass is also present using generic bone samples. If no bone registers, and only organic matter
registers, then indicative that the person was just there living, etc, or could also register by
what is left behind like blood, hair, DNA, etc. For simplicity sake, I will refer to it as “DNA only”,
which is technically that person’s unique organic matter left behind. So, No bone, no body
buried there.

First scan for Jane Doe # 1 registered positive - 109 degrees to the east. And # 2 Jane Doe -
registered in the same area. The third Jane Doe did not register in the same area to the East,
but instead was a positive hit to the south. I like to think of the locational direction where the
instrument registers like numbers on a clock face as I look out from Draper Mountain. First
scan was positive at the 11 mark, second was lined up with the 10, and the third victim
registered at 2. And then I use the map on my phone to see where I need to go...Then, we go in
that direction and keep scanning, again, and again until we narrow in on the exact location
following the signals.

We headed south for Jane Doe # 3. I knew from following Gina’s positives last year from atop
Draper mountain, that we were headed to the same basic hunting farm area. # 3 location was
in a very similar alignment as Gina’s exact direction, so we went south to a high parking lot in
the Draper area. Jane Doe # 3 registered on the same ridge within less than a mile of one of
Gina’s confirmed burial sites. We discussed the possibility of waiting to narrow in on that ridge
in conjunction with the dogs, a trip already in the process of being planned. We moved on East
to follow through on the other two.

I knew to go towards the area I call the 360 Burial fields because that area was close to the
same degree direction from atop the mountain as both Gina and Angela, slightly varying
degrees of distance between them. The “360” is the place where both Gina and Angela register
within a few miles of each other - opposite ridges. It is the place where in November 2019 we
discovered human bone, Caucasian and African American, registering in almost every direction
scanned during a complete 360 rotation. We have researched if there is a logical answer, like
multiple cemeteries, Civil War or Indian battlegrounds, etc. for that much bone detection and
have found no logical explanation for that much bone. I drove the Dr. to the center of the 360
area. The Dr. scanned for Jane Doe #1 and Jane Doe # 2. We were within .6 mile from both
girls who were very close to one another. And I knew the same direction of that positive hit was
also very near the ridge where we had narrowed in on Angela, so by then using Angela’s
sample as a marker from that same scanning location, knowing where her gravesite is located
in relation to where we were scanning from, we determined that # 1 and # 2 Jane Doe were just
to the left of Angela from where we were looking straight on. We both recalled what the Peace
River Cadaver K-9 Team told us one year ago when we took the Cadaver Dog team to the
wooded ridge near Angela’s gravesite. The team walked a different direction up and around the
ridge rather than over the ridge to allow the dogs to freely just do what Cadaver dogs
do...search for human remains. When they came back around to where we were, near Angela’s
location, they commented that the dogs had alerted at several locations within that ten minute
or so walk. The dogs did confirm Angela’s spot in the edge of the woods bordering an open
field...similar to one of Gina’s locations...the valley. I then met with Walter Rader, Angela’s
brother, the next morning and took him to Angela’s gravesite. She was just a young teen when
she went missing. We then both informed authorities regarding the multiple locations
registering positive for Angela, including the hit inside the Epperly house, and we asked for
help. Finally, after months, we just followed through ourself which is how Gina has led to
Angela, and now, Angela has led to three other Unidentified victims. I believe there will be
more.

We now know that the report given to Radford police in early 2016 is true. That report
referenced the witnessing of a dismemberment, and the assumption by Lincoln Duncan in
1980 that it was Gina being dismembered was because First, he recognized the men, and
second one of the two men dismembering the female body quickly became a suspect in Gina’s
disappearance. Gina was dismembered. Cadaver Dogs confirmed the burial sites identified as
having both Gina’s organic matter and human bone registering, and then validated further with
human bone retrieved through many hours of excavation and sifting. When this process is
complete, if the bone fragments found are of adequate size for a lab to test DNA, we will. But
again, for now, just ask - how can we have human bone found in the dirt out in the middle of
nowhere, places later determined to be various Epperly connected hunting locations that
correlate with the places identified by the instrument, and validated by Cadaver dogs, to such
a precise degree that the tedious excavation, sifting, etc uncovered tiny human bone
fragments?

There are five Gina sites left, one is organic matter only/no bone location that might prove
interesting- and one site has the largest bone mass of all of the sites. This difficult area must be
completed. It is being planned now for the last week of February. It needs to be done with
authoritative cooperation and assistance, but that is an uphill battle because of “probable
cause”, legality, and “giving the appearance of supporting the Dr. and his instrument”. I must
again at least ask for authorities involvement at this specific site because of two reasons: This
site might help prosecute Gina’s murderer for dismemberment and could potentially lead to the
identification of the second man witnessed in Meadow creek with Epperly dismembering Gina,
and because a lot of human bone has registered at this site, and it is not just Gina’s...in this
place where no human bone should be registering. Hence, it needs investigation in conjunction
with what I need to finish.

I have unwavering faith in God and if there is someone meant to be there, someone will be.
I am hopeful that an authoritative body will step up and help us do the next right thing.
Eventually, the people will insist on it...three someones’ daughters never came home...and, if
this murderer (serial killer?) is released, which is a likely possibility, this evil will be right back in
everyone’s backyard.

We continued following the signals of the Unidentified victims. We needed to check for any
sign of the three females to see if they register anywhere else. We knew all four registered in his
house. We now know that three are buried near each other at the “360” and they are all within
two miles of one of Gina’s already excavated locations in which human bone was retrieved. So
now, It seemed relevant to rule out one of Gina’s known areas where we can only can scan
from one direction at level ground from the opposite direction. We needed to get closer to that
difficult area to rule it out, so I knew of a road across the river that would get us close enough
to scan. None of the other girls have registered at that main site of Gina...but other unidentified
bones are there. As we scanned, one of the girls-Jane Doe # 2- 31.05 did register off in a
different direction to the right and the Dr. Asked where are we?! I replied with a simple test, I
might know - put Gina’s sample in and let’s see if that direction is where I think it is. Gina was
positive in the same direction, similar distances, so I then headed on towards Dry Valley Rd.
We had already determined that Angela’s “DNA only” was up-creek from Gina’s witnessed
“creek dismemberment site”, near a small cliff like area that seemed at the time of discovery a
possibility that he took her to this remote place to rape, beat and kill her, then burying her
about ten miles away at the 360 area but then I questioned, why not just bury her there on this
vast remote land. As we began to discover this new information, I surmised Gina was different
because of several factors that changed his routine, timeline, and process, having more
urgency because he had to react fast racing against daylight, and because of others’ knowing,
witnessing, or maybe even involvement, becoming a factor for a different pattern resulting in
full dismemberment, yet a familiar pattern of going to locations used by him as verified by
Angela’s locations being in near proximity to Gina.

Stopping at a small church parking lot on Dry Valley Rd to scan, I was surprised that we did not
get a positive oscillation on the instrument in the same direction of Angela’s cliff-area location.
We got a positive more in line with Gina’s actual dismemberment site. So, Meadow Creek was
our next stop. Jane Doe #2 did not register in or at the edge of the creek like Gina, but across
the creek and up the hill on the wooded bordering land of what would have been farm land in
1980. Even though I had already attained permission to be on that same land, we did not follow
through because surprisingly Jane Doe # 2 only registered as “DNA only”— no bone, so it is
not a burial site. Even if the bone has disintegrated into bone dust, there would still be a
positive signal for bone registering. So, # 2 Victim had been there, bled there or ?... but, she is
not buried there.

This made me question - Why do we have blood only and no bone registering on two hunting
woods/farms bordering Meadow Creek, an area Epperly himself referred to as sacred ground,
and now, a positive hit for two different girls in addition to Gina? I am very concerned because
it does not make sense that this man who had access to an entire comfortable basement in
which to rape his victims would go all the way to these separate different locations with a “live
girl” to beat or rape her, kill her, and then transport her to bury her somewhere else.
We then contemplated that when we first went south from Draper Mountain to find the location
of # 3 Jane Doe, we only scanned for her Specific matter to register. We did not check for just
human bone. So we went back and went closer to the ridge so he could scan for bone mass,
expecting to narrow in on her burial site, but no bone registered...Dr. rechecked the ridge
against Gina’s sample and both Gina’s organic matter and Caucasian bone still register in the
same place on that ridge, but # 3 Jane Doe only registers as organic matter- “Her DNA
marker”. SO, # 3 had been in those woods. # 3 was possibly hurt in those woods because the
signal was strong. We could narrow in exactly where and the dogs would most likely also be
able to confirm.

A pattern is emerging of various known hunting grounds where three of the four girls were
taken, maybe where blood was shed, yet buried elsewhere. Three different locations are
known and identified as the three grave sites.

My ending thought from that day - Did the hunted become “the hunted”?
All activity and report results from the August 2020 exploratory house event can be found on
websitethemiraculousjourney.com.

The videos have been shared with others and are backed up.

Date is set for the third site and maybe the last trip needed to validate with the Cadaver dogs.
They do not charge, but I pay all expenses (Florida based) and make donations for their time
which is where the minimal book profit has been used...in actuality, there is very little profit! I
have been blessed with a profitable business I built over the last thirty years and it will support
any future endeavor to help other families. The Dr. and his instrument is world changing and I
am hopeful Gina’s case will help validate him and help us help others...before they are gone
and never to be found —until now!

We welcome genuine assistance to help us bring peace to these families. We hope someone
would want to see if there will be enough evidence to consider prosecution of, in my opinion, a
serial killer, and will lead to knowing all of the truth not just about him, but behind him...God is
not unveiling all of this for just him... This is about his connection to these relevant lands and
the 360 area that just might be proven to be an area of significant crime related activity... a
decades-long operation because the 360 is a burial ground for many, and so maybe more than
he could have actually killed within his possible time frame.

“We spent the morning inside the Epperly house where the instrument had guided us months earlier. We were following the familial sample of Angela Rader - a 14 year old missing teen from Roanoke in 1977 - that led us to the inside of the former Epperly homeplace. Now, months later, We narrowed in on several places registering on the property including an African American Bone hit near the wall of the shed. As for Angela, the exact location was determined to be in the upper bedroom closet - once the bedroom of Stephen M. Epperly who abducted and murdered my sister. This was not an easy process to narrow in on that exact place. I worked along side the Dr. eliminating the areas above and below until we narrowed in on the signal from that exact place.

The floor of Epperly’s bedroom closet was removed by the owner and we found the human bone fragments under the hardwood floor, between the floor joists in the subfloor —the bones that were registering as Caucasian and African American human bone And, Angela. Of most interest, we could see hundreds of fly carcasses in this small area. Or we could say access was from the ceiling from the room below because an, odd small rectangular hole was visible having been cut out of the corner of that subfloor. All bone and fly carcasses needed to be confirmed further and by other independent expert sources. I needed something to send to the authorities of what was retrieved. I had asked authorities for help months earlier when this was all discovered, but there was “no cause” to prompt action. I needed “proof”. My personal objective was to have something to give to the state of Virginia Parole Board indicative of Epperly’s true nature.

“So we recovered tiny fragments of human bone and dead FLIES from under the hardwood floor in the bedroom closet of Gina’s convicted murderer. Had Dr. Vass, a forensic anthropologist who certainly understands decomposition from his years of research at The Body Farm, not been present, the fly evidence may have not been deemed relevant. I do not believe too many people would have paid as much attention to those hundreds of little dead flies or have even understood their relevance. The collected in-tact flies (or photos as very fragile) have been sent to an entomologist to determine if the flies can be confirmed to be of a specific kind. The kind that come from the eggs laid on decomposing flesh, which hatch into larvae that consumes the flesh, and then turn into a specific kind of fly “blowflies”. Even if the “fly remains” are too old to provide a definitive report, and even if the bone fragments are too small to match to a specific person’s DNA for identity, the bone can be confirmed in a lab as human bone. And then, we could all simply ask - why would there be any reason to have any fragments of human bone in only one small section of the sub flooring of a murderer’s bedroom closet? In my humble opinion - because Epperly is a serial killer who kept a small part of his dismembered victims as a trophy. Angela was 1977...Gina was 1980.”

We left the Epperly Homeplace for our third “dig” site. Dlana had arranged for some extra help. Again, authorities were also informed...
This remote, wooded area is on another 1000+ acre “Epperly hunting area” . This site registered significantly from the starting high point in November- the top of Pulaski County’s Draper Mountain. This dirt was scanned handful by handful to be taken off the mountain and sifted later for the bone fragments. This was an emotional day. Gina’s DNA registered all around us - not just in the dirt, but also in the tree roots removed.

“On Gina’s Birthday, 40 years after her murder, A Bill is proposed to the Senate committee for a vote.
The proposed bill #5103:
Gina’s Bill provides that any person convicted of murder where the location of the body of the victim is unknown and the Parole Board has probable cause to believe that such person convicted has information concerning the location of the body is not eligible for parole.

Gina’s Bill did not make it through the Senate Committee - the vote was divided by party lines - Gina’s Bill was killed by 8 Democrats and supported by 6 Republicans. Maybe the bigger purpose for right now is to bring light on the current agenda of our country releasing violent offenders. Maybe people will begin to question these types of decisions and realize the importance of keeping the dangerous criminals from returning to our communities. Gina’s Bill addressed “the no body convicted murderers” who are the worst of the worst. Those capable of hiding their victim’s remains, and some, dismembering their victims with no remorse like we now know happened to Gina. It is my understanding that if Gina’s Bill ever becomes a law, it is possible it can help keep Epperly imprisoned-So we will not give up. We will reintroduce it. Thank you Senator Ben Chafin.”

“Bone and Flies” Reports are received from independent experts in their fields of forensic science regarding the Epperly homeplace retrieval on August 12, 2020 - Angela Rader, and others...

All three Resumes’ of Arpad Vass, Ph.D, Arthur M. Bohanan, and Dr. Leon G. Higley are attached.

Reports:

To: Dlana Bodmer

From: Arpad Vass, Ph.D.

Subject: Fragments discovered at 905 2nd street, Radford, VA, 24141

Date: October 3, 2020

On August 12, 2020, Dlana Bodmer and I went to 905 2nd street, Radford, VA, 24141, the former residence of Steven Epperly, and met with the current owner of the property, Mr. Scott Stewart. After discussing the results of a previous scan of the property using a Quantum Oscillator which identified resonance frequencies consistent with human remains, the owner agreed to allow us to pinpoint the source of the frequency. The source was identified as being in the closet subfloor of a 2nd floor bedroom. The owner then agreed to remove a few of the floorboards to allow us to gain access to the subfloor space. Once access was obtained, we were able to collect numerous small fragments of what appeared to be bone or material impregnated with bone residue. These fragments yielded frequencies consistent with human bone. Additionally, numerous fly remnants were present in the subfloor. These remnants were very fragile and as many fly carcasses as possible were collected. Upon cursory inspection they appeared to have been iridescent blowflies which are commonly associated with decompositional events.

1. Due to the fragile nature of the fly remains, pictures were sent to a forensic entomologist (Dr. Leon Higley) for a presumptive identification. He concluded that they were blow fly remnants. (Refer to his report dated October 1, 2020).

2. All fragments were scanned with the Quantum Oscillator and four separate frequencies were identified which were consistent with ranges associated with human remains. One of these frequencies was a presumptive match (+/- 50 Hz) for a missing 14 year old girl from 1977 (Angela Rader).

3. All fragments were grouped according to their frequencies and placed in collection tubes. These samples were brought to Dr. Arthur Bohanan (retired Knoxville, TN Police Investigator) who has a technique which is able to determine the gender of bone fragments. All four separate fragment groups were identified by Dr. Bohanan as being female. (Refer to his report dated September 10, 2020). In conclusion, based on the frequency scans, the gender determinations, and the fly identifications, all results are consistent with the presence of the small fragments in the subfloor being from four separate females which underwent some type of decompositional event attracting large numbers of blowflies. Please let me know if you have any additional questions regarding this summation. Sincerely,

Arpad Vass, Ph.D.

DATE: 10 September 2020

TO: Dr. Arpad Vass

FROM: Arthur M. Bohanan

RE: Bones recovered at 905 2nd street, Radford, VA, 24141

VICTIM: Unidentified bone fragments from 4 separate individuals

SUSPECT: Stephen Epperly

Request by Dr. Arpad Vass to scan four small vials containing suspected bone fragments.

I scanned the four vials using the Human Remains Locator with the response of adult female in each vial. The scans were repeated three times on each vial with the same results of adult female.

Submitted Arthur M. Bohanan

Dlana believes this series of events that led to this point certainly should make it difficult for the “naysayers” to continue to dispute this amazing instrument.

Resumes:

And Arpad Vass, PhD.

Arpad Alexander Vass, Ph.D.

Curriculum Vitae

Contact Information:

105 Carson Lane
Oak Ridge, TN
Phone 865-482-2355;
Cell 865-335-6837
Email: arpadvass4@gmail.com

Professional Status:

• IPS Specialist I, Law Enforcement Innovation Center, Univ. of TN (2015-2016)
• Chief Science Officer – avaSensor, Inc. (2011 – present)
• Chief Technology Officer – Nebulytics, Inc. (2013 – 2015)
• Sr. Research Scientist – Oak Ridge National Laboratory (1992 – 2012)
• Adjunct Research Professor (Univ. of TN) (2001 – present)
• Teaching Associate, Univ. of TN (2001- present)
• UT-ORNL Joint Faculty Program 2010 – 2013
• Group Leader – Biochem. Engineering Research Group (2004)
• Instructor – National Forensic Academy (2001 – present)
• Medical Technologist (Clinical Pathology, Laboratory Scientist)
• Honorary Research Associate – School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, NZ
• Member GIN (Geoforensic International Network)

Career Summary:

• 33 years of work experience
• 8 years of management experience
• 15 years as a Law Enforcement Instructor/Teaching Associate
• 23 Patents/Patents Pending
• R&D 100 Award Recipient
• Nominated top 10 Scientist
• Invited Speaker at TED conference

Major Areas of Expertise:

• • Forensic Anthropology
  • Criminal Justice
  • Biosafety
  • Microbiology/Chemistry
  • Weapons of Mass Destruction
  • Clinical Pathology
  • Technology Development
  • Research Design and Implementation

Arpad Vass – pg. ! 1

Contact Information:

105 Carson Lane
Oak Ridge, TN
Phone 865-482-2355; Cell 865-335-6837
Email: arpadvass4@gmail.com

Professional Status:   

• IPS Specialist I, Law Enforcement Innovation Center, Univ. of TN (2015-2016)
• Chief Science Officer – avaSensor, Inc. (2011 – present)
• Chief Technology Officer – Nebulytics, Inc. (2013 – 2015)
• Research Scientist – Oak Ridge National Laboratory (1992 –2012)
• Adjunct Research Professor (Univ. of TN) (2001 – present)
• Teaching Associate, Univ. of TN (2001- present)
• UT-ORNL Joint Faculty Program 2010 – 2013
• Group Leader – Biochem. Engineering Research Group (2004)
• Instructor – National Forensic Academy (2001 – present)
• Medical Technologist (Clinical Pathology, Laboratory Scientist)
• Honorary Research Associate – School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, NZ
• Member GIN (Geoforensic International Network)

Career Summary:                 

• 33 years of work experience
• 8 years of management experience
• 15 years as a Law Enforcement Instructor/Teaching Associate
• 23 Patents/Patents Pending
• R&D 100 Award Recipient
• Nominated top 10 Scientist
• Invited Speaker at TED conference

Major Areas of Expertise:

• Forensic Anthropology
• Criminal Justice
• Biosafety
• Microbiology/Chemistry
• Weapons of Mass Destruction
• Clinical Pathology
• Technology Development
• Research Design and Implementation

Major Contributions to Science:

Medicine, Biology and Environmental Science

• Discovery of one of the most powerful, novel, nontoxic, biodegradable biosurfactants currently available.
• Discovery of novel biocidal agents to which microbes cannot develop resistance.
• Discovery of novel anti-tumor compounds specific to sarcomas.
• Discovery of a novel compound with anti-reverse transcriptase properties.
• Discovery of a unique mechanism (formation of derivars) by which free-living amoeba can increase biodiversity in an ecosystem.
• Development of methods to isolate and recover microorganisms capable of degrading virtually any toxic material in their environment.

Engineering

• Development of very high energy efficiency centrifugal and inertial motors and generators.
• Impacted the development of next generation chemical/biological weapons detection instrumentation currently deployed.

Forensics - Medicolegal/Law Enforcement

• Revolutionized methods to determine the post-mortem interval. Developed four novel methods currently being used worldwide in criminal investigations.
• Developed databases comprising the volatile compounds emanating from human decompositional events. These databases now influence canine training and the development of ‘sniffer type’ instrumentation being developed for law enforcement applications.
• Identified human specific decompositional markers and chemical ‘fingerprints’.
• Developed new standards, methods, procedures and instrumentation for locating clandestine graves. To date, this has led to the personal discovery of 40+ such graves worldwide.

Anthropology

• One of the first scientists to demonstrate the applicability of multi-disciplinary approaches to solving anthropological questions. This has opened the door for many scientists of diverse expertise to collaborate with anthropologists and archaeologists.

Educational Background:

• D., (Physical Anthropology – Forensic specialty) Dissertation: Time Since Death Determinations of Human Cadavers. University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN., 1991.
• S., Administration of Justice (Forensic Science). Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia. 1989.
• Medical Technology Degree. (ASCP, CLS). The Fairfax Hospital, Falls Church, VA. 1984
• S., Biology. Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia. 1981.
• Scripps Institute of Oceanography, Antarctic Exploration certification. 1980.

Experience:

• Senior Research Scientist, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Life Sciences Division, 1992 - 2012. Group Leader - Biochemical Engineering Research Group, 2004.
• Instructor – National Forensic Academy, Law Enforcement Innovation Center, Knoxville, TN. 2001 – present.
• Supervisor/Manager - BioSafety Laboratory 3+. Oak Ridge National Laboratory. 1999-2007.
• Research Associate, Department of Chemistry, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN/Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Health and Safety Research Division. 1990 - 1992.
• Forensic Anthropology Center, Department of Anthropology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN. 1988 - 2015.
• Research Associate, Dept. of Microbiology, Institute of Applied Microbiology, Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN. 1985-90.
• Medical Technologist - Medical College of Virginia Hospitals. Richmond, VA. 1984-85.

Legal Landmarks resulting from my published research:

• Frye Hearing – [first acceptance of organic and inorganic biomarkers for time since death determinations], Feb 26-27^th, 1996, Pensacola, FL [FDLE Case No. PE-92-01-004]
  • Vass, A.A., Bass, W.M., Wolt, J.D., Foss, J.E., Ammons, J.T., "Time Since Death Determinations of Human Cadavers Using Soil Solution",  J. Forensic Sci., 37(5):1236-1253, Sept. 1992.
• State of Tennessee vs. Howard Hawk Willis, Washington County Criminal Court, Case No. 28343, June 14-22, 2010 [First time tissue biomarkers admitted as evidence in US court system]
  • Vass, A.A., Barshick, S.A., Sega, G., Caton, J., Skeen, J.T., Love, J.C. and Synstelien, J.A. Decomposition Chemistry of Human Remains: A New Methodology for Determining the Postmortem Interval, J. Forensic Sci., 2002;47(3):542-553.
• State of Florida vs. Casey Marie Anthony, 9^th District Criminal Court, Orlando, Florida, May 15 – July 15, 2011. [First acceptance of odor mortis testimony in US court system]
  • Vass, A.A., Smith, R.R., Thompson C.V., Burnett, M.N., Dulgerian, N., Eckenrode, B.A. Odor Analysis of Decomposing Buried Human Remains. J. Forensic Sci., 53 (2): 384-392, March 2008.

Specific Skills:

• Programming
• Research Design and Implementation (Biology/Chemistry/Physics/Engineering/Biochemistry/Forensics/Environmental)
• Instrumentation development
• Technology development
• Grant writing
• Data analysis
• Proficiency in multiple software platforms
• Operation/maintenance of laboratory instrumentation and analysis techniques

Select Research Activities:

• Software programming:
• Developed a Visual Basic software program for Robot automation.
• Forensics:
• Developed four novel methods to ascertain the Post-mortem Interval of human remains.
• Developed an Odor Mortis database specific to human remains.
• Developed three new technologies for locating buried human remains.
• Developed two techniques to investigate the physiochemical properties of bone for trace evidence.
• National Security:
• Development team member of new, currently deployed, instrumentation for the detection and identification of chemical and biological warfare agents.
• Bioremediation/Environmental Research:
• Isolated microbes capable of explosive bioremediation (napalm, TNT, propellants, nitroglycerin, hydrazine compounds).
• Discovery of novel bacterial biodispersants.
• Researched the biodegradation, toxicity, carcinogenicity and mutagenicity of various toxins.
• First to discover the existence of Derivars and their significance.
• Medical/Safety:
• Studied the inhibitory effects of an Amoebae/Bacterial Preparation on Cultured Carcinoma Cells and expression of anti-viral properties.
• Investigated the pathogenicity of environmental microorganisms in the workplace, including indoor air quality, monitoring of cooling towers, water fountains, eyewash stations, etc.

Selected Publications:

• Bilheux, H.Z., Cekanova, M., Vass, A.A., Nichols, T.L., Bilheux, J.C., Donnell, R.L., Finochiarro, V. A novel approach to determine post mortem interval using neutron radiography. Forensic Science International, 251: 11-21, 2015. (doi:10.1016/j.forsciint.2015.02.017)
• Vass, A.A., Fleming, R.I., Harbinson, S., Curran, J.M. and Williams, E. Nucleic Acid Degradation and the Postmortem Interval. Proceedings: American Academy of Forensic Sciences, Atlanta, GA, Feb 20-25, 2012, (G36, p.295-6).
• Vass, A.A. Odor Mortis, Forensic Science Int. 222 (2012) 234-241.
• Larson, D.O., Vass, A.A. and Wise, M. Advanced Scientific Methods and Procedures in the Forensic Investigation of Clandestine Graves. Journal for Contemporary Criminal Justice, Volume 27 Issue 2 May 2011 pp. 149 - 182.
• Vass, A.A. The Elusive Universal Post-Mortem Interval Formula, Forensic Science Int. 204 (2011) 34–40.
• Vass, A. A. Dust to Dust - how a human body decomposes, Scientific American – Special Issue “The End.”, pp 56-59, September, 2010.
• Schoske, R., Kennedy, P.W., Duty, C.E., Smith, R.R., Huxford, T.J., Bonavita, A.M., Engleman, P.G., Vass, A.A., Griest, W.H., Jenkins, R.A., Ilgner, R.H, and Brown, G.M. “Decontamination Strategy for Large Area and/or Equipment Contaminated with Chemical and Biological Agents using a High Energy Arc Lamp (HEAL)”. ORNL/TM-2009/08. April, 2009.
• Parkinson R.A., Dias K.R., Horswell J., Greenwood P., Banning N., Tibbett M. and Vass A.A. Microbial community analysis of human decomposition in soil. In: Ritz, K., Dawson, L.A., Miller, D. (Eds), Criminal and Environmental Soil Forensics, Springer, New York, pp. 379–394, 2009.
• Bull, I.D, Berstan, R., Vass, A.A., Evershed, R.P. Identification of a disinterred grave by molecular and stable isotope analysis. Science and Justice, 49:142-149, 2009.
• Vass, A.A. Review of: Soil Analysis in Forensic Taphonomy: Chemical and Biological Effects of Buried Human Remains. Forensic Sciences, 53 (6): 1484-1485, November 2008.
• Vass, A.A., Smith, R.R., Thompson C.V., Burnett, M.N., Dulgerian N., Eckenrode B.A. Odor Analysis of Decomposing Buried Human Remains. Forensic Sciences, 53 (2): 384-392, March 2008.
• Martin, M.Z., Labbé, N., André, N., Harris, R., Ebinger, M., Wullschleger, S.D., Vass, A.A. High Resolution Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy used in Homeland Security and Forensic Applications. Spectrochimica Acta Part B. 62 (2007), 1426-1432.
• Martin, M.Z., Wullschleger, S.D., Vass, A.A. Martin, R.C., Grissino-Mayer, H. High Resolution Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy used in Homeland Security and Forensic Applications. Bulletin of Laser and Spectroscopy Society of India. Future Trends in Spectroscopy: Applications to National Security. No. 14, pp 9-11. Jan 2006.
• Yan, F., Wabuyele, B., Griffin, G., Vass, A., Vo-Dinh. Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering Detection of Chemical and Biological Agent Simulants. IEEE Sensors Journal, Vol. 5, No. 4. August 2005, pp. 665-670.
• Vass, A.A., Madhavi, M., Synstelien, J. and Collins, K. “Elemental Characterization of Skeletal Remains Using Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS)”. Proceedings of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA February 21-26, 2005, p.307-8.
• Vass, A.A., Smith, R.R., Thompson C.V., Burnett, M.N., Wolf D.A., Synstelien J.A., Eckenrode B.A., Dulgerian N. Decompositional  Odor Analysis Database. Forensic Sciences, 49 (4): 760-769, July 2004.
• Griffin GD, Mobley J, Vass AA, Vo-Dinh T. A miniature biochip system for detection of aerosolized Bacillus globigii spores Stratis-Cullum DN, Analytical Chemistry, 75 (2): 275-280 Jan 15, 2003.
• Horita, J. and Vass, A.A. Stable-Isotope Fingerprints of Biological Agents as Forensic Tools, Journal of Forensic Sciences, 2003; 48 (1):122-126.
• Vass, A.A., Barshick, S.A., Sega, G., Caton, J., Skeen, J.T., Love, J.C. and Synstelien, J.A. Decomposition Chemistry of Human Remains: A New Methodology for Determining the Postmortem Interval, Forensic Sci, 2002; 47(3):542-553.
• Vass, A.A., Beyond the Grave – Understanding Human Decomposition. Microbiology Today, 28:190-192, Nov, 2001.
• Griest, W.H., Wise, M.B., Hart, K.J., Lammert, S.A., Thompson, C.V. and Vass, A.A. Biological Agent Detection and Identification by the Block II Chemical Biological Mass Spectrometer. Field Analytical Chemistry and Technology, 5(4):177-184, 2001.
• Kennel, S.J., Foote, L.J., Morris, M., Vass, A.A., and Griest, W.A. Mutation Analyses of a Series of TNT-related Compounds Using the CHO-hprt Assay. of Applied Tox. 20, 16:83 (2000).
• Sega, Gary A., Vass, Arpad A., Caton, John, Barshick, Stacy A., Love, Jennifer C., and Marks, Murray. Measurement Technologies for Determining Time Since Death, Proceedings of the 52^nd Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, Reno, NV, Feb. 21-26, 2000.
• Barshick, S.A., Wolf, D.A. and Vass, A.A. Differentiation of Microorganisms Based on Pyrolysis-Ion Trap Mass Spectrometry using Chemical Ionization. Chem. 71: 633-641, 1999.
• Griest, W.H., Vass, A.A., Stewart, A.J. and Ho, C.-h. Chemical and Toxicological Characterization of Slurry Reactor Biotreatment of Explosives-Contaminated Soils.    ORNL/TM-13384. March 1997.
• Vass, A.A., Mackowski, R., Anderson, T.A. and Ahmad N. Biocidal Efficacy of Ozone in Cooling Towers. Paper Q99. Proceedings of the 96th meeting of the American Society for Microbiology, May 19-23, New Orleans, LA, 1996.
• Hurst, G.B., Doktycz, M.J., Vass, A.A. and Buchanan, M.V. Detection of Bacterial DNA Polymerase Chain Reaction Products by Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Mass Spectroscopy. Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry, Vol. 10, 377-382, 1996.
• Barshick, S.A., Vass, A.A. and Griest, W.H. Electronic aroma technology for forensic and law enforcement applications. SPIE, 2941:63-74, 1995.
• Barshick, S.A., Vass, A.A., Ma, C.Y., Skeen, J.T. and Griest, W.H. Investigating the Decomposition Chemistry of Human Remains Using Advanced Analytical Technologies.  36th Conference of Analytical Chemistry in Energy Technology. Conf-9510143. pp. 5-6. Gatlinburg, Tennessee, October 10-12, 1995.
• Griest, W.H., Tyndall, R.L., Stewart, A.J., Caton, J.E., Vass, A.A., Ho, C.-h., Caldwell, W.M. Chemical Characterization and Toxicological Testing of Windrow Composts from Explosives-Contaminated Sediments. Tox. Chem. Vol 14, No. 1, pp. 51-59, 1995.
• Vass, A.A., et. al. The resistance of amoebae, amoebae associated bacteria and derivars to various forms of radiation. Endocytobiology VI, Sept, 1995.
• Vass, A.A., et. al. Unique characteristics of amoebae associated bacteria and their usefulness in bioremediation. Endocytobiology VI, Sept, 1995.
• Bowman, E.K., Vass, A.A., Mackowski, R., Owen, B.A., Tyndall, R.L. Quantitation of Free-Living Amoebae and Bacterial Populations in Eyewash Stations. AIHA, March 27, 1995.
• Vass, A.A., Tyndall R.L., Mackowski, R. Desorption and Removal of Elemental Mercury from Soil. Paper Q272. Proceedings of the 95th meeting of the American Society for Microbiology, May 21-25, Washington D.C., 1995.
• Vass, A.A., Tyndall R.L. Application of Amoebae Associated Bacteria in the Degradation of Explosives. Paper Q108. Proceedings of the 95th meeting of the American Society for Microbiology, May 21-25, Washington D.C., 1995.
• Tyndall, R.L., A.A. Vass. The impact of Protozoa on Human Health in the Indoor Environment. Biological aerosols: A state of the art review. Ed. H.A. Burge and M.L. Chapter 6. CRC Press, Inc. pp 121-132, 1995.
• Griest, W.H., Tyndall, R.L., Stewart, A.J., Caton, J.E., Vass, A.A., Ho, C.-h., Caldwell, W.M. Characterization of Explosives Processing Waste Decomposition Due to Composting. ORNL/TM-12812. September 1994.
• Vass, A.A., Tyndall, R.L. Radiation Induced Derivars and Their Genetic Similarity to Irradiated Amoebae. 94th General Meeting of the American Society of Microbiology     Proceedings, p. 130, May 23-27, 1994. Las Vegas, NV.
• Dietz, A.J., Vass, A.A., Mackowski, R.P. Tyndall, R.L. Comparison of Intra- and Extra-Amoebic Bacterial Isolates. 94th General Meeting of the American Society of       Microbiology Proceedings, p. 130, May 23-27, 1994. Las Vegas, NV.
• Vass, A.A., Tyndall, R.L. Radiation resistance of Free-Living Amoebae and Their Associated Bacteria. Paper Q-23. 93rd General Meeting of the American Society of     Microbiology Proceedings, p. 164, May 16-20, 1993. Atlanta, GA.
• Vass, A.A., K.S. Ironside, R.L. Tyndall. Bioremediation of Petroleum Contaminated Soils on Kwajelein Island: Microbial Characterization and Biotreatability Studies. Chapter 3: Pathogenicity Profile. ORNL/TM-11925. 1992.
• Vass, A.A., R.L. Tyndall. The use of COSTAR Microtiter Plates to study amoebic- bacterial interactions. Paper Q-378, p. 398. Proceedings of the 92nd General Meeting of the American Society of Microbiology. May 25-31, 1992. New Orleans, LA.
• Tyndall, R.L., A.A. Vass. Increased bacterial diversity after passage of bacteria through free-living amoebae. Proceedings of the 5th International Symposium of Endocytobiology, pp. 515-522, Kyoto, Japan. June 15-19, 1992.
• Vass, A.A., R.L. Tyndall. Interactions of free-living Amoebae with bacteria resulting in bacterial diversity. Proceedings of the 6th International Conference on the biology and Pathogenicity of free-living amoebae, p. 87, August 2-7, 1992, Richmond, VA.
• Vass, A.A., Bass, W.M., Wolt, J.D., Foss, J.E., Ammons, J.T., "Time Since Death Determinations of Human Cadavers Using Soil Solution", Journal of Forensic Sciences, 37(5):1236-1253, Sept. 1992.
• Nivens, D., Jack, R., Vass, A.A., Guckert, J., Chambers, J. 1991. Multi-electrode probe for statistical evaluation. of Microbial Methods. August 1992. 16(1):47-58.
• Tyndall, R.L., Vass, A.A., Fliermans, C.B. Mixed bacterial populations derived from Legionella-infected free living amoeba. Proceedings of ASM 4th International Symposium on Legionella, p 284, Orlando, FL., Jan. 26-29, 1992.

Selected Presentations:

• Vass, A.A. TEDxYYC – CommonScents - May 25, 2012, Calgary, Canada.
• Vass, A.A. Clandestine grave detection. Western Carolina University, Culhowee, NC. Cadaver Dog Training Workshop: Invited Speaker, May 22, 2012.
• Ashton, J.L., Raum, B.A., Vass, A.A., Garavaglia, J.C. and Goldberger, B.A. Odor Mortis: What is it anyway? American Academy of Forensic Sciences, Atlanta, GA, Feb 20-25, 2012 (L2, p. 11).
• Fleming, R., Williams, E., Harbison, SA, Curran, J., Vass. A. Nails, Nucleic Acids and the Post-Mortem Interval.  Oral presentation at the Australia and New Zealand Forensic Science Symposium, Hobart, Australia. September 2012.
• Vass, A., Williams, E., Harbison, SA, Curran, J., Fleming, R. Nucleic Acids in Nails and the Post-Mortem Interval. Poster presentation at The American Academy of Forensic Sciences Annual Meeting, Atlanta, GA, Feb 20-25, 2012, (G36, p.295-6).
• Vass, A., Williams, E., Harbison, SA, Curran, J., Fleming, R. Evaluating the Use of DNA and RNA Degradation for Estimating the Post-Mortem Interval. Poster presentation at the NIJ conference. Washington, D.C. June 2011.
• Fleming, R., Williams, E., Harbison, SA, Curran, J., Vass. A. Nails, Nucleic Acids and the Post-Mortem Interval. Poster presentation at The 22^nd International Symposium on Human Identification. Maryland, US. October 2011.
• Vass, A.A. The 3^rd International Conference on Criminal and Environmental Soil Forensics. California Association of Criminalists. “Early Postmortem Decomposition and mtDNA – Murder, Mystery and Microscope” Hyatt Regency Hotel, Long Beach, California, USA. November 2-4, 2010.
• Vass, A.A. Technology for interrogating Crime Scenes. TVS-AIHA 2010 - Fall conference. Industrial Hygiene Scene Investigation. October 20-22, 2010. Knoxville, TN.
• Vass, A.A. Determining Death and Detecting Decomposition. 2010 TN IAI Conference, TBI Headquarters, Nashville, TN. October 8^th, 2010.
• Vass, A.A. Technology to locate clandestine graves. Presented at DOE's SERCh event. Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN., November 8, 2009.
• Martin, M., Vass, A.A. Labbe, N., Andre, N. Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy for High Resolution Data Collection and Multivariate Analysis in Forensic and Environmental Applications. Invited speaker NASLIBS 2009, New Orleans, July 13-15.
• Madhavi Z. Martin, Stan D. Wullschleger, and Arpad Vass, “High Resolution applications of Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy for Homeland Security and Forensic Applications”, First Indo-US Workshop on Spectroscopy, (Invited Talk), Jan 9-12, 2006, Varanasi, India.
• Vass, A.A. “The Dust of Death”. 6^th Annual Vanderbilt-Meharry Alliance Genetics Symposium/A look at genetics in the field of criminal investigations. Vanderbilt University - Invited speaker. September 21, 2005.
• Vass, A.A., Martin, M. Elemental Characterization Using Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) for Forensic Applications. Invited speaker Dept. of Homeland Security Technology series, Gatlinburg, TN. September 15, 2004.
• Vass, A.A. Weapons of Mass Destruction. National Forensic Academy Alumni Seminar, Knoxville Convention Center, Knoxville, TN August 23-25, 2004.
• Horswell, J., Parkinson, R., Cordiner, S., Sutherland, B., Speir, T., Chambers, G. and Vass, A.   Forensic DNA profiling of bacterial communities in soils.  International Society of Environmental Forensics, Environmental Forensics: Using Science to Reconstruct Contamination Events. Taipei, Taiwan.
• Vass, A.A. Invited plenary speaker. Four presentations on Human decomposition, Time since death and Forensic Anthropology presented at the 17^th International Symposium of the Forensic Sciences, Wellington, NZ. March 28-April 2, 2004
• Vass, A.A. “Odor Analysis of Decomposition”, presented at the 56^th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, Dallas, TX. Feb 16-21, 2004.
• Collins, K.C., Vass, A.A. “What’s that Smell”, presented at the 56^th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, Dallas, TX. Feb 16-21, 2004.
• Vass, A.A. Council for the Advancement of Science (CASW). Interpreting all that Remains: New Insights. Radison Summitt Hotel, Knoxville, TN. October 29, 2003.
• Vass, A.A., “Human Decomposition and Biohazards”, presented at the American Biorecovery Association (ABRA) conference, Las Vegas, NV, Sept 30 – Oct 4, 2002.
• Griest, W. H., M.B. Wise, K. J. Hart, S. A. Lammert, C. V. Thompson, D. A. Wolf, M. N. Burnett, A. A. Vass, I. F. Robbins, and D. A. Clayton, “The Block II Chemical Biological Mass Spectrometer (CBMS): Issues and Solutions in Integrated Chemical-Biological Agent Detection,” presentation at Integrating Chemical and Biological Detection Technology: Today’s Solutions and Tomorrow’s Issues,” Alexandria, Virginia, May 1, 2002.
• Vass, A.A., “Chemical Issues in Human Decomposition – Implications for TSD Determinations,” Presented at the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Laboratory, Fort Gillem, GA. August 23, 2002.
• Vass, A.A., "The University of Tennessee’s Forensic Research Facility and ORNL," presented to the East Tennessee Regional Leadership Association Class of 2002, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, July 24, 2002 (Invited).
• Vass, A.A. “Weapons of Mass Destruction”, Seminar on Crime Scene Investigations. National Center for Unresolved Homicides, Orlando, Fl., June 17-21, 2002.
• H. Griest, S. A. Lammert, M. B. Wise, K. J. Hart, A. A. Vass, D. A. Wolf, M. N. Burnett, R. Merriweather, and R. R. Smith, “A Mass Spectrometer-Based System for Integrated Chemical and Biological Agent Detection The Block II CBMS,” 50^th ASMS Conference, Orlando, FL, June 2-6, 2002.
• Griest, W. H., M. B. Wise, K. J. Hart, S. A. Lammert, C. V. Thompson, D. A. Wolf, M. N. Burnett, A. A. Vass, I. B. Robbins, and D. A. Clayton, “The Block II Chemical Biological Mass Spectrometer (CBMS): Issues and Solutions in Integrated Chemical-Biological Agent Detection,” presentation at the Biodetection Conference, Washington, DC, May 2-3, 2002.
• Lammert, S.A., W. H. Griest, M.B. Wise, K.J. Hart, A.A. Vass, D.A. Wolf, M.N. Burnett, R. Merriweather, and R.R. Smith, “A Mass Spectrometer-Based System for Integrated Chemical and Biological Agent Detection - The Block II CBMS,” presentation at the 50^th American Society for Mass Spectrometry (ASMS) Conference, Orlando, FL, June 2, 2002.
• Vass, A.A., et. al. Human Decomposition Chemistry. Presented at the 54th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, Atlanta, GA, February 11-15, 2002.
• Hart, K.H., S.H. Harmon, D.A. Wolf, A.A. Vass and M.B. Wise, "Detection of Chemical/Biological Agents and Simulants Using Quadrupole Ion Trap Mass    Spectrometry". Presented at the 47th ASMS Conference on Mass Spectrometry and  Allied Topics, Dallas, TX, June 14-18, 1999.
• Vass, A.A."Forensic Anthropology and Time Since Death". Presented for the Center of Unresolved Homicides in conjunction with the University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, June 14-18, 1999.
• “The resistance of amoebae, amoebae associated bacteria and derivars to various forms of radiation", Vass, A.A., Tyndall, R.L., Presented at the International Conference on  the Biology and Pathogenicity of Free-Living Amoebae, Murfreesboro, TN, May 27-June 2, 1998
• "The discovery of novel anti-microbial bacterial pigments" Vass, A.A., Tyndall, R.L., Presented at  the International Conference on the Biology and Pathogenicity of Free- Living Amoebae, Murfreesboro, TN, May 27-June 2, 1998.
• "The who, when, but not why, of forensic pathology" Vass, A.A. Presented at the Virginia Military Institute. Lexington, VA. Feb. 6, 1997.
• "Bones, Decay and Time Since Death", Instructor Presentation for the Center for Unresolved Homicides, Inc. East Coast police coalition agencies. Louisville, KY. Sept.  23-27, 1996.
• “The Changing Role of Forensic Anthropologists", Presented at the Boulder Police Training Center by The Center for Unresolved Homicides, Inc. Boulder, CO. April 22-25, 1996.
• "Investigating the Decomposition Chemistry of Human Remains Using Advanced Analytical Technologies", 36th Conference of Analytical Chemistry in Energy Technology. Barshick, S.A., Vass, A.A., Ma, C.Y., Skeen, J.T. and Griest, W.H. Conf-   pp. 5-6, Gatlinburg, Tennessee, October 10-12, 1995.
• "Trace Evidence at Crime Scenes/Homicides", Vass A.A., Presented at the 2nd Annual Jacksonville Sheriff's Office Robbery/Homicide Conference, Jacksonville, Fla. July 31- August 4, 1995.
• "The resistance of amoebae, amoebae associated bacteria and derivars to various forms of radiation", Vass A.A., Tyndall, R.L., Presented at Endocytobiology VI, Tubingen, Germany, Sept. 6-10, 1995.
• "Soil Analysis under Decomposing Remains", Vass A. A., Presented at Challenges in Forensic Pathology and Investigations: District 12 Medical Examiners. 22nd Annual    Medical Examiners Program, Nov. 2-5, 1994, Sarasota, Fla.
• "The Importance of Protozoa in the Survival and Amplification of Legionella", Tyndall, L., Vass A. A. Presented at the ASHRAE National Meeting, June 28, 1994, Orlando, FL.
• "Bioremediation Capabilities of Amoebae Associated Bacteria", Vass, A.A., Tyndall, R.L. Presented at the Biotechnology and Biomol. Science Colloquium, March 15-16, 1994.
• "Chemical/Toxicological Evaluation of Windrow Composting of Explosives-Contaminated Sediments", Griest, W.H., Tyndall, R.L., Stewart, A.J., Vass, A.A., Ho, C.-h., Caton, E., Caldwell, W.M. 35th Rocky Mountain Conference on Analytical Chemistry, Denver,  CO., July 25-29, 1993.
• "Bioremedial Capabilities and Diversity of Bacteria Sequestered by Amoebae", Expo '93, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, April 1993.
• "Time Since Death: the most difficult forensic question to answer." 3rd Annual Mountain, Swamp and Beach meeting for Forensic Anthropologists. University of Tennessee, Knoxville. 1991.
• "Time since death determinations of Human Cadavers Utilizing Inorganic Parameters in Soil Solution." 43rd Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, Anaheim, CA. February 1991.
• "Time since death determinations of Human Cadavers Utilizing Volatile Fatty Acids in Soil Solution." 42nd Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, Cincinnati, OH., February 1990.
• "Time of Death", Seminar on Forensic Medicine: Homicide Investigation, East Tennessee State University, Quillen-Dishner College of Medicine, Johnson City, TN., August 1989.

 Honors/Awards:

• Antarctic Service Medal of the United States of America
• Certificate of Achievement, New Zealand Survival School
• National Dean's List
• Excellence in Crime Scene Investigation, FBI Southeastern Regional Competition
• Certificates of Recognition, ORNL Patent Applications
• R&D 100 (2000)
• UT-Battelle Award Recipient (2000)
• UT-Battelle Award Recipient (2001)
• United States Army Criminal Investigation Command – Commanding General’s Award for Excellence
• Nominated top 10 Scientist in TN, 2004 by Business Tennessee Magazine.
• UT-Battelle Service Award (2007, 2012)
• Certificate of Excellence, Forensic Science International (2013)

Patents:

• Patent Pending –Pub # US2015/0253452 A1 Matter detection, sensor and locator device and methods of operation, Sept 10, 2015

• Docket 2709 DOE – S124268 Ethanol Production by a desert fungus: submitted as ID Sept. 27, 2011

• DOE S-115, 344 (#2305) – LABRADOR (filed July 31, 2010)
• DOE 2199 - External Split Field Generator (US Patent # 8,120,225B2). Issued Feb. 21, 2012
• DOE 2200 – Internal Split Field Generator (US Patent 8,089,188B2) Issued Jan 3, 2012
• DOE S-115, 238 – Terrestrial Electroacoustic Grave Detection (2009)
• DOE S-115, 347 – Inertia Pumped Parametric Motor (2009)
• DOE S-115, 350 – Centripetal Electric Generator (2009)
• Docket #: 1300001988 Winnowed Impulse-flow Sample Entrainment and Acoustic Spectroscopic Sensor (2007)
• Docket 1966 – UT/Battelle: Cooling Garment (2007)
• Docket 1911 – UT/Battelle: Universal Body Bag Tray (2007)
• DOE 1860 - US Patent # 8074490 – Clandestine grave detector Issued Dec 13, 2011
• Docket 1203 – UT/Battelle: Biocidal material for treatment against pathogens 08/04/04. US Patent No. 11,748,649 issued 3-6-2008.
• ESID 1034-X Rescue or Creation of Bacterial Populations by Passage through Protozoa.
• ESID 1231-X Process for Degrading Explosives (Napalm/TNT)
  • US Patent No. 5,449,618 issued 9-12-95
  • US Patent No. 5,484,730 issued 1-16-96
  • US Patent No. 5,578,488 issued 11-26-96
• ESID 1413-X Mercury Contaminated Soil Cleaning with Copper Pellets and Microbial Agents; US Patent No. 5,597,729 issued 1-28-97
• ESID 1814-X Novel System for Removal of Infectious Agents Using Pulsed Fields (6-2-97)
• ESID 1860-X Inhibitory Effects of an Amoebae/Bacterial Preparation Having Anti-Tumor Properties (filed 9-15-97)
• ESID 1861-X Inhibitory Effects of an Amoebae/Bacterial Preparation Having Anti-Reverse Transcriptase Activity (filed 9-15-97)
• ERID 0491 Antimicrobial Effect of an Amoebae/Bacterial Preparation (Filed with the USPTO)
• UTRC Time Since Death Determinations of Human Cadavers US Patent No. 5,162,232 issued Nov. 10, 1992.

References:

William M. Bass, Ph.D.
Professor Emeritus (Univ. of Tennessee – ret.)
1186 Treymour Way
Knoxville, TN 37922-5165
(865) 806-4545 (Cell)

Wayne Griest, Ph.D.
Program Director (Oak Ridge National Laboratory - ret.)
8257 Hempridge Rd.
Shelbyville, KY 40065-9313
(502) 738-0233
hempridge@yahoo.com

Marcus Wise. Ph.D.
Senior Scientist/Group Leader (Oak Ridge National Laboratory - ret.)
436 Foremast Rd.
Kingston, TN 37763
(423) 807-1554
mbwise@ix.netcom.com

Fred D. Tompkins, Ph.D., P.E.
Professor Emeritus
University of Tennessee
110 BESS Office Building
2506 E.J. Chapman Drive
Knoxville, TN 37996-4531
(865) 974-7696
tompkins@tennessee.edu

Richard L. Tyndall, Ph.D.
Senior Scientist (Oak Ridge National Laboratory - ret.)
100 Donner Court
Oak Ridge, TN 37830-7721
(865) 220-8507
RichTyn@webtv.net

Don Green
Executive Director, Law Enforcement Innovation Center
1201 Oak Ridge Turnpike, Suite 101
Oak Ridge, TN 3783
(865) 946-3201
don.green@tennessee.edu

Dlana hopes to continue her quest to complete all locations registering positive for presence of Gina’s organic Matter and retrieve all of her sister’s remains. One area of interest might become accessible in November when the New River is at its lowest.

Dlana and the “FAST” search teams plan to tackle the most difficult burial location last - most likely in the winter or early spring. Dlana believes this process will literally be an unforgiving mountain to climb. If there is any desire to prosecute Epperly for other victims, cooperation and investigation with authoritative involvement will be necessary as this specific area will not only be a crime scene in Gina’s already convicted case, but also other victims-possibly victims of Epperly.

I will never forget this: “...I was on the cliff....the car went straight down into the water from high up....” Also we must never forget the list of 100 womens’ names that I saw on Epperly’s handwritten list...or ledger. Pride needs to be set aside and truth needs to prevail. All involved, not only in 1980, but also now, need to come to the realization that playing a part in the web of lies —small or large, could be interpreted by some as involvement. And no matter which crime, hiding any truth implicates participation in all of his actions ....some folks might have a “come to truth” moment sooner, rather than later.

Can we everyday people really do what needs to be done ....will someone even want to prosecute Epperly for dismembering Gina’s body...confirmed by the dogs in conjunction with Dr.Vass and other official reports and information related in Gina’s case file. Will someone want to help connect the 43 year old cold case of the missing Roanoke teen Angela Rader to Epperly...Angela’s brother said the family was not even interviewed in 1977 - they were told she was just a runaway. Will Angela still be just one of many cold cases in their eyes? I guess time will tell...

A personal message from Dlana to all who continue to twist the truth regarding her sister Gina Renee Hall and that “all American boy”, as so many still want to still portray him....please stop repeating the lies. You are only feeding Epperly’s confidence and arrogance that his “composed story” covered his tracks. Dlana has always referred to Epperly as the Master Manipulator...the question now... who and what else needs to be “proven”....NEVER FORGET THAT LIST - THE LEDGER- OF ONE HUNDRED WOMEN... “the connection to Florida, the sacred place, the burial fields...and on, and on”. This is not just about Gina. This is about something God wants known...

Light Will Shine in the Dark - God’s got this... This is a season of Unveiling TRUTH.

So to summarize my experience over the last year —and what led to all of this is something many cannot or will not wrap their head around -the amazing man and his instrument, the sister who has faith in God and will never leave Gina behind, and The power of prayer - The power of God and His justice- To God Be The Glory!

Arthur M. Bohanan

865.556.6264 (cell)

Bo4kids@yahoo.com

Arthur M. Bohanan is an internationally award winning patented inventor, researcher, lecturer and author, a Certified Latent Print Examiner (one of 960 in the world-19 in TN (ret) and a certified police instructor with 58 years in the study and practical application of forensics in thousands of violent crime scenes.   He earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from East Tennessee State University with further studies at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Art created the first ICAC (Internet Crimes Against Children)  task force in Tennessee in 1998 and worked in an online undercover capacity until he retired in May 2001  as a Police Specialist III, former AFIS Manager and Senior Forensic Examiner with the Knoxville Police Department(26 years). Art received the Knoxville Police Officer of the year award (twice), over thirty letters of commendation, Mayor’s Merit Award (twice) and the Legacy Award (2018) for his dedicated leadership and inspiring the future. He was awarded Walters State Community College’s first “Distinguished Alumnus Award” in March 2000 for his contribution as a researcher, consultant and lecturer in the field of forensics. Bohanan was inducted into the International Hall of Fame in Atlanta (sponsored by the Inventors Clubs of America) with two distinguished awards plus a doctorate in science and technology for pioneering research involving children’s fingerprints.  He was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012 by the East Tennessee CPIT Advocacy Counsel and the National Children’s Advocacy Center’s (Huntsville, AL) Outstanding Service for Law Enforcement in 2011. Art received the Citation of Excellence Award from the Dept of Justice and the Amber Alert when he retired May 2012.  He has completed research at the University of Tennessee’s “Body Farm”, with the F.B.I., and Oak Ridge National Lab.  He was a senior forensic consultant and instructor for the Fox Valley/Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention/National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and the national Amber Alert Program. Co-author of  “Child Fatality Investigations”, “Investigative Strategies for Missing and Abducted Children"  and “Forensic Response to Missing and Abducted Children” that he taught nationwide. Also retired as Communications /Environmental Officer with the U.S. Public Health’s DMORT WMD (disaster response) Team. Bohanan is a founding father of the National Forensic Academy at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, a founding board member and past President of Safe Harbor Child Advocacy Center and a founding father of the DMORT WMD team. Currently researching and inventing instruments for locating missing and lost graves and determine the gender of the long dead. 

LAW ENFORCEMENT:

Began at the Sevier County Sheriff’s Department while still in high school (1962), then FBI, US Army Military Police(SGT), Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department and retired from the Knoxville Police Department. Currently Forensic Examiner for the Jefferson County Sheriff and a reserve officer with Sevier County Sheriff's office. 

FEDERAL DISASTER RESPONSES AND ACTIVATIONS:

1997, Guam, Korean Airlines 801 disaster (human remains identification)

1998, Houston TX, World Energy Conference (WMD advisor)

1999, Princeville NC, floods, cemetery disaster (identified human remains in over 400 caskets that floated)

2000, Philadelphia, PA, Republican National Convention, (WMD advisor) 

2001, New York City, World Trade Disaster 911 (human remains identification)

2001, New York City, American Airlines 587 disaster (human remains identification)

2002, Salt Lake City, US Olympics Games (WMD advisor)

2003, Washington, D.C. State of the Union Address (WMD advisor)

2003, Hemphill, TX, Discovery Shuttle disaster (recover human remains)

2004, Florida for hurricane of Danielle and Charley (victim placements)

2005, Louisiana for Katrina and Rita (over 1200 caskets floated from graves plus over 100 people drown)

BOOK CHARACTER: Bohanan was featured in Patricia Cornwell’s bestseller, “The Body Farm” as Dr. Thomas Katz. Featured as Art Bohanan in eight of the novels  written by Dr. Bill Bass and Jon Jefferson.   AUTHOR:   Co-author of "Prints of A Man" (2017 biography) ,Watauga (2017), Pigeon Rivers (2018), Volunteer Patriots, Hornets and Crowes, Guerilla Fighters(2020).  He wrote “Care of the Dead and Their Families”, a chapter in “Advanced Disaster Medical Response” published by Harvard Medical International (printed worldwide in 9 languages).  He has also written over a dozen technical articles and numerous training manuals.

INVENTOR:  Holds patent # 5,395,445 issued 7 March 1995 for “Method and Apparatus for Detecting Fingerprints on Skin”. He also discovered that fingerprints of children prior to puberty are chemically different from adult prints.

Curriculum Vitae - Leon G. Higley

Office Home      

723 Hardin Hall (Lab: 122 Hardin Hall) 7320 Raven Circle

3310 Holdrege Street Lincoln, NE 68506

School of Natural Resources, 

University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Lincoln, NE 68583-0961

office (cell phone): (402) 560-6684 cell phone: (402) 560-6684

e-mail: lhigley1@unl.edu

or lhigley@drshigley.com

EDUCATION

M.S. Thesis: Seedcorn maggot population biology in central Iowa.  Advisor: Dr. Larry P. Pedigo.

Ph.D. Dissertation: Plant and stand response to early season insect-induced stress in a model system. Advisors: Dr. Larry P. Pedigo, Entomology, & Dr. Richard M. Shibles, Agronomy.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Professor of Applied Ecology (Jan 2010 – present) in the School of Natural Resources, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, transfer from Department of Entomology. Appointment: 30% teaching, 70% research as of Fall 2017 (previously 20% teaching, 80% research). 

Graduate Students Advised

Totals to date: 

16 M.S. degrees (11 co-advised), 17 Ph.D. degrees (7 co-advised); 27 degrees completed, 29 students total

SELECTED HONORS

Teaching and Research Recognition

2007 Founder’s Memorial Award, Entomological Society of America

1996 Outstanding Young Alumnus Award, Iowa State University Alumni Association

Teaching Recognition

2005 Distinguished Teaching Award, University of Nebraska-Lincoln (one annual award from each college; recipient for College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources)

Certificate of Recognition for Contributions to Students 2001, 2004, 2005, 2009, 2015 UNL Parents Association (student nomination) 

2004 February Professor of the Month, Black Masque Chapter of Mortar Board, UN-L (student nomination)

2002 American Distance Education Consortium Educational Program Award (team award for Distance M.S. in Entomology Program)

2001 USDA Food and Agricultural Sciences Excellence in Teaching Award – North Central Region

2001 Entomology Educational Project Award of the Board Certified Entomologists of Mid-America
for developing Bug Bash elementary and public insect education program (with Marion D. Ellis and Doug Golick)

2000 R1Edu National Distance Education Award (one of three national awards for promoting distance education at Research 1 universities)

2000 Entomological Society of America Distinguished Achievement Award in Teaching

2000 North Central Branch – Entomological Society of America Distinguished Achievement Award in Teaching

1999 Teaching Award of Merit, Gamma Sigma Delta, University of Nebraska chapter

1999 Finalist, 20^th Annual Telly Awards for Outstanding Non-Network Television, for Course Entomology and Pest Management (top 5% of ca. 10,000 entries)

1998 Excellence in Graduate Education Award, University of Nebraska Alumni Association for outstanding contributions to graduate education; (first recipient of this award, which included a $500 stipend)

1998 Senior Faculty Holling Family Award for Teaching Excellence, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, UN-L; (this award included a $5,000 stipend)

1998 Entomology Educational Project Award of the Board Certified Entomologists of Mid-America for developing the UN-L Entomology Distance Education Curriculum (with Entomology Department Faculty)

Research Recognition

2005 C.V. Riley Award of the North Central Branch – Entomological Society of America (for outstanding and significant contributions to the science of entomology)

1992 Junior Faculty Recognition for Excellence in Research, Agricultural Research Division, IANR, University of Nebraska-Lincoln; (this award included a $2,500 grant for research or professional development)

1992 Sigma Xi Outstanding Young Scientist Award, University of Nebraska Chapter

1986 J.H. Comstock Graduate Student Award for Outstanding Graduate Student Achievement - Entomological Society of America (NCB)

1986 Ph.D. Research Award - Entomological Society of America (NCB) 

1984 M.S. Research Award - Entomological Society of America (NCB)

FORENSIC ENTOMOLOGY 

Training and Continuing Education 

Death scene investigation: a forensic entomology and anthropology field training workshop, Rensselaer, IN, June, 2003, 2005

Crime Scene Reconstruction, Oct. 25-27, 2006 Lincoln, NE

Forensic Investigation and Management of Mass Disasters & Medico-Legal Investigation of Child Abuse Cases, Oct. 31-Nov. 2, 2007 

Forensic Pathology, 2007- 2008; training with Dr. Matthias Okoye, Coroner’s Physician to Lancaster County and President of Nebraska Institute of Forensic Science, Inc. (ca. 20 h)

Memberships in Forensically Related Organizations

American Academy of Forensic Science, Associate Member

International Association for Identification, Nebraska Chapter of the IAI

American Board of Forensic Taphonomy, one of six founding members, Secretary (2012-2013)

[American Board of Forensic Entomology (2007-2010) – I was a Diplomate of the Board between Feb. 2007 and  Sept. 2010, when I resigned over concerns I developed regarding By-Law violations by officers, and other ethical issues in the operations and leadership of the Board. Other members, including two founding members, also resigned about this time.]

Workshops, and Other Forensic Teaching

Forensic Entomology and Archeoparasitology (with K. Reinhard). 3-day workshop with lab. Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janiero, Brazil. June 2-4, 2014

2009 Forensic Entomology Course, Dept. of Pathology and Forensic Medicine, Lagos State University, Lagos, Nigeria; also consulted on new State Forensic Science Laboratory with the Minister for Health, Science, and Technology, State of Lagos, Nigeria

Forensic entomology (with T. Huntington): undergraduate/graduate course over 45h,: Southern Institute for Forensic Science, WMSU St. Joseph, MO, May 17-22, 2010 (22 participants)

Forensic entomology 2-day workshop (with T. Huntington): Iowa Chapter of the International Association for Identification (ca. 50 participants); June 2007

Forensic entomology workshop; Nebraska Wesleyan University, Forensic Science Graduate Program, 2002-2011 (excluding 2006), (ca. 50 attendees each workshop) 

Forensic entomology 3-h workshop (with F. Baxendale, T. Huntington); FBI Regional Evidence Response Team, Omaha Field Office: Fall 2002 (ca. 15 attendees) 

Forensic Entomology, ENTO 414/814, undergraduate/graduate resident and distance education course (Instructor), Dept. of Entomology, University of Nebraska Lincoln: developed and offered in Spring 2005, 2006,2008, 2010

Various guest lectures to undergraduate and high school classes

Coauthored Posters and Presentations

(Various invited talks, book chapters, and papers are listed elsewhere in appropriate sections of my CV.)

1. Quadruple Homicide – Entomology. Annual Meeting of the Kansas International Identification Association, Junction City, KS, April 10, 2019. Invited presentation.
2. Why butterflies aren’t elephants, hitmen aren’t applied ecologists, and scientists too often lie: The need for skepticism in science. Symposium “The Inspiring, Exploding Skeptical Movement and its Impact on Entomology” 2017 Annual Meeting of the American Entomological Society, Denver, CO, Nov. 10, 2017
3. Insect Development and Forensic Entomology, University of Sao Paulo, Riberao Preto, SP, Brazil, July 17, 2014.
4. Life After Death: Maggots, Murder, and Forensic Science. Dept of Biology, University of Nebraska at Kearney, Jan. 14, 2013
5. Using a Faceless Murder Victim to Illustrate Crap Tests, Quackery, and Incompetence in Using or Not Using Forensic Entomology. Ann. Meeting Amer. Acad. Forensic Sci., Chicago, IL Feb. 24, 2011 (Abstract in Proc. Amer. Acad. Forensic Sci. 2011. 17:207-208.)
6. Lay lady lay, lay upon my big dead head – Flies and Homicides. Beta Beta Beta Honorary (biology, Nebraska Wesleyan University, Lincoln, NE May 6, 2008.
7. Forensic Entomology from a Nursing Perspective. Bryan-LGH Nursing Program, Lincoln, NE, 2006, 2008, 2009.
8. Death, Taxes, and Maggots: Basics of Forensic Entomology, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (educational program for students 55 and older), UN-L, Lincoln, NE, Dec. 12, 2008.
9. Huntington, T. E., and L.G. Higley.  2007.  Have I Eaten Here Before? Considering Multigenerational Colonization of Remains by Blow Flies. American Academy of Forensic Sciences Proceedings 13 (published reviewed abstract).
10. Huntington, T. E., L. G. Higley, D. W. Voigt.  2006.  Not the Usual Suspects: Human Wound Myiasis by Phorids.  Entomological Society of America National Meeting, Indianapolis, IN.
11. Huntington, T. E., L. G. Higley, F.P. Baxendale.  2006.  Maggot Development During Morgue Storage and the Effects on the Estimation of the Postmortem Interval.  American Academy of Forensic Sciences Annual Meeting, Seattle, WA.
12. Huntington, T.E. and F.P. Baxendale.  2005.  A Year in Review:  Forensic Entomology Research Published in 2004.  North American Forensic Entomology Conference, Orlando, FL.
13. Huntington, T.E., L.G. Higley, F.P. Baxendale.  2004.  Coming out of the Closet:  A Case Study in Forensic Entomology.  Central States Entomological Society Annual Meeting, Lincoln, NE.
14. Huntington, T.E., L.G. Higley, F.P. Baxendale.  2004.  Temperature-dependent Development of the Blow Fly Calliphora vicina (Diptera: Calliphoridae) and the Effects on the Estimation of the Postmortem Interval.  American Academy of Forensic Sciences Annual Meeting, Dallas, TX.
15. Does anyone really know what time it is: Problems in estimating PMI with insect thermal development. North American Forensic Entomology Conference, Las Vegas, Nevada, Aug. 2003.

Professional Consulting 

Established Fall 2017, I partnered with Dr. Amanda Roe to establish Death and Decomposition Sciences, LLC, a forensic consulting and education business

Active cases in which I have not yet submitted a report are not included. Additionally, some cases in which I worked with Dr. Neal Haskell are not listed.)

1. Higley, L. G. 2019. Criminal (homicide): State of Nevada vs.Cristobal Ortiz-Hernandez. Activities: analysis of evidence, PMI estimate, preparation for attorney. Expert for the defense. Disposition: conviction manslaughter (verdict sought by defense).
2. Higley, L. G. 2018. Criminal (homicide): State V. Santino Rodriguez, Dana Ana County. Activities: analysis of evidence, PMI estimate, testimony in trial. Expert for the prosecution with Dr. N. Haskell. Disposition: unknown.
3. Higley, L. G. 2018. Criminal (homicide): Case #17CF002151 State v. Kris V. Zocco, Milwaukee County Circuit Court. Activities: analysis of photographs, PMI estimate, testimony in trial. Expert for the prosecution with Dr. N. Haskell. Disposition: conviction (life).
4. Higley, L. G. 2018. Criminal (homicide): Case #2016-CF-001752 State vs. David Adam Mariotti; Lakewood County, FL. Activities: analysis of photographs, PMI estimate, testimony in deposition and trial. Expert for the prosecution with Dr. N. Haskell. Disposition: conviction (life).
5. Higley, L. G. 2013 - 2017 Civil: Consultant to attorney with food processor (company name withheld by request) regarding source and time of death of bird remains found in large sugar processing tank. Activities: analysis of photographs and bird remains, processing procedures, and preparation of written report. Disposition: closed agreement.
6. Higley, L. G., and Roe, A. 2014. Civil: Carol McCann as next friend of Catherine McCann vs. Lutheran Home for the Aged, Inc.; aural myiasis of Mrs. Catherine McCann. Expert for plaintiff. Activities: analysis of photos, video, medical records, and depositions; written report, deposition by counsel for the defense, trial testimony. Disposition: case decided for plaintiff
7. Higley, L. G. 2012-13. Criminal (homicide): Case #11-10785 Jasper County MO (Joplin, MO); homicide of Emjay Corn, aged ca. 18 months) Expert for prosecution (Jasper County Attorney’s Office). Activities: Analysis of scene photographs, video, police and pathology reports, determined PMI from insect evidence and liver mortis patterns in photographs, and determined body location during establishment of liver mortis pattern; written report and deposition by defense. Disposition: case closed with conviction (plea agreement, 25-year sentence).
8. Higley, L. G., and Roe, A. Aug 2011. Criminal Investigation (homicide): Lancaster County Sheriff’s Department. Activities: scene investigation, data recovery, and analysis. Disposition: death by natural causes.
9. Higley, L. G., and Roe, A. Aug 2011. B1-007244. Criminal Investigation: Lancaster County Sheriff’s Department. Activities: scene investigation, data recovery, and data analysis. Disposition: death by unknown causes.
10. Higley, L. G. 2011. Civil (plagiarism): Expert witness to Ethics Committee of the American Academy of Forensic Science. Expert for committee (non-partisan). Activities: analyzed published text for evidence of plagiarism and testified to committee. Disposition: senior author of questioned chapter censured by AAFS.
11. Higley, L. G., and Roe, A. Sept. 2010. B0-086407. Criminal Investigation (homicide): Lincoln Police Department; body of adult male. Activities: scene investigation, data recovery, and analysis. Disposition: natural death unknown causes.
12. Higley, L. G. 2009. Civil: John Duran, personal representative of the estate of Steve Duran, deceased, plaintiff, v. New Mexico State Veteran’s Home and Las Cruces Medical Center, LLC d/b/a Mount View Regional Medical Center; maggot infestation (myiasis) in mouth. Expert for plaintiff. Activities: Report for plaintiff with review of medical evidence, determination of possible fly species, and estimate regarding duration of infestation. Disposition: case closed out of court (details of settlement not made public).
13. Higley, L. G. 2009. Civil: Mary A. Smith v. Arbor Manor Nursing Home; Maggot infestation (myiasis) in leg wound. Expert for plaintiff. Activities: report for plaintiff with review of medical evidence, determination of possible fly species, and estimate regarding duration of infestation; and deposition by counsel for the defendant. Disposition: case closed out of court (details of settlement not made public).
14. Higley, L. G. 2008. Criminal (homicide): Extradition request for homicide, Kingdom of Spain v. Kevin ROD.  Expert for Government of Canada (International Assistance Group, Department of Justice, Canada). Activities: review of report on entomological insect evidence (from plaintiff’s counsel) and consultation with senior counsel in IAG. Disposition unknown.
15. Huntington, T. E., D. E. Carter, and L. G. Higley. 2007. Criminal (homicide): Case # A7-010136; suspicious death of Nathan Anton. Expert for prosecution (Lincoln Police Department, Nebraska.) Activities: Death scene collection of evidence and consultation with LPD. Disposition: case closed, ruled suicide.
16. Huntington, T. E., and L. G. Higley. 2007. Criminal (homicide): Case # A7-091468; suspicious death: Jeffery Stephens. Expert for prosecution (Lincoln Police Department, Nebraska.) Activities: Death scene collection of evidence and report for LPD. Disposition: case closed, ruled suicide.
17. Higley, L. G., and Huntington, T. E. 2007. Criminal (homicide): Case # SSO070183; homicide of Trista Peterson, infant. Expert for prosecution (Seward County Sheriff’s Office, Nebraska.) Activities: Death scene and autopsy collection of evidence. Disposition: case closed with misdemeanor conviction, a felony conviction was overturned.
18. Huntington, T. E., and L. G. Higley. 2007. Criminal (homicide): case # A7002448; homicide of Arop Arou Mabang Daljang. Expert for prosecution (Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office). Activities: death scene collection of evidence and analysis, report for County Sheriff. Disposition: case closed with plea agreement and multiple convictions.
19. Higley, L. G. 2006. Criminal (homicide): Case #3/59; FEI# 1042; appeal of conviction for homicide of Lynne Harper. Expert for prosecution (Ministry of the Attorney General, Crown Law Office-Criminal, Province of Ontario, Toronto, Canada.) Activities: analysis of defense and Crown reports on insect evidence and calculations of PMI, identification and interpretation of pertinent biological, experimental, and statistical issues, case report and consultation with Crown Attorney. Disposition: conviction reversed on appeal.
20. Huntington, T. E., L. G. Higley, and F. P. Baxendale. 2004. Criminal (homicide): Lincoln Police Department, NE. Case # A4-032906 (Homicide: Carl Bitner). Expert for prosecution (Lincoln Police Department, Nebraska). Activities: death scene collection of evidence, identification and analysis of collected evidence and evidence from autopsy, estimation of PMI, case report for LPD and Lancaster Country Attorney. Disposition: case closed with plea agreement and conviction.
21. Huntington, T. E., L. G. Higley, and F. P. Baxendale. 2004. Criminal (homicide): Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office. Case#A4-002092, homicide of Rodrigo de la Rosa. Expert for the prosecution (Lincoln Police Department and Lancaster County Attorney, Nebraska). Activities: death scene collection of evidence, identification and analysis of collected evidence and evidence from autopsy, estimation of PMI, case report for LPD and Lancaster Country Attorney., deposition by defense. Disposition: case closed with conviction.
22. Huntington, T. E. and L. G. Higley. 2003. Criminal (homicide): Adam’s County Sheriff’s Department, NE Case#S3-381, homicide of Guadalupe Cervantes. Expert for prosecution (Adam’s County Sheriff’s Department and Adam’s Country Attorney, Nebraska). Activities: death scene collection of evidence, identification and analysis of collected evidence and evidence from autopsy, estimation of PMI, prepared case report for Adam’s County Sheriff’s Department and Adam’s Country Attorney. Disposition: case open but inactive (suspect in jail on other charges).
23. Huntington, T. E. and L. G. Higley. 2003. Criminal (homicide): Case#A3-102235, homicide of James Hagan. Expert for prosecution (Lincoln Police Department, Nebraska). Activities: death scene collection of evidence, identification and analysis of collected evidence and evidence from autopsy, estimation of PMI, case report for LPD and Lancaster Country Attorney, testified in pre-trial hearing. Disposition: case closed with plea agreements and two convictions.
24. Higley, L. G., F. P. Baxendale, and T. E. Huntington. 2002. Criminal (homicide): Case#A1-089173, homicide of Marie Hall. Expert for prosecution (Lincoln Police Department, Nebraska). Activities: identification and analysis of provided insect evidence, estimation of PMI, prepared case report for LPD and Lancaster Country Attorney, subpoenaed by defense to testify, but not called. Disposition: case closed with conviction.
25. Baxendale, F. P., and L. G. Higley. 2002. Criminal (homicide): Case#A1-112185, suspected suicide of Kenneth Yost, teenager. Expert for prosecution (Lincoln Police Department, Nebraska). Activities: death scene collection of evidence, identification and analysis of collected evidence, estimation of PMI. Disposition: case closed, ruled suicide.

PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES

American Board of Forensic Taphonomy (founding member), American Academy of Forensic Science (associate member), American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, Entomological Society of America, and International Association for Identification, Sigma Xi

GRANTS AND CONTRACTS RECEIVED

Summary 

All grants: $2,326,337

All federal competitive (including USFWS monies submitted through Nebraska Game and Parks): $943,926

PUBLICATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS

Author Impact Analysis 

SUMMARY

Editorships

Editorial Board Member (= subject editor), PeerJ: 2013-2018

Associate Editor, Agronomy Journal (Integrated Pest Management Section), 1995-1997, 1997-2000

Contributing Editor (with Dr. David W. Stanley), American Entomologist (Commentary Section) 1993-2000

Subject Editor (Field Crops), Journal of Economic Entomology, 2002