Cold Case Symposium provides students, community with access to forensic science experts
The fourth annual Cold Case Symposium will take place Oct. 16–17 at Arizona State University’s West Valley campus.
On Sept. 11, 2021, when Gabby Petito was reported missing, the country was captivated by the search for the 22-year-old vlogger chronicling her cross-country road trip in a white van she shared with her fiancé, Brian Laundrie. Weeks later, her remains were found in a national forest in Wyoming. Petito had been strangled by Laundrie.
Nicole Schmidt, Petito’s mother, has turned her tragedy into an opportunity to help other people with missing or murdered family members.
Schmidt, the founder of the Gabby Petito Foundation, will speak at the fourth annual Cold Case Symposium that takes place Oct. 16–17 at Arizona State University’s West Valley campus. The event is cohosted by Purdue University’s Department of Entomology, Arizona State University and Project: Cold Case.
Schmidt is one of many high-profile speakers at the two-day event that is designed as a platform for victims' families, forensic experts, law enforcement, advocates, ASU students and the public to hear stories and learn about resources and tools that can bring attention to cold cases and ultimately seek justice for the victims.
Events like the Cold Case Symposium “provide a space for dialogue between experts, students and members of the community,” said Hank Fradella, the newly appointed director of ASU's School of Interdisciplinary Forensics. "These conversations can bring renewed attention to long-dormant investigations and help build trust between institutions and the public they serve.”
The symposium also distinguishes the department and the university.
“It puts the School of Interdisciplinary Forensics at the forefront of impactful forensic science, aiding with communities, practitioners and scientists — not only in Arizona but nationally,” said Jonathan Parrott, an entomologist and assistant professor at the school. “Events like this demonstrate the impact that interdisciplinary forensics has on families and communities.”
Advances in DNA testing have revolutionized criminal investigations, allowing law enforcement to reopen and solve cold cases nationwide.
Troy Hillman, a former cold case investigator for the Phoenix police department, will be speaking about “Chasing Down the Zombie Killer and Why Cold Cases Matter.”
Hillman is the author of a book about the infamous Zombie Killer, Bryan Miller. Miller, known locally for his zombie persona, brutally murdered and beheaded multiple women who were riding their bikes on the Phoenix canal. The Canal Murders took place in the early ‘90s. DNA evidence finally helped convict him in 2015.
Symposium sessions will also feature topics such as “Investigating Long-Term Missing and Unidentified Person Cases” and “True Crime Research Training.”
Several sessions will highlight survivors of historic murder cases, including Holly Marie Clouse, who was an infant when her parents, Dean and Tina Clouse, were murdered in 1980.
Access to experts in the field of forensic science
The School of Interdisciplinary Forensics is one of the only schools of its kind, offering a wide variety of classes on forensic science, psychological forensics and digital forensics.
“(The school) brings together science, psychology, law and investigative practice in a way that is both rigorous and responsive to current issues,” Fradella said.
Hosting this event also demonstrates the school’s dedication to interdisciplinary learning, public service and staying at the cutting edge of forensic education.
"That kind of exposure is invaluable in preparing our students to enter the workforce with a deeper understanding of both the science and human impact behind complex cases," Fradella said.
The symposium is also an opportunity for students in the School of Interdisciplinary Forensics to see real-world applications of what they’re learning, bringing their forensic science education to life.
"Events like the Cold Case Symposium provide our students with an educational experience that is one they cannot get anywhere else," said Lauren Weidner, assistant professor in the School of Interdisciplinary Forensics. "The students, both in person and online, gain real-world experience hearing from family members and experts in the field about unresolved cases. They can network and talk with these individuals firsthand, allowing them to ask questions directly, unlike watching a show or reading a book.
"But importantly, this event humanizes these cases. They aren’t a shocking story you listen to on a podcast; they are hearing from families and individuals who worked these cases, reinforcing the importance of their ethical responsibilities in forensics."
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