Blood, bullets, body bags & toe tags: An in-depth conversation with the Summit County Medical Examiner's Office Forensic Investigator Supervisor Amy Schaefer on the cause and manner of death and crime scene investigations.

Welcome to this smokin' hot new episode of Light 'Em Up. Our footprint has expanded to more than 71 countries across the globe, thanks only to Y-O-U!  We are tremendously grateful to you for tuning in and being such great fans and friends of the show. We take a deep dive on the criminal justice system, crime scene investigation and leadership. We enlighten, educate and empower others with the truth. Like it or not, the truth disturbs, the truth divides, but ultimately the truth delivers. Crime stories are like puzzles, unsolved murders, cold cases, ghost stories. A beating with a baseball bat or a stabbing produces a much different blood spatter pattern as does a gun shot. The goal of a crime scene investigator is to recognize, document and collect evidence at the scene of a crime and preserve, protect, analyze and prepare it for trial. From crime scene to courthouse, solving most crimes depends on careful, methodical gathering and piecing together and linking of the evidence to form a clear, logical picture of what happened at the crime scene and discover clues that help identify the individual or individuals who committed the crime. The crime scene investigator has a very challenging job. He or she must be well versed in the art of investigation. The television shows are for entertainment.  A crime scene doesn’t wrap up in an hour. An entire investigation can take months and TV doesn’t show the real horror of what one human being can do to another in an act of rage.  Every case is different. Today we have the distinct honor and privilege to sit down and talk with D-ABMDI certified Forensic Investigator, Supervisor, Amy Schaefer of The Summit County Medical Examiner’s Office, serving the City of Akron, Ohio. For any fan of crime scene investigation (CSI) – this conversation is fascinating and riveting.  In this smokin’ hot episode we drill deep on topics like:  ♦ What is physical evidence? ♦ We analyze the mechanisms of death from crucifixion on the cross that killed Christ Jesus,comparing and contrasting the medical concept in the current newsworthy case of MN v Derek Chauvin regarding “positional asphyxiation” as the causation in the death of George Floyd. ♦ We discuss what is the difference between cause of death and manner of death.♦ How UV light helps to expose evidence that is normally hidden to the naked eye.  ♦ BPA (Blood Pattern Analysis). ♦ Blood spatter vs blood splatter.♦ Luminol – a chemical that is used to detect traces of blood evidence. ♦ We inquire if the general public can view an autopsy, and can they receive the results of an autopsy?♦ Ballistics and high velocity ammunition and what these rounds do to the human body, organs and tissues due to cavitation.  ♦ Blood, bullets, body bags, toe tags and what happens to your body when you die. At one point in our lives much of this will apply to us all whether we like it or not. We ask all the tough to stomach questions about stomach contents, and maggots that form on the body --- everything you were curious about but never really wanted to hear: the gruesome answers to your questions and much more.  We hope you enjoy this episode very much!Executive ProducerPhil Rizzo We want to hear from you!Support the show