2016 Annual Report - ifs.harriscountytx.govAnnual Report 2018 78% 7% 9% 3% 3% Firearm: 336 Sharp Trauma: 30 Blunt Trauma: 37 Asphyxia/Strangulation: 13 Other: 15* 26cases were linked

Accreditations

3

Image: Shau Lin Hon/Slyworks Photography

Medical

Examiner

Service

Has the statutory duty to determine cause and manner of death

4

Annual Report 2018Annual Report 2018

Harris County (HC) remains the third most populous county in the nation, exceeded only by Los Angeles and Cook counties• 4.6+ million estimated HC population in 2018*

• 30,135 HC death certificates filed in 2018**

• 35% (10,577) of HC deaths reported to HCIFS in 2018• 4,554 medicolegal (ML) cases received by HCIFS for examination• 5,653 inquest only cases reported• 370 trauma inquest cases reported• 2,665 scenes attended by Forensic Investigators

4,950 deaths were certified in 2018, including:• 4,554 Harris County ML cases (all brought to HCIFS for examination)• 370 trauma inquests• 26 out-of-county cases

Statistical Summary

* Population estimate for 2018 obtained from the US Census Bureau** Provisional Death Certificate data is from the Texas Department of State Health Services 5


86% of ML cases (3,915) received a full autopsy*

• 14% of ML cases (639) received an external examination only

254 decedents unidentified on arrival• 0 decedents remained unidentified at the end of 2018**

257 referrals to Harris County Bereavement Services

228 formal neuropathological consults and 300 unofficial consults***

• 18 child abuse consults

No hospital autopsies retained

Statistical Summary

* Partial autopsies are not performed by the HCIFS.** Excludes skeletal cases and incomplete remains

*** Unofficial consults include gross, photo, and microscopic consults. 6


Total Caseload (2015 - 2018)

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

3,000

3,500

4,000

4,500

5,000

Total ML Cases Autopsies Externals

4,644

3,939

705

4,870

4,015

855

4,731

3,923

810

4,554

3,915

639

2015201620172018

7


Monthly ML Caseload 2018

0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450

435380

374348

376384

373376374380

372383December

November

SeptemberAugustJulyJuneMay

October

AprilMarchFebruaryJanuary

Cases Received

per Month

8


Average Daily Medicolegal Caseload

9

2018

Months with HIGHESTAverage Daily Caseload:

• 2018 January: 14.0 cases• 2017 December: 14.0 cases• 2016 July: 15.2 cases

Months with LOWESTAverage Daily Caseload:

• 2018 April: 11.6 cases• 2017 September: 11.6 cases• 2016 October: 11.8 cases

2017 2016

12.5

cases

13.0

cases13.4

cases


41%

34%

11% 10%

4% <1%

Natural: 1,886

Accident: 1,551

Suicide: 512

Homicide: 431

Undetermined: 167

Fetal: 7

N=4,554

Manner of Death – Autopsy and External Examinations

10


42%55%

1%<1%<1%

Natural: 270 Accident: 351Suicide: 14 Undetermined: 3Fetal: 1

41%

31%

13%3%

<1%12%

Natural: 1,616 Accident: 1,200Suicide: 498 Undetermined: 164Fetal: 6 Homicide: 431

Manner of Death by Autopsy and External Examinations

N=3,915 N=639

Autopsy Examinations External Examinations

11


0

200

400

600

800

1,000

1,200

1,4001,349

1,140

353 412

114

537411

78 100 58

MaleFemale

N=4,552

Manner of Death by Sex

Sex is unknown in2 fetus cases

12

*Undetermined category composed of cases withUndetermined manner(166) and fetal manner (6)


44%

29%

23%

4%

White: 2,002Black: 1,307Hispanic: 1,064Other: 175*

N=4,548

Race/Ethnicity of ML cases

* Other is composed of Native American (3) and Asian (172)

Race/Ethnicity is unknown in 6 cases.

13


31%

19%

41%

9%Harris County Population***

25%

23%

44%

8%Houston Population**

Race/Ethnicity Case Demographics Compared to Population

44%

29%

23%4%

HCIFS Decedent Population*

* HCIFS decedent population, N=4,546, excludes unknown race/ethnicity** City of Houston population, N=2,325,502, estimated by U.S. Census Bureau as of July 1, 2018

*** Harris County population, N=4,698,619 estimated by Texas DSHS Center for Health Statistics

White Black Hispanic Other

14


0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

725

862

294

62 59

380

600

60

207

60

396351

122 1474850 72

36 14 3

White: 2,002

Black: 1,307

Hispanic: 1,064

Other: 175

ML Cases by Manner and Race/Ethnicity

N=4,548

Excludes 6individuals of

unknown race/ethnicity

15


3%3%

25%

46%

23%<1 Year: 1191-17 Years: 16018-39 Years: 1,15540-64 Years: 2,07565+ Years: 1,045

N=4,554

ML Cases by Age

16


Homicide Cases

Numberof Cases

* About a 5% decrease compared with 2017; a 21% increase compared with 201117

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

458505

429

354400 412

387

480 478 455431*

Year

Annual Report 2018Annual Report 2018 18

Homicides by Injury Zip

Low High


Homicides by Injury Zip/Commissioner Precinct Boundary

Low High


Homicides by Injury Zip/Constable Precinct Boundary

Low High


78%

7%9% 3% 3%

Firearm: 336 Sharp Trauma: 30Blunt Trauma: 37 Asphyxia/Strangulation: 13Other: 15*

26 cases were linked to at least one other ML case (e.g. double murder, murder suicide, etc.)

At least 47 homicide cases are associated with domestic violence

11 homicide deaths occurred while at work

Cause of Death in Homicide Cases

N=431

Cases with multiple causes of death include blunt-/sharp-force trauma (3)

* Other causes include the use of drugs, thermal injuries, homicidal violence, and drowning21


0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

2016 2017 2018

191 202 183

181 158 153

Multiple Firearm Wounds Single Firearm Wound

372 360 336

Homicide Deaths by Firearms

22


48%34%

15%3%

Race/Ethnicity

Black: 207 Hispanic:148White: 62 Asian: 14

82%

18%

Sex

Male: 352 Female: 79

Homicide Deaths by Demographics

N=431

23


35%

30%

34%1%

Harris County Excluding the City of Houston

Homicide Deaths by Race/Ethnicity – Harris County & City of Houston

N=98

52%35%

9%4%

City of Houston

N=333*Black Hispanic White Asian

* 333 homicide cases were attributed to injury locations within the City of Houston based on the address of the place of injury and law enforcement jurisdiction.

24


11%

59%

25%5%

< 18 years: 47

18-39 years: 257

40-64 years: 107

65+ years: 20

Homicide Deaths by Age

N=431

25


Homicide Deaths of Infants and Toddlers (Aged 0 - 4)

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

22

30 2926 27

24

1816

1411

18

Year

26


ML Accidental Cases

0

200

400

600

800

1,000

1,200

1,400

1,600

1,800

2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

1,620 1,5671,417 1,4241,5121,567

1,464 1,498

1,747 1,6871,551*

Year

27

* About an 8% decrease compared with 2017; a 9% increase compared with 2010


24%

26%

47%

3%Race/Ethnicity

Black: 380 Hispanic: 396White: 725 Asian: 50

74%

26%

Sex

Male: 1,140 Female: 411

Demographics of ML Accidental Deaths

N=1,551

28


4%

31%

43% 22%

< 18 years: 65

18-39 years: 485

40-64 years: 658

65+ years: 343

ML Accidental Deaths by Age

N=1,551

29


30%

40%

16% 4%1% 2% 7%

Motor Vehicle: 466Drug Toxicity: 616Non-MVA Blunt Trauma: 255Drowning: 62Asphyxia: 23Fire/Thermal: 24Other: 105*

Most Common Causes of ML Accidental Deaths

N=1,551

* Other includes firearm injuries, sharp force injuries, hyperthermia, hypothermia, and therapeutic complications.

30


53%22%

25%

Driver: 247Passenger or Unknown Position: 101Pedestrian: 118

N=466

MVA fatalities include 30 children aged 2 days to 17 years

4 children were pedestrians, aged 2 years to 13 years of age

20% of driver fatalities (50) were under 25 years of age

25 stranded motorists were hit while stopped

Motor Vehicle Accident (MVA) Death Cases

31


81%

19%

Driver Sex Distribution

Male: 201Female: 46

The youngest driver fatality was 15; the oldest 92

77%

23%

Sex Distribution all MVA

Male: 360Female: 106

20%

18%

62%

Proportion of drivers who were teens or senior citizens

16 to 25 years: 5065+ years: 45Other Ages: 152

MVA Sex and Age Distributions

N=247 N=466

N=247

32


62 total cases of accidental drowning in 2018

Age range is 19 months to 72 years• Includes 13 children aged 2 to 7 years

• 45 of the drowning cases are males compared to 17 females

Accidental Drowning

33


0

5

10

15

20

25

30 26

1815

3

White Black Hispanic Asian

Race/Ethnicity

0

5

10

15

20

25

30 25

119 8

36

Residential Pool Natural Water*Lake/Pond Community PoolBathtub Other**

Types of Water

N=62 N=62

Accidental Drowning

* Natural Water category includes death locations such as bayou, creek, river, beach and ship channel.** Other category includes death locations such as near a roadway, parking lot or other open area, and ditch. 34


ML Suicide Cases

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

455484

442 441 457 441 449486 511 525 512*

Year

* About a 2% decrease compared with 2017; a 16% increase compared with 201135


Male to female ratio is 4.12 to 1• A record high male to female ratio

Age range is 11 to 91 years

The majority (57%) of suicide cases occur among white individuals

Number of companion Suicide/Homicide cases:• 2015: 15• 2016: 11• 2017: 17• 2018: 14

ML Suicide Case Demographics

36



56%26%

9% 6%3%

Firearm: 290

Hanging: 131

Toxicity: 47

Blunt Force Trauma 29

Other: 15*

Causes of Death in ML Suicides

* Other category contains: Asphyxiation-not due to hanging (3), Sharp Force (7), Thermal (2) and Drowning (3)

N=512

37


52%27%

13% 8%

Race/Ethnicity

White: 232 Hispanic:122Black: 60 Asian: 36

80%

20%

Sex

Male: 412 Female: 100

Suicide Deaths by Demographics

N=512

38


0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350321

299 279

169134

17

Opiates/Opioids

Cocaine

Ethanol

Benzodiazepines

Amphetamine/Meth

Carisoprodol

N=669

Most Frequent Substances Listed in Cause of Death for ML Cases

This data does not reflect discrete cases

because drugs may be combined within a case.

39


0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180173

97

60

23 20 17 16

HeroinFentanyl and AnalogsHydrocodoneOxycodoneMethadoneMorphineCodeine

N=321

Opiates/Opioids Listed in Cause of Death for ML Cases

This data does not reflect discrete cases

because drugs may be combined within a case.

40


0

50

100

150

200

250

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

Deaths

Year

Hydrocodone Heroin Fentanyl and Analogs

Hydrocodone, Heroin, and Fentanyl in Cause of Death for ML Cases

41


29%

31%

23% 17% 8%

Accident: 65Undetermined: 81Natural: 51Homicide: 46Suicide: 21

N=264

Manner of Death in Children (Aged 0 - 17 Years)

42


30%

25%16%

14%9% 6%

Firearm wounds: 36

MVA: 30

Blunt force injury, not MVA: 19

Drowning: 17

Hanging: 11

Asphyxia, not due to hanging: 7

Top Causes of Death in Children (Aged 0 - 17 Years)

N=120

43


47%

21%

21%

11%

Accident: 22Natural: 10Homicide:10Undetermined: 5

Injury Deaths Include:• 3 toddlers died in MVA as passengers

• 10 toddlers drowned in accidents

• 10 Homicide cases• 6 males• 4 females

Toddler Deaths (Aged 1 - 4 Years)

N=47

44


60%19%

6% 8%7%

Undetermined: 72 Natural: 23Fetal: 7 Accident: 9Homicide: 8

N=119

* “Undetermined (co-sleeping)” are cases with no anatomic findings to indicate a cause of death, toxicological causeof death, or suspicion of foul play but infants were co-sleeping with another individual at the time of their death.These cases would otherwise be classified as Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) but for the possibility ofsmothering. Therefore, the cause of death in this subset of cases was classified as “undetermined (co-sleeping).”

119 infant/fetal death cases (aged less than 1 year)

72 cases of undetermined manner• 39 were classified as undetermined

(co-sleeping)*

The cause of death in 13 of the 23infant deaths with a natural manner was SIDS.

Infant/Fetal Deaths

The birth count for Harris County is estimated to be 71,944 for 2018

(Data provided by Texas Department of State Health Services)

45


0

50

100

150

200

Non-Natural Natural Total

78 78

156

72 70

142

66 69

135201620172018

While at Work Deaths

46


0

5

10

15

20

25

30

30 28 26

14

3

SuicideHomicideAccidentNaturalUndetermined

N=101

* These include deaths in which the circumstances of the death place the decedent in either direct orindirect contact with law enforcement such as incarceration, apprehension, and pursuit. This category ofdeath is not limited to police shootings, arrest-related deaths, apprehension deaths, or in-custody deaths.

Death During Police Intervention*

47


1,306

1,040

322 311248

181 124

Hypertensive Cardiovascular Disease

Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease

Diabetes Mellitus

Obesity

Chronic Ethanolism

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Other forms of cardiac death

Most Frequent Causes of Natural Death

1,886 Natural Deaths in 2018

This data does not reflect discrete cases because diseases may be combined within a case.

48


BMI was calculated for 4,121 decedents aged 13 years or older, at least 60” tall who weighed at least 100 pounds:• 1,281 (31%) were obese with a BMI of 30 or greater

• 1,185 (29%) were overweight with a BMI between 25 and 29

• The greatest BMI was 83 (598 lbs./71” tall)

• 27 decedents weighed more than 400 lbs.

• 1,655 (40%) decedents were of normal weight or underweight

Obesity

49


For 323 decedents, diabetes mellitus was listed as the primary cause (67) or the contributing cause (256) of death • 72% were either overweight or

obese Body Mass Index (BMI) = 25+

Diabetes

50


HCIFS maintains agreements with:• LifeGift

• Lions Eye Bank of Texas at Baylor College of Medicine

• Biograft Transplant Services

337 decedents donated organs and/or tissue in 2018.

Organ & Tissue Donation Summary

4951


Staffed by three doctoral-level forensic anthropologists, two of whom are certified as Diplomates by the American Board of Forensic Anthropology

2018 case work:• 264 total cases received with written reports

provided• 168 autopsy consultations without written

reports • 24 death scenes with skeletal recovery• 37 cases of remains determined to be non-human

Forensic Anthropology

52


Staffed by a board-certified, doctoral-level Forensic Entomologist• Reports are peer-reviewed by external

doctoral-level entomologists from three major academic institutions

2018 Casework:• 54 Cases • 27 Scene Collections• 13 Autopsy Collections• 3 Scene and Autopsy Collections

Forensic Entomology

53


0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

29

12

58 7

30

7

13

96

35

68 7 6

32

4

12

3 2

Number of Cases

2015201620172018

Forensic Entomology by Manner of Death

54

Quality

Management

Division

Ensures that services provided by the Institute are reliable andof high quality

A separate division of HCIFS


Maintains a documented quality management system that meets all accreditation and county requirements

Facilitates quality improvements within each division of HCIFS

Monitors the continued use of best practices and ensures the reliability of records released for discovery

Responsibilities

56


559 standard operating procedures reviewed

187 proficiency tests administered

401 court orders processed

14 internal audits conducted

110 internal training sessions provided

2018 Accomplishments

57


Crime

Laboratory

Service

Provides analytical testing services to the HCIFS Medical Examiner Service, the justice system, and law enforcement agencies in Harris and surrounding counties



Cases received: 22,537

Cases completed: 22,743

Total Number of submitting agencies: 74

70% of laboratory personnel have a professional certification • American Board of Criminalistics: 53 analysts• American Board of Forensic Toxicology: 16 analysts• Association of Firearm and Tool Mark Examiners: 4

Statistical Summary

59

Crime Laboratory Service:

Analyzes suspected drug evidence seized by law enforcement agencies

Drug Chemistry


In accordance with Texas state statutes, identifies confiscated, illegal, and dangerous drugs, including: Plant material Powders, tablets, liquids Drug paraphernalia

The laboratory also develops and implementsmethods to identify new “designer” drugs including: Stimulants known as “Bath Salts” Synthetic cannabinoids such as “Spice” or “K2” NBOMe hallucinogens

Drug Chemistry Laboratory

61



0

1,500

3,000

4,500

6,000

7,500

9,000

10,500

12,000

13,500

2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

7,0547,618

7,7868,800

9,56310,227

8,2347853*7,096

7,6297,567 7,430

8,749

12,596

8,1727298

ReceivedCompleted

Drug Cases Received and Completed

Number of Cases

* Compared to 2017, a 5% decrease in cases received because of changes in law enforcement practices

62


Positive Test Results

N=14,150

* “Other” relates to a variety of controlled substances not specifically listed as an individual result in the pie chart 63

27%

21%15%

12%11% 7% 6%

1%

Non-Controlled Substances: 3,854Marihuana/THC: 2,923Methamphetamine: 2,067Prescription Drugs: 1,703Cocaine: 1,529Designer Drugs: 977Opioids: 914Other Contolled Substances: 183


59%34%

2% 5%Synthetic Marihuana: 578Bath Salts: 331NBOMe: 24Other: 44

Breakdown of Designer Drug Test Results

This data does not reflect discrete cases because drugs may be combined

within a case.

N=977

64


0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

1000

2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

155

267 297 279 266331355

776

947

798

407

578

67109 105

36 9 24

Bath Salts (SyntheticCathinones)

K2/Spice (SyntheticCannabinoids)

NBOMe Hallucinogens

Designer Drug Trends

Numberof Test

ResultsThese data do not

reflect discrete cases because drugs may be combined within

a case.

65Year


Analyzes biological fluids and tissues such as blood, semen, muscle, and bone

Forensic Genetics


Forensic Genetics Laboratory

Conducts DNA testing primarily for: Law enforcement agencies

HCIFS medical examiners and forensic anthropologists assist in positively identifying decedents.

Cases submitted for DNA testing include crimes against persons such as sexual assault, homicide, and robbery, as well as property crimes such as burglary and theft.

Crimes against persons are given first priority for testing.

67



The laboratory paused the collection and analysis of touch DNA property crimes in July 2015 to focus on crimes against persons, which typically require more testing and more complex interpretations.

Increasing DNA testing of crimes against persons decreases the number of cases the lab can complete.

0

1,500

3,000

4,500

6,000

2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

4,013

4,8854,324

3,148 2,9652,584*

3,4734,139

2,753

3,8823,019

2,761 Received

Completed/Closed

Cases Received and Completed/Closed

* Compared to 2017, a 13% decrease in cases received (see above) 68


18%

27%

37% 12% 6%

Property: 467 Assault/Robbery: 707Sexual Assault: 943 Homicide/Death Investigation: 316Other: 151

Case Submissions by Type

N=2,584

69


811952 989

1,071

1,3131,540

1,133

600 664590

507 543 536 558 612 687527

319

336283

0

200

400

600

800

1,000

1,200

1,400

1,600

1,800

2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

CODIS hits Offender hits

CODIS Hits

70Drop in CODIS hits reflects a drop in property crimes tested


Specialized DNA analysts who attend select death scenes to collect DNA and trace evidence from bodies that have been:

Dumped Bound Thought to have been in close

contact with the perpetrator

The team has had a number of successes obtaining DNA different from that of the victim.

DNA information assists investigators in solving crimes.

Trace Evidence DNA Collection Team

71


54%24%

16% 6%

Gun shot wound(s): 50Blunt or Sharp: 22Accidental: 15Other*: 5

92 collections in 2018

81% (74) of the Trace DNA Collection Cases

are Homicides

Trace DNA Collection: Homicide Cases by Cause of Death

N=92

72* Other causes include strangulation/asphyxia, homicidal violence, and suicide.


Provides analytical services in medicolegal death investigations, driving while impaired (human performance alcohol and drug testing),

and drug-facilitated sexual assault investigations

Forensic Toxicology


Analyzes biological evidence submitted by the HCIFS Medical Examiner Service and law enforcement agencies in Harris County for: Death investigations Driving while impaired (DWI) and driving

under the influence (DUI) cases Drug-facilitated sexual assaults Other criminal investigations

HCIFS is the only forensic toxicology laboratory in Texas dually accredited by the ANSI National Accreditation Board and the American Board of Forensic Toxicology.

Forensic Toxicology Laboratory

74Image: Shau Lin Hon/Slyworks Photography


0

1,500

3,000

4,500

6,000

7,500

9,000

2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

6,6587,391 8,048 7,848 8,343*

6,5467,104

8,1047,806

8,967*

Year

Received

Completed

Cases Received and Completed

* Compared to 2017, a 6% increase in cases received and a 13% increase in cases completed

Numberof Cases

75


80%

12%6% 2%

Alcohol Positive Only*: 2,666Drug Positive Only: 398Alcohol and Drug Positive: 202Negative: 78

N=3,344

DWI Case Results

* Alcohol Positive Only is a case with any ethanol concentration and cannot contain drugs.

76


0

50

100

150

200

250

00.

010.

020.

030.

040.

050.

060.

070.

080.

09 0.1

0.11

0.12

0.13

0.14

0.15

0.16

0.17

0.18

0.19 0.2

0.21

0.22

0.23

0.24

0.25

0.26

0.27

0.28

0.29 0.3

0.31

0.32

0.33

0.34

0.35

0.36

0.37

0.38

0.39 0.4

Blood Alcohol Concentration (g/100 mL)

DWI Blood Alcohol Concentrations

7%31%

62%

Less than 0.08 g/100 mL0.08 - 0.15 g/100 mLGreater than 0.15 g/mL

77

Numberof Cases


True prevalence may be underrepresented as one case could have multiple drugs from a single drug class, e.g. opiates or benzodiazepines.

Other identified drug classes include: anti-seizure medicines, over-the-counter cough and cold medicines, and anti-depressants.

0%10%20%30%40%50%60% 53%

45%

23% 23% 20%13% 13%

Drug Prevalence in Drug-Tested DWI Cases

N=600Number of

Drug-Tested Cases

78


Physical Evidence

Evaluates fired cartridge casings and bullets recovered from crime scenes and firearms involved in violent, gun-related incidents

Analysis in the three forensic sub-disciplines of Gunshot Residue Analysis, Fire Debris Analysis, and Automotive Paint Analysis


Conducts examinations of evidence related to investigations of gun-related offenses

Cases received are comprised of weapons, bullets, and cartridge casings

Serves as a regional facility for the National Integrated Ballistics Information Network database

Firearms Identification Laboratory

80



0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

3,000

3,500

2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

2,4172,501 2,771 2,923

3,334 3,324

2,104

2,490 2,5292,705

2,936 3,038*

Cases Received

Firearms Received

Year

Firearms Identification Casework

Numberof Cases

* Compared to 2017, a 4% increase in firearms received 81


82%

8%

7%3%

Pistols: 2,536

Revolvers: 242

Rifles: 205

Shotguns: 108

Firearms Cases Completed

N=3,108*

82

* There are 17 cases with other types of firearms such as air guns, BB guns, and Derringers.


Provides analytical support to the HCIFS Medical Examiner Service and law enforcement in three areas: Fire Debris Analysis

• Examines evidence from fires to assist investigators in determining the presence of ignitable liquid residues

Gunshot Residue (GSR) Analysis• Assists in determining whether a person

or object has an association with the discharge of a firearm

Automotive Paint Analysis• Supports law enforcement investigation

into injurious failure to stop and render aid (hit-and-run) incidents

Trace Evidence

83


0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

329 329

376 361 347 341

7353

85104

77 77

GSRFire Debris

Year

Trace Evidence Casework

Cases Received

Compared to 2017, a 2% decrease in cases received for GSR cases (15 paint analysis cases received during 2018, which was a new case type introduced by Trace Evidence section starting late 2017). 84

20 published articles in peer-reviewed journals

Published Scientific Work


Authors Title Publication

1 Antinick T.C. and Foran D.R. Intra- and Inter-Element Variability in Mitochondrial

and Nuclear DNA from Fresh and Environmentally Exposed Skeletal Remains.

J Forensic Sci doi: 10.1111/1556-4029.

13843. Epub 2018 June 25.

2 Bakota E.L., Samms WC, Gray T.R., Oleske D.A., Hines M.O.

Case Reports of Fatalities Involving Tianeptine in the United States.

J Anal Toxicol. 2018 Sep 1;42(7):503-509.

doi: 10.1093/jat/bky023.

3 Drake, S.A., Wolf, D.A., Yang, Y., Harper, S., Ross, J., Reynolds, T., and Giardino, E.

A descriptive and geospatial analysis of environmental factors attributing to sudden unexpected infant death.

American Journal of Forensic Medicine and

Pathology (2018) in press. PMID: 30570520

4 Drake, S.A., Pickens, S., Wolf, D.A., and Thimsen, K. Improving medicolegal death investigative gaps of fatal elder abuse.

Journal of Elder Abuse & Neglect (2018)

30:1-10. PMID: 30375941

5

Drake, S.A., Holcomb, J.B., Yang, Y., Thetford, C., Myers, L., Brock, M., Wolf, D.A., Cron, S., Persse, D., McCarthy, J., Kao, L., Todd, S.R., Naik-Mathuria, B.J., Cox, C., Kitagowa, R., Sandberg, G., and Wade, C.E.

Establishing a regional trauma preventable/potentially preventable death rate.

Annals of Surgery (2018) July, 31, 2018.

PMID 30067544

6 Wolf, D.A. Letter to the Editor, in Response to: Laposata M. A new kind of autopsy for 21st-century medicine.

Archives of Pathology (2018) 142(2):158.

PMID 29373851

7 Andronowski JM, Crowder C.M. Bone Area Histomorphometry. Journal of Forensic Sciences. (2018).

DOI: 10.1111/1556-4029.13815

8 Fleischman J.M. Sites of Violence, Sites of Memory: Linking Tuol

Sleng (S-21) and Choeung Ek through Archival and Skeletal Evidence.

Mémoires en jeu (Memories at Stake)

6:76-80.

Publications by HCIFS Doctors and Scientists

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9 Fleischman J.M., Prak S, Voeun V, Ros S. Khmer Rouge Regime Massacres: Skeletal Evidence of Violent Trauma in Cambodia.

In: Anderson C, Martin D, editors. Massacres:

Bioarchaeology and Forensic Anthropology

Approaches. Gainesville:

University of Florida Press, 116-135.

10Ambrose CG, Soto Martinez M.E., Bi X, Deaver J, Kuzawa C, Schwartz L, Dawson B, Bachim A, Polak U, Lee B, Crowder C.

Mechanical Properties of Infant Bone. Bone. (2018) 131:151-160.

11 Andranowski JM, Crowder C, Soto Martinez M.E. Recent Advancements in the Analysis of Bone Microstructure: New Dimensions

in Forensic Anthropology. Forensic Sciences Research. (2018) 3(4): 278-293.

12 Love JC, Soto Martinez M.E. Theoretical foundation of child abuse.In: C. Clifford Boyd Jr. and Donna C. Boyd, editors.

Forensic Anthropology: Theoretical Framework and

Scientific Basis. John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

13 Sanford, Michelle. R., Torres, Mirna, and Ross, Jennifer

Unexpected Human Fatality Associated with Bed Bug (Hemiptera: Cimicidae) Heat Treatment. J Forensic Sci. (2018). doi:10.1111/1556-4029.13883

14Blessing M.M., Blackburn P.R., Balcom J.R., Krishnan C., Harrod V.L., Zimmermann M.T., Barr Fritcher E.G., Zysk C.D., Jackson R.A., Nair A.A., Jenkins R.B., Halling K.C., Kipp B.R., Ida C.M.

Novel BRAF alteration in desmoplastic infantile ganglioglioma with response to targeted therapy.

Acta Neuropathol Commun.

2018 Nov 5;6(1):118; PMID: 30396366

15 Lin P.T., Blessing M.M. The characteristics of all-terrain vehicle (ATV)-related deaths: A forensic autopsy data-based study.

Forensic Sci Med Pathol. 2018 Oct 11

[Epub ahead of print]; PMID: 30311068

16Carter J.M., Wu Y., Blessing M.M., Folpe A.L., Thorland E.C., Spinner R.J., Jentoft M.E., Wang C., Baheti S., Niu Z., Mauermann M.L., Klein C.J.

Recurrent Genomic Alterations in Soft Tissue Perineuriomas.

Am J Surg Pathol. 2018 Dec;42(12):

1708-1714. PMID: 30303818


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17Zalewski N.L., Rabinstein A.A., Krecke K.N., Brown R.D. Jr, Wijdicks E.F.M., Weinshenker B.G., Kaufmann T.J., Morris J.M., Aksamit A.J., Bartleson J.D., LanzinoG., Blessing M.M., Flanagan E.P.

Characteristics of Spontaneous Spinal Cord Infarction and Proposed Diagnostic Criteria.

JAMA Neurol. 2018 Sep 24. doi:

10.1001/jamaneurol.2018.2734.

[Epub ahead of print] PMID: 30264146

18 Jones A.L., Britton J.W., Blessing M.M., Parisi J.E., Cascino G.D.

Chronic traumatic encephalopathy in an epilepsy surgery cohort: Clinical and pathologic findings.

Neurology. 2018 Feb 6;90(6):e474-e478.

Epub 2018 Jan 10. PMID: 29321231

19 Blessing M.M., Raghunathan A., Erickson L.A. Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy. Mayo Clin Proc. 2018 Jan;93(1):

123-125. PMID: 29304918

20 Blessing M.M., Lin P.T. Identification of Bodies by Unique Serial Numbers on Implanted Medical Devices.

J Forensic Sci. 2018 May;63(3):740-744.

Epub 2017 Jul 18. PMID: 28718881


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Internship and

Fellowship Programs


HCIFS prepares students for future careers in forensic science in many different scientific disciplines as well as in technical, professional, and administrative capacities.

16 summer interns and 6 fall interns from the following disciplines were on site in 2018:

Internship Program

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• Histology• Forensic Anthropology• Forensic Investigations &

Emergency Management• Victim’s Assistance• Systems Support

• Drug Chemistry• Firearms Identification• Forensic Genetics• Forensic Imaging• Forensic Toxicology• Trace Evidence


Medical Examiner Fellowship Programs

Forensic Pathology Fellowship:A one-year fellowship that is a required training program for all new pathologists seeking Forensic Pathology Board certification

Fellows focus on the data acquisition and documentation processes from medical and non-medical sources with particular emphasis placed on the correlation of scene observations (forensic investigation) with autopsy and forensic toxicological findings

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Medical Examiner Fellowship Programs

Forensic Anthropology:A grant-funded, 12-month training program designed to expose an emerging physical anthropologist to the role of the forensic anthropologist in a medical examiner’s office that serves a large urban population.

During the program, the fellow will participate in casework, attend and process death scenes, process unidentified decedents, and conduct a research project.

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Crime Laboratory Fellowship Programs

Forensic Toxicology:A two-year fellowship providing training for doctorate-level scientists seeking specialization in forensic toxicology

Upon completion of the program, fellows will be familiar with toxicology laboratory methods and interpretation. Methods include immunoassay screening, sample preparation, liquid and gas chromatography with mass spectrometry, and interpretation of toxicological findings in postmortem, DWI, and drug-facilitated sexual assault cases.

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Crime Laboratory Fellowship Programs

Forensic Genetics:A two-year program designed to train life science doctorates in casework and validation methods

Upon completion of the program, fellows will have been trained in all casework methods in exactly the same manner as a staff analyst would be. These methods include forensic serology, state-of-the-art DNA analysis methods, DNA interpretation, statistical analysis, and expert witness testimony.

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Documents

2016 Annual Report - ifs.harriscountytx.govAnnual Report 2018 78% 7% 9% 3% 3% Firearm: 336 Sharp Trauma: 30 Blunt Trauma: 37 Asphyxia/Strangulation: 13 Other: 15* 26cases were linked