The conference name refers to former Tippecanoe County Coroner, Dr. David Avolt, a veterinarian in Lafayette, Indiana. David died on August 16, 2012, as the result of an automobile accident in Dunedin, Florida. The Indiana State Coroner’s Association looked at the history of David’s dedication, love, leadership, and affiliation with the Association. After reflecting on the growth, positive changes, and guidance that David’s spirit still influences us today, we honor his service by recognizing him during this annual conference. He was a valuable part of making and molding the Indiana State Coroner’s Association and Indiana State Coroner’s Training Board from their beginnings into what they are today. David’s active involvement, encouragement, and forethought of the future and his drive for education and excellence are what we still strive for today. David was elected as the Tippecanoe County Coroner in 1984 after serving as a Deputy Coroner under Dr. William Sholty. As Coroner, he was instrumental in boosting the professionalism of all Coroner’s and their offices throughout the state. David even helped write the current legislation, enacted in 1993, that requires all elected Coroners and their Deputies to become training, certified, and maintain their education as medicolegal death investigators. Striving for better recognition for our profession, he was the first veterinarian to be elected as a Fellow of the American Academy of Forensic Science in 1979. After serving as President of the Association in 1992 and being a longtime board member, he also served as the Executive Director of the Indiana State Coroner’s Training Board from 1994 to 1998. “Doc” is considered by many as the Dean of Indiana Coroners. His willingness to counsel, assist, or advise those seeking his wisdom or expertise as been a tremendous asset over the years, not only to Coroners, but to the families we all serve.

Conference Site
Wyndham Indianapolis Airport
2544 Executive Drive
Indianapolis, IN

You must make the reservations for yourself and roommate. Please tell the hotel that you are attending the ISCA 2025 Annual Conference, as there have been discounted rooms reserved specifically for this conference.

The Indiana State Coroner’s Training Board will cover the cost of lodging for any Coroner or Deputy Coroner that is a Certified Medicolegal Death Investigator and is in good standing with their CEU hours whose home or workplace is 50 miles away or greater from the conference site. For this conference, the ISCTB has established a “direct bill” account with Wyndham Hotel to cover the $133.00 plus tax. When making this type of reservation, please tell the hotel that you are on the “direct bill account.” The hotel staff might ask for a credit card to be used at check-in for any incidentals that may occur during your stay.

You must make your hotel reservations before the cutoff date of May 20, 2025.

If the ISCTB is covering the cost of your room, you must share that room with one (1) person of the same sex from your home county (unless you are bringing your family). If you are sharing a room with your co-worker, please have the hotel place both names on the bill.

In the instance that your family is coming, they must register at the executive/registration booth for the ISCTB to pay for your room.

All other attendees: tell them you are attending the “ISCA 2025 Annual Conference” as we have a block of rooms held for our group at the state rate of $133.00 plus tax.

Wyndham Indianapolis West Hotel Reservations
(317-248-2481)

2025 Dr. David Avolt Memorial Training Conference Hotel Reservations

Registration & Exhibitors Hours

Registration & Coroners Shop

Exhibitors Hours

Thursday, June 19th
8:00 am - 5:30 pm	Registration
9:00 am – 9:15 am	Welcome - Dr. Jon Brandenberger, Allen County Coroner, ISCA President Welcome – Phil Zahm, Huntington County Coroner, CTB Chairman Welcome - Dr. Lindsay Weaver, IDOH Commissioner Opening Ceremony - Gordon Becher, Knox County Deputy Coroner Presentations of the Colors - Indiana State Police Color Guard National Anthem - Voices of the Indianapolis Fire Department
9:15 am - 9:45 am	Indiana Law & CTB/ISCA Update Tony Ciriello, CTB Director of Training
9:45 am - 10:00 am	Break
10:00 am - 11:00 am	Fatal Abusive Head Trauma and Radiologic-Pathologic Correlation Dr. Kent Harshbarger, Forensic Pathologist
11:00 am - 11:45 am	Coroner Panel Tony Ciriello, CTB Director of Training Doug Banks, Decatur County Deputy Coroner Alfie McGinty, Marion County Coroner Joe Millspaugh, Jr., Knox County Coroner
11:45 am - 12:00 pm	Making Organ and Tissue Donation Possible: Coroner Involvement in a Lifesaving Process Kira Newkirk, Indiana Donor Network
12:00 pm - 1:30 pm	Lunch (provided)
12:00 pm - 1:30 pm	Coroner Car Cruze In, Sponsored by Clean X-Treme
1:30 pm - 2:30 pm	DEATH HARVESTER: How the FBI is Dismembering the Illegal Trade in Human Body Parts Paul Micah Johnson, FBI
2:30 pm - 2:45 pm	Break
2:45 pm - 3:15 pm	Detection Canines and Capabilities Jan Harkner-Abbs, Rebecca Knight, Indiana Search and Response Team
3:15 pm - 5:00 pm	Determination of Intent: Accident, Suicide or Homicide? The Utilization of Social Behavioral Science and Psychological Autopsy in Equivocal Deaths Janet Schnell, Anne Kelly, Brett Harding
* Breaks are given at the discretion of the speaker
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm	Coroner Car Cruze In Continued (optional)
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm	Indiana Donor Network Facility Tour & Dinner (optional)
7:30 pm - 11:00 pm	Karaoke/Music/Cornhole Round Robin (optional) DJ Gordon Becher Gathering Room, Sponsored by ISCA and Exhibitors
Friday, June 20th
7:00 am - 4:00 pm	Registration
8:00 am - 8:10 am	Announcements
8:10 am - 8:30 am	Memorial Tribute to Colleagues Lost in the Last Year
8:30 am - 9:00 am	Local Outreach to Suicide Survivors (LOSS) Teams: Postvention Support for the Newly Bereaved Caitlyn Short, Chelcee Hill, Mike Pruitt
9:00 am - 10:00 am	Fantastically Interesting Cases: A Retrospective of 37 Years of Hoosier Forensic Pathology Dr. Scott Wagner, Forensic Pathologist
10:00 am - 11:00 am	One Pill Can Kill: Mobilizing County Resources for Opioid Awareness and Prevention Brandon Butz, Leader of Strategic Partnerships
11:00 am- 12:00 pm	Awards Ceremony/Vendor Door prizes
12:00 pm- 1:00 pm	Lunch (provided)
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm	General Business Meeting for Paid Coroners Only or their Proxy (lunch provided)
1:00 pm – 5:00 pm	The Nightstalker, Overview of a serial killer Gil Carillo, LA Retired Sheriff’s Department
* Breaks are given at the discretion of the speaker
6:30 pm - 8:00 pm	Dr. Phil O’Shaughnessy Case Studies
7:30 pm - 11:00 pm	Gathering Room Sponsored by ISCA and Exhibitors
8:00 pm - 9:00 pm	Comedy Magic Show Rusty Ammerman, Dimension of Illusion
9:00 pm - 11:00 pm	Karaoke/Music DJ Gordon Becher
Saturday, June 21st
7:00 am – 10:00 am	Registration
8:00 am – 8:15 am	Announcements
8:15 am – 12:00 pm	Fire Investigations Involving Fatalities and Line of Duty Deaths Jason Mardirosian
* Breaks are given at the discretion of the speaker

All Coroners and Deputy Coroners will be required to scan in each day and upon returning from lunch breaks and at the end of the day. Please remember to bring your ISCA issued ID card. If you have lost yours, a new one will be available for $5.00.

Breaks are given at the discretion of the speaker. Video and/or audio taping of any sessions or parts thereof is not permitted. Although precautions are taken to prevent schedule changes, speakers and program schedules may change due to unforeseen circumstances.

No one under the age of 18 will be permitted into the lecture area.

All cell phones or devises must be turned off or placed in “silent” mode during all events where a speaker is present. If you must make a phone call, please step outside into the lobby area. Any infractions are subject to $5.00 fine per incident with money going to the Dr. David Dennis scholarship fund.

A special thank you goes to the Indiana State Coroners Association Board of Directors and the Indiana State Coroners Training Board members for their continued foresight on behalf of the Coroners of the state of Indiana.

Indiana State Coroners Association E. Jon Brandenberger, MD, Allen County Coroner ISCA President Dr. Donna Smith, Parke County Coroner ISCA Vice President Phil Zahm, Huntington County Coroner ISCA Secretary/Treasurer Lisa Barker, Tippecanoe County Deputy Coroner Executive Director Jennie Short, Dekalb County Coroner At-Large Vacant At-Large Ed Cripe, Clinton County Coroner Immediate Past President Charity Banks, Decatur County Coroner 2nd Past President Board of Directors Doug Banks, Decatur County Gordon Becher, Knox County Leslie Cook, Adams County Marian Dunnichay, Tipton County Kristin Enoch, Carroll County Mark Franklin, Lawrence County Nick French, Clay County Jeri Good, Fulton County Cameron McCreary, Dearborn County ISCA Lobbyists Patrick Tamm Tamm Capital Group Abbi Raben Tamm Capital Group Rick Cockrum Tamm Capital Group Indiana State Coroners Training Board Tony Ciriello, Marshall County Deputy Coroner CTB Director of Training Indiana State Coroners Training Board Phil Zahm, Huntington Co. Coroner ISDH Chairman Major Sidney W. Newton Indiana State Police Dr. Jon Brandenberger, Allen County Coroner Board Member (Republican) Vice Chairman Vacant Board Member (Democrat) Vacant Board Member (Republican) Vacant Board Member (Democrat) Lisa Barker, Tippecanoe County Deputy Coroner Executive Administrative Assistant Tony Ciriello, Marshall County Deputy Coroner Director of Training

Indiana Law & CTB/ISCA Update - PRESENTATION ABSTRACT: Legislative/Legal Update: This session will provide details on the latest legislative session and the effectiveness it has on the Office of the Coroner as well as previous legislation. This session will also provide the roles of the Indiana Sate Coroners Training Board and the Indiana State Coroners Association.

Coroner Panel PRESENTATION ABSTRACT: This panel discussion will feature four coroners from various-sized agencies across the state, offering a unique opportunity for knowledge sharing and problem-solving. The panelists will discuss shared challenges faced in their roles, explore effective strategies for addressing these issues, and provide in- sights into how different agencies manage similar situations. Attendees will have the chance to ask questions and gain practical perspectives from experienced professionals in the field. This session aims to foster collaboration and enhance the effectiveness of coroner services statewide. Sitting on the panel will be Tony Ciriello, CTB Director of Training (Moderator); Doug Banks, Decatur County Deputy Coroner; Jennie Short, Dekalb County Coroner; Alfarena (Alfie) McGinty; Marion County Coroner and Joe Millspaugh Jr., Knox County Coroner.

Dr. Kent Harshbarger, Forensic Pathologist PRESENTATION ABSTRACT: Fatal Abusive Head Trauma and Radiologic-Pathologic Correlation

Kira Newkirk PRESENTATION ABSTRACT: Making Organ and Tissue Donation Possible: Coroner Involvement in a Lifesaving Process

Coroners play a key role in the organ and tissue donation process, which saves and heals thousands of lives each year. Indiana Donor Network will share an example of the en- tire organ donation process — and the many professionals who make it possible — to better inform attendees about where coroners fit in the path of organ and tissue donation.

Paul Micah Johnson, FBI - PRESENTATION ABSTRACT: DEATH HARVESTER: How the FBI is Dismembering the Illegal Trade in Human Body Parts

This presentation covers the largest investigation in FBI history into the wholebody donation industry. DEATH HARVESTER was opened as an organized crime case by Special Agent Paul Micah Johnson in the Detroit Field Office in 2011 and lasted nearly 10 years. Its purpose was to uncover the illegal sales of human body parts that were taking place through a network of international anatomical supply companies. What started with the finding of severed heads in the back of a rusty van, ultimately resulted in the seizing of thousands of human remains, the closure of four body donation programs in four states, the arrest and conviction of seven individuals, and the identification, cremation, and return of remains to hundreds of victim families across the country.

Jan Harkner-Abbs and Rebecca Knight - PRESENTATION ABSTRACT: Detection Canines and Capabilities.

Science is just beginning to understand the capabilities of canine olfaction, though those of us who have managed detection dogs have known how utterly amazing they can be for decades. While the national search and rescue dog teams are often front and center in the aftermath of largescale natural disasters, many regions around the country have K-9 teams trained to the same standards that can be used in similar and numerous ways to assist area law enforcement and fire services in looking for missing people.

In this presentation you will learn what search dogs can offer in both emergent searches and other investigations, gain insight on how to evaluate the legitimacy of search and rescue teams in your area, and what red flags to look for when choosing a team to work with.

Janet Schnell, Anne Kelly and Brett Harding - PRESENTATION ABSTRACT: Determination of Intent: Accident, Suicide or Homicide? The Utilization of Social Behavioral Science and Psychological Autopsy in Equivocal Deaths

Suicide Prevention/Intervention - Although deaths classified as “undetermined” are relatively rare, accounting for approximately 3% of death certificates in the United States, they pose significant challenges for coroners and medical examiners. These cases arise when available evidence does not conclusively establish whether a death was natural, accidental, suicidal, or homicidal. Without clear findings from autopsies, crime scene details, and witness accounts, investigators are left to navigate ambiguity that can lead to misclassification, impacting legal proceedings, families, and public health data. Coroners and medical examiners must carefully analyze all factors involved in undetermined deaths to avoid wrongful determinations. A lack of conclusive evidence, conflicting witness statements, or the possibility of staged crime scenes can complicate investigations. Additionally, in cases where suicide is a consideration, evaluating the deceased’s psychological state is often necessary but difficult, as many forensic professionals lack formal training in behavioral science. Despite the value of expert consultation, access to forensic specialists in postmortem psychological assessment is often limited due to logistical and financial constraints. This presentation introduces Retrospective Fatality Analysis (RFA), a structured investigative approach that builds upon the psychological autopsy method to provide a comprehensive biopsychosocial understanding of an individual’s life and circumstances before death. RFA follows a standardized protocol that includes interviews with multiple people who knew the decedent, gathering perspectives from family, friends, colleagues, and others who can provide insight into their mental state, behaviors, and life stressors. In addition to interviews, RFA compiles information from archival records, medical records, law enforcement reports, and other relevant documents into a single, cohesive investigative framework. By integrating multiple data sources, RFA enhances forensic investigations and provides a complete picture of the decedent’s history, decision-making patterns, and broader social and community influences. RFA serves as an adjunct to standard forensic procedures, equipping death investigators with the skills to apply the protocol effectively, draw informed conclusions, and provide forensic pathologists with deeper insights into manner-of-death determinations. By incorporating RFA into their investigative process, coroners and medical examiners can strengthen forensic findings, reduce misclassification risks, and improve the accuracy of death determinations, supporting both the integrity of investigations and the needs of affected families.

Caitlyn Short, Chelcee Hill and Mike Pruitt - PRESENTATION ABSTRACT: Indiana LOSS Team - Local Outreach to Suicide Survivors (LOSS) Teams: Postvention Support for the Newly Bereaved

This presentation will introduce LOSS as a community-based, active suicide postvention model and discuss the instrumental role of local coroners in LOSS implementation. Information about where LOSS teams exist in Indiana and what support is available to new and existing teams will be shared. Johnson County will share how their local LOSS team, ATLAS, successfully functions and provides immediate support to families and loved ones following a suicide death.

Dr. Scott Wagner, Forensic Pathologist - PRESENTATION ABSTRACT: Fantastically Interesting Cases: A Retrospective of 37 Years of Hoosier Forensic Pathology

Brandon Butz, Leader of Strategic Partnerships - PRESENTATION ABSTRACT: One Pill Can Kill: Mobilizing County Resources for Opioid Awareness and Prevention

The opioid epidemic continues to claim lives at an alarming rate, and coroners across Indiana stand at the frontlines of this crisis. But what if we could do more than document its impact? This session is designed to en-sure that every county has the knowledge and resources needed to act in response to the opioid crisis. Goals of this session:

• Ensure that every county understands how to access and advocate for opioid response funding.
• Equip attendees with strategies to engage commissioners and community leaders in implementing awareness campaigns.
• Empower coroners and community stakeholders to use RemedyLIVE’s 24/7 chat service, school out-reach, and adult mental wellness programs to address the underlying factors fueling the opioid epidemic.

Tony Ciriello, MDI - is retired after a 34-year career in law enforcement, most recently serving as Chief of Police for the Syracuse Police Department. Ciriello started his law enforcement career as an arson investigator for the State of Indiana before joining the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department where he served in numerous capacities during his tenure there. Those capacities were patrol officer, supervisor, detective, narcotics officer, D.A.R.E. officer and field training officer.

In addition to his law enforcement career, Ciriello holds a certification as a Medicolegal Death Investigator, is also a Center for Disease Control Certified Infant Death Investigator/Instructor. For the last 25 years Ciriello has served as the Director of Training and Education for the Indiana State Coroners Training Board and for 24 years had been a Deputy Coroner and served as the elected Coroner in Kosciusko County for 8 years. He is currently a deputy coroner in Marshall County and serves on the Kosciusko County Council.

Ciriello is a family care specialist for Mishler Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Milford as well as the Vice- President of Sales for Heritage Monument Company. He holds an Indiana Insurance License in Life Insurance and assists families with funeral pre-planning.

In addition to those activities, he is the Past-President of the Indiana Association of Chiefs of Police and Past-President of the Warsaw Breakfast Optimist Club. Ciriello is a graduate of the Kosciusko Leadership Academy and the Indiana Police Executive Leadership Academy. He serves numerous local boards and civic organizations.

Ciriello is the recipient of the Excellence in Government Award from the Syracuse/Wawasee Chamber of Commerce, two times Leaders Leader Award from the Indiana Police Executive Leadership Academy and was awarded the William Sudbury Memorial Leadership Award from the Indiana Association of Chiefs of Police. He was honored in 2015 with a Sagamore of the Wabash by Governor Pence. He received the 2020 Government Excellence Award from the Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce.

Dr. Kent E. Harshbarger - received his Medical Doctorate (M.D.) degree from Southern Illinois University School of Medicine and his Juris Doctorate (J.D.) from Southern Illinois University School of Law. He received his Masters of Business Administration (M.B.A) from Wright State University. Dr. Harshbarger completed an anatomic and clinical pathology residency at Ball Memorial Hospital in Muncie, Indiana, and a forensic pathology fellowship at the Montgomery County Coroner’s Office in Dayton Ohio. Dr. Harshbarger is also the Chief Forensic Pathologist for the Franklin County Coroner’s Office in Columbus Ohio.

Following his training, Dr. Harshbarger was employed for a brief time as a forensic pathologist serving the majority of central Illinois, before returning to Dayton, Ohio to serve as a Deputy Coroner/Forensic Pathologist for Montgomery County in 2002. He was appointed as the Montgomery County Coroner in 2011 and continues to serve in that capacity today

Dr. Harshbarger also recently retired from the Army Reserve with 36 years of service. He holds appointments as a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Pathology at Wright State University School of Medicine, in the Department of Specialty Medicine at the Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine, and Department of Pathology at The Ohio State University. He also serves as the Chief Forensic Officer of the Ohio State Coroner’s Association (OSCA). Dr. Harshbarger has also served as the Chairman of the Ethics Committee for the National Association of Medical Examiners (NAME) for several years and serves as a board member of that organization.

Doug Banks, MDI - is the Decatur County Deputy Coroner and a certified Medicolegal Death Investigator with over 24 years of dedicated service in the coroner’s office, including 16 years as the elected coroner. In a county with a population of approximately 27,500, he effectively manages around 60 calls per year, providing essential services to the community.

In addition to his role in the coroner’s office, Doug has a rich history of community service. He has been a member of the volunteer fire department for 40 years and has served as an Indiana certified EMT for the past 28 years. Doug is actively involved with the Region 9 Child Fatality Review Team, serves on the ISCA board, and has also been a member of the Coroner Training Board, contributing significantly to the enhancement of coroner practices throughout Indiana.

Outside of his professional commitments, Doug has been married for 37 years to his wife, Charity. Together, they operate a successful lawn care business and cherish spending time camping and boating with friends and family.

Jennie Short, MDI - Dekalb County Coroner is a dedicated nurse with 33 years of experience, having served with the DeKalb County Coroner’s Office for the past 13 years as an Indiana certified Medicolegal Death Investigator. She is currently in her third year as the elected Coroner.

Together with her husband Rick, a K9 officer with the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office, Jennie resides in Auburn. They are enthusiastic about animal welfare and actively volunteer and foster special needs animals for local humane societies and rescues.

In her free time, Jennie enjoys running and is a true crime enthusiast. She takes pride in her work and often shares her appreciation for her outstanding teammates, whom she considers to be the absolute best anyone could hope for.

Alfarena (Alfie) McGinty, MDI - is the Marion County Coroner, in Indianapolis, Indiana, elected in 2024. Alfarena served as Chief Deputy Coroner for over 18 years and has been with the office for over 27 years as an Indiana certified Medicolegal Death Investigator. As Coroner, she is responsible for the agency operations, including the agency budget of over seven million dollars, over 5 million in grant funds, man-aging staff, and contractors. She oversees over 3000 death investigations annually, coordinates trainings and education and develops policies and procedures. As Chief Deputy Coroner, Alfie has supervised the death scene investigation and management of three mass shootings in Indianapolis in 2021 alone, including the April 15 Incident that involved the Fed Ex Facility where 8 people were killed, and the shooter committed suicide.

Alfie serves on the board of directors of Overdose Lifeline, Mental Health America, Indianapolis, and the International Association of Coroners and Medical Examiners. Alfie is an adjunct faculty member at Indiana University. Alfie represents the Indiana State Coroners Association on the Association of Indiana Counties Board of Directors (AIC). She is married with 5 children. She lost her oldest son James, affectionally known as Jimmy, to a fentanyl drug intoxication in 2021 which gives her a unique perspective on the Opioid Epidemic in our community.

Fun Fact: She owns and runs the Gobble Gobble Food Truck which has been a staple at the Indiana State Fair for 24 years with the best smoked jumbo turkey legs at the Indiana State Fair!

Joe Millspaugh Jr., MDI - is the Knox County Coroner, first caucused into the position in September 2023 and later elected to serve his first full term in 2024. With over a decade of experience as Chief Deputy Coroner, Joe brings extensive expertise in medicolegal death investigation. In addition to his role as Coroner, he is a paramedic and serves as the EMS Manager for Good Samaritan Hospital EMS.

A dedicated husband, father, and grandfather, Joe enjoys spending his free time on the golf course, cheering on his children in their athletic endeavors and babysitting his grandson.

Kira Newkirk - brings over two decades of healthcare expertise to her role as Vice President of Business Operations at the Indiana Donor Network, where she has been a dedicated leader for the past seven years. With a strategic focus on strengthening partnerships with coroners and hospitals across Indiana, Kira plays a crucial role in advancing organ and tissue donation efforts statewide. Her work fosters collaboration between forensic and medical professionals, ensuring that donation opportunities are maximized while honoring the needs of donor families and the medicolegal system.

Kira’s commitment to donation advocacy is rooted in her extensive healthcare background. She began her career as a Critical Care Registered Nurse, developing a deep understanding of patient care and the lifesaving im-pact of organ donation. Her leadership and expertise continue to drive innovative approaches to improving donation outcomes and increasing awareness among key stakeholders.

Kira holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from Indiana University and a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) from Indiana University.

Paul Micah Johnson - is an FBI Special Agent with 21 years of experience. He currently serves as an Evidence Response Team (ERT) Leader and a Bureau Pilot in the Detroit Field Office. In 2011, while assigned to FBI Detroit’s organized crime squad, SA Johnson opened DEATH HARVESTER, the first and largest criminal enterprise investigation in FBI history into the illegal sale of human body parts. For the next 10 years the case took him around the country investigating the whole-body-to-science donation industry. Through this work SA Johnson has been qualified as an expert witness in body donation and is the FBI’s Subject Matter Expert on the topic. He holds a PhD in Biology from the University of Washington, an MS in Forensic Science from the University of Florida, and a BS in Marine Biology from the University of Miami. He also serves as Adjunct Faculty for the FBI Laboratory and Critical Incident Response Group, teaching crime scene investigation and management, crime scene photography, and surveillance photography to law enforcement partners in the U.S. and around the world.

Jan Harkner-Abbs - has been involved as a director of two search teams since 1993 as well as an arson canine handler for the fire department serving the IN-State Fire Marshal’s office. She is the current director of the Indiana Search and Response Team. As a member of the Orange Twp Fire Department for the past 27 years, she served as an instructor 3, Officer 2, Rescue Diver, Ropes Technician and EMT.

Jan lives in Noble County, IN, where she operates a 40-acre Search and Rescue Training Facility. She is a retired FEMA K9 handler of the INTF-1 and has served in multiple National Disasters around the country as a disaster generalist. She has trained and certified many search canines and has 3 more currently in training. She holds many certifications and instructor licenses through the National Association for Search and Rescue and the State of IN Fire Service.

Jan has certified canines through the International Police Work Dog Association, FEMA and other organizations in Disaster, Live Find Area Search, Human Remains Wilderness as well as Crime Scene and Water Recovery.

Searches have involved tornado disaster work across nearby states as well as hurricanes, fire scenes, drowning recoveries and cold cases with law enforcement.

Her current canines are Rock, a German Shepherd, who is still certified but entering retirement. Indi, a German Shepherd who is nearing certification as a human remains canine, Jet, a Dutch Shepherd being trained in live find area search and disaster and Mo, a German Shepherd being trained in human remains detection.

Jan is retired from serving 36 years in the Education, Psychology and Neuroscience fields working with special needs children but continues teaching and training handlers and their canines for detection work.

Rebecca Knight - resident of Northeast Indiana since 1998, has been involved in K-9 Search and Rescue as a member of the Indiana Search and Response Team since 2013. She is a NASAR SAR Tech II, a NASAR SAR Instructor, NASAR Initial Actions Instructor, and an emergency medical responder. She has certifications in lost person behavior and managing the lost person incident.

She has managed a human remains detection K-9 for her entire SAR career and is now transitioning her Australian Cattle Dog Helo from working cadaver dog into retirement. Helo has been certified through the International Police Work Dog Association in wilderness cadaver as well as crime scene cadaver work and focused a lot of their search work on fire scenes and explosions.

Rebecca is currently training a Labrador Retriever puppy named “Roslin” in human remains detection. In her job that pays, Rebecca is a career journalist, having worked for newspapers and public radio.

Janet Schnell, MSW, LCSW completed her master’s degree in social work in 2010 at the University of Southern Indiana. She is a contractor for AP3SI as a suicide postvention subject matter expert for the Defense Suicide Prevention Office (DSPO). Mrs. Schnell is a founding Retrospective Fatality Analysis Consultant (RFA-C) member. She is an expert in suicide prevention, intervention, and addressing depression, anxiety, and substance abuse following a suicide. Mrs. Schnell has received numerous awards for her activism in suicide prevention from county, state, and federal agencies. She serves as the President of Survivors of Suicide of Dubois County (SOS) and has been honored with the prestigious Torchbearer Award by the Indiana Suicide Prevention Network. As a certified master trainer for the Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) program, Mrs. Schnell also trains individuals in Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) and Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). She leads one of the first teams in Indiana in Local Outreach to Suicide Survivors (LOSS), paving the way to offering resources and hope after a suspected suicide death. As a public speaker, Mrs. Schnell shares her personal journey as a suicide loss survivor, which motivated her to become a social worker after her brother’s death by suicide.

Anne Kelly, Ph.D. is a Suicide Postvention Technician with over two decades of experience in suicide prevention and postvention. She specializes in program development, evaluation, and strategic leadership, conducting psychological autopsies to understand suicide risk factors and inform targeted strategies. Anne is a Certified QPR and Adult Mental Health First Aid Trainer and serves as Board Chair of the National Association of Retrospective Fatality Analysis. She also chairs the Community Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Coalition in Mitchell, SD, and serves on the Board of Lost & Found, a nonprofit focused on reducing suicide risk among young people. She has participated in state advisory boards and legislative task forces in South Dakota. Previously, Anne was Dean of the College of Business, Education, and Social Science and Chair of the Department of Psychology at Dakota Wesleyan University, where she taught since 2000. She earned her M.A. and Ph.D. in experimental psychology from the University of Nevada, Reno.

Brett Harding, MBA, F-ABMDI began his career in Medicolegal Death Investigation in 1988 and now serves as the Chief Deputy Coroner with the Ada County Coroner’s Office in Boise, Idaho. Mr. Harding is a Fellow of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, the American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators, and the International Association of Coroners and Medical Examiners. He is an Affiliate member of the National Association of Medical Examiners and serves on the board of directors for the National Association of Homicide Investigators. Mr. Harding is also a consultant on psychological autopsy investigations (PAI) and is one of only twenty-five certified in PAI.

Caitlyn Short, MPH serves as the Youth Suicide Grant Project Coordinator with the Division of Mental Health and Addiction. In her role, she supports 14 different suicide prevention initiatives, including Local Outreach to Suicide Survivors (LOSS).

Chelcee Hill is a full-time volunteer with Upstream Prevention working primarily with the Johnson County Suicide Prevention Coalition and the Assisting Through Loss After Suicide (ATLAS) Response Team. Chelcee lost her stepbrother to suicide back in 2010 and has since been finding ways to help others. Chelcee is one of our AT-LAS Co-Coordinators who has assisted getting the response team started in Johnson County, IN and now assists leading this team. Chelcee is also the current treasurer of the Suicide Prevention Coalition.

Mike Pruitt has served as the Johnson County Coroner since 2020. Coroner Pruitt has worked in his role to compassionately meet the needs of his community, engage in overdose and suicide prevention efforts, build local infrastructure, and champion organ donation. His active partnership with ATLAS since 2021 has helped further local efforts to support suicide loss survivors.

Scott A. Wagner, M.D., F.C.A.P. a native of New Albany, Indiana, received an A.S. in Chemical Technology and B.A. in Biology from Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana, and M.D. from Indiana University School of Medicine in 1986. After completing his clinical internship and pathology residency at Ball Memorial Hospital, in Muncie in 1991, he completed a fellowship in Forensic Pathology at Indiana University Medical Center in 1992.

Dr. Wagner is Board Certified by the American Board of Pathology in Anatomic, Clinical, and Forensic Pathology. He is a member of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, and the National Association of Medical Examiners. He is past Medical Staff President and Laboratory Medical Director for Adams County, Saint Joseph, and Dupont Hospitals. Dr. Wagner previously held a faculty appointment as Volunteer Assistant Clinical Professor and Sophomore Medical Student Pathology Instructor at Indiana University School of Medicine, Fort Wayne Center for Medical Education and is an instructor in forensic pathology with the Indiana Coroner’s Training Board. He was appointed by Governor Evan Bayh as a Director on the Indiana Law Enforcement Training Board from 1995 to 1996. Since 1992, he has been in the full-time practice of Pathology and Forensic Pathology in Northeast Indiana.

Currently, Dr. Wagner is Principle at Forensic Pathology Consultants, a Medical Practice devoted to providing consultations to Coroners including autopsies and other assistance with death investigations. Forensic Pathology Consultants also provides Private, and Hospital Autopsy Services see forensicpathconsultants.com. Dr. Wagner is also recognized in pediatric forensic pathology in the State of Indiana. As an author, Dr. Wagner has published Death Investigation, A Field Guide (2023, CRC Press, Taylor Francis Group), Handbook for Death Scene Investigation, A Field Guide (2009 CRC Press, Taylor Francis Group) and Color Atlas of the Autopsy, (First ed 2004) and (Second ed., 2016 CRC Press), and wrote and produced The Autopsy, Chapter One: Unraveling Life’s Mysteries, a widely sold training video and DVD focusing on Autopsy and Forensic Pathology. Dr. Wagner races on a local cycling team, plays in a “medical rock band,” and enjoys writing.

Brandon Butz One Pill Can Kill; RemedyLIVE is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing mental health support, crisis intervention, and meaningful conversations around issues affecting individuals and communities. In partnership with the State Government of Indiana and the Allen County Coroner’s Office, RemedyLIVE has launched the extraordinarily successful One Pill Can Kill campaign to combat the opioid epidemic among youth.

Through a free, 24/7 crisis chat center, RemedyLIVE serves as a confidential resource for anyone struggling with hopelessness and isolation. Additionally, the organization’s events team actively engages schools, workplaces, and community groups, facilitating real-time, interactive discussions to raise awareness, provide critical resources, and address the upstream mental health issues that can lead to opioid-related deaths. By fostering open conversations and equipping individuals with tools for mental wellness, RemedyLIVE is committed to addressing the root causes of addiction and overdose in communities across Indiana.

Gil Carillo entered the US Army at age 17 where he spent one year in combat. Gil holds a bachelor’s degree from Cal-State Long Beach. At age 21 he was sworn in as a member of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department where he spent 38 years prior to his retirement in 2009.

During the 38 years he worked custody, patrol, started the first plain clothes Gang team at East Los Angeles. Most of his time on the Department was spent at Sheriff’s Homicide where he worked 21 years as an Investigator and his final five years as a team Lieutenant where he supervised 14 Investigators. During his time as a Homicide Investigator Gil was called upon to be the Co-Lead Investigator on the much-celebrated Night Stalker serial killer case. As a result of that case Gil has lectured all over the United States as well as outside the US in Mexico and Panama. Most recently he was the subject of a Netflix 4-part Documentary on the Night Stalker case.

Gil also recently finished 2 years serving as the as Co-Host for the George Lopez OMG HI Podcast. He recently took part in a documentary on the Peacock channel and is awaiting the release of a movie entitled “Hubbard Street.”

Rusty Ammerman ENTERTAINER A Revealing Look at the Maniac behind the Magic. For most adults, the chance of realizing a childhood fantasy is so elusive, it seems like magic. For Rusty Ammerman, it IS magic.

The comic and magician is now a regular, featured performer at the World-Famous Magic Castle in Hollywood, CA, fulfilling a dream he first put on paper back in 1984 when he was asked his goal in the entertainment industry.

“My answer was quick and unequivocal,” he says. “I said I want to be on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, and I want to perform at the Magic Castle in Hollywood.” Carson’s Tonight Show is long gone, but the Magic Castle remains a Mecca for magicians. It is to magic, Rusty says, what the Grand Ole Opry is to country music.

So how did he get there? It’s magic, Rusty-style

Over a quarter-century and thousands of performances, Rusty has developed his “Dimension of Illusion,” creating a personal mix of mystery and maniacal mayhem that has delighted audiences in 43 states and nine countries, including two overseas military tours

Jason Mardirosian is a 28-year veteran and lieutenant with the Chicago fire department and spent 17 years in their fire & arson investigation unit. Jason has over 20 years’ experience in the private sector doing numerous consultations and is currently an investigator for FEC LLC.

Mr. Mardirosian has an extensive background in investigations and is an international contractor specializing in instruction of arson, fire, and explosion scene investigations. He combines both dynamic classroom presentations and hands-on exercises to help the students understand the complexities of such investigations.

Jason has taught independently, as well as in a team setting for various agencies and groups including several IAAI chapters, the 40-hour fundamental class hosted by the IAAI, several ATF task forces, and is a contract instructor for the Justice Department (ICITAP) and he has taught internationally in Algiers, Jamaica, the Virgin Islands and Dubai.

Mr. Mardirosian recently retired after 16 years with the Summit, Illinois Police Department, is a Past-President of the Illinois Chapter of the IAAI and was the 2006 investigator of the year recipient from the IAAI.

Professional Photo Opportunity

• When: During the lunch hours on Thursday and Friday
• Where: Hall of Champions Hallway
• Dress Code: Please dress professionally, as these will be headshots.

Dress Code

Acceptable Attire: Slacks or khakis, collared shirts, blouses (polo-type or button-down), and other professional dress.

Not Allowed: Shorts, sweatpants of any kind, ripped or torn jeans (even if they are manufactured that way), printed T-shirts, or similar casual wear.

COVID-19

General Business Meeting

General Session Attendance

Coroner and Emergency Response Vehicle Cruze In

• Coroner Response and Command Vehicles
• Coroner Transport and Scene Vehicles
• Crime Scene Vehicles
• Biohazard Clean-Up and Response Vehicles
• Specialty and DMORT

Comedy Magic Show

ID Badges

A/V Recording

Awards Ceremony

Exhibitor Door Prizes

Brain Bucket Bingo

• Bring your dollar bills! All proceeds will be donated to the Dr. David Dennis Scholarship Fund.

• You are welcome to bring prizes from your county to be given away as well.

Wyndham Hotel Restaurant

Cell Phones

Educational Hours

• Medicolegal Death Investigators – conference is approved by the Coroners Training Board for 20.5 hours for the full conference.

• Law Enforcement – This conference is approved by the Coroners Training Board for 20.5 hours for the full conference.

• EMS/Paramedic – This conference is approved by the Indiana Department of Homeland Security for 20.5 hours for the full conference.

Conference Registration