THREAD OF EVIDENCE

Ellen Kirschman, Ph.D. Being a police officer has always been a dangerous, stressful and rewarding job. Historically, for a number of reasons, many law enforcement officers have been reluctant to talk about the psychological toll being exposed to repeated trauma and dangers can take – and even more reluctant to get professional help. Fortunately, this is changing. On today’s Thread of Evidence, Dr. Joni Johnston interviews police psychologist Dr. Ellen Kirschman, who has spent over 25 years helping the men and women in blue understand and cope with normal reactions to life threatening situations, minimize the impact of their unique job demands on their families, and, when needed, get professional help before untreated psychological problems end a career or a life.      Ellen Kirschman, Ph.D. is a police psychologist and volunteer clinician at the First Responders Support Network. She is a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, The Society for the Study of Police and Criminal Psychology, The American Psychological Association and the International Association of Women in Law Enforcement. Website: www.ellenkirschman.com Image: AP

While the impact of social distancing and self-quarantine is stressful for everyone, it can be life threatening for domestic violence victims. Since COVID-19 hit communities in early 2020, domestic violence incidents have risen so much that advocates have called in the shadow pandemic. Join Dr. Joni Johnston as she interviews attorney Casey Gwinn, a prosecuting attorney and president of Alliance for HOPE International, and explores how victims can stay safe, how law enforcement can protect themselves when responding to domestic violence calls, and how communities are working together to break the cycle of what is often a multi-generational problem.  Casey Gwinn, Esq. serves as the President of Alliance for HOPE International. Casey has been recognized by The American Lawyer magazine as one of the top 45 public lawyers in America. He is an honors graduate of Stanford University and UCLA School of Law.

Few occasions are more joyous in a courtroom than the completion of a successful adoption. Most birth moms want what is best for their child and most adoption agencies and attorneys are trying to do what’s right for everyone involved. Which is why it’s important to recognize when this is not the case, whether it’s the result of a financial scam, emotional vampire, or misguided couple or birth mom. On this episode of Thread of Evidence, Dr. Joni Johnston interview adoption attorney Derek J. Williams and takes a look at how to recognize and prevent adoption scams so everyone involved in the adoption process can make experience the joys of adoption while avoiding the emotional heartbreak and financial pitfalls. Derek Williams’ practice focuses on civil litigation with an emphasis in medical malpractice defense, adoption law, product liability, and personal injury defense. He represents doctors, hospitals, nursing homes, and other health care providers involving regulatory, insurance, and professional liability matters.

Cults are in the news. In June 2019, the leader of self-improvement cult NXIUM Keith Reniere was convicted of several felonies, including human trafficking and sexual exploitation of a child. And, it’s almost impossible to avoid the ever-evolving story of Chad Daybell and Lori Vallow, who are under suspicion of being involved in a doomsday cult that may have led to three deaths and two missing children.   Steven Hassan From the outside looking in, it’s hard to understand how anyone could fall under the spell of a destructive cult leader, or how one person could convince others to commit unethical or illegal acts. On this episode of Thread of Evidence, Dr. Joni Johnston talks with Steven Hassan, who brings a dual perspective to destructive cults; he spent two and a half years in one and, since his escape, has spent over thirty years helping victims and their families understand, and escape, their harmful influence.  Steven Hassan is a mental health professional who has been helping people leave destructive cults since 1976 after he was deprogrammed from Sun Myung Moon’s Unification Church. He is the author of four books, including Freedom of Mind: Helping Loved Ones Leave Controlling People, Thoughts & Beliefs. He is the founding director of the Freedom of Mind Resource Center, located outside Boston. Cult and destructive mind control expert, speaker, consultant, author, educator - freedomofmind.com

The Golden State serial killer Joseph James DeAngelo was finally caught in 2018. In addition to the public relief at this predator’s capture, part of the notoriety of his arrest came from the method used to identify him. DeAngelo was arrested after being identified through forensic genealogy. Since that first landmark moment, dozens of violent offenders have been brought to justice using this technique and today, law enforcement is taking advantage of what may be the greatest tool for investigating violent crimes since the invention of fingerprinting. Join us for this episode of Thread of Evidence, where Dr. Joni Johnston interviews a woman whose been right in the middle of solving these cases: internationally recognized DNA investigative expert and Chief Genetic Genealogist at Paragon Labs, Cece Moore. CeCe Moore, Chief Genetic Genealogist at Paragon NanoLabs, is an internationally recognized DNA investigative expert, educator and pioneer in the field of genetic genealogy. Starting in 2010, she began developing the now widely used genetic genealogy techniques that have become foundational and central aspects of the field.

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD, has become a household word, but it is a term – and a disorder – that is often misunderstood. In the media, it is all too often associated with vets and with violence. But the reality is that PTSD is much more complicated than most people think and its role in the legal arena is often complicated. Join Dr. Joni Johnston for this episode of Thread of Evidence, where she interviews Dr. Sanjay Adhia, a forensic psychiatrist and expert witness on PTSD, where they explore the law and psychology behind post-traumatic stress.   Website: www.forensicpsychiatrynow.com 

Few psychological terms carry such negative implications as the diagnosis of “psychopath.” We know, for example, that adults with psychopathy often leave a path of interpersonal destruction and emotional devastation behind them. We also know that that criminal psychopaths tend to offend far more often – and commit more serious crimes - than their antisocial peers.   Dr. Abigail Marsh But what causes someone to become a psychopath? How early does it start and what can we do about it? In this episode of Thread of Evidence, Dr. Joni Johnston talks with Georgetown University professor and researcher Dr. Abby Marsh about the controversy surrounding childhood psychopathy and what the implications are for parents and the criminal justice system. Abigail Marsh is a Professor of Psychology, Neuroscience, and Cognitive Science at Georgetown. She received her Ph.D. from Harvard University and conducted her post-doctoral research at the National Institute of Mental Health. She is the author of over 70 publications in journals that include Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Nature Human Behavior, American Journal of Psychiatry, and JAMA Psychiatry, as well as an award-winning trade book about her research on the brain basis of empathy and compassion called THE FEAR FACTOR.

Dr. Kelly Watt In this age of mass shootings and workplace violence, terms like “violence risk” and “threat assessment” have become common terms. But what do they really mean? Who does them and why? And do they work? On this episode of Thread of Evidence, Dr. Joni Johnston talks with Dr. Kelly Watt and gives us an up-close-and-personal look at what it means to ask the hard questions and make the tough decisions about how deadly a person might really be. Dr. Kelly A. Watt obtained her BA in psychology at Simon Fraser and her MA and PhD in psychology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She worked as a Psychology Fellow at Vancouver Coastal Health between 2008 and 2010. She currently works as Threat Assessment Specialist at Protect International Risk and Safety Services Inc. and a Workplace Consultant at Competence Center Bergen.

Few things are more powerful than faith. And few things are more devastating than when that faith is abused. On this episode of Thread of Evidence, Dr. Joni Johnston talks with John D. Winer, an attorney who has prosecuted numerous cases of sexual abuse by religious leaders. During the interview, they explore topics such as how victims typically come forward, how he evaluates the credibility of individuals who come forward, and how the legal process can help victims feel empowered after a life time of shame and suffering. Dr. Joni then talks to two victims of sexual abuse by a former church leader, who talk about their experiences and how they found the courage to speak out and to get justice.   John D. Winer is recognized statewide by his colleagues as an outstanding litigation and trial attorney. He has obtained record-setting verdicts and settlements over the last 34 years. Mr. Winer is frequently asked to lecture to other attorneys in his areas of specialty and emphasis including wrongful death, serious personal injury, psychological injury, employment litigation, psychotherapist malpractice, healthcare provider sexual abuse, workplace sexual harassment, elder abuse, traumatic brain injury and catastrophic injury cases. Image: NYT

How easy is it to fake mental illness when you are facing the death penalty? How about when you are applying for disability or suing someone for emotional distress? Psychologists call this malingering and it’s something every forensic psychologist has to consider when money or freedom is on the line. In this episode of Thread of Evidence, Dr. Joni Johnston interviews Dr. Barry Rosenfeld, a board certified forensic psychologist who talks about how often mental illnesses are faked and how forensic psychologists tell the difference between genuine symptoms and faked ones. Dr. Barry Rosenfeld is a Professor and Chair in the Department of Psychology and an Adjunct Professor of Law at Fordham University. He worked for several years as Senior Psychologist for the New York and is Past President of the International Association of Forensic Mental Health Services as well as the former Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Forensic Mental Health. Dr. Rosenfeld is board certified in forensic psychology and maintains an active practice in forensic consultation. He has evaluated multiple individuals detained in the infamous Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo Bay military prisons, consulted to a U.N. War Tribunal regarding the prosecution of Serbian individuals accused of war crimes, and evaluated litigants in a class action lawsuit against the government of India. He has testified in many high-profile domestic cases, including U.S. v. Osama Bin Laden (involving alleged Al Qaeda members convicted of blowing up the U.S. Embassies in Tanzania and Kenya).

With all that’s going in Washington these days, the word “whistleblower” is a term we’re hearing more and more. But what is a whistleblower? Is it a disgruntled employee with a personal or political axe to grind? Is it, as synonyms suggest, a rat, a snitch, a tattletale? Or is it someone who sees something unethical or illegal and chooses to put him or herself at risk to act in the public interest? On today’s show, we’re going to talk to Amy Oppenheimer, a former administrative judge who has over 35 years investigating all kinds of workplace complaints and who sheds light on the complexities of being inside the investigation of workplace misconduct.   Amy Oppenheimer has over 35 years of experience in employment law, as an attorney, investigator, arbitrator, mediator and trainer. She is also a retired administrative law judge. Her areas of expertise include investigating and preventing workplace harassment and discrimination, and responding to allegations of harassment, retaliation, whistleblower claims, discrimination and other forms of workplace misconduct.    

Juries and jurors have the power to change lives forever; and not always for the best. Are jurors biased? Do they bring their personal and cultural biases into the courtroom? Does one really get a “jury of their peers” during a trial? Forensic experts DrRon and co-host board certified forensic psychologist DrJoni Johnston delve into the mind of jurors and discuss the psychological dynamics of implicit bias, confirmation bias, pre-decisional preferences, leading verdicts and more. The forensic pair also discuss the some of their complex cases and the role of forensic experts testifying before the “trier of fact” in this unique edition of “A Thread of Evidence.”

Few areas of forensic science have fascinated and disturbed us more than serial killers. In fact, the media attention given to these infamous predators has resulted in wide spread myths and misinformation about what leads to serial murderer and what a serial killer actually looks like.  Dr. Mike Aamodt Through his database of over 5000 serial killers, Dr. Mike Aamodt has conducted extensive research into what the data tells us about serial murder, including common patterns of offending, the demographics of the offenders, and the selection of victims. An industrial-organizational psychologist by training and practice, Mike continues to research the police and criminal psychology in order to shed light on how we can use this data to catch killers before they kill again.  Dr. Mike Aamodt is a professor emeritus at Radford University in Radford, Virginia. Although an industrial-organizational psychologist by training and practice, Mike not only taught courses in forensic psychology, but conducted extensive research in the areas of police and criminal psychology. While at Radford, Mike developed the Radford/FGCU Serial Killer Database, believed to be the largest database of its kind. The database is updated weekly and currently contains information on 5,283 serial killers in both the U.S. and internationally.

Forensic death investigator DrRon Martinelli introduces you to the fascinating world of forensic animation. Learn from forensic animator Scott Roeder what forensic animation is and how this new forensic science is used to accurately reconstruct crime events so that juries get a better picture of how officer and civilian-involved shootings occurred and bodycam and CCTV video, ballistics, body mechanics and physical evidence are integrated to complete a “living” event.

While informal criminal profiling has been around for centuries, in 1974 the FBI formed its Behavioral Science Unit to study serial predators. Since then, the art and science of criminal profiling has been the subject of books and TV shows, including the popular Netflix series Mindhunter. Today, criminal profilers analyze crime scenes and witness statements to develop a basic description of an unknown offender that can include psychological traits, demographic variables, psychopathologies and likely behavioral patterns. In this episode, Dr. Joni Johnston talks to former FBI profiler Pete Klismet about the myths and realities of criminal profiling – what it is, how profilers do it, how it can help law enforcement in the apprehension and prosecution of serial offenders, and when it can lead them astray. Pete Klismet is a former Ventura (CA) police officer, and holds a master's degree in criminal justice from California Lutheran University and another in public administration from the University of Southern California. He is a retired Special Agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and was one of the first formally-trained psychological profilers in the bureau. He served in law enforcement for over thirty years before joining the faculty at Pikes Peak Community College as an associate professor of criminal justice, going on to chair the department. He is an award-winning author, and is the founder and director of Criminal Profiling Associates, a law enforcement consulting company.

It is impossible for most of us to believe that anyone would confess to a crime he or she didn’t commit. And, yet, former convicted felons exonerated by DNA have proven over and over that some people do; in fact, 25% of the exonerees freed with the help of The Innocence Project had confessed to a crime. In this episode of Thread of Evidence, Dr. Iris Blandon-Gitlin talks about the myths and realities of false confessions – who does it, why, and under what circumstances. We also explore steps attorneys and law enforcement officers can take to minimize the risk and make sure that an innocent person does not go to prison and a guilty one does not escape justice. Iris Blandón-Gitlin, Ph.D. is Professor of Psychology at California State University, Fullerton. Her professional training and research is in applied cognitive sciences. Her current research focuses on examining social-cognitive factors underlying witness identifications, deception, and confessions. Dr. Blandón-Gitlin has authored and co-authored publications on topics including children’s and adults’ memory suggestibility, police lineup techniques, jurors' perceptions of police interrogation tactics and confession evidence, face memory, and detecting deception.  

Game of Thrones inventor George R.R. Martin said, “All Men Carry Murder in Their Heart, yet even so, the poisoner is beneath contempt.” Even for those of us who deal with murder on a regular basis, there is something especially chilling about the cold, premeditated poisoning of a loved one. And yet, while forensic toxicology has made great strides in helping us bring criminal poisoners to justice, poisoners remain among the most “successful” murderers; they are more likely to get away with it and more likely to do it again. On this episode of Thread of Evidence, Dr. Joni Johnston interviews John Trestrail, a forensic and clinical toxicologist and the world’s foremost expert on criminal poisoning and murder by poisoning. They explore the personality profile of the homicidal poisoner, myths about who poisons and why, and the kinds of questions law enforcement officers should ask that might lead them to further investigate a suspicious death by poison. Forensic & Clinical Toxicologist – Author – Speaker - Consultant:  John Trestrail graduated with honors, obtaining a B.S. degree in Pharmacy, from Ferris State University, Big Rapids, Michigan, in 1967. He is a practicing boarded toxicologist, and for many years, was a visiting instructor at the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia, on the subject of criminal poisoning. He is recognized as the foremost authority on the subjects of criminal poisoning and murder by poison.

As far back as the 14th century, the justice system understood that it is unfair to try a criminal defendant who does not understand the nature of the charges against him and/or who, due to a mental illness or defect, can’t participate in his own legal defense. Today, evaluating whether or not a person who has been accused of a crime is competent to stand trial is one of the most common forensic evaluations performed in the United States each year; an estimated 50,000 of these evaluations are performed each year. In this episode of Thread of Evidence, we’ll examine when attorneys refer their clients, what the evaluation process is like, and how this evaluation differs from an insanity plea or evaluation.  Patricia A. Zapf, PhD is a forensic and clinical psychologist specializing in criminal forensic psychological evaluation, consultation, and expert testimony. Dr. Zapf is a past President of the American Psychology-Law Society (AP-LS; Division 41 of the American Psychological Association) and was appointed as Fellow of the American Psychological Association (APA) and Distinguished Member of the American Psychology-Law Society (AP-LS) in 2006 in recognition of her outstanding contributions to the science and profession of psychology in forensic evaluation.

Type the word “terrorism” in google and you’ll find articles on white supremacy, jihadism, and mass shootings. It’s a topic that is loaded with conflict and fraught with confusion. But what exactly counts as terrorism and what does politics have to do with it? On this episode of Thread of Evidence, Dr. John Horgan, an applied psychologist who has interviewed over 150 members of violent extremist organizations, talks about his research on political violence – what causes it, who does it, how people get out of it, and what we can do about it. John Horgan is a Distinguished University Professor at Georgia State University’s Department of Psychology where he also directs the Violent Extremism Research Group (VERG). Professor Horgan is one of the world’s leading experts on terrorist psychology. His work is widely published, with books including The Psychology of Terrorism (now in its second edition and published in over a dozen languages worldwide), Divided We Stand: The Strategy and Psychology of Ireland’s Dissident Terrorists; Walking Away from Terrorism, Leaving Terrorism Behind, and Terrorism Studies: A Reader.

Memory is an integral part of any court proceeding. Jurors often evaluate witnesses on how credible they are based on how detailed, emotional or consistent their memories are. Few people are more compelling on the stand than an eye witnesses. How these memories are formed -  or retrieved - can also be significant in legal proceedings, as we saw in the 1990s when hundreds of therapy clients entered therapy with one problem and emerged with horrific memories of ritual sexual abuse. Dr. Elizabeth Loftus Today’s guest, Dr. Elizabeth Loftus, is the world’s leading researcher on the forensic aspects of memory.  She has testified in hundreds of cases on how memory impacts the legal process, and how investigative techniques can undermine – or support – accurate memory.  On today’s show, Dr. Joni Johnston will talk with her about her research into memory and what her findings mean for truth and justice. Elizabeth Loftus is Distinguished Professor at the University of California, Irvine. She holds positions in the Department of Psychology Science, and the Department of Criminology, Law & Society. And she is a Distinguished Professor of Law. She was the Founding Director of the Center for Psychology and Law.  

September 11, 2001 will always be the day remembered most as the moment terrorism came to New York and changed our country forever. Since this day, social scientists, government agencies, and law enforcement organizations have struggled to understand, identify and prevent radicalization and extreme beliefs from causing more violence and chaos. On this episode of Thread of Evidence, we hear the story of Jesse Morton, who went from being an all-American boy to a prominent radicalizer and chief propagandist for Revolution Muslim. Describing himself today as a reformed extremist and terrorist, he founded a nonprofit with the former NYPD official who once monitored him to combat hate and extremism and promote disengagement.  Jesse Morton is co-founder and chief propagandist of Revolution Muslim, a New York City-based group active in the 2000s, he helped to insert the narrative of Al-Qaeda and Salafi-jihadist ideology into the American ambit. Morton had direct contact with some of the most prominent extremist preachers in the West. Revolution Muslim was connected to a number of terrorism cases.

When words become weapons, we have something to worry about. “Racism” has lost its meaning and is now being used like a bludgeon for all manner of  crimes, real and imagined (mostly imagined). Iran is playing a dangerous game of chicken with the West. It forgets, perhaps, that its greatest adversary is an Eagle. And Greg the Storyteller is back with real life stories about his time in the Israeli Army.

Understanding and Investigating Munchausen by Proxy (Medical Child Abuse) In 1977, British pediatrician Dr. Roy Meadow wrote up two cases of mothers whom he believed were intentionally making their children sick in order to get attention and sympathy from medical providers, friends and family. He termed this condition Munchausen by proxy, piggybacking off the name Munchausen syndrome, given years earlier to patients who induced illness in themselves. Since first identified, Munchausen by proxy has been surrounded by controversy; is it a mental illness or is it a form of child abuse? Are these caretakers simply overly involved parents who fall under suspicion simple because they dare to question doctors, or are they putting on a nurturing act to get their own needs met? On this episode of Thread of Evidence, Host Dr. Joni Johnston talks to Mike Weber, the most experienced criminal investigator of medical child abuse in the United States. He’ll talk about his experience with these cases, the challenges they present, and the ongoing need for education about this potentially deadly crime. Detective Weber has 35 years law enforcement experience, including 12 years as a crimes against children investigator. Detective Weber was awarded the 2016 NCMEC Texas Hero for Children Award for the investigation of Geronimo Aguilar. Detective Weber has investigated 22 case of Medical Child Abuse that have led to 6 convictions, 2 cases pending trial, and 3 cases currently under investigation.