Investigating Animal Abuse Crime Scenes

About the Author

Virginia Maxwell is Professor in the Forensic Science Department at the University of New Haven. She has over 30 years of experience in Forensic Science as both a practitioner in the State of Connecticut Forensic Science Laboratory and at the University of New Haven. As a practitioner Dr Maxwell specialized in trace evidence, examining cases ranging from property crimes to multiple homicides; she has provided expert testimony in criminal cases at both the state and federal level. Dr. Maxwell is the director of the MS Forensic Science and Assistant Chair of the Forensic Science Department. She teaches Forensic Investigation of Animal Cruelty and has created a graduate certificate in Animal Cruelty Investigation at the University. She also teaches Law and Forensic Science at the University of Connecticut School of Law. As part of the Collaboration for investigation of Animal Maltreatment with the University of Connecticut School of Law she has developed Animal Cruelty Investigation trainings for animal control officers and other first responders. Dr Maxwell’s research focuses on physical evidence issues in animal cruelty investigations, environmental degradation of pattern evidence and farm animal welfare. Dr. Maxwell is a member of the American Academy of Forensic Science, the Animals and Society Institute, the Dairy Cattle Welfare Council and the American Dairy Science Association. She holds a Doctorate in Physical Chemistry from Oxford University and Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Liverpool University. She has published extensively on crime scene investigation, physical evidence, and trace and transfer evidence.

Martha Smith-Blackmore is a veterinarian and president of a private veterinary forensic consulting firm, Forensic Veterinary Investigations, LLC with over 25 years’ experience documenting cases of suspected animal cruelty and working as an expert witness in criminal and civil cases involving animals. Dr. Smith-Blackmore is a faculty fellow of the Center for Animals & Public Policy at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University in North Grafton, MA, teaching Veterinary Forensics, and Law & Veterinary Medicine. She is a recent Visiting Fellow in the Brooks McCormick Jr. Animal Law & Policy Program at Harvard Law School. She is an associate member of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, the National Association of Medical Examiners, the National Sheriffs Association, and the International Association of Chiefs of Police, appointed to their forensic science committee. She serves on the National Institute of Science and Technologies Organization of Scientific Area Committees in the Crime Scene Investigation and Reconstruction subcommittee. Dr. Smith-Blackmore's forensics career has included working with a variety of police departments, animal control departments and attorneys. She trained for one year at the Office of Chief Medical Examiner in Boston. Dr. Smith has contributed to the prosecution of cases of simple animal abuse, intentional abuse & torture, animal sexual abuse and animal fighting. She also works as a consulting expert witness for defense teams throughout the country.