About

My 'Superpower'

I was born with a disability that ended up becoming a unique skill. I was born deaf, but I wasn't diagnosed until I was aged four. Those first four years of my life were a world of silence for me, but it shaped how I viewed the world and how I was able to understand what was happening, without being able to hear. It wired my brain differently, so that I could acutely interpret my environment and learn new things visually. This is how I can accurately interpret crime scenes and how I can work out the sequence of events that occurred prior to death. I may still have my disability, but I also have a special talent.

My Credentials

Professional Experience

Academically I have a BSc in Applied Psychology, MSc in Forensic Behavioural Science and another BSc in Forensic Science. I was lucky enough to shadow NYPD homicide detectives whilst learning all about how bloodstain patterns can tell a story - I've found that blood seldom lies! I furthered my professional development whilst working, achieving certifications in forensic medicine, investigating staged crime scenes, advanced homicide investigation and psychological autopsy investigation. Over the past couple of years, I've also had two book chapters published.

Before becoming a coroner's officer, I wasn't sure what I wanted to do. I knew I was inquisitive, analytical and quite artistic....but being deaf closed some doors, such as becoming a police officer. But there was nothing stopping me from working as a police 'civilian'. I started with Thames Valley Police in 2006 as a coroner's officer where I attended scenes of unnatural deaths, taking over the investigation from police officers. I supervised post-mortem examinations daily and worked on-call. In 2007, I moved back to Cheshire where I continued my coronial career. I have been the officer for over 5,000 deaths, which means I have spoken to over 5,000 families about how their loved ones died. I was eventually promoted to the head of my department, leading a full team of coroner's officers.

Since leaving the police my areas of expertise have evolved to investigating equivocal deaths, death scene interpretation, and identifying staged crime scenes. I have a strong sense of justice, and I am passionate about 'righting the wrongs' when I come across miscarriages of justice. I continue to develop myself professionally because there is always room to expand on knowledge. I now assist families, lawyers and the wrongly-accused to ensure that the correct judicial determination is reached following a contentious death.

I will always follow what the evidence says, even if the outcome is not what was expected. In addition, if I find previous investigations carried out by the police was at a good standard, I will of course acknowledge this

The Way Forward