Laura Pettler Has the Coolest Job(s)

Dr. Laura Pettler has quickly become a CrimeCon favorite (I mean, she has those cool forensic toys!). We’ve been honored to have her take over the CrimeCon Insider app to introduce us to her webseries Notorious and share some of the captivating stories that we’ve come to expect from her. Naturally, I was in full geek mode when we had a chance to chat about her work, the takeover, and what’s coming up next.

Dr. Laura Pettler has quickly become a CrimeCon favorite (I mean, she has those cool forensic toys!). We’ve been honored to have her take over the CrimeCon Insider app to introduce us to her webseries Notorious and share some of the captivating stories that we’ve come to expect from her. Naturally, I was in full geek mode when we had a chance to chat about her work, the takeover, and what’s coming up next.

CCI: We’ve seen an explosion of cases solved with DNA this year. What do you think the future of DNA will be as an investigative tool? 

I think DNA as an investigative tool will far surpass even what we thought was possible. With the apprehension of the Golden State Killer, we are beginning to see an increase in cold cases being solved using the most advanced technology available today including innovative ways of using DNA Ancestral Databases and familial DNA. Touch DNA is also becoming more common and as I have always opined, DNA in general is more likely on firearms and triggers of firearms than a fingerprint on a trigger.  

CCI: Tell us a little about the Cold Case Accountability Act and how readers can get involved. 

The Cold Case Accountability Act was created by Sheryl McCollum of the Cold Case Investigative Research Institute, Laura Pettler & Associates and myself, and Leigh Egan from CrimeOnline.com. It was written by law enforcement professionals for law enforcement professionals, victims, and families. The major premise of the Act is for all of us as a country to take responsibility for the American Cold Case Epidemic proactively by implementing a multifaceted system that includes dedicating new and substantial funding to law enforcement agencies nationwide for cold case management and investigation, cold case investigator and prosecutor education, training, and certification, standardized annual cold case accountability, investigative plan, and status reports, annual family updates, outside agency case review, and private sector resources and case review upon a case reaching chronological milestones. The goal is to make sure physical evidence is checked on and accounted for every 12 months, for investigative agencies to have the money for training, case management, and investigation, for families to be included in the non-confidential aspects of the investigation, such as annual updates, and ultimately for victims of all cold cases: murder, sexual assaults, kidnappings, robberies, etc. to have justice. You can sign the petition at  www.change.org  if you're interested. 


CCI: Your webseries is awesome. Do you have plans to do more in that format in the future?

Thank you! We do. LPA has partnered with Infield Media and Promotion who has their own film crew. We intend to begin a new crowdfunded webseries in 2019. The new webseries will feature cold cases throughout the United States. 

CCI: The MVAC demo at CC18 was BANANAS cool. What cool tech will you bring to NOLA?? 

Thank you! The "M-VAC", short for The Microbial Vacuum is the best DNA collection tool that has ever been invented in my opinion. LPA was the first in North Carolina to bring the technology to our state and we are the only private sector Death Investigation firm to own an M-VAC. In August we launched our partnership with the newest and most innovative DNA Laboratory in the country and we now offer in partnership with them 2-day turn around on DNA samples. So you never know, maybe we will sample a case on the first day of CrimeCon NOLA and reveal the results on the third day! Planning is in the works...

Along with the M-VAC, our Laser Bullet Trajectory Demonstrations are a CrimeCon favorite, we expect to do another case in NOLA featuring how to use the Kaleidoscope System as well.