IHIA Investigative Quarterly - June 2022 Edition

INVESTIGATIVE QUARTERLY A Publication by the International Homicide Investigators Association (IHIA)

EDITION: JUNE 2022

www.IHIA.org

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Lieutenant Paul Belli (Retired) Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office IHIA Friends, Supporters and Sponsors: As we approach the summer of 2022, the IHIA would like to take a moment to thank all our members for their continued support of the IHIA. Because of your support, the IHIA has brought training to six (6) different states and helped educate more than 500 law enforcement officials from across the United States and from six (6) different countries, just in the first half of 2022. Last year we provided training to 1000 officials and our goal is to double the number for 2022. We are well on our way to meeting those expectations!

In August, we will be presenting our 28th Annual Homicide Training Symposium in New Orleans, Louisiana.

This will be the 4th time we have held our symposium in New Orleans. Each time, the experience has been phenomenal. As we finalize the plans for the event, be aware we are having our first ever, “Death Takes a Holiday” pub crawl on Monday night. This will be an outstanding time!

And we are putting together a working group with the FBI to create a Child/Infant Death Investigation course.

Details to come!

In other news, we presented a hybrid course in Bogota, Colombia, from May 23-27, 2022. Thirty-one (31) Colombian National Police officials were in attendance.

We are excited about additional international opportunities.

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WHAT’S INSIDE THE IQ: • Letter from President Paul Belli • Meet Rob Peters, IHIA Vice President • Article: Targeted HonourBased Violence • Upcoming Training • Scholarship Submissions • IHIA Conference Info Lastly, your Board of Directors are working hard to create more opportunities for additional training.

Please check out our regional training opportunities.

We plan to be in New York, Colorado Springs, Miami, Augusta, Spokane, Mesa, and Albuquerque this year.

2023 will have even greater opportunities.

See you in New Orleans!

President Paul Belli International Homicide Investigators Association

The IHIA is the world’s largest and fastest growing organization of homicide and death investigation professionals. The non-profit organization represents the largest network of homicide professionals and practitioners ever assembled. The IHIA has representatives in every U.S. state and nations on six continents.

For membership information, visit: www.ihia.org/Membership JUNE 2022 | PAGE 1

IHIA

28th annual International symposium The IHIA, in conjunction with the FBI, will be holding our 28th Annual IHIA Training Symposium in New Orleans. The symposium is scheduled for Sunday, August 7, 2022 – Friday, August 12, 2022, at the New Orleans Marriott Warehouse Arts District.

The IHIA and its co-sponsor agency strive to make the 2022 New Orleans Training Symposium an exceptional educational experience. The symposium offers a variety of excellent topical training as well as outstanding opportunities to interact with hundreds of U.S. and international attendees and renowned presenters.

Specific training presentations being arranged to date, include: • Cognitive Variables in Homicide Investigations - Mark Zelig P.HD ABPP • Paul Butler Presentations - Leadership for a Lifetime • Arrest Related Death Investigations – Dr. Simon Baldwin RCMP • Venus Stewart Case – Michigan State Police – Det. 1st Lieutenant Chuck Christensen • United Kingdom Long Term Homicide Investigation Case Presentation • Forensic use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles • OK Google – How can I catch a Predator. The Analyst and Investigator Team - Mike Winslow, TLO - Analsyt - Scottsdale PD • Crypto Currency Investigations – Motive or payment?

• Video Evidence – What did I just see? - Jeffrey A. Martin, J.D., C.V.F.T. DSI Consulting • Emerging Trends in Social Media Investigations – Det. Sean Smith • False and Recovered Memory Homicide investigations– Dr. Peter Collins, Ontario Provincial Police More to Come!

Symposium attendees possessing the rank of Sergeant and above have the option to attend a one-day closed door Management Seminar on Tuesday, August 9, 2022.

Member rate is $525 and Non-Member rate is $575.

To register, and for additional information, visit the IHIA website at www.ihia.org. www.ihia.org

New Orleans, Louisiana August 7-12, 2022

New Orleans Marriott Warehouse Arts District 859 Convention Center Blvd., New Orleans, LA 70130

LINK TO HOTEL BOOKHERE HOTEL BOOK

www.ihia.org

MEET YOUR IHIA VICE PRESIDENT: ROB PETERS Hello from California, Yes…despised by a few but hated by all! We as Californian’s get a bad rap, but in some instances it’s rightfully owed.

I was born and raised in Northern California. When I graduated high School, I joined the Marine Corps. I went through boot camp at MCRD and then the School of Infantry (SOI) at Camp Pendleton. I was stationed with 1/1 and 3/5 while I was there. As with many who have served in the Marine Corps, especially as boot Lance Corporals, we had our fair share of ups and downs. I remember getting out and my Company Commander telling me that I was either going to become something, or I would go on a killing spree at a McDonald’s. Thankfully, it wasn’t the latter. I now realize I would not like prison.

When I got out of the Marine Corps, I went back to Northern California. There I went to a local university. While in college, I went to work for a local law firm that practiced personal injury. Unbeknownst to me, the law firm was very successful. As I worked and went to school, I started to think about going to law school and becoming an attorney. However, like many, I had a reckoning or epiphany while at work. It’s a long story and I do not want to bore you with it, but I realized I could not be an attorney… confined to an office with countless meeting, depositions, court appearances and demanding clients. So, I said what job would be a little like the military, give me the freedom to work outside, without being away from home for months or years at a time, and pays well. That’s right, I decided to go into law enforcement.

UPCOMING REGIONAL TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES ADVANCED HOMICIDE/VIOLENT CRIMES INVESTIGATIONS June 6 – June 10, 2022 Valhalla, New York BASIC HOMICIDE INVESTIGATIONS COURSE June 13 – June 17, 2022 Colorado Springs, Colorado COLD CASE/NO-BODY HOMICIDE INVESTIGATION & PROSECUTION July 18 – July 21, 2022 Miami, Florida 2022 IHIA 28TH ANNUAL TRAINING SYMPOSIUM August 7 – August 12, 2022 New Orleans, Louisiana 2022 LEADERSHIP/MANAGEMENT SEMINAR (IHIA SYMPOSIUM) August 9, 2022 New Orleans, Louisiana ADVANCED HOMICIDE INVESTIGATIONS COURSE September 12 – 16, 2022 Augusta, Georgia BASIC HOMICIDE INVESTIGATIONS COURSE October 3 – October 7, 2022 Spokane, Washington MASS CASUALTY/TARGETED VIOLENCE COURSE October 31 – November 4, 2022 Mesa, Arizona ADVANCED HOMICIDE/VIOLENT CRIMES INVESTIGATIONS December 5 – 9, 2022 Albuquerque, New Mexico

continued next page JUNE 2022 | PAGE 3

ROB PETERS, CONTINUED In my quest to become a peace officer, I applied to our two local agencies, the Sacramento Police Department, and the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office. The police department has roughly 800 officers and the Sheriff’s Office has around 1,300 deputies.

Just prior to getting hired with the Sheriff’s Office, the background investigator for the police department asked me to come down to their headquarters. He said a couple of his supervisors wanted to speak to me. Mind you at this point, the background investigator had said it was a down deal…I was going to their academy. When I arrived, the two supervisors asked me to take off my shirt and roll up my pant legs. They said they wanted to take photos of all my tattoos. By the way, I have a couple of tattoos that I accumulated over the years. After they took the photographs, they asked me if I really wanted to be a peace officer. I told them yes and provided them what I felt was a solid answer.

One week later, I received a letter in the mail saying I did not meet the image they wanted their officers to personify. The silver lining was the Sheriff’s Office contacted me the following week and offered me a job.

I have been with the Sheriff’s Office for 18 years now. It has been a great 18 years. After graduating the academy, I went to patrol training.

Once I completed patrol training, I was assigned to the courts until I could rotate back out to patrol. As a result of the recession, which impacted a lot of agencies across the United States, it took me a little bit longer than I expected to get back out to patrol. I eventually made it back out to patrol, where I worked for several years. I then went to our Problem Oriented Policing (POP) Unit. While in POP, several detective positions became available. I thought about putting in for the position, but I was a little apprehensive. I thought I did not have the necessary experience for the position. At the advice of one of my mentors, who is the current President of IHIA, as well as the advice of a homicide detective, I applied for a detective position in our Crimes Against Persons Unit.

would be interested in working in homicide. At that point, I hadn’t given it that much thought. The sergeant would become another mentor and explained to me that there was a reason he was asking me to go to the unit.

A month later, I was assigned to the homicide unit.

There I met my two other mentors. Those four mentors have significantly shaped my latter years with the Sheriff’s Office and my time in homicide. They have instilled in me that no case was unsolvable. Through persistence, collaboration and time, all homicides are solvable. I have been with the Homicide Bureau for over 7 years now. It has been a great experience. I have been fortunate to work on some very fascinating and complex investigations, to include the Golden State Killer (East Area Rapist) case.

Ernest Hemingway said it best, “There is no hunting like the hunting of man, and those who have hunted armed men long enough and liked it, never care for anything else thereafter.”

Rob Detective Rob Peters #701 Homicide Bureau Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office 4400 Auburn Boulevard Sacramento CA, 95841 Cell: (916) 384-7791 Desk: (916) 874-8482 Email: rpeters@sacsheriff.com

Luck fell upon me, and I was selected to be a Crimes Against Persons detective. After six months in people crimes, the Homicide Sergeant asked me if I JUNE 2022 | PAGE 4

TARGETED HONOUR-BASED VIOLENCE

BY DR. PETER COLLINS

Honour-Based Violence (HBV) is a major global problem; the United Nations estimates that approximately 5,000 women and girls lose their lives at the hands of their family every year.1 There is every indication that this form of violence is on the rise in North America and Western Europe. In England, it is estimated that there is an average of one honour killing per month.

According to Kropp, Belfrage & Hart, HBV can be defined as “any attempted or threatened physical harm of a family member with honour as the principle motive”.2 In its most extreme form, the violence leads to the killing of the family member because the victim is perceived as bringing ‘dishonour’ the family. These are premeditated killings of family members who are thought to have brought shame or dishonour to their family by engaging in certain behaviours that are considered unacceptable. Motivations can include engaging in sexual acts outside the marriage or having a nonsexual relationship that is perceived as inappropriate; homosexuality; conflicts of honour concerning an inheritance; dressing in a manner that is unacceptable to the family; loss of virginity outside marriage; rebellion against traditional forms of behaviour or occupation; insulting a family member and refusing to take part in honour-based violence against another person. Sometimes a girl or woman is abused, disowned by her family or forced to have an abortion. Women and girls are the most common victims of honour-based violence; however, men and boys can be victims, too.

In an honour-based society, only the men can be regarded as honourable. Their ‘honour’ is tied to the actions of the female members of the family, who could ultimately bring dishonour to the family or culture of origin. Some experts state that the foundation of HBV is based in religion, while others state it is not about religion but instead about patriarchy, or a combination of both. In many ways it is the man’s reputation in the eyes of other men, and this can be rooted in either religion or patriarchy.

What makes it different than other forms of domestic violence is that honour killings are planned in advance, often at a family conference. The perpetrators’ family may repeatedly threaten the victim with death if they dishonour their family.

There can also be family complicity involving multiple family members in the killing, such as parents, siblings and cousins. In addition, the perpetrators of honour killings often don’t face negative stigma in their families or communities.

HBV case studies One of the first honour killing cases I was consulted on was the Farah Khan homicide.

Muhammad Khan, the victim’s father, was convicted in April 2004 of first-degree murder and sentenced to life imprisonment without parole for at least 25 years, for the murder of his five-yearold daughter, Farah Khan, in their home in Toronto in 1999. His wife, Fatima Khan, the victim’s stepmother, was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to life imprisonment without parole for at least 15 years in June 2004.

On the day of the murder, Mr. Khan allegedly chased the child around a coffee table in the living room of their basement apartment. He then caught her by her hair and legs and beat her with a rolling pin. Finally, he banged her head on the table, whereupon she died. Initially he claimed the fiveyear-old had committed suicide. Her father later argued that he had to restore his honour because his daughter was the child of his first wife and another man. In November 2007, the convictions against Mr. Khan and Fatima Khan were upheld on appeal.

A case I was consulted on as a member of the OPP Criminal Behaviour Analysis Section team involved a multiple murder.

In June 2009, Rona Amir Mohammad (50), who was the first wife of Mohammad Shafia, and three of Mr. Shafia’s daughters, Zainab (19), Sahari (17) and Geeti (13), were found dead in a submerged car in the Rideau Canal near Kingston, Ont. The Shafia family was originally from Kabul, Afghanistan, had lived in Dubai for 15 years, and immigrated to Canada via Australia in 2007.

On July 23, 2009, Mr. Shafia (56), his second wife, Tooba Mohammad Yahya (39), and their son Hamed Shafia (18), were arrested on charges of four counts of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder in the deaths of Mr. Shafia’s three daughters and first wife. The first wife, Rona, was infertile and was treated as a domestic servant by the second wife, Tooba. Rona desperately wanted a divorce continued next page

JUNE 2022 | PAGE 5

from Mohammad Shafia. The daughters’ biological mother was the second wife, Tooba. The parents were fearful that all three daughters were becoming “too Canadian”, and the eldest was developing a relationship with a Pakastani youth. On January 29, 2012, after 15 hours of deliberation, a jury found each of the three defendants guilty of four counts of first-degree murder.

PATRIARCH The utilization of actuarial threat assessment protocols or structured professional judgment tools are not as applicable in assessing the potential for violence in honoured-based cases. For that reason, Kropp, Belfrage & Hart, developed PATRIARCH.2 It is a structured professional judgment (SPJ) tool used by professionals who are trained in its application. The development of the PATRIARCH was, in part, based on a review of the existing professional literature on HBV; therefore, its use is considered to be evidence-based and, at this point, the gold standard for examining the vulnerability factors and the risk management for HBV. The purpose of this SPJ tool is to introduce a systemic, standardized and practical framework for gathering and considering information when making decisions about HBV risk. There are three components to the PATRIARCH – the nature of the HBV, risk factors pertaining to the perpetrator and the vulnerability of the victim:2 Nature of HBV factors N1. Violent attitudes or thoughts N2. Violent threats or plans N3. Violent acts or attempts N4. Escalation N5. Persistence Perpetrator risk factors P1. Problems with cultural integration P2. Perceived transgressions of norms or values P3. Family relationship problems P4. Mental health or substance use problems P5. Antisocial attitudes and behaviour

Victim vulnerability factors V1. Inconsistent attitudes and behaviours V2. Extreme fear V3. Inadequate support or resources V4. Unsafe living situation V5. Mental health or substance use problems Each and every case is unique; however, PATRIARCH assists the threat assessor in determining the current risk and the vulnerability of the victim, allowing for the development of a safety plan.

Belfrage & Ekman state that it is necessary for police threat assessors to have a basic understanding of honour context, in order to carry out adequate threat assessments and risk management plans.3 They also state that it is crucial that the victim safety is handled by experts who understand the complexity of the feelings that the victims have. Many of the victims are young and are used to living within a close family; for this reason, they may have difficulty in coping with being alone, even though they know that if they return to their family—even though they miss them—they may face great danger in doing so.

In multiple studies with the Swedish police, PATRIARCH has demonstrated good validity and has significantly improved police investigations since its implementation.

For more information and trainingpertaining to PATRIARCH, contact Protect International at www.protect-international.com.

References

1. United Nations Population Fund, accessed at www.unfpa.org 2. Kropp, R., Belfrage, H. & Hart, S. (2013). Assessment of risk for honour-based violence (PATRIARCH). User manual.

Vancouver, British Columbia: Protect International.

3. Belfrage, H. & Ekman, L. (2021). “Threat assessment of targeted honour-based violence.” In J. R. Meloy & J. Hoffmann. International Handbook of Threat Assessment.

New York: Oxford University Press.

Dr. Peter Collins is the operational forensic psychiatrist with the Ontario Provincial Police’s Criminal Behaviour Analysis Section. He is also a member of the crisis/ hostage negotiation team of the Toronto Police Service Emergency Task Force. Dr. Collins’ opinions are his own. Contact him at peter.collins@utoronto.ca.

JUNE 2022 | PAGE 6

REGIONAL TRAINING AND BEYOND Steve Lewis, IHIA Association Manager

In June 2021, while attending the National Sheriff’s Association Conference in Phoenix, Arizona as an Exhibitor, we met a representative from the Department of Justice – ICITAP (International Criminal Investigative Training Assistance Program).

We spoke for about 30 minutes on bringing training to different parts of the world. This by chance encounter, developed into months of planning a course in Bogota’, Colombia.

Between our FBI partners and the DOJ, we were able to develop a training course specific to the needs of the Colombian National Police. The Colombia DOJ-ICITAP Director worked tirelessly with our FBI Liaison, Jody Kramer, and a mixture of our Basic, Advanced Homicide and Cold-Case course was developed. That was the easy part!

Next came the task of identifying a training location, available dates, and the instructors to teach it. Once all these things were resolved, four (4) presenters,

our FBI Liaison and two (2) IHIA board members, made the international trek to Bogota’, Colombia.

On May 23, 2022, the first day of the course happened. Thirty-one (31) Colombian National Police Investigators and prosecutors ascended on the training site. Opening remarks were made by the Colombia FBI Legal Attaché, Colombia’s Director on Human Trafficking, ICITAP Director, and our IHIA Association Manager.

This course is historic for the IHIA because it is the first time we have taken our regional training course internationally. Over the past 3 years, our Training Director, Mike Corrado, has worked to bring training to different parts of the country and now we have done it internationally. Hats off to his work and to all the board of directors for continually looking to provide training to as many investigators possible.

Another first was the IHIA’s participation in a webinar, hosted by Verogen. More than 100 IHIA members attended the webinar titled, “Forensic Investigative Genetic Genealogy – Advice from Practitioners and their Partners in Crime”. This free webinar was well received and the IHIA has plans to continue this type of training moving forward.

Steve Lewis, IHIA Association Manager

JUNE 2022 | PAGE 7

IHIA Academic Scholarship - LAST CALL

The Mission of the International Homicide Investigators Association (IHIA) Scholarship is to provide financial assistance to the immediate family of active IHIA members who are seeking post-secondary education. The IHIA seeks to support its members with this opportunity due to the considerable expenses related to post-secondary education. The IHIA seeks qualified applicants who will best represent the professionalism and commitment to service in accordance with tenants established by the IHIA. As we near the symposium, we still have a couple scholarships available for high school seniors, who are about to transition into college life. Each year, the IHIA awards four (4) scholarships in the amount of $1,000 to a deserving student.

The deadline is July 1, 2022.

Here is some important information (Minimum Qualifications): • Immediate family member of an Active Professional member in good standing with the IHIA; • Immediate family member(s) of current officers and directors of the IHIA Board of Directors, employees, and contracted employees are ineligible; • Applicants must be accepted as a student at an accredited college or university for the upcoming academic semester. Proof of admission is required at time of application; • Possess proof of successful completion and/or graduation from a secondary school, a general education development (GED) or competency-based education (CBE) course,or its equivalent; If you have any questions about the application, please e-mail the IHIA Scholarship Committee at ihia@ihia.org.

Additional information and application details for an a scholarship requires ACTIVE membership with the International Homicide Investigators Association. If your membership has lapsed please visit: https://ihia.org/Membership Once membership is ACTIVE, please navigate to the Members Only page and select IHIA Academic Scholarship.

This page includes the Guidelines, Sample Application, and the ability to Submit an application.

Please contact Academic Scholarship Committee Chair, Mike Blair, mblair@ihia.org with any questions.

REGIONAL MARKETING OPPORTUNITIES As a company investing time and resources to the Law Enforcement Homicide Investigator’s field, you have an opportunity as an exhibitor or sponsor to visit with these investigators to enhance your relationship with each individual and their departments. Enhance your company’s exposure and your relationship with these investigators and their departments at one of these new events. Please contact Collette Csintyan collette@cypressplanninggroup.com SPONSORSHIP RECEPTION $2,000 ($2000 exclusive, sponsorship will be shared with non-competing companies if exclusive is not secured.)

SPONSORED COFFEE OR SPONSORED BREAKFAST $500 each day SPONSOR DAY $500 each day Be the exclusive sponsor of a specific day at this event. You may come in meet with the attendees, mingle, accompany them to Lunch and so on. A few minutes will be provided to introduce yourself to the attendees and pass out information.

Investigative Quarterly Newsletter Ads The IHIA e-Newsletter is e-mailed to over 9000 readers quarterly. The e-Newsletter is placed on the IHIA website for members.

Advertising spaces are available to those companies wanting to reach the IHIA membership and are available in each issue.

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JUNE 2022 | PAGE 8

W ORLEANS! INTERNATIONAL HOMICIDE INVESTIGATORS ASSOCIATION

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EXHIBIT &EXHIBIT SPONSOR AT THE AT THE & SPONSOR 2022 IHIA SYMPOSIUM 2022 IHIA SYMPOSIUM IN NEW ORLEANS!

JUNE NEWSLETTER

INInvestigators NEW ORLEANS! The International Homicide Association's 28th Annual Training Symposium is quickly approaching now is the time to register to secure your spot as an INTERNATIONAL HOMICIDE INVESTIGATORS ASSOCIATION Exhibitor/Sponsor!

The International Homicide Investigators Association’s 28th Annual Training Symposium is quickly approaching - now is the time to register to secure your spot as an Exhibitor/Sponsor!

This year’s Symposium will be held at the New Orleans Marriott Warehouse Arts District on August 7-12, 2022.

EXHIBIT & SPONSOR AT THE Register now to secure sponsorship.

2022 IHIA SYMPOSIUM IN NEW ORLEANS! ted after this date.

This year’s Symposium will be held

00 before July 1, 2022.

The International Homicide Investigators Association's at the New Orleans Marriott 28th Annual Training Symposium is quickly approaching Warehouse Arts District now is the time to register to secure your spot as an d rate (until May 31st) is $495 7-12, 2022. on August Exhibitor/Sponsor!

Register now to secure your tabletop booth for $800 before July 1, 2022.

(starting June 1st) is $525

This year’s Symposium be held at $900 the New Orleans Pricing increases to for all booths contracted after this date.

Register now towill secure sponsorship. emberMarriott rate is $575 Warehouse Arts District on August 7-12, 2022.

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NFORMATION Member - Early Bird rate (until May 31st) is

n more about the erence, visit ihia.org.

Member rate (starting June 1st) is $525

is $575 Register to secure your tabletop booth for $800 Non-Member before July 1,rate 2022.

REGISTER TO now ATTEND Register now to secure your tabletop booth Click here to register Pricing increases to $900 for all booths contracted after this date.

for $800 before July 1,MORE 2022. INFORMATION Pricing increases to $900 for all booths contracted after this date.

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IH To learn more about the JUNE 2022 | PAGE 9 2022 conference, visit ihia.org.

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