Seminar Title
5 Day Homicide and Death Investigation
Dates of Events
10/12/2026 through 10/16/2026
Last Updated: 09/28/2026
Instructor(s): Michael Murphy, Robert G. Lowery, Jr., Timothy Gocha
Location: Columbus Police Training Academy - 1000 N Hague Avenue, Columbus, OH 43204
Course Registration Fee: $550
Instructor Bio
Michael Murphy
Michael Murphy serves as President and CEO of M POWER USA, an international management consulting firm providing management and leadership guidance to public and private agencies. Dr. Murphy brings forty plus years of law enforcement and public service experience to the position serving in a multitude of roles giving him a unique perspective beginning with boots on the ground to Chief of Police.
His journey of public service began as an entry level police officer in Kansas City, Kansas to serving as Chief of Police in Mesquite, Nevada. Dr. Murphy most recently served as Director of Special Services for The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in Alexandria, Virginia where he was responsible for the Long Term Missing and Unidentified, Forensic Services, Image Enhancement/Age Progression Units while serving as the National Amber Alert Coordinator.
Prior to his time on the national stage, Dr. Murphy served as Coroner for the Clark County Office of the Coroner/Medical Examiner for 13 years while simultaneously acted as the Interim Director of Juvenile Justice Services and Chief Lobbyist for the 76th & 77th Legislative Sessions of the Nevada Legislature.
Michael is a graduate of the FBI National Academy and has a doctoral degree in Business Administration with California Pacific University. He is also a Fellow with the American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators.
Robert G. Lowery, Jr.
Robert Lowery was the 5th police official to be appointed as Commander of the elite 35-year Greater St. Louis Major Case Squad, a multi-jurisdictional violent crime task force concerned with the high profile murder investigations in Missouri and Illinois. Serving 2.5 million citizens across 12 counties. Formed partnerships with Federal Law Enforcement agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, United State Marshal Service, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, Secret Service and Internal Revenue to maximize resources available for in-progress homicide cases. Robert created the Technical Operations Group, a specially trained team designed to provide electronic support in tracking and locating suspects. Robert created the Family Liaison Program which provided specially trained investigators to work with families of victims of homicide cases, investigated violent crimes with 500 Law Enforcement Investigators from over 100 local, county, state, federal agencies and managed high-level murder cases in collaboration with numerous officers and agencies.
Robert is a member of the International Homicide Investigators Association, Quantico, Virginia, United State Department of Justice, Federal Agency Task Force on Missing and Exploited Children, Washington DC, International Coroners and Medical Examiners Association and Federal Bureau of Investigation and National Academy Association.
Timothy Gocha
Timothy P. Gocha is an Associate Director of the Forensic Anthropology Center at Texas State University. Prior to this, he was a forensic anthropologist in Las Vegas, NV. He has participated in forensic anthropology casework throughout the U.S. as well as internationally. This experience includes assisting with victim recovery and/or identification from several mass fatality events including the deadliest hot air balloon crash in U.S. history, the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history, the deadliest wildfire in California history, as well as the ongoing humanitarian crisis of migrant deaths along the U.S./Mexico border. His personal research focuses on improving methods for estimating age at death from human skeletal remains, as well as positive identification of decedents.
Michael Murphy serves as President and CEO of M POWER USA, an international management consulting firm providing management and leadership guidance to public and private agencies. Dr. Murphy brings forty plus years of law enforcement and public service experience to the position serving in a multitude of roles giving him a unique perspective beginning with boots on the ground to Chief of Police.
His journey of public service began as an entry level police officer in Kansas City, Kansas to serving as Chief of Police in Mesquite, Nevada. Dr. Murphy most recently served as Director of Special Services for The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in Alexandria, Virginia where he was responsible for the Long Term Missing and Unidentified, Forensic Services, Image Enhancement/Age Progression Units while serving as the National Amber Alert Coordinator.
Prior to his time on the national stage, Dr. Murphy served as Coroner for the Clark County Office of the Coroner/Medical Examiner for 13 years while simultaneously acted as the Interim Director of Juvenile Justice Services and Chief Lobbyist for the 76th & 77th Legislative Sessions of the Nevada Legislature.
Michael is a graduate of the FBI National Academy and has a doctoral degree in Business Administration with California Pacific University. He is also a Fellow with the American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators.
Robert G. Lowery, Jr.
Robert Lowery was the 5th police official to be appointed as Commander of the elite 35-year Greater St. Louis Major Case Squad, a multi-jurisdictional violent crime task force concerned with the high profile murder investigations in Missouri and Illinois. Serving 2.5 million citizens across 12 counties. Formed partnerships with Federal Law Enforcement agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, United State Marshal Service, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, Secret Service and Internal Revenue to maximize resources available for in-progress homicide cases. Robert created the Technical Operations Group, a specially trained team designed to provide electronic support in tracking and locating suspects. Robert created the Family Liaison Program which provided specially trained investigators to work with families of victims of homicide cases, investigated violent crimes with 500 Law Enforcement Investigators from over 100 local, county, state, federal agencies and managed high-level murder cases in collaboration with numerous officers and agencies.
Robert is a member of the International Homicide Investigators Association, Quantico, Virginia, United State Department of Justice, Federal Agency Task Force on Missing and Exploited Children, Washington DC, International Coroners and Medical Examiners Association and Federal Bureau of Investigation and National Academy Association.
Timothy Gocha
Timothy P. Gocha is an Associate Director of the Forensic Anthropology Center at Texas State University. Prior to this, he was a forensic anthropologist in Las Vegas, NV. He has participated in forensic anthropology casework throughout the U.S. as well as internationally. This experience includes assisting with victim recovery and/or identification from several mass fatality events including the deadliest hot air balloon crash in U.S. history, the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history, the deadliest wildfire in California history, as well as the ongoing humanitarian crisis of migrant deaths along the U.S./Mexico border. His personal research focuses on improving methods for estimating age at death from human skeletal remains, as well as positive identification of decedents.
Course Objectives
Course Overview:
This course has been approved by the ABMDI for 31.5 hours of continuing education credit; Accreditation # 24-073
This five-day program equips investigators with the knowledge, skills, and strategies necessary to conduct thorough homicide and death investigations with prosecutorial merit. Participants will also gain the ability to properly recognize and investigate other forms of death, ensuring cases are resolved successfully.
The course begins with an interactive case review, where students analyze evidence, discuss observations, and determine whether the case should be classified as an accidental death, suicide, or homicide.
Attendees will follow a structured, step-by-step process for investigating high-profile and complex cases, including multiple homicides, violent crimes against vulnerable populations, unexplained missing children and abductions, and sexual assaults. Each section incorporates real-world case studies to emphasize investigative strategies and highlight lessons learned.
In addition, participants will explore cutting-edge investigative tools and methods, such as forensic genealogy, DNA phenotyping, data analytics, cell phone forensics, and the evolving role of social media. Special focus will also be given to the unique challenges of sexually motivated child abductions, unidentified human remains, “no body” prosecutions, and managing investigator wellness and stress.
Course Objectives
Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:
Apply the three basic steps of homicide investigations: crime scene response, follow-up, and courtroom preparation
Investigate a wide range of death classifications, including:
♦ Suicides
♦ Equivocal deaths
♦ Autoerotic deaths
♦ Non-vehicular deaths
♦ Unattended natural deaths
Manage major case investigations through a 10-step structured process
Utilize advanced technologies and techniques, including:
♦ Forensic genealogy and DNA advancements
♦ Data management and analytics
♦ Cell phone analytics
♦ Social media exploitation in investigations
Address the complexities of:
♦ Sexually motivated child abductions and homicides
♦ Cases involving unidentified human remains
♦ “No-body” homicide prosecutions
♦ Special search considerations and victim-centered issues
Strengthen skills in case documentation, report writing, and effective court presentation
Recognize and address the impact of stress and wellness challenges on investigators
This five-day program equips investigators with the knowledge, skills, and strategies necessary to conduct thorough homicide and death investigations with prosecutorial merit. Participants will also gain the ability to properly recognize and investigate other forms of death, ensuring cases are resolved successfully.
The course begins with an interactive case review, where students analyze evidence, discuss observations, and determine whether the case should be classified as an accidental death, suicide, or homicide.
Attendees will follow a structured, step-by-step process for investigating high-profile and complex cases, including multiple homicides, violent crimes against vulnerable populations, unexplained missing children and abductions, and sexual assaults. Each section incorporates real-world case studies to emphasize investigative strategies and highlight lessons learned.
In addition, participants will explore cutting-edge investigative tools and methods, such as forensic genealogy, DNA phenotyping, data analytics, cell phone forensics, and the evolving role of social media. Special focus will also be given to the unique challenges of sexually motivated child abductions, unidentified human remains, “no body” prosecutions, and managing investigator wellness and stress.
Course Objectives
Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:
Apply the three basic steps of homicide investigations: crime scene response, follow-up, and courtroom preparation
Investigate a wide range of death classifications, including:
♦ Suicides
♦ Equivocal deaths
♦ Autoerotic deaths
♦ Non-vehicular deaths
♦ Unattended natural deaths
Manage major case investigations through a 10-step structured process
Utilize advanced technologies and techniques, including:
♦ Forensic genealogy and DNA advancements
♦ Data management and analytics
♦ Cell phone analytics
♦ Social media exploitation in investigations
Address the complexities of:
♦ Sexually motivated child abductions and homicides
♦ Cases involving unidentified human remains
♦ “No-body” homicide prosecutions
♦ Special search considerations and victim-centered issues
Strengthen skills in case documentation, report writing, and effective court presentation
Recognize and address the impact of stress and wellness challenges on investigators