Forensic Anthropology and Community Engagement

Introduction to Forensic Anthropology

• Speaker: Liam Johnson, a forensic anthropologist.
• Background: Grew up in a service industry family; mother's role as a special needs teacher shaped his passion for teaching and helping others.

Educational Journey

• Undergrad studies: Started with music performance and biomedicine aimed at medical school.
  • Shifted to anthropology due to personal preferences and interests in forensic anthropology.
• Human Decomposition Research Facility:
  • Attended the University of South Florida, working at the facility focused on human decomposition (8th in the world).
  • Took initiative to gain experience as the only undergraduate at the facility.

Community Engagements and Research

• Events organized: "Art of Forensics" focused on missing persons and local cold cases.
  • Aimed to engage community members to identify unidentified individuals.
• Undergrad research funded for travel to Portugal to collect skeletal data.
• Graduate studies involved working with Master’s students on a new decomposition research facility in Louisiana.
• Experience managing missing and unidentified persons database for the state.

Thesis and Research Focus

• Thesis question: Examined missing persons and demographic trends, incorporating GIS mapping.
• Primary research questions:
  1. How do demographic trends of missing persons in Louisiana compare to known populations?
  2. Are there cold spots in the data regarding missing persons and reports?
  3. What geographical structures can be identified within missing persons locations?
• Key findings:
  • Underrepresentation of white individuals and overrepresentation of people of color among missing persons in Louisiana.
  • Many cases involved individuals with mental health conditions or substance abuse issues.

Methodology

• Employed GIS mapping to identify prevalent areas for missing persons.
• Analyzed data gaps in dental records and photographs available for missing persons across different parishes.

Community-Centric Approach

• Focus on outreach: Proposed to bring events to the community to reduce barriers in access and increase visibility of missing persons cases.
• Emphasized the importance of emotional support for families of missing persons during events and notifications.

Missing Persons Event: "Missing in Nevada Day"

• Purpose: To provide a non-intimidating environment for families to report missing persons.
  • Included resources like therapy dogs and peer support counselors.
• Outcomes:
  • 65 individuals attended; 12 family DNA samples collected.
  • 10 new missing persons reports filed; two significant notifications made about missing individuals.

Challenges in Law Enforcement

• Lack of effective communication among agencies leads to inefficiencies and missed opportunities for case resolution.
• Introduced a multi-jurisdictional database for improved collaboration and efficiency in identifying missing persons and unidentified individuals.

Underlying Issues in Missing Cases

• Discussed social factors contributing to missing persons cases, including systemic inequalities.
• Defined missing vs. unidentified persons:
  • Missing persons: Those who are reported missing; ambiguity exists regarding intention.
  • Unidentified persons: Individuals without recognized identification, life or death status.

Concluding Thoughts

• Highlighted the humanitarian crisis surrounding missing persons cases, especially in urban areas like Las Vegas.
• Discussed a health and public service approach towards forensic anthropology, influencing research directions and community interventions.
• Emphasized the need for ongoing engagement, understanding, and organization to aid missing persons investigations and resolution of cold cases.

Future Directions

• Further research into the intersection of public health issues and forensic anthropology, particularly regarding environmental factors impacting mortality.
• An ongoing commitment to community service and addressing systemic vulnerabilities that lead to unresolved missing persons cases.