Crossroads Ranch + LPA Events
Where Investigation Meets Experience
At Crossroads Ranch in Monroe, North Carolina, Dr. Laura Pettler has created something entirely new — a working horse farm, investigative training ground, and entertainment venue where forensic science and equine partnership converge.
Across both Crossroads Ranch and Laura Pettler & Associates (LPA), every event is designed to educate, inspire, and immerse guests in the intersection of horses, true crime, and hands-on forensic learning.
Signature Experiences
True Crime & Equines™ Series
From Adult CSI Horse Camp to Kids CSI Horse Camp and True Crime Pet & Paint Nights, these programs bring participants face-to-face with the science and psychology of criminal investigation — in the most unexpected setting: the barn.
LPA Forensic Training & Continuing Education
Through Laura Pettler & Associates, law enforcement officers, coroners, and forensic professionals attend advanced courses taught by Dr. Pettler and her nationally recognized colleagues. Topics range from Staged Crime Scene Reconstruction to The Murder Room Method — all taught in the animal-assisted, farm-based environment of Crossroads Ranch.
Mounted Search, Rescue, and Recovery Training
As the official training center for the Lancaster County Coroner’s Office Mounted Response Unit (LCCO-MRU), Crossroads Ranch hosts monthly mounted and ground-unit training sessions open to certified responders and volunteers.
Live Guest Events & Retreats
Join Dr. Pettler and featured experts for one-of-a-kind live experiences that merge investigation, wellness, and storytelling. From Hunter & Hunted with Paul Holes to Shots of Deception with Kenny Kinsey, these exclusive events combine real-world forensic instruction with the restorative calm of equine connection.
Upcoming Events
View the full schedule of camps, trainings, and guest appearances below. Each event offers an unfiltered, real-world look into the investigative process — whether you’re a professional, a true-crime enthusiast, or just curious to see how horses help humans uncover the truth.
Hunter and Hunted: An Introduction to Serial Predator Recognition
Course Fee: $199/person
This course may be approved by various state POSTs for continuing education credit. Please let us know if you need specifics from us for you to get credit in your state.
In 2018, Paul Holes retired as a cold case investigator after spending more than twenty-seven years working in Contra Costa County, in the San Francisco Bay Area. Paul specialized in cold case and serial predator crimes, lending his expertise to notable cases, including the murder of Laci Peterson and the kidnapping of Jaycee Dugard. Most prominently, Paul’s career culminated with his identification of the Golden State Killer, Joseph DeAngelo, the most notorious and cunning serial predator in U.S. history.
Since the arrest of DeAngelo, Holes has been very involved on the media side, continuing to assist law enforcement and victims’ families with their unsolved cases through the television shows The DNA of Murder with Paul Holes and America’s Most Wanted and the podcast Jensen & Holes: The Murder Squad.
Hunter and Hunted: An Introduction to Serial Predator Recognition brings together two of the nation’s leading experts in forensic investigation and offender behavior — Paul Holes and Dr. Laura Pettler — for a powerful exploration of how serial predators operate and how to stop them.
This course introduces participants to the behavioral patterns, psychological dynamics, and investigative strategies that distinguish serial predators from other offenders. Attendees will learn to recognize the subtle warning signs of predatory behavior, understand offender motivation, victimology, and analyze the methods predators use to stalk, control, and silence their victims.
Paul Holes, the celebrated and renowned cold case investigator who helped bring down the Golden State Killer, will share firsthand insights into linking serial cases, navigating investigative roadblocks, and unraveling the behavioral footprints of serial offenders. Drawing from decades of experience, Dr. Laura Pettler, a pioneering forensic criminologist and internationally recognized authority on staged homicides, will present on crime characteristics, victim-offender dynamics, and investigative approaches to identifying patterns of serial predation.
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
Recognize early indicators of serial predation
Understand psychological and behavioral profiles of serial offenders
Analyze offender staging and manipulation tactics
Apply investigative strategies to strengthen case linkage and recognition
Designed for law enforcement, forensic professionals, and criminal justice practitioners, Hunter and Hunted provides an essential foundation in serial predator recognition from two of the field’s foremost experts.
___________________________________________________________________
Location: Crossroads Ranch, 3611 Austin Road, Monroe, NC 28112
When: January 20-21, 9am-5pm EST
Accommodations:
Airport: CLT Airport
Monroe, NC Hotels, please contact hotels for room rates:
The Holiday Inn Express
The Hampton Inn
Extra Seasonal Activities Planned:
Bonfire
BBQ
Animal interactions available on site
Fishing
Swimming
Paul Holes Guest Speaker
Join Paul Holes for UNMASKED, an in depth true crime conversation beyond the headlines. Hosted by True Crime & Equines on January 21 at Crossroads Ranch in Monroe, North Carolina. Tickets available at LauraPettler.com.
Shots of Deception: Reconstructing Staged Suicides by Firearm
Course Fee: $299/person
This course may be approved by various state POSTs for continuing education credit. Please let us know if you need specifics from us for you to get credit in your state.
Shots of Deception: Reconstructing Staged Suicides by Firearm presented by Dr. Kenny Kinsey and Dr. Laura Pettler equips investigators, death scene professionals, and forensic specialists with the skills to identify and deconstruct staged firearm suicides. While firearm-related deaths are often classified as self-inflicted, staged suicides present unique challenges that can obscure the truth and delay justice.
Dr. Kenneth “Kenny” Kinsey specialized in crime scene investigation, shooting reconstruction, and use of force analysis, applying forensic expertise across more than 850 death scenes during a 22 year law enforcement career. A former Chief Deputy and PhD, Kinsey is frequently consulted on complex civil and criminal matters and regularly qualified as an expert in state and federal courts. He is also an advocate for professional, ethical policing and strengthening trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve.
This course provides a comprehensive framework for analyzing these complex cases, combining shooting reconstruction techniques with forensic victimology and behavioral and psychological considerations of staging. Participants will learn to recognize telltale inconsistencies in wound ballistics, bloodstain patterns, weapon placement, and scene dynamics, while also examining the victim as the center of the investigation, offender motivation, manipulation tactics, and behavioral red flags.
Through real-world case examples and practical application, attendees will leave with the tools to:
Differentiate authentic suicides from staged firearm deaths
Apply forensic shooting reconstruction methods to ambiguous scenes using Dr. Pettler’s Kaleidoscope Shooting & Bloodstain Reconstruction System and other related equipment
Interpret bloodstain and ballistic evidence in the context of staging
Assess offender behavior and staging psychology
Strengthen case documentation, testimony, and courtroom presentation
This training is designed for law enforcement, medical examiners, coroners, forensic scientists, and criminal justice professionals who encounter firearm-related deaths and need advanced strategies for uncovering deception at the scene.
Location: Crossroads Ranch, 3611 Austin Road, Monroe, NC 28112
When: February 17-19, 2026, 9am-5pm EST
Accommodations:
Airport: CLT Airport
Monroe, NC Hotels, please contact hotels for room rates:
The Holiday Inn Express
The Hampton Inn
Extra Seasonal Activities Planned:
Bonfire
BBQ
Animal interactions available on site
Fishing
Swimming
The Silent Witness: Crime Scene Investigation with Sharon Plotkin
Course Fee: $739/person includes materials and extra activities
This course is approved by the International Association for Identification for 40-hours credit hours towards crime scene certification and recertification.
About Sharon Plotkin
Sharon has been a certified crime scene investigator since 2006 with the International Association for Identification and spent almost 21 years doing crime scene work in North Miami, Florida where she investigated thousands of cases ranging from burglaries to homicides and suspicious death cases.
Sharon has been teaching in higher education since 2003 and is currently full-time faculty at Miami Dade College in Crime Scene Technology since 2016.
Sharon obtained her Master of Science degree in Criminal Justice with a minor in Psychology from Florida International University. Sharon received her doctoral degree in Education specializing in Curriculum and Teaching from Northcentral University in 2022. She is a member of several forensic organizations including the International Association for Identification, International Association of Bloodstain Pattern Analysts and Goldcoast Forensics. She is a fellow with the American Academy of Forensic Science.
Sharon has received specialized training in various fields of crime scene investigations, including, bloodstain reconstruction, photography, crime scene reconstruction, fingerprinting, shoe wear casting and other various topics. She has traveled throughout the United States, Taiwan and the Caribbean attending and teaching at crime scene conferences that included experts such as Dr. Henry Lee, Dr. Michael Baden, Dr. Vincent DiMaio, Vernon Geberth, Dr. Bill Bass, Paul Kish, Richard Saferstein and other highly notable crime scene experts.
Sharon published a crime scene reconstruction textbook with author Robert Ogle Jr. and her second textbook in Fingerprinting was released in May 2021. She is working on a manuscript for a third textbook in crime scene safety.
Location: Crossroads Ranch, 3611 Austin Road, Monroe, NC 28112
When: March 23-27, 2026, 9am-5pm EST
Accommodations:
Airport: CLT Airport
Monroe, NC Hotels, please contact hotels for room rates:
The Holiday Inn Express
The Hampton Inn
Extra Seasonal Activities Planned:
Bonfire
BBQ
Animal interactions available on site
Fishing
Swimming
The Silent Witness: Crime Scene Investigation with Sharon Plotkin reveals how every crime scene tells a story — if you know how to listen. Evidence doesn’t lie; it speaks through bloodstains, fingerprints, trace materials, and scene dynamics. This course, led by Sharon Plotkin, guides participants through the essential principles and practices of professional crime scene investigation, from first response to courtroom presentation.
This 40-hour course is designed to instruct the proper methods and techniques to be applied when investigating and documenting crime scenes. Techniques that can be employed to identify and process and/or collect physical evidence at the scene will be covered.
The course is intended for crime scene technicians and investigators as well as patrol officers and detectives who are charged with the responsibility of processing crime scenes. University student and individuals seeking employment in the field of forensics are also welcomed to attend.
Day 1 - Documenting Crime Scenes
Documenting the crime scene with note taking, report writing, sketching and photography will be practiced. Crime scene search principles and patterns will be discussed.
Day 2 - Photography, Impression Evidence, Trace Evidence
Crime scene photography techniques are continued. Detection and collection of impression and trace evidence will be practiced. Packaging of evidence and chain-of-custody concerns will be discussed. The use of forensic light sources for the detection of trace evidence such as body fluids will be practiced.
Day 3 - Fingerprint Evidence
Mechanical and chemical processing of fingerprint evidence will be practiced. Topics include recognizing surfaces conducive to processing and recognition of appropriate processes to be used in various instances.
Day 4 - Intro to Bloodstain Reconstruction
Methods for the detection and enhancement of the visibility of latent bloodstains and documenting bloodstain evidence will be practiced.
Day 5 - Intro to Shooting Reconstruction, Toolmark Evidence, and Testimony
Documentation of bullet trajectories using lasers, rods, and string will be practiced. Casting toolmark impressions will be practiced. Testifying in court as to findings at the crime scene will be discussed.
Goals and Objectives
Upon completion of this workshop, the student will be able to describe the proper documentation of a crime scene to include:
Discussion of Photography
Lighting techniques that provide best results
Camera operations that provide focused, sharp, examination quality images
Demonstrate sample images taken during in-class exercises
Discussion of Sketching
Floorplan
Projection
Exploded View
Demonstrate sample sketch drawn during in-class exercises
Search Procedures
Describe at least three different search patterns, how they differ, and examples of situations where each works best
Evidence Collection
Demonstrate the ability to package different types of evidence during in-class exercises
Demonstrate the ability to complete a lab analysis sheet
Demonstrate the ability to complete a property receipt
Describe crime scene safety issues, listing at least three concerns of investigators at crime scenes
List personal protective equipment to be used at all scenes
List personal protective equipment to be used at critical scenes
Fingerprinting
Describe how to recognize surfaces conducive to fingerprints
Describe techniques for lifting identifiable fingerprints
Using standard fingerprint powder
Using magnetic fingerprint powder
Using fluorescent fingerprint powder
Using dye stains and other chemical processes
Bloodstain Pattern Recognition
Describe the difference between passive and active blood flow
Describe how directionality of bloodstains can be determined
Discuss how points of convergence can be determined
Detection and Enhancement of Blood on Crime Scenes
Discuss Bluestar Forensic and how it is properly applied and documented
Discuss how Amido Black is properly applied and documented
Use of alternate light sources to detect trace evidence and bodily fluids
Describe the mechanics of fluorescence
Discuss the use of forensic light sources to locate evidence including
Use of different wavelengths of light
Selecting the proper barrier filtration to optimize visibility of the evidence
List which colors of light tend to work best with each filter
Red
Yellow
Orange
Discuss shooting reconstruction (Bullet trajectory documentation)
Describe steps used to document the trajectory using a laser(s)
Describe steps used to document the trajectory using a rod(s)
Describe steps used to document the trajectory using a string
Describe how impression evidence is ideally documented
Describe special photographic techniques used to document the evidence
Describe casting techniques used to document and collect the evidence
Discuss precautions to be taken to safeguard casts
Court room procedures and testimony
Describe preparations to testify in courtroom proceedings
Discuss how the investigator can act as a teacher for the judge and jury
Describe proper demeanor for professionalism in court
CSI Horse Camp: Hoofprints & Hints
CSI Horse Camp: Hoofprints & Hints is a hands-on True Crime & Equines experience created by forensic criminologist Dr. Laura Pettler at Crossroads Ranch. This immersive camp teaches participants how to analyze clues, interpret behavior, and solve a staged “crime” using real forensic techniques—while working directly with horses and learning how equine environments reveal evidence and hidden narratives.
CSI Horse Camp: Hoofprints & Hints
There’s a mystery stirring in the barn…
CSI Horse Camp at Honeysuckle Farm, Monroe, NC is saddling up for 2026!
July 24-27, 2025 9am-5pm daily
Ages 12-17
Watch this space for dates, details, and how to ride and learn about forensic science with us.
#HoofprintsAndHints #SaddleUpSleuths #EquineCSI #TrueCrimeOnHorseback
True Crime Tuesday LIVE on TikTok & Facebook
The Tepe family murders in Columbus, Ohio remain one of the most troubling double homicide cases in recent years. In this SOLVED blog analysis, forensic criminologist Dr. Laura Pettler examines the crime scene, surveillance footage, and emerging person of interest to break down what the evidence actually tells us. This case focused forensic review cuts through speculation and highlights the unanswered questions investigators still face.
LCCO MRU Monthly MSAR Mounted Training
Monthly Mounted Training
When: Last Sunday of every month, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Where: Crossroads Ranch – Monroe, North Carolina
Special Training: Assistant Commander McCollum will be teaching in the classroom 9am-12pm then riders will mount up and train 1pm-4pm in mock search
Each month, the LCCO Mounted Response Unit gathers at Crossroads Ranch for mounted search and rescue training — a combination of horsemanship, teamwork, and tactical fieldwork designed to keep both horse and rider mission-ready.
Riders begin with groundwork to strengthen communication and responsiveness before moving into the Basic Ten riding skills: walk, trot, canter, halt/back up, turn on the forehand (left and right), turn on the haunches (left and right), and side pass (left and right).
After mastering control and precision, teams transition into search pattern formations and drill work, practicing line, grid, and wedge searches used in real-world missions. Training concludes with a mock search exercise, allowing riders to apply their skills in realistic recovery and investigation scenarios.
This ongoing training ensures every mounted responder is prepared for the physical, mental, and procedural demands of search, rescue, and recovery operations.
Open to: All MRU members and approved mounted volunteers. Guests are always welcome to come observe!
Safety Gear: Helmets required
LCCO MRU Online Monthly Training
MRU Online Monthly Training
When: Third Thursday of every month, 6:30pm-8:30 hours
Where: Online via LPAIFI.com (Zoom Platform)
The LCCO MRU meets online each month for two hours of continuing education and operational development. Hosted by Laura Pettler & Associates Forensic Institute (LPAIFI), this live Zoom session provides members with ongoing instruction and mission support to complement the unit’s field-based training.
Each month’s agenda rotates between topics such as:
Mounted Search, Rescue, and Recovery procedures
Search and Rescue items identification, marking, documenting, and preservation
Field safety, communication, and coordination
Lost person behavior
Coroner’s office operations and investigative updates and more…
MRU Online ensures every member stays informed, trained, and connected — building consistent readiness across the unit.
Access: Members log in through LPAIFI.com. Zoom link and materials are distributed prior to each session. Quizzes are available for con-ed credit at the end. Handouts provided with each presentation.
Attendance: Open to all MRU members.
LCCO MRU Monthly MSAR Mounted Training (Copy)
Monthly Mounted Training
When: Last Sunday of every month, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Where: Crossroads Ranch – Monroe, North Carolina
Special Training: Assistant Commander McCollum will be teaching in the classroom 9am-12pm then riders will mount up and train 1pm-4pm in mock search
Each month, the LCCO Mounted Response Unit gathers at Crossroads Ranch for mounted search and rescue training — a combination of horsemanship, teamwork, and tactical fieldwork designed to keep both horse and rider mission-ready.
Riders begin with groundwork to strengthen communication and responsiveness before moving into the Basic Ten riding skills: walk, trot, canter, halt/back up, turn on the forehand (left and right), turn on the haunches (left and right), and side pass (left and right).
After mastering control and precision, teams transition into search pattern formations and drill work, practicing line, grid, and wedge searches used in real-world missions. Training concludes with a mock search exercise, allowing riders to apply their skills in realistic recovery and investigation scenarios.
This ongoing training ensures every mounted responder is prepared for the physical, mental, and procedural demands of search, rescue, and recovery operations.
Open to: All MRU members and approved mounted volunteers. Guests are always welcome to come observe!
Safety Gear: Helmets required
LCCO MRU Online Monthly Training
MRU Online Monthly Training
When: Third Thursday of every month, 6:30pm-8:30 hours
Where: Online via LPAIFI.com (Zoom Platform)
The LCCO MRU meets online each month for two hours of continuing education and operational development. Hosted by Laura Pettler & Associates Forensic Institute (LPAIFI), this live Zoom session provides members with ongoing instruction and mission support to complement the unit’s field-based training.
Each month’s agenda rotates between topics such as:
Mounted Search, Rescue, and Recovery procedures
Search and Rescue items identification, marking, documenting, and preservation
Field safety, communication, and coordination
Lost person behavior
Coroner’s office operations and investigative updates and more…
MRU Online ensures every member stays informed, trained, and connected — building consistent readiness across the unit.
Access: Members log in through LPAIFI.com. Zoom link and materials are distributed prior to each session. Quizzes are available for con-ed credit at the end. Handouts provided with each presentation.
Attendance: Open to all MRU members.
LCCO MRU Monthly MSAR Mounted Training
Monthly Mounted Training
When: Last Sunday of every month, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Where: Crossroads Ranch – Monroe, North Carolina
Each month, the LCCO Mounted Response Unit gathers at Crossroads Ranch for mounted search and rescue training — a combination of horsemanship, teamwork, and tactical fieldwork designed to keep both horse and rider mission-ready.
Riders begin with groundwork to strengthen communication and responsiveness before moving into the Basic Ten riding skills: walk, trot, canter, halt/back up, turn on the forehand (left and right), turn on the haunches (left and right), and side pass (left and right).
After mastering control and precision, teams transition into search pattern formations and drill work, practicing line, grid, and wedge searches used in real-world missions. Training concludes with a mock search exercise, allowing riders to apply their skills in realistic recovery and investigation scenarios.
This ongoing training ensures every mounted responder is prepared for the physical, mental, and procedural demands of search, rescue, and recovery operations.
Open to: All MRU members and approved mounted volunteers. Guests are always welcome to come observe!
Safety Gear: Helmets required
CSI Horse Camp: Trail of Evidence
CSI Horse Camp: Trail of Evidence
The Adult True Crime & Equines Experience
Saddle up. Follow the trail. Find the truth.
At Crossroads Ranch in Monroe, North Carolina, adults trade conference rooms for crime scenes in this one-of-a-kind forensic riding experience. Led by Dr. Laura Pettler, a world-renowned forensic criminologist and lifelong equestrian, Trail of Evidence combines trail riding, teamwork, and hands-on investigation into an unforgettable day at the nation’s only True Crime Horse Farm.
The Experience
Participants begin the morning mounted — riding through pastures, pondside, and wooded trails where observation and awareness are part of the training. After the ride, the group breaks for lunch from Fox’s Pizza Den or their own packed meal, sharing insights and preparing for the afternoon’s investigation.
Then the real work begins. Participants examine mock death scenes, collect and document evidence, analyze victimology, and reconstruct how and why the crime occurred. You’ll learn how investigators read behavior, interpret bloodstain patterns, and learn about how we solve murders.
What You’ll Learn
Crime scene investigation techniques
Evidence recognition and preservation outdoors
Behavioral and forensic scene interpretation
Team-based investigative strategy
Crime scene photography and documentation
No prior forensic or equine experience required — just curiosity, courage, and the desire to uncover the truth.
Location: Crossroads Ranch – Monroe, North Carolina
Duration: One full day (9:00 AM – 3:00 PM)
Includes: Trail ride, instruction, hands-on mock casework, materials, and commemorative certificate
Where every trail leads to the truth.
LCCO MRU Online Monthly Training
MRU Online Monthly Training
When: Third Thursday of every month, 6:30pm-8:30 hours
Where: Online via LPAIFI.com (Zoom Platform)
The LCCO MRU meets online each month for two hours of continuing education and operational development. Hosted by Laura Pettler & Associates Forensic Institute (LPAIFI), this live Zoom session provides members with ongoing instruction and mission support to complement the unit’s field-based training.
Each month’s agenda rotates between topics such as:
Mounted Search, Rescue, and Recovery procedures
Search and Rescue items identification, marking, documenting, and preservation
Field safety, communication, and coordination
Lost person behavior
Coroner’s office operations and investigative updates and more…
MRU Online ensures every member stays informed, trained, and connected — building consistent readiness across the unit.
Access: Members log in through LPAIFI.com. Zoom link and materials are distributed prior to each session. Quizzes are available for con-ed credit at the end. Handouts provided with each presentation.
Attendance: Open to all MRU members.
LCCO MRU Monthly MSAR Mounted Training
Monthly Mounted Training
When: Last Sunday of every month, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Where: Crossroads Ranch – Monroe, North Carolina
Each month, the LCCO Mounted Response Unit gathers at Crossroads Ranch for mounted search and rescue training — a combination of horsemanship, teamwork, and tactical fieldwork designed to keep both horse and rider mission-ready.
Riders begin with groundwork to strengthen communication and responsiveness before moving into the Basic Ten riding skills: walk, trot, canter, halt/back up, turn on the forehand (left and right), turn on the haunches (left and right), and side pass (left and right).
After mastering control and precision, teams transition into search pattern formations and drill work, practicing line, grid, and wedge searches used in real-world missions. Training concludes with a mock search exercise, allowing riders to apply their skills in realistic recovery and investigation scenarios.
This ongoing training ensures every mounted responder is prepared for the physical, mental, and procedural demands of search, rescue, and recovery operations.
Open to: All MRU members and approved mounted volunteers. Guests are always welcome to come observe!
Safety Gear: Helmets required
CSI Horse Camp: Trail of Evidence
CSI Horse Camp: Trail of Evidence
The Adult True Crime & Equines Experience
Saddle up. Follow the trail. Find the truth.
At Crossroads Ranch in Monroe, North Carolina, adults trade conference rooms for crime scenes in this one-of-a-kind forensic riding experience. Led by Dr. Laura Pettler, a world-renowned forensic criminologist and lifelong equestrian, Trail of Evidence combines trail riding, teamwork, and hands-on investigation into an unforgettable day at the nation’s only True Crime Horse Farm.
The Experience
Participants begin the morning mounted — riding through pastures, pondside, and wooded trails where observation and awareness are part of the training. After the ride, the group breaks for lunch from Fox’s Pizza Den or their own packed meal, sharing insights and preparing for the afternoon’s investigation.
Then the real work begins. Participants examine mock death scenes, collect and document evidence, analyze victimology, and reconstruct how and why the crime occurred. You’ll learn how investigators read behavior, interpret bloodstain patterns, and learn about how we solve murders.
What You’ll Learn
Crime scene investigation techniques
Evidence recognition and preservation outdoors
Behavioral and forensic scene interpretation
Team-based investigative strategy
Crime scene photography and documentation
No prior forensic or equine experience required — just curiosity, courage, and the desire to uncover the truth.
Location: Crossroads Ranch – Monroe, North Carolina
Duration: One full day (9:00 AM – 3:00 PM)
Includes: Trail ride, instruction, hands-on mock casework, materials, and commemorative certificate
Where every trail leads to the truth.
LCCO MRU Online Monthly Training
MRU Online Monthly Training
When: Third Thursday of every month, 6:30pm-8:30 hours
Where: Online via LPAIFI.com (Zoom Platform)
The LCCO MRU meets online each month for two hours of continuing education and operational development. Hosted by Laura Pettler & Associates Forensic Institute (LPAIFI), this live Zoom session provides members with ongoing instruction and mission support to complement the unit’s field-based training.
Each month’s agenda rotates between topics such as:
Mounted Search, Rescue, and Recovery procedures
Search and Rescue items identification, marking, documenting, and preservation
Field safety, communication, and coordination
Lost person behavior
Coroner’s office operations and investigative updates and more…
MRU Online ensures every member stays informed, trained, and connected — building consistent readiness across the unit.
Access: Members log in through LPAIFI.com. Zoom link and materials are distributed prior to each session. Quizzes are available for con-ed credit at the end. Handouts provided with each presentation.
Attendance: Open to all MRU members.
LCCO MRU Monthly MSAR Mounted Training
Monthly Mounted Training
When: Last Sunday of every month, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Where: Crossroads Ranch – Monroe, North Carolina
Each month, the LCCO Mounted Response Unit gathers at Crossroads Ranch for mounted search and rescue training — a combination of horsemanship, teamwork, and tactical fieldwork designed to keep both horse and rider mission-ready.
Riders begin with groundwork to strengthen communication and responsiveness before moving into the Basic Ten riding skills: walk, trot, canter, halt/back up, turn on the forehand (left and right), turn on the haunches (left and right), and side pass (left and right).
After mastering control and precision, teams transition into search pattern formations and drill work, practicing line, grid, and wedge searches used in real-world missions. Training concludes with a mock search exercise, allowing riders to apply their skills in realistic recovery and investigation scenarios.
This ongoing training ensures every mounted responder is prepared for the physical, mental, and procedural demands of search, rescue, and recovery operations.
Open to: All MRU members and approved mounted volunteers. Guests are always welcome to come observe!
Safety Gear: Helmets required
CSI Horse Camp: Trail of Evidence
CSI Horse Camp: Trail of Evidence
The Adult True Crime & Equines Experience
Saddle up. Follow the trail. Find the truth.
At Crossroads Ranch in Monroe, North Carolina, adults trade conference rooms for crime scenes in this one-of-a-kind forensic riding experience. Led by Dr. Laura Pettler, a world-renowned forensic criminologist and lifelong equestrian, Trail of Evidence combines trail riding, teamwork, and hands-on investigation into an unforgettable day at the nation’s only True Crime Horse Farm.
The Experience
Participants begin the morning mounted — riding through pastures, pondside, and wooded trails where observation and awareness are part of the training. After the ride, the group breaks for lunch from Fox’s Pizza Den or their own packed meal, sharing insights and preparing for the afternoon’s investigation.
Then the real work begins. Participants examine mock death scenes, collect and document evidence, analyze victimology, and reconstruct how and why the crime occurred. You’ll learn how investigators read behavior, interpret bloodstain patterns, and learn about how we solve murders.
What You’ll Learn
Crime scene investigation techniques
Evidence recognition and preservation outdoors
Behavioral and forensic scene interpretation
Team-based investigative strategy
Crime scene photography and documentation
No prior forensic or equine experience required — just curiosity, courage, and the desire to uncover the truth.
Location: Crossroads Ranch – Monroe, North Carolina
Duration: One full day (9:00 AM – 3:00 PM)
Includes: Trail ride, instruction, hands-on mock casework, materials, and commemorative certificate
Where every trail leads to the truth.
LCCO MRU Online Monthly Training
MRU Online Monthly Training
When: Third Thursday of every month, 6:30pm-8:30 hours
Where: Online via LPAIFI.com (Zoom Platform)
The LCCO MRU meets online each month for two hours of continuing education and operational development. Hosted by Laura Pettler & Associates Forensic Institute (LPAIFI), this live Zoom session provides members with ongoing instruction and mission support to complement the unit’s field-based training.
Each month’s agenda rotates between topics such as:
Mounted Search, Rescue, and Recovery procedures
Search and Rescue items identification, marking, documenting, and preservation
Field safety, communication, and coordination
Lost person behavior
Coroner’s office operations and investigative updates and more…
MRU Online ensures every member stays informed, trained, and connected — building consistent readiness across the unit.
Access: Members log in through LPAIFI.com. Zoom link and materials are distributed prior to each session. Quizzes are available for con-ed credit at the end. Handouts provided with each presentation.
Attendance: Open to all MRU members.
LCCO MRU Monthly MSAR Mounted Training
Monthly Mounted Training
When: Last Sunday of every month, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Where: Crossroads Ranch – Monroe, North Carolina
Each month, the LCCO Mounted Response Unit gathers at Crossroads Ranch for mounted search and rescue training — a combination of horsemanship, teamwork, and tactical fieldwork designed to keep both horse and rider mission-ready.
Riders begin with groundwork to strengthen communication and responsiveness before moving into the Basic Ten riding skills: walk, trot, canter, halt/back up, turn on the forehand (left and right), turn on the haunches (left and right), and side pass (left and right).
After mastering control and precision, teams transition into search pattern formations and drill work, practicing line, grid, and wedge searches used in real-world missions. Training concludes with a mock search exercise, allowing riders to apply their skills in realistic recovery and investigation scenarios.
This ongoing training ensures every mounted responder is prepared for the physical, mental, and procedural demands of search, rescue, and recovery operations.
Open to: All MRU members and approved mounted volunteers. Guests are always welcome to come observe!
Safety Gear: Helmets required
CSI Horse Camp: Trail of Evidence
CSI Horse Camp: Trail of Evidence
The Adult True Crime & Equines Experience
Saddle up. Follow the trail. Find the truth.
At Crossroads Ranch in Monroe, North Carolina, adults trade conference rooms for crime scenes in this one-of-a-kind forensic riding experience. Led by Dr. Laura Pettler, a world-renowned forensic criminologist and lifelong equestrian, Trail of Evidence combines trail riding, teamwork, and hands-on investigation into an unforgettable day at the nation’s only True Crime Horse Farm.
The Experience
Participants begin the morning mounted — riding through pastures, pondside, and wooded trails where observation and awareness are part of the training. After the ride, the group breaks for lunch from Fox’s Pizza Den or their own packed meal, sharing insights and preparing for the afternoon’s investigation.
Then the real work begins. Participants examine mock death scenes, collect and document evidence, analyze victimology, and reconstruct how and why the crime occurred. You’ll learn how investigators read behavior, interpret bloodstain patterns, and learn about how we solve murders.
What You’ll Learn
Crime scene investigation techniques
Evidence recognition and preservation outdoors
Behavioral and forensic scene interpretation
Team-based investigative strategy
Crime scene photography and documentation
No prior forensic or equine experience required — just curiosity, courage, and the desire to uncover the truth.
Location: Crossroads Ranch – Monroe, North Carolina
Duration: One full day (9:00 AM – 3:00 PM)
Includes: Trail ride, instruction, hands-on mock casework, materials, and commemorative certificate
Where every trail leads to the truth.
LCCO MRU Online Monthly Training
MRU Online Monthly Training
When: Third Thursday of every month, 6:30pm-8:30 hours
Where: Online via LPAIFI.com (Zoom Platform)
The LCCO MRU meets online each month for two hours of continuing education and operational development. Hosted by Laura Pettler & Associates Forensic Institute (LPAIFI), this live Zoom session provides members with ongoing instruction and mission support to complement the unit’s field-based training.
Each month’s agenda rotates between topics such as:
Mounted Search, Rescue, and Recovery procedures
Search and Rescue items identification, marking, documenting, and preservation
Field safety, communication, and coordination
Lost person behavior
Coroner’s office operations and investigative updates and more…
MRU Online ensures every member stays informed, trained, and connected — building consistent readiness across the unit.
Access: Members log in through LPAIFI.com. Zoom link and materials are distributed prior to each session. Quizzes are available for con-ed credit at the end. Handouts provided with each presentation.
Attendance: Open to all MRU members.
LCCO MRU Monthly MSAR Mounted Training
Monthly Mounted Training
When: Last Sunday of every month, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Where: Crossroads Ranch – Monroe, North Carolina
Special Guest Instructor: Charlotte Cannon who will teach ground work and essential oils. No mounted training.
Open to: All MRU members and approved mounted volunteers. Guests are always welcome to come observe!
Safety Gear: Helmets required
LCCO MRU Online Monthly Training
MRU Online Monthly Training
When: Third Thursday of every month, 6:30pm-8:30 hours
Where: Online via LPAIFI.com (Zoom Platform)
The LCCO MRU meets online each month for two hours of continuing education and operational development. Hosted by Laura Pettler & Associates Forensic Institute (LPAIFI), this live Zoom session provides members with ongoing instruction and mission support to complement the unit’s field-based training.
Each month’s agenda rotates between topics such as:
Mounted Search, Rescue, and Recovery procedures
Search and Rescue items identification, marking, documenting, and preservation
Field safety, communication, and coordination
Lost person behavior
Coroner’s office operations and investigative updates and more…
MRU Online ensures every member stays informed, trained, and connected — building consistent readiness across the unit.
Access: Members log in through LPAIFI.com. Zoom link and materials are distributed prior to each session. Quizzes are available for con-ed credit at the end. Handouts provided with each presentation.
Attendance: Open to all MRU members.
LCCO MRU Online Monthly Training
MRU Online Monthly Training
When: Third Thursday of every month, 6:30pm-8:30 hours
Where: Online via LPAIFI.com (Zoom Platform)
The LCCO MRU meets online each month for two hours of continuing education and operational development. Hosted by Laura Pettler & Associates Forensic Institute (LPAIFI), this live Zoom session provides members with ongoing instruction and mission support to complement the unit’s field-based training.
Each month’s agenda rotates between topics such as:
Mounted Search, Rescue, and Recovery procedures
Search and Rescue items identification, marking, documenting, and preservation
Field safety, communication, and coordination
Lost person behavior
Coroner’s office operations and investigative updates and more…
MRU Online ensures every member stays informed, trained, and connected — building consistent readiness across the unit.
Access: Members log in through LPAIFI.com. Zoom link and materials are distributed prior to each session. Quizzes are available for con-ed credit at the end. Handouts provided with each presentation.
Attendance: Open to all MRU members.
LCCO MRU Monthly MSAR Mounted Training
Monthly Mounted Training
When: Last Sunday of every month, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Where: Crossroads Ranch – Monroe, North Carolina
Special Guest Instructor: Charlotte Cannon who will teach ground work and essential oils. No mounted training.
Open to: All MRU members and approved mounted volunteers. Guests are always welcome to come observe!
Safety Gear: Helmets required
LCCO MRU Monthly MSAR Mounted Training
Monthly Mounted Training
When: Last Sunday of every month, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Where: Crossroads Ranch – Monroe, North Carolina
Each month, the LCCO Mounted Response Unit gathers at Crossroads Ranch for mounted search and rescue training — a combination of horsemanship, teamwork, and tactical fieldwork designed to keep both horse and rider mission-ready.
Riders begin with groundwork to strengthen communication and responsiveness before moving into the Basic Ten riding skills: walk, trot, canter, halt/back up, turn on the forehand (left and right), turn on the haunches (left and right), and side pass (left and right).
After mastering control and precision, teams transition into search pattern formations and drill work, practicing line, grid, and wedge searches used in real-world missions. Training concludes with a mock search exercise, allowing riders to apply their skills in realistic recovery and investigation scenarios.
This ongoing training ensures every mounted responder is prepared for the physical, mental, and procedural demands of search, rescue, and recovery operations.
Open to: All MRU members and approved mounted volunteers. Guests are always welcome to come observe!
Safety Gear: Helmets required
LCCO MRU Online Monthly Training
MRU Online Monthly Training
When: Third Thursday of every month, 6:30pm-8:30 hours
Where: Online via LPAIFI.com (Zoom Platform)
The LCCO MRU meets online each month for two hours of continuing education and operational development. Hosted by Laura Pettler & Associates Forensic Institute (LPAIFI), this live Zoom session provides members with ongoing instruction and mission support to complement the unit’s field-based training.
Each month’s agenda rotates between topics such as:
Mounted Search, Rescue, and Recovery procedures
Search and Rescue items identification, marking, documenting, and preservation
Field safety, communication, and coordination
Lost person behavior
Coroner’s office operations and investigative updates and more…
MRU Online ensures every member stays informed, trained, and connected — building consistent readiness across the unit.
Access: Members log in through LPAIFI.com. Zoom link and materials are distributed prior to each session. Quizzes are available for con-ed credit at the end. Handouts provided with each presentation.
Attendance: Open to all MRU members.
MRU Meet & Greet Volunteer Information Meeting
The Lancaster County Coroner’s Office Mounted Response Unit is the first coroner’s office-based medicolegal death investigation-related mounted unit in the United States. The unit was founded by Coroner Karla Deese to serve both the People of Lancaster County, South Carolina and any other agencies who request medicolegal death investigation-related mounted search, recovery, and rescue support.
Interested in volunteering? Awesome. Join us March 1, 2025 for a Meet & Greet Info session to learn more!