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.

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.

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.

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.

Students will gain hands-on knowledge in:

• Proper documentation, photography, and scene security

• Evidence recognition, collection, and preservation

• Bloodstain pattern and trace evidence interpretation

• Understanding the role of crime scene findings in building cases

By the end of this training, attendees will have the tools to uncover the “silent testimony” of crime scenes and transform physical evidence into powerful investigative and prosecutorial insights.

Designed for law enforcement, forensic professionals, students, and criminal justice practitioners, this course bridges theory with practice to sharpen investigative skills and elevate forensic awareness.