Jennifer Chase's Blog, page 56
March 23, 2012
Uncovering Tough Clues in Investigations – Examining the Digits
There are forensic scientists discovering and applying new scientific techniques to help solve new cases and uncovering clues in cold cases. Since fingerprints are the most fragile pieces of evidence in a criminal investigation and are the most important to identify the perpetrator, they are the first to be located, documented, retrieved, and examined.
Some of the most common ways to retrieve a fingerprint at a crime scene is by dusting techniques, cyanoacrylate fuming (Super glue), and...
March 21, 2012
Shooting of Florida Teenager Raises Disturbing Questions about Vigilante Justice
I have featured numerous articles on this blog about men and women who have taken justice into their own hands in order to save a child, prevent someone's property from being destroyed, or simply as a refusal to stand by passively while a crime was being committed. There is often a fine line between being a concerned member of your community and stepping into territory in which you do not belong. Occasionally, this blurred line results in tragedy.
Most of you are familiar with the shooting o...
March 19, 2012
What Readers are Saying About the Crime Thriller DARK MIND
Writing crime fiction is a passion and I enjoy every aspect of creating a story – even research and rewrites. It's wonderful when readers take the time to comment or leave a review of Dark Mind. It definitely doesn't go unappreciated!
Thank you!
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"Cruelty has no shame, and those who hunt those who do evil should have none either. DARK MIND follows vigilante Emily Stone, who has set herself to oppose serial killers and those who would do harm to children. Going against the law for her own...
March 17, 2012
Abducted Child Found After Eight Years
There is much truth to the idea that the first 24 hours are the most crucial in any kidnapping investigation. These initial moments afford you the best chance on catching someone before they travel a great distance or before any clues that they do leave behind run cold. But, among the many lessons we have to learn from cases such as Jaycee Dugard and Elizabeth Smart is that you never can give up your search for a missing child. And, I know that parents never do. As long as hope remains...
March 15, 2012
Crime Scene Characteristics – What Do They Really Mean?
Crime scene characteristics are extremely important to all criminal investigations, especially homicides and serial crimes. After the forensic analysis of the physical evidence found at the crime scene is completed and the victimology is established, then the task of determining the specific characteristics of the crime scene begins.
This is the most interesting part of the investigative process of finding out who committed the crime and why. It definitely piques my interest and it is one...
March 13, 2012
Inspiration for Crime Thrillers Found in Beautiful Places
You would think that inspiration for writing crime thrillers would come from the blaring news headlines, horrific true crime accounts, and a wild imagination, but the storyline puzzle pieces can come from anywhere and at any time.
Many times, it's the small things I see in the community and surrounding areas that is incorporated into a thrilling story. For example, I may see an abandoned old house on my way to run errands that inspires further thought. It could be because of the creeping...
March 11, 2012
Child Abuse Shocks Every Time
It doesn't seem to matter how many news stories you read or how much research into the mind of those who commit crimes you complete, any report of a child being abused is still shocking and leaves everyone shaking their heads. This happened to me again today when I read the story of a thirteen-year-old who had been forced to kneel for nine hours a day, every day, for more than a week. If he dared to move, he was beaten with a stick.
Albert and Nancy Cusson of Lakeland, Florida have been...
March 8, 2012
Where Have the Children Gone?
My friend, journalist and awesome blog talk radio host of Cubanarama Missing N America and Cold Cases Marta Sosa wrote this beautiful poem last year for a cold case show. I wanted to share this with you. Thank you Marta.
Where Have the Children Gone?
by Marta Sosa
In the shadows of the night, you will hear my voice. I had a life to live, I had a destiny to fulfill. A mission to accomplish and a dream to carry out. In the eternity of the dark you will feel my cry. You, you with your selfish...
March 6, 2012
Second Campaigner Challenge 2012 – More Flash Fiction Fun
I have found that when presented with a writing challenge it forces me to use different perspectives and to take a writers jump into unfamiliar territories. I usually write in the crime and thriller genres, but I enjoy exploring other genres for this challenge. So here goes…
Here's the link for the Fourth Writers Platform Building Campaign where the five prompts are listed. 
Second Campaigner Challenge Details:
Do one or more of the following:
Write a pitch/logline for a book based on the...Girl Scouts Take on Crime!
Have you bought your Girl Scout cookies yet? If you've been to any grocery store or shopping mall or perhaps just taken a walk through your neighborhood, you likely have seen tables overflowing with Thin Mints and Tagalongs and Samoas. It's difficult to resist those girls and their cheerful sales pitches. Perhaps you are able to walk by with a quick "no thank you" and the girls might be sad by the lack of a sale for a moment, but that can't compare with the way a couple of Girl Scouts
