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| Emily Speed (Source: Jordan Burch) |
Much like the author of this blog Emily Speed was interested in forensic anthropological work early on as an undergraduate student. She specialized in human osteology while pursuing her undergraduate degree in biological anthropology at the University of Western Florida. She took advantage of an internship opportunity with the local medical examiner’s office, which cemented her desire to become a Forensic Investigator. This led her to study Forensic Science at the University of Florida, where she earned her Master’s degree.
Shortly after earning her Master’s, she returned to the Florida District One Medical Examiner’s Office. She was employed as a Forensic Investigator, a job she fell in love with because of the problem-solving aspects of the job. With a supportive group of colleagues within the Medical Examiner’s office and in other related divisions she excelled in her position. She attained additional certifications and trainings through Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in New York City and the Forensic Anthropology Center at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, which enabled her to stay sharp in her profession. Her anthropological and forensic specialties were in forensic archaeology, unidentified cold cases, and Sudden Unexplained Infant Deaths, the latter of which involved liaising with various agencies when cases involved the death of infants or children. She was considered an expert in this specific area, but she was also involved in various cold cases, including one that may have been tied to Keith Hunter Jesperson, popularly known as the Happy Face Killer.
After 14 years in the field, however, Speed realized that she could no longer continue on with her work. Her specialization in juvenile death investigations began taking a toll on her, particularly after she started her own family. She made the difficult decision to leave the field, ending her career as a Senior Forensic Investigator. While she transitioned into various other lines of work she still felt a calling to her previous work in anthropology and forensics, leading her in October 2022 to start a podcast titled, “Death Calls: Experiences of a Death Investigator.”
The podcast addresses her previous experiences as a Forensic Investigator, wherein she discusses specific cases (while omitting information, such as names and locations, out of respect for the deceased and their living relatives), topics related to death, such as post-mortem changes to the body, as well as features a variety of special guests. She started the podcast to satisfy her interests but also to inform the public that what they see on CSI and other similar shows is not real. The process of death investigations take longer, are far more tedious, and require a level of sensitivity and professionalism that are not always depicted on the fictional television shows. The lessons she imparts on the podcast are real and necessary realities that everyone will experience at some point since death comes for everyone. For example, one thing that people do not consider is the role of the forensic investigator in not only the emotional closure but also the financial ones. One cannot get a life insurance payout until the Death Certificate is issued, which can take longer than expected. Having realistic expectations of what the process is like can help people plan accordingly. In another podcast she and her special guest, a social worker, addressed the options people undergoing the sudden and significant loss of a loved one have regarding handling their pain through counseling and grief support groups. Ultimately, while she is no longer working within death investigations she is still serving the public through her podcast.
Bibliography
American Institute of Crime Scene Intergrity. (n.d.). Instructors. Retrieved from American Institute of Crime Scene Intergrity: https://aicsi.com/instructors/
Hof, D. (2024, February 22). The People of Pensacola: Emily Speed. Local Pulse Pensacola.
Victora, W. (2016, March 13). Unidentified bodies present challenge to medical examiner's office . NWF Daily News.
4 comments:
Emily Speed’s journey from forensic anthropology to forensic investigation highlights her dedication to solving cases and bringing closure to families. Her work in juvenile death investigations took an emotional toll, leading her to leave the field after 14 years. However, she continues to educate the public through her podcast, Death Calls: Experiences of a Death Investigator, where she shares real insights into death investigations, debunking TV myths and offering guidance on grief and post-mortem processes.
This blog was an interesting read. I enjoyed learning about Emily Speed’s journey! Being a forensic investigator sounds like a lot of work, but exciting at the same time. I recently learned about the Happy Face Killer, it is such a coincidence that worked close on that one. It shocked me that she retired from her career, but I’m happy to hear that Emily has a podcast, “Death Calls: Experiences of a Death Investigator.” I will have to listen to it one day. Again, I really enjoyed this blog.
Forensics has always interested me. In the shows I have watched, it was common to see men in these positions. I was excited to read there was a successful women with this title. As a psychology major, I know of the toll certain careers have on an individuals mental health. She contributed more than enough with her time in the field and although she retired, I respect her still wanting to make an impact: this time by teaching the world about forensic anthropology and the realities of it.
I enjoyed reading about Emily Speed's experience in the field of forensics. I have always been interested in forensics, true crime, cold-cases, etc. I think that forensics would be an incredibly interesting field to work in, but I have also heard about many of the impacts that it can have on your mental and physical well-being. I think that a podcast is a great alternative. Emily gets to share her real life experiences with forensics to educate and entertain others, while no longer having to experience the negative impacts that working hands on in the field was having on her. I cannot even imagine working on juvenile death investigations, let alone while having children of my own. I find forensics to be such a special field because it is full of jobs that are vital, but take a truly brave and emotionally strong person to do.
-Bianca Ekholm
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