This case study will detail the case of Jennifer Schuett, one of the presenters, who was kidnapped as an eight-year-old, brutally raped, had her throat cut, and was left in a field for dead. The presenters will discuss the challenges of the initial 1990 investigation and working with a child victim. They will discuss the advantages and hurdles of multiple agencies, including the FBI, working together. Jennifer will share her memory of that night, her desire to find her attacker, and moving on with her life. The presenters will discuss how time becomes an obstacle and an advantage in an eighteen-year investigation. They will discuss working with the media to find possible witnesses and clues. Advances in technology will be discussed, how DNA identified a possible suspect, and the steps taken to connect him to the crime. Jennifer will talk about the highs and lows of the investigation and dealing with multiple detectives over the years. Lastly, she will describe her experiences, becoming the “Survivor,” and her desire to motivate survivors and professionals who work within the system.
Learning Objectives:
Understand the advantage of multi-agency collaboration on cold case investigations.
Develop a strategy for reviewing, prioritizing, handling, and processing evidence with innovative technologies.
Understand and develop a positive working relationship with crime victims and survivors.
