Felonies on Facebook

Posted on September 1, 2012 by jchasenovelist

Maybe you like to use Facebook to reconnect with friends you haven’t seen since you graduated from high school twenty years ago.  Who needs a reunion in the school gymnasium when you can catch up virtually every day?  Or, perhaps your family is scattered across the country and Facebook is a wonderful way to share photos and life events.  This social media tool also has proven pivotal in political campaigns, protest movements, and issue awareness.  Now, members of law enforcement are increasingly finding that Facebook can help in their efforts as well.

Police officers are turning to Facebook to find evidence of criminal activity.  It’s amazing that some criminals cannot help but brag to their online friends about murder, theft, or violent gang activity.  And, if just one of these friends is willing to share his Facebook page with authorities, prosecutors now have evidence that can be used in court.  The law currently sees the receipt of this information as being no different than someone walking into a precinct and sharing what he overheard last night while sitting around at a friend’s apartment.  When there are no available friends to allow access to a suspect’s Facebook activity, police officers overwhelmingly affirm that they have no ethical issue with creating a fake profile in to “friend” a suspect.

In a recent survey conducted by LexisNexis Risk Solutions, four out of five officials share that they use social media in their work to track down criminals and build evidence against them.  Some are now even being trained formally in the in and outs of social media in order to make the most of their searching efforts.

This investigative approach is not without its share of critics.  Should members of law enforcement be allowed to create fake identities in order to track a suspect, much like undercover operations that have been taking place for decades?  In what instances, at what level of credible threat, should police officers be allowed to force social media giants like Facebook and Twitter to hand over information about one of their users?

What are your thoughts on the role that social media plays in bringing criminals to justice?

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In DEAD GAME, Emily Stone and cops try to track a serial killer through technology.  But, what they don’t know is that the killer is tracking them.  Are you game?

Some Amazon 5-star reviews:

“The tension, twists and turns in Dead Game are perfect! This thriller was truly a “read through in one sitting” for me and I loved everything that Jennifer Chase put into this, her second novel. I’ve just added Jennifer Chase to my list of must-read authors!”

“Any mystery fan will enjoy this follow-up to Compulsion. Highly recommended.”

“The plot is outstanding! A serial killer who escalates leaving “crumbs” of evidence behind and Jennifer gives us a glimpse into the life of each victim before… well you know, they become a victim!”

Amazon US

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Posted in crime, Dead Game | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Take a Walk Through a Body Farm

Posted on August 30, 2012 by jchasenovelist

Today’s post is not for the squeamish or faint of heart.  I find the scientific research into decomposition fascinating.  I originally posted this article more than a year ago and have received so many comments and questions about it, so I thought I’d repost again.

This is for all of you armchair CSI buffs or aspiring crime authors…

The body farm refers to a research facility where human decomposition is studied in different settings, conditions, and environments.  The invaluable research gains a more accurate understanding of the human decomposition process.

As ghoulish as it sounds, learning to properly develop techniques to extract information from decomposition remains, such as the time and circumstances of death, prepares investigators, law enforcement and forensic anthropologists to pinpoint and reconstruct the chain of events of a crime.

It’s a fascinating scientific process.  Bodies are studied out in the open, buried in debris and brush, inside small structures, inside cars, and various other conditions.  This can help to facilitate investigations in order to locate and capture the perpetrator.  The more forensic professionals know about human decomposition, the more cases that can be solved in the process.

There are five basic decomposition stages; all depend upon the environmental conditions and temperatures:

1.                  Fresh

2.                  Putrefaction

3.                  Black putrefaction

4.                  Butyric fermentation

5.                  Dry decay

For example, the body begins to lose heat from the average core temperature of 98.6 degrees F.  It falls to the surrounding environment, indoors or outdoors.  As a general rule under normal conditions, the body will lose approximately 1.5 degrees every hour after death.

There are five body farm facilities in the Unites States:

University of Tennessee at Knoxville

The original “body farm” is the University of Tennessee Anthropological Research Facility.  In 1971, Anthropologist Dr. William M. Bass was the official state anthropologist for Tennessee and consulted on many cases involving human remains.

It consists of a 2 ½ acre wooded plot surrounded by razor wire fences.  At any time, there are number of bodies placed in different settings left to decompose, varying conditions and environments.  Bodies are obtained from various sources from unclaimed bodies from the morgue to individuals who have voluntarily donated their bodies for research.  Approximately, 120 bodies are donated to the facility every year.  

Western Carolina University

This facility is part of the Western Carolina Human Identification Laboratory.  The research “body farm” area is the size of a garage and can accommodate approximately six bodies at a time.  In addition, they also train cadaver dogs at this facility.

California University of Pennsylvania

This is a remote facility located 45 miles southeast of the city of Pittsburgh.  It has access to over 200 acres generously donated.  This facility also conducts crime scene investigation training and other related activates.

Sam Houston State University

This is a state-of-the-art research and training facility designed to advance academic and technical knowledge in the application of forensic science disciplines to crime scenes.  Bodies are willed and donated.  This facility is a 247 acre of land that is adjacent to the Sam Houston National Forest.  It is a contained outdoor facility with a variety of environmental conditions, including fluvial environment.  Webcams are located at various locations of the outdoor facility to monitor timing of post-mortem activities on and off campus.

Texas State University

The Forensic Anthropology Center at Texas State is a human decomposition research laboratory where questions related to outdoor crime scenes and decomposition rates are investigated.  Most of the facility is around 7 acres, but the Freeman working ranch as approximately 4,200 acres available for research practices.  They accept body donations.  The overall research is to assist law enforcement and the medico-legal community in their investigations.

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Author Blog: https://authorjenniferchase.com/
Crime Watch Blog: http://emilystonecrimewatch.wordpress.com/
Book & Crime Talk:  http://blogtalkradio.com/jennifer-chase
Books: Compulsion  Dead Game  Dark Mind  Silent Partner  Screenwriting
Posted in Forensic | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

What’s Really Out There in the Dark?

Posted on August 27, 2012 by jchasenovelist

Fear is one of those ingrained emotions or feelings that affect everyone at one time or another in a lifetime.  Fear drives us to do many things, to push us through the near impossible situations or to run and hide.

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“Fear is defined as a distressing emotion aroused by impending danger, evil, pain, etc., whether the threat is real or imagined; it is the feeling or condition of being afraid”.

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As a writer, I count on fear to drive emotions with my characters as well as in the reader.  My heroine character Emily Stone is often pushed to the limit in harrowing situations.  She uses her fear to accomplish her mission, bordering on being an adrenaline junkie and doing the right thing.  In Dark Mind, Emily was pushed to the extreme psychological limits both mentally and physically.  It was an exhausting process to write, but I loved the challenge.

I was a funny little kid who wasn’t afraid of the dark, even with two older brothers who liked to try to scare me.  I didn’t have a night-light near my bed and I didn’t keep the bedroom door cracked open for a little bit of light.  I felt that the dark was fascinating and never worried about what lurked in it.  Even today, I’m not afraid of the dark or to be home alone.  I’ll let you in on one my psychological quirks, I’ve been known to watch scary (spooky, paranormal, slasher, etc.) movies alone and completely in the dark.

Now I have you thinking…

What I find interesting about fear is that it drives a host of other emotions.  It’s actually multi-faceted.  Think about it, fear can drive other emotions such as courage, homicidal tendencies, anger, and even humor depending upon the situation.  This is fascinating because it opens up more aspects and opportunity for depth with fictional characters.

My approach to fear and the dark probably fueled my interest in the thriller and horror genres.  Recently, I’ve published First Watch, a short story, which delves into the familiar fears of driving alone, cops, monsters, and what lurks in the dark.

At least my own personal take on them…

What started as a routine traffic stop on a deserted country road, turned into a terrifying battle of life and death. Could all the horror stories be true?

The chase is on…

First Watch Excerpt:

I ran northeast to the railroad tracks through the night in pitch-blackness.  I knew they would track my whereabouts with their keen animal senses and unrelenting proficiency.   There was a shortcut to get to the next county down a winding rural road, but only scattered memories of the roundabout trail would be my guide.  As the intended target, it propelled me out in the middle of a hellish nightmare and straight into the bowels of the undead.

Now my life boiled down to just one defining moment, but the dire reality of the situation loomed – a chance for survival.

The frigid night air choked my lungs.  The drastic drop in temperature fought against my body’s constant movement to keep my heart pumping.

I kept my focus on the path ahead never averting unnecessary attention to the hunters closing in fast.

Every second counted.

My footfalls clipped the dirt and gravel path with quick, dull thuds.

As I ran, the handcuffs affixed to my right wrist dangled and painfully whipped back and forth.  There had been no time to pick the tiny lock or even pry the cuff loose.

The path turned uneven and forced me to slow my speed.  I was acutely aware that the next step could land unstable; spraining my ankle, or worse, leaving me sprawled out unable to defend myself once they attacked.

I stumbled, feet flew straight out and I hit the ground, smacking my head as a sharp pain radiated from the lower lumbar and up between my shoulder blades.  I dared to sit still only for a moment to assess my injuries.

Tiny razor-sharp pieces of gravel poked through my jeans and embedded deep into the palm of my left hand and the back of my scalp.

I averted my attention to the night, expecting to hear them approaching.

The explicit chill of the air seemed to momentarily increase in temperature, like an oven preheating for a Thanksgiving feast.

The stillness of the outdoors prickled my spine with small goose bumps.

I scrambled to my feet, slipping and wavering, resembling a drunken partygoer before I could gain my bearings once again.  Moving forward, I kept my focus straight ahead and sprinted on.

My mind spun back to the series of events that formed my fate up to this moment…

 To read more:

Amazon US

Amazon UK

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Author Blog: https://authorjenniferchase.com/
Crime Watch Blog: http://emilystonecrimewatch.wordpress.com/
Book & Crime Talk:  http://blogtalkradio.com/jennifer-chase
Books: Compulsion  Dead Game  Dark Mind  Silent Partner  Screenwriting
Posted in Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

New Jersey Man May Have Held Girlfriend Prisoner for a Decade

Posted on August 25, 2012 by jchasenovelist

In the series of novels I’ve written that feature vigilante detective Emily Stone, my bold protagonist goes after all kinds of criminals, but has a particular eye for those who abuse women and children.  She has no patience for pedophiles and rapists and no fear when it comes to tracking them down.  I believe she would have enjoyed the opportunity to gather surveillance material on Michael Mendez, a man who was arrested earlier this month for, in addition for the large amount of cash and pills found in his home, allegedly holding his girlfriend prisoner for possibly as long as a decade.

Mendez, a resident of Paterson, New Jersey, had his home searched by the State Police Street Gang unit on suspicion of his involvement with drug dealing. Perhaps the participating members of law enforcement were not surprised to find one of the bedrooms was padlocked.  After all, drug dealers have plenty to hide.  But, I imagine they were not expecting to find Mendez’s girlfriend living behind that door.  Apparently, she was locked in there with a television, a telephone, and a pot that was meant to serve as a toilet.

Not only does Michael Mendez now face serious time for his money-making endeavors, but he also will be answering to kidnapping and false imprisonment charges.

This is an interesting case in which not only is the criminal psychology one to study, but the behavior of the victim leads to questions as well.  Why did she not use the telephone to call for help?  Was she frightened, brainwashed, in love, or maybe she felt as if she would have nowhere else to go?  When appearing in court, the woman defended Mendez, sharing with the judge that she doesn’t like to go outside and he had locked her in the room just that day so that maintenance workers would not see her in her nightgown.  By no means am I blaming this woman for her horrible circumstances, but the student in me is fascinated by the dynamics that exists between this couple.

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Author Blog: https://authorjenniferchase.com/
Crime Watch Blog: http://emilystonecrimewatch.wordpress.com/
Book & Crime Talk:  http://blogtalkradio.com/jennifer-chase
Books: Compulsion  Dead Game  Dark Mind  Silent Partner  Screenwriting
Posted in crime, Criminology | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Thriller Thursday Guest — Author J.C. Martin

Posted on August 23, 2012 by jchasenovelist

I often hold my breath to wait for Thriller Thursday.  Today, I have a real kick-ass, gorgeous thriller author J.C. Martin with her latest thriller, Oracle.  Let’s see what’s in store with some fun interview questions and what’s happening in the city of London…

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Book Synopsis:

With London gearing up to host the Olympics, the city doesn’t need a serial killer stalking the streets, but they’ve got one anyway.

Leaving a trail of brutal and bizarre murders, the police force is no closer to finding the latest psychopath than Detective Inspector Kurt Lancer is in finding a solution for his daughter’s disability.

Thrust into the pressure cooker of a high profile case, the struggling single parent is wound tight as he tries to balance care of his own family with the safety of a growing population of potential victims.

One of whom could be his own daughter.

Fingers point in every direction as the public relations nightmare grows, and Lancer’s only answer comes in the form of a single oak leaf left at each crime scene.

Purchase Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK | Barnes & Noble

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Jennifer Chase: If Inspector Lancer was trapped in an elevator with three other people, how would he devise a plan to escape? Would he take any of the people with them?

J.C. Martin: Detective Kurt Lancer isn’t the type to sit around and wait for rescue. He’d pry open the elevator doors. If the elevator was stuck between levels, he’d climb out first before helping the others out. However, should the gap be too small for his considerable bulk, he’d help everyone else out first before devising a different way out, probably through the roof hatch.

Jennifer Chase: I’m liking Inspector Lancer more by the minute.   How do you get inside your main character’s head when writing?

J.C. Martin: I try to act and think like a man, which considering the fact I grew up a tomboy and hung with guys a lot, is not actually that difficult! Funny enough, I’d also sit up straighter at my desk to imitate Kurt’s height and broad shoulders. And when writing a scene, I’d always ask, “What would Kurt do?”

Jennifer Chase: I love that! We have hanging out with guys and that tomboy thing in common.  What’s your specific genre? If you could write in any other genre, what would it be and why?

J.C. Martin: I write crime and thriller. I’ve dabbled in some horror, but they’ve always been short stories. I can never seem to produce enough content for a full-length novel. If I could write a novel in any other genre, I’d like to try high fantasy. The action and adventure suits me, and I’ve always enjoyed heroic myths and legends. The only element that daunts me is the immense world building involved, with all the intricate details to consider: economy, language, culture, environment, geography … I take my hat off to fantasy writers everywhere!

Jennifer Chase: Why should readers pick up Oracle?

J.C. Martin: Oracle will appeal to readers who enjoy a gripping mystery with intense action, all while delving into the dark side of the human psyche. If you enjoy Greek mythology, the references to the subject may interest you, too. And with the story set in the run-up to the London Olympics, its theme is current, making it a great read for this summer!

Jennifer Chase: What a perfect setting.  What types of emotions will readers experience when they read Oracle?

J.C. Martin: The story will intrigue and excite, the crimes will awe and horrify, and you’ll laugh and cry with the characters.

Jennifer Chase: Now, it’s time to play word association with your main character. Please respond with one word that comes to mind (in your main character’s voice) to the words listed below.

J.C. Martin:

Plot                             Murder

2012                           Olympics

Predator                   Oracle

Giggles                       Meghan (N.B.: Lancer’s daughter)

Rural                          Urban

Omnipresence        Greekisms

Thank you J.C. Martin for stopping by and sharing Oracle!  I’m off to load a copy onto my Kindle!

Author Bio:

J.C. Martin is a butt-kicking bookworm: when she isn’t reading or writing, she teaches martial arts and self-defence to adults and children.

After working in pharmaceutical research, then in education as a schoolteacher, she decided to put the following to good use: one, her 2nd degree black belt in Wing Chun kung fu; and two, her overwhelming need to write dark mysteries and gripping thrillers with a psychological slant.

Her short stories have won various prizes and have been published in several anthologies. Oracle is her first novel.

Born and raised in Malaysia, J.C. now lives in south London with her husband and three dogs.

For more information, please visit:

Website: http://jc-martin.com
Blog: http://jc-martin.com/fighterwriter/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JCMartin_author
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jc.martin.author
Posted in Guest Post, Thriller Thursday | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

No Bones about Writing Bad Guys

Posted on August 20, 2012 by jchasenovelist

When I outline bad guys for my novels, it often reads like a police rap sheet and a psychological profile.  I can’t overstate the effectiveness for research and outlining in fiction writing.  There’s always those little pieces of nuggets that you can weave into the story that gives it the added realism and authenticity.  These nuggets are like pieces of gold for me and I love hunting for them.

Research into creating new characters works well for me because I love learning new things that I didn’t know yesterday, but it can be a daunting task if you don’t enjoy the process.  I’ve managed to streamline my process a bit so that I don’t get overwhelmed with too much information and avoid a major time void sucking the life out of me.

I remember when I first began writing screenplays, it was quoted many times in books and from successful writers that you must love all of your characters–even the bad ones.  I embrace that simple task with every book project.

Writing is a learning process and you never know what you can truly accomplish until you dig deep into your imagination to create a devious bad guy or even a quirky supporting character bordering on bad.

I divide my bad guys into three main areas: physical, background, and psychological.  I approach my bad guys the same way whether they are a major character, supporting character or someone just mentioned in one chapter.

PHYSICAL

This is where I create the actual physical qualities of the character, what he/she looks like, mannerisms, specific characteristics, how he/she dresses, and even habits.  I begin to get a real picture in my mind how this person looks, walks, and talks.  It’s a writer’s character rap sheet with an added dimension that rolls through my mind.

BACKGROUND

It’s getting to be fun.  This is where I begin to develop a who they are with a history, life experiences, family, work environment, criminal activity, relationships, living conditions, education, and anything that wasn’t addressed in the physical area.

PSYCHOLOGICAL

Now, I have an actual image of the character and some background information.   It’s endless in creating the mind of a bad guy and you can have so much fun with this area of writing.  This is no doubt my favorite step to creating a bad guy.   I like to have these characters answer a few questions for me, like what they would do if confronted with certain situations.  This also includes their internal and well as external conflicts.  Many of my bad guys are serial killers so they are skewed with distorted perceptions, beliefs, and lack of impulse control.  How fun is that?

In Dark Mind, I had a fun character challenge to create a serial killer that needed a background from the Hawaiian islands that included folklore beliefs and other interesting tidbits.  It was the opposite from my novel Dead Game, which I had to create an older serial killer with a military background and deep seeded neuroses.

The moral to creating bad guys?  Well, I make no bones about it and dive right in to creating their physical and psychological background and see what happens.

What’s been your favorite bad guy to create or read about?

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Check out the Award-winning EMILY STONE THRILLER SERIES available at Amazon, Amazon UK, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Sony, iTunes, Smashwords, and most online and book retailers.

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You can tag along with Emily Stone in a “live-action” novel short to see what she does when she meets one of the bad guys:

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 Author Blog: https://authorjenniferchase.com/

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Books: Compulsion  Dead Game  Dark Mind Dead Burn Silent Partner  Screenwriting

 

Posted in Dark Mind, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

Mark David Chapman Seeks Parole for the Seventh Time

Posted on August 18, 2012 by jchasenovelist

I suppose there are some of you reading this blog who are too young to remember the events of December 8, 1980.  Even so, I know that many people who perhaps were not born then but have come to discover the music of The Beatles feel the loss of John Lennon’s death more than thirty years ago.  It was a murder that shocked the entire world and certainly affected the generation of men and women who had grown up with the Fab Four.  And now, the man responsible for John Lennon’s death is asking for another chance at freedom.

Mark David Chapman already has been denied parole six times by the New York Department of Corrections, and will make his seventh attempt this week.  Chapman was found guilty of second-degree murder after shooting Lennon outside of his Manhattan apartment, shortly after asking the singer and songwriter for his autograph.  He was sentenced to twenty years to life in prison.

On the day of the murder, Chapman was found with a copy of The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger and later would read from it during his trial.  He envisioned himself a Holden Caulfield for the new generation.  Interviews from his prison years later also revealed a man who had watched his mother get beaten by his father and who had a lifelong history of detachment and odd behavior.

While some will argue that Chapman is insane, others assert he wanted to be famous and perhaps another group of psychologists will point to environmental factors to explain his behavior, the question now is whether or not Mark David Chapman should be allowed back in society nearly thirty-two years after murdering one of the most iconic figures of the past century.

Do you remember where you were when John Lennon was shot?  How do you feel about Chapman’ request for parole?

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Author Blog: https://authorjenniferchase.com/
Crime Watch Blog: http://emilystonecrimewatch.wordpress.com/
Book & Crime Talk:  http://blogtalkradio.com/jennifer-chase
Books: Compulsion  Dead Game  Dark Mind  Silent Partner  Screenwriting
Posted in crime | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments