Author Jennifer Chase

Women Have Contributed to Law Enforcement for More than a Century

Posted on June 27, 2012 by jchasenovelist

In my crime fiction Emily Stone Thriller Series, the main character is an ex-police officer where she had to go toe to toe with a male dominated profession. Certain situations (don’t want to give away any spoilers) dictated that she had to quit her post, but she more than made up for it being a stealthy, vigilante detective hunting down serial killers and anonymously emailing the information to the local detectives in charge of the cases.

In 1811, Francois Vidocq actually gave women their first show at police work when he employed them as paid undercover operatives. Also around the same time in Paris, Edmond Locard was establishing the first private crime lab. It is his principle (Locard Exchange Principle) that crime scene investigation uses today where with any contact between two items, there will be an exchange.

“In 1845, six women were hired by the New York City Police Department. At that time they were called police matrons and their job was to monitor and assist with minors and women inmates. After an assault took place on a young female prisoner 1891, it was determined that women and men inmates should be housed separately and matrons became a more important role. In 1908, the first female police officer, Lola Baldwin, was hired to carry out standard law enforcement duties. In 1910, Alice Wells was also hired by the LAPD. By 1912, Isabella Goodwin was the first woman to make Detective and in 1917, additional women were allowed to make arrests and carry out the same duties as their male counterparts.” Source (NYPD website & unusualhistoricals.com)

1846 – Six women were hired by the NYPD as police matrons

1908 – First Female “Police Officer” – Lola Baldwin

1910 – Alice Wells was hired by LAPD

1912 – First female to make Detective – Isabella Goodwin

1915 – International Association of Police Women was formed

1918 – First female Homicide Detective – Mary Sullivan

1919 – First African-American Woman in NYPD – Cora Parchment

1968 – First Female Patrol Officer

1985 – First female Police Chief – Penny Harrington in Portland, Oregon

In the early 1970s, there were less than 1% women police officers in the United States. Now, the average is about 15-20% of women police officers working today. Working as a police officer is not doubt a demanding occupation both physically and mentally for any gender; however, women have had extra obstacles to overcome in this male dominated profession.

Interestingly, it has been stated that women make strong police officers, due to the fact they generally have excellent verbal and reasoning skills. It helps to make up for the lack of brute strength in many situations.

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Emily Stone has a tough act to follow with some impressive female police officers in history, but she manages to hunt down the serial killers and child abductors using her previous law enforcement experience, criminal profiling techniques, and solid forensic skills covertly.

Find out what Emily Stone is up to and ride along with a modern-day vigilante detective in her novel series short:

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Author Blog: https://authorjenniferchase.com/

Book & Crime Talk: http://blogtalkradio.com/jennifer-chase

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

Posted in Dark Mind, Police | Tagged cops, crime fiction, edmond locard, emily stone thriller series, female police officer, francois vidocq, homicide detective, jennifer chase author, LAPD, Lola Baldwin, NYPD, suspense, thriller, vidocq society, women in law enforcment | 8 Comments

Funeral Director Finds Evidence Missed by Investigators

Posted on June 25, 2012 by jchasenovelist

You expect that investigators who are called to the home of a dead woman will be able to determine whether or not this person simply died of natural causes or was murdered. In most instances, the clues surrounding a homicide are pretty obvious – gunshot wound, strangulation marks, gashes from a knife. But, it seems that once in a while there is a victim who may look to have passed away from a heart attack or illness for which no one was at fault, when really her death was a crime.

Kathleen McEwan’s body was in the care of morticians at a funeral home in Philadelphia. When the director tried to close her mouth, he discovered resistance and then a ten-inch rope was found lodged in her throat. Upon further inspection, a candy wrapper also was found in the 70-year-old woman’s throat. The initial conclusion that her death was a natural one was quickly rescinded and her case was reclassified as a homicide.

Now, Ms. McEwan’s roommate, Geraldine Cherry, has been charged with murder and other related offenses. Apparently, Ms. Cherry, who is blind, has admitted to a social worker that she “did something” to Kathleen McEwan, who was a woman with special needs. In addition to the items already mentioned, Cherry indicated she shoved a lotion bottle, Chex Mix, and a piece of a diaper down the victim’s throat.

This case further reinforces the difficult job that crime scene investigators and forensic experts have before them every day. There were no signs of foul play. There was no evidence that anyone wished to harm Kathleen McEwan. But still, hidden in the recesses of her throat, were the clues that may land another woman in jail for a significant period of time.

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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, Forensic | Tagged author jennifer chase, crime thriller, dark mind, emily stone series, evidence, forensics, funeral director finds, Geraldine Cherry, Kathleen McEwan, murder investigation, novelist | 4 Comments

Which Writing Tense Would You Choose?

Posted on June 22, 2012 by jchasenovelist

Writing a novel in past or present tense makes some people crazy. It seems when you stray from the standard mainstream way of novel writing, it causes an unsettling raucous among the people.

Is there a wrong tense to write a novel?

I have written everything from newspaper articles, term papers, thesis, and detailed reports to crime fiction. It’s important to grammatically write a report correctly. Nevertheless, what about writing fiction with fantasy, mystery, or even romance elements? Is it important to make sure that ALL your sentences pass the fussy editor’s test?

I read a novel not too long ago and I noticed that all the sentences were beautifully edited and each sentence was about the same length throughout the entire book. The structure was tight and pretty. What struck me was that even though the story was strong and engaging, the perfectly edited sentences actually made the story boring. It took something away from it.

Let me be clear, no matter what you are writing it should be edited with proper punctuation, grammar, tenses and without passive sentences (unless in certain instances it’s a part of the dialogue or in a report). But that doesn’t mean boring and tedious!

What about once word sentences? Isn’t that technically incorrect?

I’m sure there are editing mistakes in this post (passive sentences, split infinitives, etc.), but does it take away from the readability of the subject?

Now let me tell you an interesting story …

A few years ago as I began gathering all of my thoughts, research and outline for my first novel Compulsion, I was going to write a screenplay. What I realized halfway through the outline process was that it should be a novel. It flowed more like a novel and I became very excited because I had always wanted to write a book.

Now, you have to realize that scripts are written in present tense. It takes viewers into the moment of what’s going on right now. Of course, there are some exceptions to movies with flashbacks and narrations, but for the most part the actual script is written in the present tense.

I struggled with writing Compulsion in the present tense or the standard third person narrative for quite some time. I felt that it puts the readers into the here and now, and adds more excitement to the story. I asked friends, writers, avid readers, publishers and editors for their opinion on the subject. Oh my! I opened a big can of worms with that question. It divided everyone about 50/50 on the subject.

Wow, I never realized it was such a hot topic!

I made an executive decision to write Compulsion in the present tense. I know that some of you shudder at the thought. In fact, I’ve had a couple of people tell me that it’s wrong (they were angry) and that they couldn’t possibly read a novel in the present tense because it’s too distracting. On the other hand, I’ve had many avid readers tell me that it put them straight into the action with the serial killer and Emily Stone and they loved it.

However, I chose to write Dead Game and Dark Mind in the third person narrative. It was decision I made based on the flow of the stories and the main character. Another series could be a different story.

I run all my stories through the Big Three: third person narrative, first person narrative, and present tense. I strongly suggest for all writers take about ten pages from their manuscript and rewrite with each of these tenses and study each one. You might be surprised what jumps out at you!

So the big question…

Is there a wrong tense to write a novel?

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COMPULSION

When Serial Killers Terrorize a California Beach Community, One Woman Stands in Their Way
“Jennifer Chase chose to write this story in the present tense which is a difficult task. She pulls it off, mostly due to the character of Emily Stone and the intense terror of the story. You can’t put it down as Emily moves closer to resolving the case at great personal risk.” ~ Mike McNeff, crime fiction author

“If you enjoy crime thrillers, Chase’s forensics and criminology background is definitely evident. The main character Emily Stone, acting as a mystery writer, dedicates her life to tracking serial killers of children and then anonymously sends the information to police, assuring and arrest and conviction. There’s plenty of drama, action, intrigue, and even romance.” ~ Mystery Lover

“Jennifer Chase has written a thriller that goes on stimulating the reader long after he or she is through with the book. This is heart pounding suspense as well. The prose throughout is by a bestselling author and in this case, the bestselling Author is without a doubt, Author Jennifer Chase. She delivers monumentally.” ~ Glen Cantrell, author and avid reader

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Smashwords

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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 Compulsion, Writing | Tagged award winning author and criminologist jennifer chase, compulsion, crime thriller, emily stone series, grammar tenses, how to write a novel, jennifer chase author, novel, novel narrative, novel writing, passive sentences, present tense, thriller, writing | 8 Comments

Man Kills His Child’s Molester – Is He a Hero or Criminal?

Posted on June 20, 2012 by jchasenovelist

What would you do if you opened a door and found a man sexually abusing your five-year-old daughter? Most parents I know would find it difficult to control their rage and not start attacking the person committing such a heinous act, and most people I know would not blame these parents one bit if restraint was not a top priority at that moment. One man in Texas beat his kid’s molester to death, and now the debate as to whether he is a hero or a criminal himself is under way.

The man, whose name has not been released, heard his young girl screaming from a nearby barn, where she had gone to feed the family chickens. When he found her, he caught a family acquaintance in the act of molesting her. This father pulled the child abuser off his daughter and then proceeded to beat him with his fits until he died. The county coroner has determined that the man died of blunt force trauma to his head and neck.

A grand jury now will be examining the facts of this case. The father was never arrested, but the killing was investigated as a homicide case. The dad insists that he never intended to kill anyone. He was overtaken by the intense reaction of seeing his daughter being victimized. Some legal experts are arguing that despite the man’s intent and the reason behind his violence, he still must be prosecuted as vigilante justice cannot be allowed to supplant the courtroom.

UPDATE: Before I could post this blog article, the grand jury had reached a decision in this case.

“In declining to indict the 23-year-old father in the June 9 killing of Jesus Mora Flores, a Lavaca County grand jury reached the same conclusion as investigators and many of the father’s neighbors: He was authorized to use deadly force to protect his daughter.”

For me, I absolutely felt the grand jury made the right decision in this case. However, I can’t help but think (and shudder) that the decision might have been quite different in the state of California.

What do you think?

What might you be capable of doing if you actually caught someone doing harm to your son or daughter?

Do you agree with the grand jury’s decision and the father was authorized to use deadly force?

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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, Police | Tagged beat molester to death, child molester, crime, dark mind, deadly force, jennifer chase author, protect our children, texas, thriller, vigilante | 13 Comments

Heating up with Arson Investigations

Posted on June 18, 2012 by jchasenovelist

I’ve been immersed with various aspects of forensic research and writing my next Emily Stone Thriller – Dead Burn. Some writers find research tedious, boring, and even burdensome. I love research! I like to find special tidbits of information that will add to a story. I won’t bore you with tons of details, but I’d like to share some interesting snippets.

All crime scenes are documented and processed with the same types of procedures, but arson investigation offers challenges that are more specialized. Not only are fire scenes extremely difficult to read for what happened and why, but by the time the fire investigator arrives much of the scene has been trampled and altered by fire fighters, supervisors, onlookers, property owners, and others.

Take a look at this statistical information from 2009 to give you an idea of how many arson related fires took place in California. These incidents are a staggering number of arson crimes.

According to the State of California Department of Justice:

Total: 9,233 (California 2009 Arson Crimes)

Structural: 2,865

Mobile: 3,304

Other: 3,064

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Let’s look at the behavioral aspect that propels someone into setting intentional fires. The most common motive for arson is the concealment of another crime, such as for insurance purposes. However, fires have been intentionally set to cover up murder, burglary, embezzlement and fraud. The individual wants to destroy evidence to make it impossible to identify the victim or clues leading back to the perpetrator.

Motivations for arson:

Revenge
Profit
Vandalism
Excitement
Extremism
Crime concealment

“One of the most important behavioral concepts to understand is the nature of the relationships between a person’s behavior and their motives, or needs. Human behaviors are a manifestation of human need. They are the expression of want, and can be the windows to intent.” – Brent E. Turvey, Criminal Profiler and Forensic Scientist.

It’s important to examine the fire crime scene by the action of the individual; meaning, the act of arson is only constrained by the individual’s motive, intent, skill level, and the availability of material. That’s where victimology plays a big role in the investigation for individuals, groups, and type of property.

Every fire crime scene presents its own natural limits and what the scientific process can reveal. In cases where the intended target was a person, it reveals the offender’s use of force and can give the investigators a little more insight into the case if they know how and where to look.

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There are many differences in conducting a crime scene fire investigation compared to other types of crimes scene investigations.

It may not be immediately known that a crime has actually taken place.
The search for accelerant or flammable liquids can be difficult if not sometimes nearly impossible.
Explosives can be involved and require special handling and investigation.
Location of the point of origin is imperative in investigating any type of fire.
The color of the smoke in a suspicious fire is an important investigative lead.
Differentiating between flammable and combustible liquid residues is called the passive headspace concentration method.
When processing the fire crime scene (actual scene and evidence), it should be documented with both color and black and white photographs.

I like to learn something new with my research to string together several facts to make an interesting fictional storyline or subplot. I realized that a serial arsonist can not only burn structures and land for whatever motive, but they can capture victims and use arson as a another signature method in the crime.

We’ll just have to wait and see how Emily Stone handles this type of serial killer and all the other obstacles thrown at her in Dead Burn.

In the meantime, you can read the current available novel with the first three chapters of Dark Mind.

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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 Criminology, Forensic | Tagged arson, arson investigation, behavioral evidence, california department of justice, crime fiction, crime thriller, dark mind, dead burn, emily stone series, forensics, jennifer chase author, thriller, victimology | 1 Comment

Beagle Brings Home Human Skull

Posted on June 16, 2012 by jchasenovelist

If you have a dog that likes to spend time outdoors, you can expect that interesting “gifts” will be brought to your door every once in a while. Perhaps a bird or a mole will fall victim to your pet’s instincts. But, you probably don’t think that when you call your dog’s name to return home, he will have a human skull clenched between his teeth. One owner in New Mexico, however, did have such an experience last weekend.

A beagle in Gallup, New Mexico found a skull that authorities believe belongs to a man between the ages of 35 and 45 years old who probably died about three years ago. When authorities from the Gallup Police Department then searched a field near the canine’s home, more bones were discovered that likely belong to the same individual. Police officials have stated that there is a lead concerning the identity behind these bones, but not much else is known at this point.

As readers of this blog and everyone who knows me is aware, I love animals and particularly dogs. My own dogs are a beloved part of my family. And in one of my novels, Silent Partner, I try to offer some insight into the special relationship that exists between police officers and the highly trained dogs with which they serve. While this New Mexican beagle may not have had the official preparation of his friends in the K-9 unit, he certainly did his part to solve a crime and perhaps finally offer some answers to a grieving family.

I love reading stories about dogs that play a role, either intentional or accidental, in the criminal justice system. They are always a great reminder of the instincts and natural talents that these great animals have.

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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 Criminology, Silent Partner | Tagged crime scene, crime thriller, dogs, emily stone series, found skull, gallup new mexico, jennifer chase author, police, silent partner | 2 Comments

Celebrate Father’s Day Weekend with Thrills, Chills, and Suspense

Posted on June 15, 2012 by jchasenovelist

I’m participating in a Kindle e-Book promo with some awesome and best-selling thriller authors!

This is one of the most insane promos I’ve ever been in – Buy 1 e-Book and Get 5 FREE e-Books. Nope, this isn’t a typo and I haven’t been drinking.

What a great way to celebrate with dad, or heck, to get some kick ass reads for yourself. These are all thrillers and there definitely won’t be any dull moments.

Dark Mind is among the list of e-Books!

Here are the details:

This promo is good until Sunday June 17,2012 at Midnight (Father’s Day) — it’s already started!
Buy ONE e-Book on Kindle, Get 5 FREE e-books
Go to: http://wp.me/p1VdgE-bq for all the information to receive your free e-Books

Make Father’s Day special!

#FreeBooks4Dad

Check out: Free Books for Dad

Thriller Lineup:

Dark Mind by Jennifer Chase