2025 EVET Workshop Descriptions

Session 1 – Unmasking Healthcare Crimes: Investigating Malicious Pharmaceutical Use and Ensuring Evidence Integrity 

Documented criminal actions using pharmaceuticals have taken place by healthcare workers for decades. There is an inherent trust bias among healthcare professionals and patients, therefore, when an error or intentional criminal act occurs with a pharmaceutical, it is hard to investigate. When pharmaceuticals are used inside or outside of the hospital for malicious purposes evidence must be appropriately collected, preserved, and analyzed. Evidence may consist of multiple records, pharmaceutical containers, administration devices, as well as tissue samples. Healthcare managers must learn to think like investigators and investigators like healthcare professionals and collaborate when a suspicious reaction, death, or series of deaths occurs. The old adage of the difference between a drug and a poison is said to be the dose holds true especially when combining similar acting agents. In this workshop, notable cases will be presented to show means, motive, and opportunity in these types of criminal acts.

Mark Middlebrooks, Clinical Pharmacist, Investigative Assistant, College Station Police Department

Session 2 – Unleashing the Beast: The Hidden Dangers of Generative AI

This presentation will delve into the potential risks and ethical concerns associated with the rapid advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology. It will explore how these powerful tools, while offering immense benefits, can also pose significant threats such as misinformation, data leakage, and privacy invasion. The discussion will highlight real-world examples, examine the balance between innovation and regulation, and propose strategies that help attendees to manage the dangers while harnessing the potential of generative AI.

Paul Price, Chief Information Security Officer, Texas A&M University

Session 3 & 8 – Struck Down: Justice Delayed But Not Denied 

In 2016, a 19-year-old Baylor Student was struck down while riding his bicycle in Waco, TX. Years later the cold case was solved after an anonymous letter to police. This case study will navigate the investigation and prosecution of high school administrator, Amy Blankenship. Attendees will hear from the attorneys who prosecuted the case and how justice may have been delayed for this victim’s family, but after a jury verdict, it was not denied. This is a 2-part session.

Tara Avants and Will Hix, Assistant District Attorney, McLennan County

Session 4 – Maximizing Justice: The Power of Expert Witnesses

Do you want to see predators serving longer sentences? Do you want to help survivors avoid further trauma? How about educating the community – including the judge and the jury – about the work that you do and the issues you face daily, including the challenges faced by trauma survivors? This workshop will address the how/when/why of using expert witnesses when prosecuting predators. We will include specific tips to help any professional – from case worker to social worker, from interviewer to law enforcement officer – become an effective expert witness. And the most critical piece…what prosecutors need to know to best utilize these valuables resources in these cases.

Alison Pourteau, Director of Clinical Services and Ashleigh Thomas, Lead Forensic Interviewer, Scotty’s House Child Advocacy Center, Bryan, Texas

Session 5 – From Trauma to Trust: Understanding the Choices and Challenges of Victims of Sexual Exploitation and Trafficking 

Have you ever had a victim you were working with run off and go back to “the life?” Have you been frustrated, feeling like a victim is lying to you because their story changes so many times during the investigation? This workshop will explain the why – why do they continue to choose criminal acts over other options? Why do they keep changing their story? Presenters will share answers to these questions with stories of hope from survivors of sexual exploitation and trafficking.

Marcy Bartula, Founding Director and Kellye Arnold, Operations Director, Different Day Foundation

Session 6 – How a Serial Killer Walked In: The Pillowcase Murders

This workshop details the violence and terror convicted killer, Billy Chemirmir, reigned on victims in the Dallas and Collin County area over a two-year period. Convicted of two capital murder charges and indicted for 22 additional homicides, Chemirmir was serving life without parole when he was murdered in prison by his cellmate. Most of his victims were elderly women whom he targeted because they were residing in senior living communities. He would stalk, suffocate, and steal from them. Presenters will discuss the challenges faced during this investigation and the promise to bring justice to all of these families.

Detective Jon Hoffman, Retired, Plano Police Department and Shannon Dion, Secure Our Seniors’ Safety

Session 7 & 12 – Murder in Lockdown  

In the Fall of 2020, most Texas residents were working and schooling from the safety of their home with the Covid-19 epidemic at its peak. Unfortunately, home was not safe for twin 6-year-olds living in Bryan, Texas with their father, Justin Hopper and their step-mother, Jessica Bundren. For months they had suffered daily beatings and horrific abuse until one October day when the abuse finally stopped because one sister succumbed to her injures and died. Attendees will hear how law enforcement first came to find out about these little girls, how the investigation progressed into criminal indictments for both Hopper and Bundren and how two trials brought a glimpse of justice for these young sisters with life sentences for their abusers. Presenters will talk about specifics from the trials including expert testimony of some of the worst torture they had ever witnessed on a child and how the surviving sister testified during the trial with the assistance of a facility dog and successful trauma advocacy and support. This is a two part session.

Brian Baker, First Assistant District Attorney and Kara Comte, Assistant District Attorney, Brazos County 

Session 9 & 14– Autism and the Criminal Justice System

This session will show attendees what autism looks like by describing the journey of Tres and his mom, Anne. Presenters will walk through this journey from infancy to adulthood and what autism looked like for their family. Interspersed throughout will be stories of interaction with police officers, educators, doctors and other service professionals one would expect understood autism. Anne, a career prosecutor, will share about how raising a child with autism increased her awareness of neurodiversity and allowed her to make informed decisions in criminal cases in which victims, witnesses and defendants on the autism spectrum were frequently misunderstood by first responders, jailers, nurses, probation officers and judges. Tres will share openly about his life on the autism spectrum. This is a 2-part session.

Anne Potts Jackson, Assistant District Attorney, Bell County and Tres Jackson, Autism Ambassador, Bell County Autism Intervention Team

Session 10 – Real Response Options for Victims of Intimate Partner Violence

In the last 40 years the response and resources for victims of intimate partner violence have vastly improved. Safety measures such as emergency protective orders, victim advocacy, restrictions on alleged offenders, survivor housing and mental health have expanded. However, there are still only 5 realistic options for these victims that range from reasonable to awful. Presenters will take a deep dive into each of these options to encourage responders to cultivate important conversations with victims of intimate partner violence - ultimately concluding that there is only one legitimate response…leave the abuser.

Jason Lundquist and Autumn Vandegrift, Instructor, Sexual Assault Family Violence Investigators Course (SAFVIC)

Session 11 – When Tech Turns Toxic: Digital Abuse & Intimate Partner Violence

In an increasingly digital world, abusers are using technology to control, stalk, and harm their victims. This training will provide a comprehensive understanding of digital abuse within the context of intimate partner violence, including how abusers misuse technology to exploit survivors. We will explore how Texas law defines digital abuse and how it interacts with federal law, offering insight into the legal protections available to survivors. Participants will also learn best practices for safety planning around technology to help survivors protect themselves.

Micala Clark, Managing Attorney and Maria Toscano, Staff Attorney, Texas Advocacy Project

Session 13 – The Note in His Pocket: My Advocate-My Lifeline

The note in his pocket read “The Plan” and “Plan B” which included cleaning the evidence of her murder from his trailer. It also listed the supplies he would need: taser, zip ties, machete, shovel…An amicable divorce had turned into a life-or-death situation.

My Advocate-My Lifeline explores the 2017 stalking and out of state kidnapping case of Alisa Henin. She will walk you through the timeline of the relationship, marriage, divorce, stalking, protective order, kidnapping and two trials that resulted in her assailant spending the next 33 years in federal prison. Together, you will explore the successful collaboration of out of state law enforcement, state prosecutor, federal prosecutor, ATF agent and crime victim advocates. Without law enforcement’s commitment to cooperation and the advocates’ passion to prepare and support she and her family, the outcome could have been very different. 

Alisa Henin

Session 15 – Hidden In Plain Sight: Grooming in Child Sexual Abuse Cases

Perpetrators of child sexual abuse utilize grooming to gain access and opportunity to their victims. Victims and families are at risk and may have risk factors that increase the possibility of this abuse. This session will focus on how this manipulation allows perpetrators to not only initiate the abuse but facilitate silence. Attendees will see first-hand how this grooming process impacts victims and their families and the lasting trauma that is caused to these children.

Lindsey Dula, Founder, National Forensic Interviewing Network

Session 16 – Left Hand Meet Right Hand: Building a Coordinated Community Response in Stalking Cases

Keeping victims safe and holding offenders accountable requires that diverse professionals – including (but not limited to) victim advocates, law enforcement, prosecutors, educators, and others – view their work through a “stalking lens,” take pro-active steps to incorporate a stalking response into their roles and work together. This session will provide practical strategies for building stalking into a coordinated community response, utilizing all these professionals in a community to best serve these victims and hold offenders accountable.

Kendra Eggleston, Training & Campus Specialist, Stalking Prevention, Awareness, and Resource Center

Session 17 – Hope is a Verb: Surviving the Oklahoma City Bombing

Amy Downs shouldn’t even be here. She was working at her credit union as a teller in 1995 when a bomb exploded in her building, killing 168 people including 18 of her 33 co-workers. Amy was buried alive for over six hours and was one of the last survivors pulled from the rubble. Amy embraced her second chance in life by vowing to live it with intention. She not only survived but over time transformed her life. Today, Amy is now president and CEO of the same credit union nearly destroyed in that bombing, as well as the author of “Hope is a Verb”, a book detailing her journey from victim to overcomer. She is passionate about encouraging others to live their lives with purpose and intention and this workshop will inspire and ignite hope to all attendees sharing new ideas on how you can achieve your goals.

Amy Downs

Session 18 & 23 – When Silence Screams: Strangulation Trends and the Story of Tyriq Bradford

This critical workshop delves into the often-overlooked incidents of non-fatal strangulation, presenting vital insights for medical and legal professionals. This presentation will examine local trends over the past seven years, focusing on individuals seeking medical forensic care. Participants will learn about a groundbreaking risk assessment framework, enhancing their ability to identify and respond effectively to individuals that report non-fatal strangulation. We will address the significant gap in pediatric non-fatal strangulation research, previewing the soon to be published data that fills this crucial void. The session will culminate with an in-depth case study of a 6-year-old female survivor of aggravated sexual assault and severe strangulation, providing a powerful, real-world application of the concepts discussed. This panel includes the medical team, detectives and prosecution team on her case. Attendees will gain essential knowledge that could save lives, facilitate justice and improve outcomes for strangulation survivors of all ages. This is a 2-part session. 

Rachel Reynolds, Chelsea Knutson, Forensic Nurses, Baylor Scott & White and Kevin Capps, Rachel Porter, Assistant District Attorneys, Brazos County and Greg Blankenship, Daniel Amaya, Detectives, Bryan Police Department

Session 19 – Self-Reflection for Insight Into a Victim’s Perspective

In this workshop, first responders, medical professionals, victim advocates and others will engage in self-reflection on their experience, beliefs and emotions to better understand how they connect with others trauma. Developing self-awareness enhances sensitivity and patience when approaching traumatic situations. Facilitators will introduce the Influence to Action Model, a framework that illustrates how various factors shape our behavior. This model emphasizes that our actions stem not just from conscious choices but also from a blend of emotions, thoughts and external influences. We will explore the stages of this model, and attendees will better understand what drives their behavior as well as gain a unique perspective that fosters empathy and appreciation for the victims that they serve.

Gabe Onofre, Executive Director and Ashley Onofre, Program Director, Warrior Spirit

Session 20 – Cybercrimes: Identifying the Threats and Challenges - Coming Soon!

Session 21 – The Difference: A Case Study on Child Maltreatment

While child maltreatment comes in many different forms, this case study reviews a case of Failure To Thrive and the ensuing investigation. This case study is a captivating and candid look at the course of the investigation, including what pitfalls investigators can avoid as well as how service providers can create lasting solutions borne from the circumstances of a tragic case.

Lindsey Dula, Founder, National Forensic Interviewing Network

Session 22 – Overcoming the Unknown: Using Technology and Tenacity to Connect the Dots in the Murder of Roshainah Tompkins 

A trail of blood discovered by a concerned neighbor on a hot July day resulted in a phone call to the police. Officers arrive and find the body of a young woman just inside in the doorway. The owner of the apartment is not home, and it looks as if the unidentified woman had been discarded. Evidence of foul play was immediately apparent, however, identifying the woman is only the first of many hurdles in the case. Who is she? Where did she die? Who killed her? Why? And how does the State of Texas prove it? Can we hold her murder accountable with so many unanswered questions? Walk alongside the prosecutors in this case through the unbelievable investigation, how the unknowns were overcome and ultimately how detectives solved this case so that the murderer was brought to justice.  

Kristin Burns, Domestic Violence Resource Prosecutor, Texas District and County Attorney’s Association and Ryan Golden, Assistant District Attorney, Brazos County 

Session 24 – Relational Post Traumatic Growth with Marginalized Sexual Assault Survivors

Transgender and nonbinary individuals experience disproportionately higher rates of sexual assault victimization and psychological distress, including PTSD, compared to their cisgender counterparts. Nonbinary individuals face significant challenges such as elevated rates of victimization and post-assault distress, alongside unique barriers to receiving competent and specific care. This course addresses the critical need for culturally competent care tailored to the experiences of nonbinary and transgender individuals, especially those who have survived sexual assault. Building upon established best practices for working with cisgender survivors, and incorporating recent research findings on nonbinary experiences, this course aims to equip practitioners with the knowledge and skills to meet the distinct needs and challenges faced by trans and nonbinary survivors. Participants will engage with holistic therapy protocols that address emotional, psychological, and relational aspects of healing and analyze numerous case studies to learn how to support clients in their journey toward reclaiming vitality, freedom, and healthy relationships. The course will provide a comprehensive understanding of how to adapt and innovate therapeutic practices to help clients navigate their path to healing and rediscovery of life beyond trauma.

Emma Smith, Licensed Professional Counselor, Soliloquie LLC