Every Detail Matters: Technology, Trust, and the Truth in Mass Casualty Response

As large-scale critical incidents become increasingly complex, the role of forensic documentation has evolved far beyond traditional photography and measurement. This presentation explores how terrestrial LiDAR technology has transformed the way we capture, analyze, and present crime scenes—particularly in mass casualty environments where precision and context are paramount.

Drawing from firsthand field experience, this presentation highlights lessons learned from my first major mass casualty response in Florence, South Carolina, courtroom testimony in the Pittsburgh Synagogue shooting investigation, and the professional bonds that form through this line of work. These experiences underscore the intersection of technology, human factors, and the pursuit of truth in forensic reconstruction.

The session will also provide an overview of the FBI’s national terrestrial LiDAR scanning program and its approach to developing standardized training, field protocols, and interagency collaboration. Through both technical and practical perspectives, attendees will gain insight into how high-resolution 3D documentation supports reconstruction accuracy, courtroom clarity, and long-term justice outcomes.