Death Investigator Guidebook - Lessons From The Field: What Experience Teaches that Training Doesn't

Medicolegal death investigations vary widely across jurisdictions, shaped by local laws, resources, and organizational structure. While formal training provides a necessary foundation, it cannot fully prepare investigators for real-world casework—particularly in systems with limited resources and training opportunities. Much of what defines a competent investigator is ultimately developed through experience and hard-earned lessons over years in the field.

Lessons from the Field was written to help bridge that gap. 

Drawing on over a decade of hands-on experience across multiple Coroner and Medical Examiner systems, this guide provides practical insight into the reasoning behind investigative decisions, case-specific considerations, and the habits that strengthen professional judgment and documentation. It provides the perspective you need through hard earned lessons that can only be taught through lived and learned professional experience. It addresses the perspectives, challenges, and questions investigators often encounter in practice but not often covered in formal training.

Inside, you’ll find:

• Experience-based guidance to support critical thinking and decision-making
• Investigator Tips 
• Breakdowns of common case types with key investigative considerations
• Printable investigative questionnaires for various case types
• Printable case intake form

Designed to supplement—not replace—formal training, this guide serves as a practical resource for both new investigators and experienced professionals seeking to refine their approach, strengthen consistency, and build greater confidence in medicolegal death investigations.