SEHIA EXECUTIVE BOARD 2024-2025
JEN SPEARS, president
sally wolter, executive director
PAIGE KNEELAND, vice president
Jen is currently a Special Agent with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), where she is assigned to the Violent Crimes Squad, in the Orlando Regional Operations Center, investigating cold cases and homicides.
Jen began her career in law enforcement in July 1999, with the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office, where she started in a long-term undercover narcotics assignment as a student in high school. She served in a variety of assignments, most of it spent in criminal investigations, focusing on cold cases and violent crimes. Jen has collaborated with numerous agencies around the nation through her casework and has received several accolades for her accomplishments in cold case investigations.
Jen serves as a commissioner on the Florida Sheriff’s Association Cold Case Advisory Commission, as well as on the National Advisory Board for ViCAP. She is an instructor with Advanced Police Concepts and Blue Shield Tactical Systems, teaching courses in Cold Case Investigations as well as Homicide Investigations.
Jen has a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice/Psychology and completed the Graduate Certificate program in Forensic Genetic Genealogy in October 2022 through the University of New Haven/Henry Lee College of Criminal Justice and Forensic Sciences.
She has a passion for organizing the best training available reaching the largest audience of law enforcement professionals.
407.402.0223
PAIGE KNEELAND, vice president
sally wolter, executive director
PAIGE KNEELAND, vice president
Paige is currently the Lead Crime Analyst with the California Department of Justice, Missing & Unidentified Persons Section. She retired October 2023, from the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office (CA), as Deputy Sheriff, where she was assigned to the Homicide Bureau since 2003, responsible for investigating unsolved homicides, sexual assaults, and missing / unidentified persons cases. She also contracted with the Sacramento Police Department for twelve years, investigating unsolved homicides, long-term missing and unidentified persons.
During her tenure, Paige acted as the Logistics Manager for the East Area Rapist/Golden State Killer Task Force formed in 2010 and coordinated the multi-jurisdictional, collaborative “Find California Missing” events for four years. She is the current Chairman of the ViCAP National Advisory Board.
She earned a Master’s Degree in Forensic Science from the University of New Haven (CT) and a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology from the University of North Georgia.
916.390.9516
sally wolter, executive director
sally wolter, executive director
joanna goldman, executive director
Detective Sergeant Wolter began her career as a police officer in Flint, Michigan in 1982. She joined the Michigan State Police in 1986 and served over 32 years, retiring in 2018 as a detective sergeant. For 18 years, she worked homicides and violent crimes in the Special Investigations Section. From 2008 – 2017, Sally was the supervisor of the Kent Metro Cold Case Team in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The team was recognized as one of the most successful multi-jurisdictional cold case teams in the country. She wrote several federal grants and developed the standard operating procedures and protocol for the team.
Under her supervision, the Kent Metro Cold Case Team solved 19 homicides and was instrumental in changing legislation in Michigan regarding DNA collection samples from inmates in correctional facilities. Sally holds an associate degree in Applied Sciences/Criminal Justice. She presents on the topic of cold case homicide and multi-jurisdictional team approach to law enforcement throughout the country. She is a member of the NIJ Cold Case Working Group who co-authored the manual, “National Best Practices for Implementing and Sustaining Cold Case Units”. She also co-authored the 2022 publication, “Homicide: Guidelines for Conducting Homicide Investigations, by Detectives, for Detectives.”
joanna goldman, executive director
joanna goldman, executive director
joanna goldman, executive director
Joanna is a Medicolegal Death Investigator with the District 9 Medical Examiners Office since 2013. She is a board certified death investigator and a Fellow of ABMDI.
Since starting as a crime scene investigator with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office in 2011 and then moving to the Medical Examiners Office, Joanna has had the opportunity to investigate numerous violent crimes in Central Florida, including the Pulse Nightclub shooting. She is interested in strengthening the professional bonds between law enforcement agencies and the local medical examiners office.
JOe duncan, executive assistant
joanna goldman, executive director
JOe duncan, executive assistant
Joe Duncan is a detective with the Rutherford County Sheriffs Office in Middle Tennessee. He began his law enforcement career in 2008 and has served in a number of areas. He served on the Crisis Negotiations Team for 10 years and resigned from the team as the team leader. Joe was a field training officer and currently serves in the Criminal investigation’s Division where he investigates property crimes. Joe is also on the Homicide Team where he investigates homicides and equivocal deaths. He teaches within the department and also trains new detectives.
Joe is a graduate of the National Forensics Academy Session 53, where he earned a certification in crime scene investigations. He continues to receive investigative discipline training in the areas of homicide, internal affairs, overdose deaths, cell phone forensics, blood stain patter analysis, shooting incident reconstruction, and more. He is a graduate of Faulkner University with a Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice and a Master’s of Justice Administration.
LOUIE MORALES, treasurer
joanna goldman, executive director
JOe duncan, executive assistant
Louie is a retired Detective from The New York City Police Department. He started as a patrol officer in 1987. Morales' assignments have been Anti-Crime Unit, Precinct Detective Unit, Narcotics Unit, and he retired from the Organized Crime Control Bureau (OCCB) Major Case Squad. His retirement in 2004 after 17 years was due to the aftereffects of 9/11.
Morales has volunteered the past five years doing Cold Case work in Central Florida and is now assigned to Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s (FDLE) Cold Case Team.
JAMIE HENLINE, social media director
JAMIE HENLINE, social media director
JAMIE HENLINE, social media director
Jamie is the founder and owner of Bravo748 Military and Law Enforcement Speakers Bureau.
She is also the co-founder and President of Forging Forward, a foundation that provides services to military veterans, first responders, and Gold Star Families across the USA.
Before retiring and after being in the behavioral health, addiction services, and developmental disability work force for 27 years, Jamie was the Executive Director of a community mental health center in KY that served 11 counties and more than 70,000 clients.
She holds a Masters and Bachelors degree in Business Administration from Eastern Kentucky University.
Jamie lives in Kentucky with her husband, loves visiting with her grandson Copper, and traveling across the beautiful USA.
denise bentley, business director
JAMIE HENLINE, social media director
JAMIE HENLINE, social media director
Denise grew up in mid-Michigan with her parents and three older sisters. She began her career in law enforcement in 1982 as a dispatcher and corrections officer for the Shiawassee County Sheriff's Department. In 1995, Bentley became a trooper for the Michigan State Police and was assigned out of recruit school to the MSP Lakeview Post.
While working as a trooper, Bentley also became a Field Training Officer, Department Recruiter, Background Investigator and a specialist in the investigation of the sexual abuse of children and adults. Bentley was a negotiator for the Emergency Support Team, a firearms instructor for the 119th Trooper Recruit School, an academic at Ferris State University and a board member for the Michigan Association of Hostage Negotiators. In 2002, Bentley was promoted to the MSP Rockford Post as a uniform sergeant where she worked as a supervisor for four years before becoming a detective sergeant.
As a detective sergeant, Bentley was also a member of the Kent Metro Cold Case Team and worked dignitary protection assignments with the US Secret Service. She was a member of the Kenty County Gun Board, the Muskegon County Child Abuse Council and served on Child Death Review Teams for both Kent and Muskegon counties. Bentley was a member of the homicide task force in Muskegon County and was recognized by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan for her work on multiple fraud investigations.
Bentley retired from the Michigan State Police in May 2020 and lives in Twin Lake, MI with her husband, Clark, who is a scuba instructor. Their son, Jordan, lives with his family in St. Augustine, FL. Bentley is an avid scuba diver and enjoys traveling with her family and friends.
denisebentley@sehia.org
SEHIA BOARD MEMBERS 2025
MARK DIBONA
BILL ELFLEIN
BILL ELFLEIN
Mark was born and raised in Boston Massachusetts. In 1985, Mark began his Law Enforcement career with the Braintree Police Department and later transferred to the Amtrak Police Department, Boston District.
In 1993, Mark moved to Florida and continued his career with the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office, where he where he retired as a Patrol Sergeant, after 33 years of Law Enforcement experience. Mark was a Police Academy Instructor at Seminole State College.
Throughout his career, his positions and assignments include Peer Support Unit, Critical Incident Stress Management Team, Public Information Officer and in-service training Instructor.
During his career, Mark developed mental health issues and attempted suicide. He is very open speaking about these issues and his wellness.
Mark is a co-founder of Protecting the Guardian. He is a Technical Advisor and Mental Health Liaison with In The Line of Duty Video’s, and a Member of International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers.
As an advocate for Law Enforcement Officer and First Responder Mental Health/Suicide Prevention/Wellness and Education, he has been a guest on radio, tv, podcasts, conferences, webinars, books and magazines. He has appeared in training videos, a music video and is a motivational speaker.
407.670.5279
BILL ELFLEIN
BILL ELFLEIN
BILL ELFLEIN
Bill is a native New Yorker with over 22 years’ experience as a Special Agent with the U.S. Government. Most of these years have been with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) working violent and general crimes. As a global organization, NCIS has afforded Bill opportunity to work investigations around the United States, Central America, South America and the Caribbean. Recently, Bill transferred to the island nation of Singapore for three years where he worked alongside international federal police partners in India, Sri Lanka, Brunei, Indonesia, Vietnam, Singapore and Australia.
Now back in the United States, Bill is again focused on working major and violent crimes that effect our U.S. Navy and United States Marine Corps members’ right here at home. Cold Case investigations have always and continue to be the cases that Bill is the most passionate about. In 2018, Bill served as a member on the Florida Sheriff’s Association Cold Case Advisory Commission and in 2019 solved the first cold case for NCIS that utilized Genealogy.
Bill is a graduate of the University of Buffalo with a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting.
jack ferrell
BILL ELFLEIN
jamie abercrombie
Jack Ferrell is a seasoned law enforcement professional with a strong dedication to serving and protecting his community. Born and raised in Houston, Texas, Jack began his career in 2006 as a jailer for the Dickinson Police Department. Eager to make a greater impact, he transitioned to the role of a patrol officer in 2007, where he excelled in maintaining public safety.
In 2013, Jack seized an opportunity to expand his expertise and accepted a position with the Harris County Sheriff's Office as a patrol deputy. Over the course of his tenure, he demonstrated exceptional skills in crime prevention, investigation, and community engagement. In recognition of his commitment to training and mentorship, Jack served as a Field Training Officer for three years, imparting his knowledge and experience to the next generation of law enforcement professionals.
In 2017, Jack's aptitude for solving complex cases led to his assignment to the Homicide Unit. With unwavering determination, he tackled a wide range of investigations, including suicide cases, infant deaths, aggravated kidnappings, officer-involved shootings, and murders. Jack's meticulous approach, combined with his ability to work collaboratively with various law enforcement agencies, ensured that justice was served.
A highlight of Jack's career came in 2021 when he successfully closed two challenging capital murder cases from 2019 that were committed by the same criminal street gang. Through close coordination with the Harris County Sheriff's Office Homicide Unit and the FBI Multi Agency Gang Task Force, Jack secured six Capital Murder charges and four Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity charges. His outstanding work on these cases earned him the title of Deputy Investigator of the Year in 2021.
March of 2023 marked a new chapter in Jack's life, as he decided to retire from law enforcement to pursue personal interests. However, his passion for serving the men and women who continue to safeguard communities remains unwavering. As a board member, Jack looks forward to leveraging his experience and knowledge to support and advocate for his fellow law enforcement professionals.
jamie abercrombie
jamie abercrombie
jamie abercrombie
Jamie Abercrombie has been a Special Agent with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) since 2015. Prior to that, she was a Narcotics Agent with the Cherokee Multi Agency Narcotics Squad for 2 years.
Abercrombie spent 8 years as a GBI field agent in Northeast Georgia, specializing in homicides, along with investigating officer involved shootings, child molestations and sexual assaults. Currently, she is assigned to the GBI's Cold Case Unit. She is also an understudy with the International Criminal Investigative Analysis Fellowship, and is also assigned as a Special Agent Profiler with the GBI'S Behavioral Science Unit, investigating unusual, bazaar and repetitive crimes.
She is an expert witness in interviews and interrogations, and teaches along with homicide investigations across the State of Georgia. Abercrombie is a recipient of the 2022 International Association of Chief's of Police Investigative Excellence Award and the GBI's Director's Award for the investigation of a murder by the CJNG Mexican Cartel.
anthony kava
jamie abercrombie
Shannon Leeper
Special Deputy Anthony Kava is a life-long hacker, digital forensics examiner, cybercrime investigator, and cybersecurity nerd. He joined Pottawattamie County's IT Department in 2003.
In 2009,Kava was sworn in as a Special Deputy and assigned to the Iowa Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. He transferred to work full-time for the Sheriff's Office in 2017. Dep. Kava holds multiple certifications, mentors students to be hackers for good, and enjoys long walks on the dark web.
Shannon Leeper
jamie abercrombie
Shannon Leeper
Shannon Leeper lives in a suburb of Kansas City - Go Chiefs! In 1998, after obtaining her bachelor’s degree in the Administration of Justice, she began her law enforcement career with the Lenexa, Kansas Police Department. She transferred from the Patrol division to Investigations in 2005, as a general assignment detective. By 2008, she established the Special Victim’s Unit within the Lenexa Police Department, where she remained for 17 years.
As a “career detective,” Shannon was the lead investigator in over 5,000 cases, including unattended deaths, homicides, and the successful prosecution of a 1994 rape cold case that resulted in a 64-year sentence. Shannon’s unparalleled commitment to the development and demonstration of best practices for working with victims of sexual assault, child abuse, and domestic violence led to her recognition as a subject matter expert throughout the metro area.
Following retirement in 2021, Shannon pursued an opportunity in the academic world, as a senior-level Title IX investigator for a large university. However, Shannon was soon drawn back to law enforcement, joining the Johnson County District Attorney’s Office in Olathe, Kansas as a criminal investigator in 2022. Shannon is an investigator with the Johnson County Officer Involved Critical Incident Investigative Team (OICIIT) and she is a member of the Johnson County Domestic Violence Multi-Disciplinary Team. She is the longest standing member of the Johnson County Sexual Assault Response Team and the current Chair elect.
As an instructor, Shannon provides trauma-informed sexual assault and domestic violence training for her law enforcement peers, recruits, prosecutors, medical providers, and other stakeholders. As a public speaker, Shannon presents at law enforcement conferences on a regional and national level and she has testified before the Senate and House Judiciary Committees at the State Capital. She represents District 1 as a Governor elect for the Kansas Peace Officers Association (KPOA). She is an avid photographer in her free time.
TIFFANY grimmett
TIFFANY grimmett
TIFFANY grimmett
Tiffany is the current Coroner Investigative Forensic Supervisor for the Clark County Coroner/Medical Examiner's Office in Las Vegas, Nevada. Supervisor Brown began her career with Clark County’s Office of the Coroner/Medical Examiner in 2010. Hired as a Coroner Investigator, Tiffany quickly distinguished herself and was promoted to the position of Senior Coroner Investigator where she oversaw various shifts of the Investigative Unit.
She is a Registered Medicolegal Death Investigator and has investigated well over 2000 coroner’s cases. She has been nationally recognized for her role in the “1 October” mass shooting in Las Vegas and speaks nationally on their response to this incident. Tiffany serves as co-coordinator for the Coroner Training Academy, which is a locally sponsored investigator course including both classroom and field training.
Grimmett manages all unidentified human remains cases within Clark County, and has assisted in establishing national standards as a member of the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) National Cold Case Working Group. Additionally, Tiffany actively participates in the Domestic Violence Fatality Review Board, the Trauma Intervention Program Advisory Board, and is the lead investigator for the Child and Infant Response (CAIR) Team. Tiffany is proactive in planning Mass Fatality Preparedness for Clark County’s Office of the Coroner/Medical Examiner. She holds the status of Diplomat with the American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators, is trained in psychological autopsy investigation, and a lifelong native of Las Vegas, Nevada.
ERIN CARR
TIFFANY grimmett
TIFFANY grimmett
Erin has been a detective with the Casselberry Police Department since 2012. Detective Carr began her career with Casselberry Police Department in 2008 and has worked in the uniform patrol division, criminal investigations, and as a traffic crash re-constructionist.
Detective Carr is a general assignment detective and has investigated a multitude of crimes including homicides. She frequently assists neighboring jurisdictions with their cases and believes information sharing, teamwork, and networking are the keys to solving violent crime.
407.262.7616 X 1056
DAVE NUTTING
TIFFANY grimmett
DAVE NUTTING
Corporal David Nutting (retired) began his Law Enforcement career in 1989 with the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office. During his career with the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office, David worked as a Field Training Officer, Highway (I-95) Interdiction, Criminal Investigations, and Narcotics. In March 1998, David was promoted to the rank of Sergeant. As a Sergeant, David supervised courthouse operations, civil process, and uniformed patrol.
In March 1999, David was hired by the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. During David’s career as a Deputy with that office, David worked as a Field Training Officer and the United States Marshal’s Felony Squad Task Force. In 2004, David was promoted to the rank of Corporal and assigned to supervise a Field Training Squad. From 2005-2012, Corporal Nutting was assigned to the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF). While assigned to the JTTF, Corporal Nutting worked on extensive national security investigations requiring travel abroad and within the United States.
In 2012, Corporal Nutting was assigned to supervise one of the three Orange County Sheriff’s Office Homicide Teams. The Orange County Homicide Teams were responsible for investigating the approximately 60 murders occurring in Orange County annually. Additionally, the Teams worked Deputy involved shootings, manslaughters, overdose deaths, justifiable homicides, suicides, and any other unattended death.
Following the assignment to Homicide, Corporal Nutting worked as the Technical Investigations Supervisor with Orange County Narcotics Unit and the Metropolitan Bureau of Investigation (MBI). Corporal Nutting supervised the team responsible for Title III wire intercepts, surreptitious camera installations, GPS vehicle tracking, digital forensic extraction and examination, and covert installation of body worn and vehicle monitoring devices.
In 2019, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office began a dedicated team of three Cold Case Detectives within the Homicide Squad. During Corporal Nutting’s supervision of the Cold Case Team over a dozen cold case homicides were resolved. Multiple convictions have been obtained as a result of the Cold Case Team’s hard work. The advancement of forensic genetic genealogy (FGG) resulted in the cold case team applying this technology to 23 cold cases. The FGG work resulted in one conviction and the identification of six previously unidentified homicide victims.
In 2023, Corporal Nutting retired from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office after 34 years of service and began work as a Law Enforcement Liaison for an FGG company continuing to help law enforcement agencies around the country and overseas bring resolution to cases.
ERIC BARNES
kathy schnell
DAVE NUTTING
Detective Eric Barnes has been with the Dallas Police Department for 19 years and has been a detective with the department’s Homicide Unit for 13 years.
As a homicide detective, he has conducted hundreds of death investigations to include natural deaths, suicides, overdoses, accidental deaths and murder. Some of his investigations have been broadcast on Discovery ID, First 48, Snapped & Dateline and is currently a criminal analyst for the Law & Crime network.
He is assigned to the Texoma HIDTA/Texas Anti-Gang Center as a task force officer with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives-Violent Crimes Group (IV). He currently conducts state and federal investigations on criminal organizations who use firearms to engage in narcotics trafficking and violent criminal activity.
Over the past 7 years, Detective Barnes has trained hundreds of law enforcement officers on the topics of basic investigations, homicide investigations, interrogation techniques and civil rights & ethics. Detective Barnes provides training locally & abroad to state and federal agencies emphasizing advanced techniques of both reactive/proactive police response to violent crime.
MIKE TRAVERS
kathy schnell
kathy schnell
Mike Travers has a BA in Criminal Justice from Westfield State University. He has been a Trooper with the Massachusetts State Police for 19 years, assigned to the division of field services for the first 9 years of his career. For 6 of those years, he was assigned to multiple barracks ranging from rural patrol areas to major highways.
Travers was also assigned to the Troop "C" Community Action Team for three years, a team deployed to major events within the Troop of jurisdiction and focuses on proactive policing. The Community Action Team is also used for events within the community to include school events and static displays such as "Touch a Truck" events.
Travers has received numerous individual and unit awards to include Superintendent’s Citations, Division Commander’s Commendations and Troop Commander’s Commendations.
He has been assigned as a homicide investigator to the Worcester County District Attorney's Office State Police Detective Unit for 9 years. The Detective Unit has jurisdiction over 51 Cities and Towns for major crimes to include homicides and unattended deaths.
His current assignment is to investigate active and unresolved homicide cases within the County.
kathy schnell
kathy schnell
kathy schnell
Kathy began her law enforcement career with the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department in Rancho Cucamonga, California in 1990. Hired as a Booking Officer and Sheriff’s Custody Specialist, Kathy worked until 1996, when she graduated from the Sheriff’s Reserve Academy. She was assigned as a Property/Evidence Officer until she was promoted to the Traffic Division, responsible for traffic accident investigations, and also worked Patrol taking criminal reports.
In 2003, she was promoted to the Crime Lab as a Crime Scene Specialist. For 13 years, Kathy investigated crime scenes of homicides, officer involved shootings, suicides, death investigations, autopsies, and grave site excavations. Due to her expertise, Kathy assisted in teaching at the San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department Training Academy, specializing in Crime Scene Investigations, Bloodstain Pattern Analysis and Bullet Trajectory.
Throughout her career, Kathy received several Commanders Awards. In 2022, Kathy retired from the San Bernadino County Sheriff’s Department after 32 years of service.