SEHIA EXECUTIVE BOARD 2024-2025

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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

markdibona@sehia.org

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 

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.   

billelflein@sehia.org

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.

jackferrell@sehia.org

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.

jamieabercrombie@sehia.org

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.

anthonykava@sehia.org

Larry Rothman started his law enforcement career with the Michigan State Police in July of 1999. He was assigned to the Michigan State Police Jackson Post out of recruit school. During his time as a Trooper, he performed may duties including assigned to the midnight shift for several years. During that time, he received the MADD award for his OUIL enforcement. As he moved to the day shift, he worked closely with the Detective Bureau and was assigned to investigate most of the sexual assault cases for the Jackson Post as well as handling most all the forensic interviews. As a Trooper he was also assigned to work with the Michigan State Police Computer Crimes Unit where he became a member of the Internet Crimes Against Childrens Taskforce (ICAC). 

In 2013 Rothman was promoted to a Specialist Sergeant Position with the Michigan State Police Audio/Video Unit as an Audio/Video Analyst. While working in the unit he worked on several high-profile cases and testified as an expert in audio/video analysis. In 2014, he transferred to the Michigan State Police Monroe Post as a post detective. While working as a post detective he worked on several homicide investigations and was featured on a “Date Line” episode for his work in a 2018 homicide. Rothman spent seven years at the post where he investigated several high-profile cases including solving a 1979 missing persons case. 

In 2020 Rothman helped to establish the Michigan State Police’s Cold Case Unit in the First District. He helped to design and implement a collaboration between the Michigan State Police and Michigan State University’s School of Criminal Justice. During that time the collaboration successfully helped to solve the 1982 cold case homicide of Kimberly Louiselle and helped to organize and digitize numerous cold case homicides. He currently has 24 ½ years with the Michigan State Police and plans to enroll in their DROP program for an additional six years unless other opportunities present themselves.

He has many hobbies and interests outside of law enforcement including spending time with his wife Katie, his three kids, and granddaughter. Rothman also leads worship at his local church and enjoys performing in a local country music band. 

larryrothman@sehia.org

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. 

shannonleeper@sehia.org

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. 

tiffanybrown@sehia.org

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

erincarr@sehia.org

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.