About Us
Carolina Forensics, LLC, was founded in 2005 by Laura Pettler. Carolina Forensics, LLC, is based in quiet Waxhaw, North Carolina, nestled among the numerous horse farms of Union County. Carolina Forensics, LLC, lab is used to build crime scenes, invent and test new crime scene reconstruction ideas, and manufacturers the reconstruction products.
Laura Pettler, Summer 2010
Laura Pettler, MS, CSCSA, (ABD, Ph.D. Candidate 2010), owner of Carolina Forensics, LLC, is the Co-founder/Director of the Crime Scene Reconstruction and Behavioral Analysis Program for Prosecutorial District Twenty A of North Carolina. Laura was the Co-founder/Head of the District’s Cold Case Task Force and worked on several other Community Initiatives district-wide.
Laura was a Co-founder and the Coordinator of the 2009 Richmond Community College International Forensic Institute. Laura is the founder of the concept of, serves as co-Editor, and is a Charter Member of The Forensic Association of the Carolinas (FACs).
Laura is a Certified Senior Crime Scene Analyst and is a member of the International Association for Identification (www.theiai.org). Laura is a member of the International Association for Bloodstain Pattern Analysts, the Florida Division of the International Association for Identification, and the Association of Crime Scene Reconstruction. Laura has spent her academic and professional careers studying forensic psychology, criminal profiling, serial homicide, death investigation, crime scene investigation, crime scene reconstruction, and bloodstain pattern analysis. Laura has a Bachelors of Science degree in Pre-Professional Psychology from Geneva College and a Masters of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Youngstown State University.Laura is expected to graduate in 2010 from Capella University, School of Public Service Leadership, with a Ph.D. in Public Safety specializing in Criminal Justice. Laura is completing her dissertation on crime scene staging. Click here to see Laura’s Video on Capella University’s School of Public Service Leadership’s homepage.
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Laura volunteered to teach Tubular Dowel Crime Scene Reconstruction to forensic professionals and students from ten Central American Countries at a conference in San Jose, Costa Rica in 2010. Laura is has been asked to design a multi-phase course in Crime Scene Reconstruction for law enforcement in Bogota, Columbia. Beginning in 2011, Laura aspires to begin work on the international forensic front full-time.
Central American Division International Association for Identification 2010, San Jose, Costa Rica, Central America
“Thank you very much for accepting the invitation to participate as a
speaker at the Third International Conference on Education, held on 6 and
7 this month (May 2010). The comments of the attendees were very favorable for you,
know of their professional quality. The contribution of his was of great
value for professionals in forensic science in our region. May God
enlighten your way. Much grateful.
DR. H. C. Boris Castillo. President
Central American Division of the International Association for Identification”
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Dr. Herbert Leon MacDonell
Dr. Herbert Leon MacDonell
Laura has had the honor and the privilege of working under Dr. Herbert Leon MacDonell, Director of the Laboratory of Forensic Science as a Forensic Associate, located in Corning, New York since July of 2003. The Laboratory of Forensic Science is one of the oldest Forensic Science Laboratories in the United States.
Laura is a Faculty Member of Dr. MacDonell’s Bloodstain Evidence Institute held bi-annually in Corning, NY. The Bloodstain Institute, founded in 1973, is the first Bloodstain Institute of the world. Forensic Professionals from around the globe attend the Bloodstain Institute.
Laura presents bloodstain pattern analysis, crime scene reconstruction, shooting incident reconstruction, crime scene staging, cold case investigation, and other topics throughout the United States. Laura was part of an Instructional Team headed by Dr. MacDonell in 2007, which presented the Bloodstain Institute to forensic professionals from five countries and the Carabinieri di Parma, in Italia.
Dr. MacDonell and Laura, Bloodstain Evidence Institute Reception, Parma Italy 2007
Dr. MacDonell is the most famous forensic scientist in the world. Dr. MacDonell was recognized as being the “Father of Bloodstain Analysis” by the Membership of the International Association of Bloodstain Pattern Analysts in 2006. In 1983, Dr. MacDonell and a small group formed the International Association of Bloodstain Pattern Analysts at the Radisson Hotel (it was not the Radisson then), in Corning, New York.
On June 5, 1969, Dr. MacDonell presented a paper at the Fifth International Meeting of Forensic Science held in Toronto, Canada. He showed the evidence he had analyzed in the Steven Shaff case. Following the presentation, renowned Criminalist, Dr. Paul Kirk, encouraged Dr. MacDonell to continue his research on the significance of bloodstain patterns. The world of forensic science would not be the same without the hard work and dedication of Dr. MacDonell. In 2004 he received an honorary doctorate degree from the University of Rhodes Island.
Dr. MacDonell and Laura, IABPA Conference Banquet, Corning, NY 2006
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Associates
Alexis Q. Pettler,
daughter of Carolina Forensics, LLC, owner, Laura Pettler, graduated from high school in the Spring of 2010. Alexis is studying Criminal Justice and minoring in Political Science beginning in Fall 2010 at a nearby University. Alexis aspires to work as an agent in a branch of federal law enforcement. From building power point presentations and media for online forensic courses to reconstructing crime scenes along side her mother, Alexis Pettler has more crime scene experience and knowledge of the importance of crime scene format, documentation, and evidence collection than most young people her age. Alexis is the youngest student to successfully complete Dr. Herbert Leon MacDonell’s (Grandpa Mac to Alexis) Bloodstain Evidence Institute at the age of 15 years old.
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April Isaacs
has been with Carolina Forensics for five years. April has a bachelors of science degree from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in Anthropology with a Minor in Criminal Justice. April assists in teaching workshops and in community outreach. April works in the office, handles emails and sales calls, conducts research and works assists in crime scene reconstructions. April completed the Dr. MacDonell’s Bloodstain Evidence Institute in 2006.
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“Dear Laura,
Congratulations on your selection as the 2009 Division Dream Maker for Everest Online. In a year when there were many talented individuals to consider, you were exceptional.
By every measure, you demonstrated inspired performance. From high course survey scores to equally high retention, you have delivered a teaching experience that captured ad help the attention of your students.
As I read your nomination form, I was particularly impressed by your commitment to continuing your own education adn the knowledge and experience you are able to share with your students as a result.
You have clearly embraced the noble cause of changes students’ lives. Thank you for your dedicated effort to helping these deserving individuals realize their dreams.
Best Regards,
Rick Simpson, Ph.D.
Chief Academic Officer
Everest University”
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