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Melinda Merck, DVM

Senior Director of Veterinary Forensics, Anticruelty Initatives

ASPCA

Adjunct Associate Professor of Veterinary Forensics

University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine

Dr. Merck assists investigators of animal cruelty with crime scene investigation as well as the examination of live and deceased victims. She frequently testifies as a forensic veterinary expert for animal cruelty cases around the country, including cases involving animal hoarding, dog fighting and animal torture. She most recently was the veterinary forensics expert on the football player, Michael Vick, dog fighting case.

Dr. Merck is the author of the textbook, “Veterinary Forensics: Animal Cruelty Investigation,” by Blackwell Publishing and the co-author of the book “Veterinary Forensic Investigation of Animal Cruelty: A Guide for Veterinarians and Law Enforcement.” She frequently provides training for veterinary and law enforcement professionals nationwide on the use of veterinary medical knowledge in the investigation and prosecution of animal cruelty cases.

Dr. Merck lives in Gainesville, Florida, with an assortment of dogs and cats, many rescued from cruelty cases. 

Dr. Jason H. Byrd, Ph.D., D-ABFE

Associate Director

Willaim R. Maples Center for Forensic Medicine

University of Florida College of Medicine

Dr. Byrd is a Board Certified Forensic Entomologist and Diplomate of the American Board of Forensic Entomology. He is the current Vice-President of the American Board of Forensic Entomology, and the Immediate Past-President of the North American Forensic Entomology Association. He is the first person to be elected President of both professional North American Forensic Entomology Associations. Dr. Byrd is the Associate Director of the William R. Maples Center for Forensic Medicine at the University of Florida’s College of Medicine. At the University of Florida, he instructs courses in forensic science at the University of Florida’s nationally recognized Hume Honors College. He serves as a faculty member of the Virginia Institute of Forensic Science and Medicine.

Outside of academics Dr. Byrd serves as an Administrative Officer within the National Disaster Medical System, Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team, Region IV. He also serves as the Logistics Chief for the Florida Emergency Mortuary Operations Response System. Currently he serves as a subject editor for the Journal of Medical Entomology. He has published numerous scientific articles on the use and application of entomological evidence in legal investigations. Dr. Byrd has combined his formal academic training in Entomology and Forensic Science to serve as a consultant and educator in both criminal and civil legal investigations throughout the United States and Internationally. Dr. Byrd specializes in the education of law enforcement officials, medical examiners, coroners, attorneys, and other death investigators on the use and applicability of arthropods in legal investigations. His research efforts have focused on the development and behavior of insects that have forensic importance, and he has over 15 years experience in the collection and analysis of entomological evidence. Dr. Byrd is a Fellow of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences.

Amy Kinsey, MS

Forensic Analyst, Veterinary Forensic Sciences

Anti-Cruelty Initiatives

ASPCA

Amy has a background in both animal medicine and crime scene investigations. She worked in veterinary hospitals and served as the volunteer coordinator for Operation Catnip for two years. She has over six years experience in the field of human crime scene processing. Amy has a Master of Science in Forensic Toxicology fromthe University of Florida, and she currently holds certifications as a Crime Scene Investigator and a Criminal Justice Instructor. Amy frequently provides trainings to law enforcement professionals in the investigation, processing, and documentation of crime scenes and associated evidence.

Amy lives in Gainesville, Florida with her husband, Frank, a deputy sheriff; their daughter, Avery; and two cats, Teagan and Itty.