Published September 16, 2006 07:23 am - A new idea will put an interesting spin on a "dead" concept. The rising popularity of television shows like CSI and Law and Order, a background ...
HELLSCENES, INC.
Star Beacon
Fantasy camp lets people be crime scene investigators
By STACY MILLBERG
Staff Writer
smillberg@starbeacon.com
A new idea will put an interesting spin on a "dead" concept.
The rising popularity of television shows like CSI and Law and Order, a background in criminal justice, and not to mention a very creative mind were all it took for John Bailey to come up with a way for individuals to find out what it's like to be a crime scene investigator.
Bailey is the creator of a new fantasy camp where ordinary people can learn what's behind a homicide investigation. Hellscenes, Inc. allows individuals the opportunity to solve a crime from beginning to end with as many realistic components as legally permitted.
"Law enforcement can do this because they want people to make mistakes in a mock scene rather than the real thing," he said. "But there is nothing for civilians with interest in crime scene investigation."
Each Hellscenes investigator will learn to secure a crime scene, process, gather and analyze evidence, develop a list of witnesses and suspects and conduct interviews, dust for fingerprints, cast tire and shoe impressions, perform surveillance and finally make the arrest of the prime suspect, Bailey said.
"We mock it as close as it gets to reality," he said. "Anyone can come in and process evidence around a dead body."
The bodies will be fake of course, but Bailey said they are so realistic no one will be able to tell the difference.
"It's CSI meets Law and Order meets Fear Factor," he said.
The investigations will take place throughout the entire county.
"When you do an investigation, you have to follow it wherever it takes you," Bailey said. "There will be people all over Ashtabula County acting as witnesses."
Each investigation has so many twists and unforeseen developments, participants will think they are actually solving a real homicide. Each person involved contributes something that will drive the investigation, he said.