Good Leads For Mystery Writers: Lectures At Library

The next lectures in C.H. Booth Library’s series for mystery writers will be “Arming the Good, The Bad, and The Ugly: What Writers Need To Know,” on Tuesday, October 25, and “Forensic Science in Pursuit of Justice: Famous Cases” on Friday, October 28. Both programs will begin at 7 pm, and are free.

On Tuesday, Officer Jeff Silver, firearms expert with the Newtown Police Department, will discuss different types of weapons systems (both readily available and specialized), concealment methods, and other specifics so that writers can better arm their fictional criminals and heroes.

Elaine Pagliaro, a member of the staff at the Henry C. Lee Institute of Forensic Science, returns to the library on Friday night, to discuss some of her more famous cases including OJ Simpson, JonBenet Ramsey, Martha Moxley, the Michael Ross serial murders, and Newtown’s infamous “Woodchipper Murder” case.

Ms Pagliaro is retired from the Connecticut Department of Public Safety, Division of Scientific Services, Forensic Science Laboratory, where she was acting director and worked in criminalistics and forensic biology for almost 30 years.  During that time, she was involved in most of the major criminal investigations in Connecticut and in cases of national prominence, such as the Penney Serra and Martha Moxley murders, the Michael Ross serial murders

She has qualified as an expert witness in the areas of forensic biochemistry, forensic DNA analysis, hair examination, and crime scene reconstruction in seven states and in federal courts.

A question and answer session will follow each presentation. Refreshments will also be served.

The final lecture in the series will be Tuesday, November 1. Dr Kathleen Moody, a board certified veterinarian and lifelong murder mystery aficionado, will discuss “Poisons to Die For.”

Reservations are requested and can be made online at CHBoothLibrary.org. Call the library, 203-426-4533, for additional information.