Melissa Fernandez is an instructor for Forza Forensics teaching courses in bloodstain pattern analysis and crime scene investigation. She is a retired Captain for the Union County Sheriff’s Office in New Jersey and spent 18 years assigned to Crime Scene Unit. While at UCSO, Melissa investigated over 300 homicides and 1000+ crime scenes. Retired Captain Fernandez is a recipient of the William Bass Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Field of Forensic Investigation. After retirement from law enforcement, Melissa has continued to instruct forensic professionals and law enforcement officers in various forensics fields, primarily Bloodstain Pattern Analysis. She also consults on cold cases and OIS cases and has testified as an expert witness from New Jersey to California in both crime scene reconstruction and bloodstain pattern analysis.

Certifications

• Certified Crime Scene Analyst, International Association for Identification

• Certified Blood Stain Pattern Analyst, International Association for Identification

• Certified Bloodstain Pattern Analyst, Bevel, Gardner & Associates

Education  

• National Forensic Academy, University of Tennessee

Affiliations

• Association for Crime Scene Reconstruction, President

• International Association for Identification

• International Association for Bloodstain Pattern Analysts

• Arizona Identification Council

Recent Presentations

• BPA – Applying its Methodology to Your Scene, CSDIAI Conference, April 2019

• BPA – Stain Recognition, Arizona Identification Council Seminar, October, 2017