Go inside the mind of serial firestarters at arson investigator Ed
Nordskog's LAVA crime lab workshop
WHAT: Cal State Los Angeles Professor Donald Johnson, in association with
LAVA The Los Angeles Visionaries Association and Esotouric, present a new
lecture / demo in the ongoing crime lab series, "Inside the Mind of the
Arsonist" hosted by Ed Nordskog, co-lead investigator in the recent
Hollywood arson spree
WHEN: Sunday, March 4, 12:00pm-4:00pm
WHERE: The Hertzberg-Davis Forensic Science Center (Cal State L.A.), 1800
Paseo Rancho Castilla, Los Angeles, CA 90032
COST: $36.50 per person, includes refreshments
ED NORDSKOG'S BOOK: Copies of "TORCHERED" MINDS will be available for
purchase at the event, $20 cash only. More info at
http://www.torcheredminds.com
RESTRICTIONS: Due to the graphic nature of the presentation, children may
not attend.
PHOTOS: To see images from a previous crime lab workshop, visit
http://lavatransforms.org/crimelabpics
INFO/RESERVATIONS http://lavatransforms.org/crimelabmarch4 , or call
323-223-2767
The City of Angels spent the New Years holiday in a state of
fear, as a serial arsonist roamed the darkened streets, igniting dozens of
cars, carports and nearby buildings. To the relief of millions, a suspect
was arrested on Sunday night, there were no fatalities, and the spree seems
to have ended. What makes someone set fire to cars and buildings? What
twisted line of thinking drives an otherwise nondescript citizen to endanger
the lives of strangers? While he won't be speaking about this open case, on
March 4 you can join Ed Nordskog, co-lead investigator on the Hollywood
arson spree, for a fascinating afternoon of exploring "Inside the Mind of
the Arsonist," an in-depth presentation drawing on his own casework and
notorious, high profile cases.
Turn on the TV today and odds are good you'll see white lab coats, DNA swabs
and magnified fingerprints on computer screens. CSI is hot stuff, in
fictional series ("NCIS: Los Angeles," "Bones," "Dexter," "CSI") and
documentary programming. But it's not often that the general public gets a
chance to tour a real crime lab with the forensic investigators and
educators who use its tools to solve crimes and develop new research
strategies.
Leave it to LAVA (The Los Angeles Visionaries Association), the creative
consortium helmed by Richard Schave and Kim Cooper, the married couple whose
Esotouric bus adventures have transformed the guided tour experience, to
make a real-life CSI experience accessible to interested laypersons. Working
closely with one of LAVA's most intriguing Visionary members, Professor
Donald Johnson, they've developed a series of events highlighting the work
conducted at Cal State L.A.'s state-of-the-art Hertzberg-Davis Forensic
Science Center, presented through tours and short lectures from the
scientist/educators and graduate students who work there.
LAVA's inaugural lecture and tour in the CSULA crime lab in October 2010 was
fully reserved in three hours, with hundreds of people signing up to be on
the waiting list. The repeat engagement in November also sold out quickly,
as did the Phil Spector trace evidence presentation in April 2011, the July
2011 event focusing on Patrick Tillman's death in Afghanistan and the
November 2011 program on using national databases to solve local crimes. We
expect the March 4 debut of Ed Nordskog's "Inside the Mind of the Arsonist"
to sell out, as well.
Space is very limited and pre-reservation recommended for this unprecedented
opportunity to tour the crime lab, learn from experienced forensic
investigators and educators, and discover the real art and science of crime
scene investigation. A portion of the proceeds from this event supports the
research of Criminalistics graduate students at Cal State Los Angeles.
"Inside the Mind of the Arsonist" is an exploration of the scientific
investigation of fire-related felony offenses, revealed through methods of
evidence analysis, profiling and select case histories. Attendees will also
have an opportunity to tour Cal State LA's state-of the-art teaching and
research facilities in the Criminalistics Department of the Hertzberg-Davis
Forensic Science Center.
"Inside the Mind of the Arsonist" is hosted by Ed Nordskog, an active
arson/bomb detective with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and
author of the new book "'Torchered' Minds: Case Histories of Notorious
Serial Arsonists." Copies of Mr. Nordskog's book will be available for sale
at this event.
The presentation consists of two lectures from Ed Nordskog, with a related
breakout scientific workshop offering illustration of the concepts raised by
the lectures.
LECTURE #1 is an introduction to the six main motive behind the crime of
arson spite/revenge, financial gain, crime concealment,
excitement/recognition (hero fires), extremism, juvenile fires
(curiosity/experimentation/vandalism)‹and to Ed Nordskog's investigative
specialty, a modification of the standard arson investigation in which he
"profiles" the arson scene in order to determine a "motive" for the crime.
He does this by determining the actual "target" of the arson attack and the
method of ignition for the event. This usually indicates a motive and the
level of sophistication of the offender. Because arson is a very personal
crime in which the victim nearly always knows who set the fire, it is
relatively easy to identify a suspect‹although proving they were involved is
not so easy.
LECTURE #2 focuses on select cases studies of convicted serial arsonists,
including nationally known crimes and cases on which Ed Nordskog worked
personally. Included will be discussion of Glendale arson investigator /
arsonist John Orr and the prolific Washington D.C. arsonist Thomas Sweatt.
Following this second lecture, attendees will have the opportunity to
purchase copies of Ed Nordskog's book "'Torchered' Minds: Case Histories of
Notorious Serial Arsonists."
By the afternoon's conclusion, attendees will have a deeper understanding of
the real work that's done in the field by arson investigators, and the tools
and techniques used to interpret crime scenes for the benefit of
investigating officers and juries.
ABOUT ED NORDSKOG: Ed Nordskog is an active arson/bomb detective with the
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. He has been a detective since 1990,
working specifically in the arson and explosives world since 1997. He has
conducted over sixteen hundred fire investigations and as of this writing
has personally arrested and interviewed over 250 persons who were convicted
of fire setting and related crimes. He has testified in court as a
recognized expert in this field on over fifty-five occasions. He has been
consulted by prosecuting attorneys on death penalty cases involving arson
and murder on three occasions. He has been personally involved in over
twenty serial arson investigations. The author has a master's degree in
emergency services management and is certified as a fire investigator by the
California State Fire Marshal and the California Conference of Arson
Investigators. He is a graduate of the National Fire Academy Arson
Investigation Course, the ATF Advanced Arson Investigation Course, the
Forensic Fire Death Investigation Course, and numerous other arson
investigation courses. He is involved in course development and teaches fire
scene investigation, major arson case investigation, serial arson
investigation, and arson murder/fire death investigation. He is a course
developer and instructor for the state of California's Arson and Explosives
Investigation Course. He is an instructor for the state of California's
Homicide Investigator's Course. In 2004, the author was named Arson
Investigator of the Year by the International Association of Arson
Investigators and Law Enforcement Officer of the Year by the International
Association of Special Investigations Units; both of these awards are for
his work as the lead investigator on a massive arson for hire scheme,
involving fifty-five burned properties. He has received over eighty-five
commendations, awards, and medals throughout his law enforcement career
related to successful criminal investigations. He is author of the book
"'Torchered' Minds: Case Histories of Notorious Serial Arsonists"
(http://www.torcheredminds.com ).
ABOUT LAVA: Through participation in LAVA, a select group of creative
professionals come together to promote cultural programming that speaks to
the urban experience while promoting positive public space. LAVA's creative
partners share a love for L.A. and unique ideas for exploring it in their
work. Formed by social historians RICHARD SCHAVE and KIM COOPER --
proprietors of Esotouric bus adventures and the 1947project time travel blog
series (including On Bunker Hill and In SRO Land) -- LAVA brings together
L.A.'s most visionary promoters, artists, writers and thinkers.
Applications from prospective LAVA members are being taken at
http://lavatransforms.org/apply
To learn more about LAVA, please visit http://www.lavatransforms.org
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