Fantasy camp lets people be crime scene investigators
By STACY MILLBERGStaff 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.
On the first day of the two and a half day camp, investigators participate in six hours of lectures led by professors of criminal justice and crime scene specialists. Participants will learn how to perform an investigation legally and properly and how to correctly interview witnesses and interrogate suspects, he said.
"They will have to ask the right question to get the answer," he said. "The answer they receive is a function of the question."
After doing some research Bailey realized there is a tremendous interest in crime scene investigation. For a single week in July, more than 78 million people watched some form of forensic or detective based programming. Bailey said there also is a dramatic increase in college enrollment for forensic training.
The cost for the fantasy weekend is $3,000. The price includes, lodging, food, crime scene, crime scene equipment, notebooks, clothing, a badge, identification, business cards, case file notes, photographs, lab results and an evaluation portfolio, he said.
"Everyone will be able to take photos and do a crime scene sketch," he said. "They will come away with a lot of stuff to help them remember their chance to be a Hellscenes investigator."
The first Hellscenes weekend will take place Oct. 20 through 22. Each Hellscenes weekend will consist of a different mock crime scene. Bailey has contracted lodging with the Lodge and Conference Center at Geneva State Park so all participants will be at the same hotel.
"There are fantasy camps out there for people to live their dreams," he said. "That's what this is."
Bailey has plans to expand the business to North Carolina, California and Nevada. Eventually celebrities also will be brought in to be a part of the Hellscene, he said.
Participants must be willing to have a background check and must be at least 21 years old. Any background checks that show felony charges and even some misdemeanor charges will be disqualified.
Bailey said Hellscenes is "as real as it gets without calling the coroner."
For more information or to make reservations visit www.hellscenes.com.
Star Beacon Print Edition: 9/16/2006
