Renowned forensic pathologist Katherine Maloney, Deputy Chief of the Erie County Medical Examiner’s Office in Buffalo, New York, led a workshop for forensic pathologists from the Chilean Legal Medical Service (SML).
In an effort to strengthen the capacity to investigate child homicides in Chile, renowned forensic pathologist Katherine Maloney, Deputy Chief of the Erie County Medical Examiner’s Office in Buffalo, New York, led a workshop for forensic pathologists from the Chilean Legal Medical Service (SML). This event allowed Chilean professionals to gain cutting-edge knowledge in pediatric forensic medicine, a key discipline for resolving complex cases involving the deaths of children and adolescents.
During the workshop, Maloney shared her extensive experience in child homicide investigations through a detailed analysis of an actual pediatric autopsy case. The forensic expert emphasized best practices and how to address the specific challenges these cases can present.
The session fostered an exchange of experiences between the expert and the SML pathologists, who underscored the importance of international collaboration in developing better protocols for investigating child deaths in Chile.
For Katherine Maloney, “it was very productive to discuss with my Chilean colleagues the best practices for conducting autopsies on children when homicide is suspected. I believe a good way to improve their work is by integrating autopsy findings with clinical information, site evidence, and other sources, which helps clarify the causes and mechanisms of death.”
Marisol Prado, Director of the Legal Medical Service, remarked, “It is very valuable for us to learn from specialists in other countries on such an important issue. It’s refreshing to hear these reflections from the experts, which align with the work our teams have also been doing. We believe it is crucial to work together to put our children and adolescents at the center. While statistics can be important indicators, for us at the SML, even a single child or adolescent who dies from homicide is a tragedy, and we are committed to addressing this issue with all our efforts.”
Maloney’s visit to Chile is part of her participation in a seminar titled “Challenges in Investigating Child Homicides”, organized by Fundación Amparo y Justicia. The event, scheduled for Wednesday, October 9, at the Pontificia Universidad Católica, will bring together international experts who will present to over 500 justice system operators in Chile, representing institutions such as the Police Investigations (PDI), Carabineros, Ministry of Health, Legal Medical Service, National Prosecutor’s Office, and the Ombudsman for Children, among others.
Within the context of this seminar, Nicolás Pietrasanta, Head of Studies and Public Policies at Fundación Amparo y Justicia, explained that “investigating child homicides presents unique challenges that require a meticulous and specialized approach, especially when it comes to forensic examination. That’s why the visit of international experts in child autopsy, like Katherine Maloney, is so important—to share experiences and best practices.” Pietrasanta also emphasized that international experience has shown that detecting and analyzing these cases is considerably more complex than with adult homicides.
Katherine Maloney, widely recognized for her work in pediatric forensic pathology, is a faculty member at the University of Buffalo’s School of Medicine and the National Criminal Justice Training Center. She is also part of the Child Fatality Review Team, which reviews child deaths to improve investigations and prevent future cases.
