David Durkop, DFPS Special Investigator

"I had the pleasure of attending “Pediatric Strangulation MDT Training” presented by Kelsey McKay, JD, on January 11, 2018 in Houston, Texas. I originally signed up to take the training for my TCOLE hours with the benefit of learning something new related to my job as a Special Investigator for DFPS. The class exceeded my expectations.

Investigating the injury or death of children is very challenging. It is a balance of making sure that the injury or death is investigated objectively so the evidence can be ruled on as natural, accidental or homicidal death. Investigating an unknown injury or death of a child is a balancing act of thoroughly investigating the injury or death while taking into consideration the parent’s worst nightmare. Collecting and objectively evaluating the evidence is crucial in any investigation but it is especially important in a child’s injury or death.

Ms. McKay brought to light many signs and symptoms of strangulation that, in all probability, have been overlooked in many investigations. Expecting to find overt external signs of strangulation and its apparent sequelae from what SHOULD be obvious strangulation injury is misleading. Strangulation and its effects are much more subtle, many times like finding the proverbial needle in the haystack. In medicine it is described as, “When you hear running hooves, you look for horses and not zebras.” Strangulation is the “Zebra” when you are looking for the horses. Ms. McKay’s training explains in plain terms how to see the “Zebras.”