FROM REMAINS TO REUNION Dr. Krista Latham ’03 Trains the Next Generation of Forensic Anthropologists
If bones and human remains are discovered just about anywhere in Indiana, you can bet Dr. Krista Latham ’03 (MSc Human Biology), the only board- certified forensic anthropologist in the state, as well as the director of the Human Identification Center (HIC) will be there. And right alongside her are likely to be two or three of her UIndy students as integral parts of the team, learning in the most hands-on way possible. Latham and her students are often vital components of an investigative team to determine who someone was and how they died. This year they’re on track to volunteer their time and expertise to about 120 cases.
students,” said Latham. “So my main goal is to make sure that they’re successful. I chose to come back to UIndy rather than a larger university with a bigger program or more resources because I really want to focus on students above all.” The HIC has helped investigators in each of Indiana’s 92 counties since it began. Since Latham took over as HIC director in 2016, she’s traveled to 85 of them personally. In the last year or so, the HIC has made national and international headlines from the Fox Hollow Farm case and accused serial killer Herb Baumeister in Hamilton County. She also continues to
take an annual trip to the U.S.-Mexico border as part of a humanitarian and human rights initiative to locate and exhume the remains of undocumented migrants who died while crossing the border. Some of her students were standing right behind her (see inset photo at right) in September as Johnson County authorities announced that human remains found in Greenwood in 1993 had been identified as Michael Benjamin Davis, who had last spoken to his family in South Carolina in 1988. Latham says being part of a team—like
“Plenty of students only know what they’ve read in a forensic anthropology book. Actually being involved in casework makes them better scientists. A very important goal of mine is to make sure that I am properly training the next generation of
forensic scientists.” —Dr. Krista Latham ’03
The UIndy program is one of only four like it in the world. Each case requires roughly 50 hours of work, all offered free of charge in alignment with the University’s motto of “Education for Service.” Latham estimates the HIC has completed more than 92,500 service hours since it was established in 1991 by Dr. Stephen Nawrocki, professor of biology and anthropology. Latham earned her master’s degree from UIndy in 2003. It was that experience that uncovered her passion for teaching. She was hired as faculty in 2006 after finishing her doctorate elsewhere, drawn back to UIndy for its position as a teaching-oriented institution. “I believe I am only as good as the success of my
the one in Johnson County—which is able to provide some answers is meaningful. But she is clear to not confuse the meaningfulness of the work with the idea that identification brings complete closure to families and loved ones. But, for students who are often far removed from the living family members, seeing the impact of their work is a vital part of the process to experience. “Closure makes it sound like everyone’s okay, but oftentimes, one answer only leads to so many more questions and conversations,” said Latham. “It makes days like that extremely emotional, because we are, as scientists, involved in conversations that we’re usually separated from. I think it’s good especially for
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UNIVERSITY OF INDIANAPOLIS
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