The Skeleton Crew (book)
| Company type | Book |
|---|---|
| Industry | Publishing |
| Founded | July 1, 2014 |
| Founder | Deborah Halber |
| Products | Non-fiction book |
| Parent | Simon & Schuster |
The Skeleton Crew: How Amateur Sleuths Are Solving America's Coldest Cases is a non-fiction work authored by Deborah Halber and released on 1 July 2014 through Simon & Schuster. This book investigates how everyday individuals utilize online tools to identify unidentified human remains, emphasizing the emergence of amateur investigators on the Internet.
Halber shares direct experiences with these online detectives and explores platforms such as the Doe Network. Additionally, the book discusses obstacles faced by the United States medicolegal system in handling unidentified remains and outlines the development of identification techniques alongside the expansion of forensic crowdsourcing via digital communities.
Synopsis
Topics covered include:
- A survey conducted by the Department of Justice regarding unidentified human remains across the country
- The historical context and societal function of potters fields
- The deployment of forensic reconstructions on publicly accessible websites
- The creation of Las Vegas Unidentified, recognized as the inaugural official public database for unidentified victims
- The identification process of Tent Girl, discovered in Kentucky in 1968
- Investigative efforts surrounding the Lady of the Dunes, found in Massachusetts in 1974
- Utilization of DNA technologies developed after 9/11 for identifying Jane and John Does
- Accounts of online investigators instrumental in resolving cold case identifications
- Perspectives within law enforcement about civilian participation
- Future potential for forensic crowdsourcing within investigative procedures
Inspiration
During an interview on NPR’s On the Media, Halber revealed that her fascination began in 2010 after encountering a Boston Globe photograph depicting a facial reconstruction of an unidentified woman murdered in Provincetown, Massachusetts, in 1974. Further inquiry uncovered thousands of unidentified bodies nationwide, frequently overlooked in morgues or potter’s fields, underscoring a widespread issue.
Reception
The Skeleton Crew garnered favorable reviews from critics. It was selected as one of the "best reads for July and August" 2014 by Discover. Both the Wall Street Journal and Boston Globe lauded Halber’s work, with the Wall Street Journal praising her exploration of the rising "armchair detectives" phenomenon. Maclean's commended her thorough and compelling depiction of early amateur web sleuthing activities.