Dr. Norris has worked in the
area of forensic botany with Dr. Jane H. Bock, PhD., since 1982, primarily
on developing the use of plant cells in the gastrointestinal tract to aid
in homicide investigations. Both Dr. Bock and Dr. Norris have consulted on
other botanical evidence for criminal investigations. Dr. Norris (as well
as Dr. Bock) has been certified as an expert witness in this area for the
State of Colorado. He also is a member of Necrosearch International, Ltd.,
a nonprofit association of Colorado law enforcement personnel and scientists
organized to provide expertise in the location and excavation of clandestine
graves in Colorado and throughout the world and to conduct scientific research
on grave sites.
Lane, M.A., Anderson, L.C., Barkley, T.M., Bock, J.H., Gifford, E.M., Hall, D.W., Norris, D.O., Rost, T.L. and Stern, W.L. l990. Forensic Botany: plants, perpetrators, pests, poisons and pot. Bioscience 40, 34-39.
Bock, J. H. and Norris, D.O. 1991. A new application of plant anatomy. In Strategies for Success in Anatomy and Physiology and Life Science, No. 6, pp 6-8. Benjamin/Cummings Publishing Co.
Bock, J.H. and D. O. Norris 1995. Forensic Botany: An underutilized resource. American Journal of Botany 82, 105.
Bock, J.H. and Norris, D.O. 1997. Forensic botany: an under-utilized resource. Journal of Forensic Science, 42, 364-367.
Norris, D.O. and Bock, J.H. 2000. Use of fecal material to associate a suspect with a crime scene: Report of two cases. Journal of Forensic Science, 45, 184-187.
Norris, D.O. and Bock, J.H. 2001. Method for examination
of fecal material from a crime scene using plant fragments. Journal
of Forensic Investigation 51, 367-377.
1991 Colorado Coronersí Association, Death Investigation Conference, "Plants can talk"
1993 Colorado Association of Property/Evidence Technicians, Estes Park, "Identifying plant food cells in gastric contents for use in forensic investigations."
1995 Foothills Kiwanis, "Explanation of use of plants in fixing time of death for homicide victims"
1995 Rogue Morgue Bookstore Series, "Forensic Botany: A New Method of Evidence in Murder"
1995 Westminster Library Series, "Forensic Botany"
1995 AT&T Bell Laboratories Violence Against Women and Children Series, "Forensic botany: Women and homicides"
1997 Denver Botanic Garden: "Forensic Botany
1998 Colorado Coronerís Association: 10th Annual Training Seminar
1998 Rogue Morgue Bookstore Series, "Forensic Botany:
1999 Regis College: "Forensic Botany: Uses of Plants in Criminology"
1999 Texas Tech University: "What you eat may
not kill you, but it may help us determine who did."
2000 A “Hands-on” Workshop on Forensic
Botany. 1/2-day presentation to the Southwestern Association of Forensic Scientists,,
Colorado Springs.
2000 Forensic Botany: How It Can Help. Presented to Boulder County Sherriff's
Department.
2001 What you eat may not kill you, but it may help us find out who did. Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia.
2001 Parsley, Sage, Rosemary & Thyme: Uses of Forensic Botany. ESR Forensic Laboratory & Auckland University, New Zealand.
2001 Necrosearch International and Forensic Botany. 2-hr presentation at New South Wales Police Academy, Sydney, Australia.
2001 An Introduction to Forensic Botany. Rocky Mountain Chapter, Mystery Writers of America.
2001 Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Time: Forensic Botany. EPO Biology Club, University of Colorado.
2002 Forensic Botany. In Multidisciplinary Symposium on the Uses of Forensic Science, American Academy of Forensic Sciences, Atlanta GA.
2002 Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Time: Forensic Botany, Colorado State University.
2002 Forensic Botany Techniques. Association
for Crime Scene Reconstruction, Denver CO
.