Nearly 90 police detectives, some from as far away as Arizona, have converged on Fayetteville this week to learn from the author of a book billed as the bible of homicide investigation.

Vernon Geberth, a retired lieutenant commander from the New York City Police Department, brushes off the appellation for his book, "Practical Homicide Investigation."

"I don't call it 'The Bible,' " he said. "I'm not arrogant enough to do that."

Geberth refers to it as a textbook. One that has grown to more than 1,000 pages as he has revised and expanded on it since the first edition was published in the 1980s.

"He teaches 'outside the box' techniques for investigating homicides," said Amber House, a community relations specialist for the Fayetteville Police Department.

The department sponsored the visit, one that the officers paid $500 each to attend. Geberth said he was grateful and honored to be invited.

House said some agencies require their homicide detectives to attend Geberth's seminars.

Today is the last day of Geberth's three-day seminar, at the Holiday Inn Bordeaux in Fayetteville. Topics covered include investigative techniques; a growing trend in sex-related murders; and how detectives can use detailed criminal case histories to work through a case.

The Internet, Geberth said, is fostering sex-related crimes.

"Since the beginning of time we've had people who are 'different,' " he said. But now they access images and pornography online and it feeds their desires to commit sexually related homicides, he said.

"It's like a brain cocktail. It's pleasing (to them)."

"... And if you're the type of person who is a psychopath or a sexual offender, this will give you information as to how to construct your assault," he added.

Geberth conducts his seminars and works as a consultant for law enforcement. He says he will never work for a defense lawyer.

He said he has followed one Fayetteville-area homicide case since the 1980s: The Eastburn murders. Timothy B. Hennis was acquitted of the crime in 1989 in civilian court and then convicted of this year at an Army court-martial.

The case, in which an Air Force wife and two of her children were stabbed to death, was re-opened in 2006 after a DNA test brought the focus back onto Hennis.

"When the acquittal came down and they told me, I said, 'Oh my God, that's wrong. That is so wrong,' " he said. He was glad to see the conviction this year and had Robert Bittle, one of the original detectives, present the case on Tuesday.

Nearly 90 police detectives, some from as far away as Arizona, have converged on Fayetteville this week to learn from the author of a book billed as the bible of homicide investigation.

Vernon Geberth, a retired lieutenant commander from the New York City Police Department, brushes off the appellation for his book, "Practical Homicide Investigation."

"I don't call it 'The Bible,' " he said. "I'm not arrogant enough to do that."

Geberth refers to it as a textbook. One that has grown to more than 1,000 pages as he has revised and expanded on it since the first edition was published in the 1980s.

"He teaches 'outside the box' techniques for investigating homicides," said Amber House, a community relations specialist for the Fayetteville Police Department.

The department sponsored the visit, one that the officers paid $500 each to attend. Geberth said he was grateful and honored to be invited.

House said some agencies require their homicide detectives to attend Geberth's seminars.

Today is the last day of Geberth's three-day seminar, at the Holiday Inn Bordeaux in Fayetteville. Topics covered include investigative techniques; a growing trend in sex-related murders; and how detectives can use detailed criminal case histories to work through a case.

The Internet, Geberth said, is fostering sex-related crimes.

"Since the beginning of time we've had people who are 'different,' " he said. But now they access images and pornography online and it feeds their desires to commit sexually related homicides, he said.

"It's like a brain cocktail. It's pleasing (to them)."

"... And if you're the type of person who is a psychopath or a sexual offender, this will give you information as to how to construct your assault," he added.

Geberth conducts his seminars and works as a consultant for law enforcement. He says he will never work for a defense lawyer.

He said he has followed one Fayetteville-area homicide case since the 1980s: The Eastburn murders. Timothy B. Hennis was acquitted of the crime in 1989 in civilian court and then convicted of this year at an Army court-martial.

The case, in which an Air Force wife and two of her children were stabbed to death, was re-opened in 2006 after a DNA test brought the focus back onto Hennis.

"When the acquittal came down and they told me, I said, 'Oh my God, that's wrong. That is so wrong,' " he said. He was glad to see the conviction this year and had Robert Bittle, one of the original detectives, present the case on Tuesday.

No cost. Teach English and experience life in Cambodia with us murder case involving Tim Hennis was debated on ABC’s 20/20 Friday night. Tim Hennis is the main suspect for the murder case of Kathryn Eastburn and two of her daughters.
Jana, the 3rd Kathryn’s daughter, was the only survivor of the family drama. Tim Hennis, ex-soldier, denied his involvement in the murders, despite being found guilty in his first process. He appealed the decision and his second trial let him go away with it by declaring him not guilty.
He then quitted his job and settled in Washington. After 25 years, new evidence imply that he really was the criminal. Jana, the only survivor of the masacre, spoke on the ABC’s 20/20 about the impact the murders had on her life. She was less than 2 years old when the tragedy took place.
She is absolutely sure Tim Hennis is the one responsible for her tragedy. Jana accuse Hennis for letting her grow without the protection of her mother and the images of her sisters. “Just seeing him cry hard enough, then just had to hear all the stuff that has to say because it’s all stuff that we really don’t talk about. It was the first time I’ve really heard a lot of those things come out of his mouth,” Jana said. Tim Hennis was called to court again after new evindeces that prove he was involved were discovered.

No cost. Teach English and experience life in Cambodia with us murder case involving Tim Hennis was debated on ABC’s 20/20 Friday night. Tim Hennis is the main suspect for the murder case of Kathryn Eastburn and two of her daughters.
Jana, the 3rd Kathryn’s daughter, was the only survivor of the family drama. Tim Hennis, ex-soldier, denied his involvement in the murders, despite being found guilty in his first process. He appealed the decision and his second trial let him go away with it by declaring him not guilty.
He then quitted his job and settled in Washington. After 25 years, new evidence imply that he really was the criminal. Jana, the only survivor of the masacre, spoke on the ABC’s 20/20 about the impact the murders had on her life. She was less than 2 years old when the tragedy took place.
She is absolutely sure Tim Hennis is the one responsible for her tragedy. Jana accuse Hennis for letting her grow without the protection of her mother and the images of her sisters. “Just seeing him cry hard enough, then just had to hear all the stuff that has to say because it’s all stuff that we really don’t talk about. It was the first time I’ve really heard a lot of those things come out of his mouth,” Jana said. Tim Hennis was called to court again after new evindeces that prove he was involved were discovered.