Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s DistrictTarrant County Medical Examiner’s District

Dr Nizam Peerwani, Chief Medical ExaminerDr Nizam Peerwani, Chief Medical Examiner

Roger D Metcalf DDSRoger D Metcalf DDS

Human ID Lab Human ID Lab

200 Feliks Gwozdz Place200 Feliks Gwozdz Place

Fort Worth, Texas 76104-4919Fort Worth, Texas 76104-4919

817-920-5700 ext 160817-920-5700 ext 160

rmetcalf@tarrantcounty.comrmetcalf@tarrantcounty.com, , rmetcalf@leo.govrmetcalf@leo.gov

State v. Tracey State v. Tracey Ann FrameAnn Frame

As Seen on As Seen on Television!Television!

On 04/22/2002, autopsy performed On 04/22/2002, autopsy performed at T.C.M.E. on unidentified remainsat T.C.M.E. on unidentified remains

Remains were adult Caucasian male, Remains were adult Caucasian male, burned badlyburned badly

Decedent had been shot once Decedent had been shot once through heartthrough heart

Decedent had been wrapped in a Decedent had been wrapped in a blanket and tarp, then set afireblanket and tarp, then set afire

What they said on CBS’s What they said on CBS’s 48 Hours48 Hours::

““The medical examiner would determine The medical examiner would determine that the victim was a man in his 40s, that the victim was a man in his 40s, killed by a single gunshot wound to the killed by a single gunshot wound to the heart, but his identity was a mystery.heart, but his identity was a mystery.

““Dental records later confirmed the Dental records later confirmed the body’s identity as 40-year-old David body’s identity as 40-year-old David Nixon . . .”Nixon . . .”

48 Hours : Secrets & Lies on 48 Hours : Secrets & Lies on Grapevine LakeGrapevine Lake

What they What they didn’t didn’t say—say—

It took It took three weeksthree weeks of hard work of hard work by the T.C.M.E. Investigators to get by the T.C.M.E. Investigators to get the remains identified.the remains identified.

Rodney Crow, D.D.S., D.A.B.F.O., Rodney Crow, D.D.S., D.A.B.F.O., former Chief Forensic Odontologist, former Chief Forensic Odontologist, T.C.M.E., performed dental T.C.M.E., performed dental examination on remains and the first examination on remains and the first comparison with known dental comparison with known dental records (treating dentist was Dr. records (treating dentist was Dr. David Nix) concluding decedent was David Nix) concluding decedent was indeed David Nixon. indeed David Nixon.

Dr. Crow retired before Tracy Ann Dr. Crow retired before Tracy Ann Frame’s trial, however, and was not Frame’s trial, however, and was not available to testify.available to testify.

Mr. Sean Colston, Tarrant County Asst. Mr. Sean Colston, Tarrant County Asst. D.A., requested a new comparison of D.A., requested a new comparison of dental records.dental records.

N.C.I.C.N.C.I.C. has capability to store a missing has capability to store a missing person’s or an unidentified body’s dental person’s or an unidentified body’s dental profile.profile.

Unfortunately, up until a couple of years Unfortunately, up until a couple of years ago, there was a “bug” in the software, ago, there was a “bug” in the software, and dental profiles were not being and dental profiles were not being searched automatically.searched automatically.

There is no national “dental database” There is no national “dental database” that forensic odontologists can search—that forensic odontologists can search—the F.B.I. is currently studying the F.B.I. is currently studying implementation of a dental image implementation of a dental image repository.repository.

The hope is someday we will have a The hope is someday we will have a searchable dental database similar to searchable dental database similar to A.F.I.S.A.F.I.S.

The U.S. Army maintains a database—The U.S. Army maintains a database—OdontosearchOdontosearch—that helps odontologists —that helps odontologists determine the uniqueness of a particular determine the uniqueness of a particular arrangement of fillings a person may have.arrangement of fillings a person may have.

Central IdentificationCentral IdentificationLaboratory at JPACLaboratory at JPAC (formerly C.I.L.HI.)(formerly C.I.L.HI.)

http://www.jpac.pacom.mil/CIL/http://www.jpac.pacom.mil/CIL/OdontoUse.htmOdontoUse.htm

Bonus trivia question worth absolutely Bonus trivia question worth absolutely nothing whatsoever—can you guess what nothing whatsoever—can you guess what this object is in the radiograph?this object is in the radiograph?

Please drive carefully!Please drive carefully!