2021 MurderCon Guest of Honor
Andrew Grant was born in Birmingham, England in May 1968. He went to school in St Albans and later attended the University of Sheffield where he studied English Literature and Drama. After graduation Andrew set up and ran a small independent theatre company which showcased a range of original material to local, regional and national audiences. Following a critically successful but financially challenging appearance at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival Andrew moved into the telecommunications industry as a ‘temporary’ solution to a short-term cash crisis. Fifteen years later, after carrying out a variety of roles – including a number which were covered by the UK Official Secrets Act – Andrew escaped from corporate life, and established himself as a critically-acclaimed author. He published nine novels under his own name, and in 2020 began a collaboration – writing as Andrew Child – with his brother Lee, to continue the internationally-bestselling Jack Reacher series. He is married to novelist Tasha Alexander, and lives on a wildlife preserve in Wyoming, USA.
David Alford
FBI Evidence Response Team Founding Member and Special Agent, retired
David Alford is a retired FBI Special Agent with 21 years of experience investigating violent crimes, terrorism and other cases.
Dr. Bryan W. Brendley
Dr. Bryan W. Brendley is an expert in the areas of cell biology, botany, & forensic anthropology, the impact of insects on decomposing bodies.
Jim Gocke
Sirchie Vice President/General Counsel and Director of Education and Training, retired
Jim Gocke is a graduate of West Virginia University and West Virginia College of Law. In addition, he completed a Fellowship in Forensic Medicine at the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology and earned a Master of Science in Forensic Sciences from The George Washington University.
Heather Hanna
Forensic Geologist
Heather Hanna is a forensic geologist specializing in the analysis of rock fragments and mineral grains in soils as trace evidence.
Jeff Locklear
Homicide Police Specialist and Training Officer
Detective Sergeant Jeff Locklear, a 21-year veteran law enforcement officer, currently works with the Fayetteville North Carolina Police Department as a homicide police specialist and training officer.
Andy Parker
Latent Print Examiner
Andy Parker is a certified Latent Print Examiner with the IAI. Andy is also a graduate of the FBI’s National Academy.
David Pauly
Director, Applied Forensic Science Program, Methodist University, Fayetteville, NC
David Pauly retired from The U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command as a Special Agent-in-Charge/Commander and Forensic Science Officer.
Stephen Pearson
Founder of High Tech Crime Institute
Stephen Pearson combines more than 29 years of law-enforcement experience with in-depth expertise in today’s most pervasive Internet, computer, and digital device technologies.
James Yowell
Sergeant, Instructor Fayetteville, NC PD
Sergeant James Yowell is a twenty year veteran of the Fayetteville, North Carolina, Police Department.
