The CUE Center for Missing Persons’ 15th Annual National Missing Persons Conference, “Turning Commitment into Action” will be held March 21-24, 2019 in historical Wilmington, North Carolina. Registration is open to the public. Click here: https://fs12.formsite.com/cuecenter/form4/index.html

A large part of the conference activities are presentations and classes led by experts in various fields addressing aspects of missing persons, unsolved homicide, criminal investigation, mental health and important issues.

“Through classes and presentations by those who are considered experts in their fields, attendees will gain a better understanding of the issues and possible solutions. We will provide a place where families can interact and know they are not alone on their journey,” said CUE Founder Monica Caison.

This year we are proud to announce the lineup of experts who will be attending the conference. Attendees will have ample time to network and interact with each of them during the course of the weekend.

Dr. Henry C. Lee

Dr. Henry C. Lee is one of the world’s foremost forensic scientists. Dr. Lee’s work has made him a landmark in modern-day criminal investigations. He has been a prominent player in many of the most challenging cases of the last 50 years. Dr. Lee has worked with law enforcement agencies in helping to solve more than 8000 cases. In recent years, his travels have taken him to England, Bosnia, Canada, China, Brunei, Bermuda, Germany, Singapore, Thailand, Middle East, South America and other locations around the world.

Dr. Lee’s testimony figured prominently in the O. J. Simpson, Jason Williams, Peterson, and Kennedy Smith Trials; and in convictions of the “Woodchipper” murderer as well as thousands of other murder cases. Dr. Lee has assisted local and state police in their investigations of other famous crimes, such as the murder of Jon Benet Ramsey in Boulder, Colorado, the 1993 suicide of White House Counsel Vincent Foster, the death of Chandra Levy, the kidnapping of Elizabeth Smart, and the reinvestigation of the Kennedy assassination. He was a consultant for more than 800 law enforcement agencies.

Dr. Lee is currently the director of Forensic Research and Training Center and Distinguished Professor in Forensic Science of the University of New Haven. He was the Chief Emeritus for the Connecticut State Police during 2000-2010 and was the Commissioner of Public Safety for the State of Connecticut during 1998 to 2000 and has served as the state’s Chief Criminalist from 1978 to 2000. Dr. Lee was the driving force in establishing a modern state police communication system, Community based police services sex offender and DNA databank, major crime investigation concepts and advanced forensic science services in Connecticut.

Judith A. Yates

Judith A. Yates is an award winning true crime author and criminologist who has appeared as a guest speaker and educator across the United States. She has appeared on Oxygen Network’s “Snapped” as an expert on the dynamics of  domestic violence, and Investigation Discovery’s “Evil Stepmothers” where the case in her book “She is Evil!” was featured.

She has spent over 15 years volunteering in assisting missing persons cases, to include being the sole journalist continually investigating one of Tennessee’s most baffling missing child cases, Tabitha Tuders.

Judith has appeared as a guest speaker, lecturer, and instructor for organizations across the United States for almost 30 years, to include Dallas Area Paralegal Association, PFLAG (Parents, Families, & Friends of Lesbians & Gays), Texas Association of Licensed Investigators, Tennessee Correction Association, Federal Bureau of Prisons, and many more.

Gregory Scarbro

Mr. Scarbro has been with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for thirty-six years, serving in a program management capacity for a majority of that time.  He currently serves as the Unit Chief for the FBI, Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Division, Biometric Services Section (BSS), Customer Support Unit.  He is responsible for all law enforcement and criminal justice community outreach associated with the various FBI BSS person-centric services. He formally served as the Unit Chief for the FBI, Uniform Crime Reporting Program and as Program Manager for the development of the FBI CJIS Division advisory policy process.

Dennis Gillan

Dennis Gillan is on a mission to reverse the current trends in completed suicides and to seriously reduce the stigma associated with getting help for one’s mental health.  Dennis has been deeply touched by suicide, and after years of sitting on the sidelines he jumped into helping those in need by working on the suicide prevention hotline when he lived in Chicago.  

After moving to South Carolina, Dennis got involved with several non-profits that take on mental health issues and this allows him to lobby lawmakers and raise awareness. Dennis’s real calling is telling his personal story of how he (sort of) recovered from his losses and what he has learned along the way.  

Carletha Kosky

Carletha Kosky has roots in America’s Heartland.  She grew up in Missouri but has traveled across the United States.  Kosky lived most of her adult life in Kansas, where she worked as an arts educator.    Her passion for the visual arts has led her to work with both children and adults using the arts as a mode of communication.  She discovered that those who had difficulty expressing themselves verbally could convey their thoughts and emotions through the creative process.

These experiences were powerful , and changed the way that she saw the world.  As an educator, Kosky found that she was actually a student. Those that she worked with taught her much about the human experience and left her with a sense of awe and wonder at how we communicate and touch each other’s lives.  As an educator, she continues to work with many walks of life, including those on the Autism Spectrum and those with Alzheimer’s and Dementia.

“My hope is that the stories I tell and the people you meet in those stories leave you feeling like you were a part of their world, even if it is just for a moment.   When I meet someone new in the pages of a book, I feel as if I am actually meeting another part of myself.”

Carletha Kosky is the Author of Men’s Feet Pie,  a coming of age story that takes place in a River Town in Missouri.  It chronicles a young woman’s musings on life during the 1970’s. This work of fiction tells the story of a family and their relationships and how a pie became an important part of the family’s story.

Kosky also penned Demented.  Demented tells the story of a Jordan, a troubled teenager dealing with trauma and loss.  She forms an unlikely relationship when she is hired to teach art lessons to a man with Alzheimer’s.    She is living in her world and he is living in his world. Together they create a place where they share their life stories, and Jordan begins to heal.   

Marissa Wright

Marissa has over 7 years of experience as an Independent Investigator for missing persons cold cases in CT and recently began her new role as a transformative healer and life mentor for those who have experienced significant trauma.   

Employed with the US Army Corps of Engineers since 2005, Marissa has served in a variety of roles including emergency response to areas impacted by natural disasters. As a civilian in the Army, as well as an Independent Investigator for missing person cold cases, she has gained unique and expansive experience in helping those who have experienced significant loss and trauma. Marissa has extensive expertise in building and leading teams, as well as mentoring on the individual level. She has completed over 700 hours of training as a healer and is currently working toward CISM (Critical Incident Stress Management) certification through icisf (International Critical Incident Stress Foundation, Inc.).   

Her additional experience includes interfacing with state, local, federal and volunteer organizations, serving as Vice Chair and Commissioner on the Wetlands Commission in the town of Thomaston for 6 years, a volunteer for the Northwest CT Conservation District for 4 years, owner of a small business, Liaison for the State of CT Emergency Operations Center, animal shelter volunteer, and over 14 years of part-time experience with the CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP). She enjoys the outdoors and helping to preserve the natural world, music, carpentry, landscaping, animals and wildlife, and being in the field.  

Her passion is transformational leadership, helping people find and regain their true strength.

Norma Peterson

On October 28, 2007 Norma Peterson’s sister-in-law, Stacy Peterson, went “missing” and the journey her family has experienced since that day has run the gamut. It has just been in the last few years that Norma has been able to talk about her family’s experiences. Dealing with the media and the press was an experience in itself, not to mention the general public’s attitude toward the family of the suspect, a scenario Norma would not wish on anyone. It is Norma’s hope that in discussing her experiences, she may be able to change the perception for the families of those convicted or suspected of heinous crimes such as her brother-in-law, Drew Peterson.

Norma has been doing volunteer work with the Roosevelt American Legion Post 84 for more than 10 years and recently re-established the Auxiliary after a 23 year hiatus. ​She has also been a member of the Aurora Fourth of July parade committee for the past five years and volunteers in parade activities.

Norma has been a proud member of the SHARE Fox Valley planning committee since its inception in 2009. Norma enjoys putting together the raffle baskets donated from local vendors and small businesses for the annual luncheon that benefits Mutual Ground, a local domestic violence shelter.

For the past several years Norma has worked passionately and tirelessly to bring awareness to the existence of the EAA (Evidentiary Abuse Affidavit) which is a viable tool for victims of domestic violence, law enforcement and the judicial system. Norma also assists victims create their own EAA and currently works with local law enforcement and state legislators to establish this in their protocol when working with victims of domestic violence.  She recently appeared on Crime Watch Daily which filmed her speech given at the 2016 SHARE luncheon.

Norma will appear in an upcoming special about Stacy Peterson on the OWN network. For her volunteerism, passion, strength and work on behalf of women, the SHARE Fox Valley committee unanimously selected Norma Peterson as the Woman of ​Power

Mac Morgan

Daniel “Mac” Morgan

After serving 14 years in the US Navy as an Electronic Technician & US Navy Instructor. Mac entered a career in Private Investigation by opening his own agency. In 1973 he went into full time Law Enforcement, where he continued his investigative schooling, in 1979 Mac became a certified K-9 handler and master trainer.in

1981 Mac was awarded General Intermediate NC Law Enforcement Officer. Mac was instrumental in implementation and was the master trainer for the first police department operated K-9 school for police patrol dogs in North Carolina. In 1986, he was awarded an Advanced Law Enforcement Certification by the State of North Carolina.

After retiring, Mac became involved in Search and Rescue in 1994 he formed Carolina Canine Search and Rescue (renamed Wake Canine Search and Rescue, Inc. in 1996), where he served as President and Director of Training. He has served as Vice-President and President of the North Carolina Search and Rescue Advisory Council. In 1999 he formed North Carolina Canine Emergency Response Team, Inc. as part of North Carolina Task Force One (NCTF-1) where he served as President until 2006. In 2015 North Carolina Canine Emergency Response Team, Inc changed its name to NC K9 Emergency Response Team, Inc. Mac still serves as President of the Board of Directors, Director of K9 Training and Chief of the NC K9 Emergency Response Team, Inc,

Mac has participated in over 350 searches with a number, of them being cold cases. In a number of these cases, he was the search manager. Mac and his K9s have worked with the FBI, NCIS, CID and Law Enforcement Agencies across NC and has been deployed across the southeastern united states.

Mac is a member of NASAR (National Association for Search and Rescue).

NASAR certified instructor and evaluator for: Canine Human Remains Detection (HRD) Land, Canine Human Remains Detection (HRD) Water, Fundamentals of Search and Rescue (FUNSAR), Introduction to Search and Rescue (ISAR)/SARTECH III, NASAR Certification Evaluator/Lead Evaluator Workshop, NASAR Course Instructor Workshop, SARTECH II Examination, SARTECH III Examination, Past Instructor for Managing Lost Person Incident

Mac conducts classes in Search & Rescue for people, K9s, Side Imaging Sonar, Side Scan Sonar (Tow-fish) Remote Control Sonar Boat and has instructed at numerous community colleges and various search and rescue seminars across the southeastern US.

Stephanie White – First Aid Lead Instructor – 

In 1987 my career began with the Leon County Sheriff’s Office and I started teaching part time at the Pat Thomas Law Enforcement Academy in 1994.  My real passion was teaching, and in 1999 I left LCSO and became a full time instructor/coordinator at the Pat Thomas Law Enforcement Academy.   In 2002 I became the Medical First Responder Program Coordinator at the Florida Public Safety Institute/Pat Thomas Law Enforcement Academy.

I’m a CJSTC FDLE Instructor certified in First Aid and Defensive Tactics.  I am also a CPR and First Aid Instructor/Instructor Trainer and a Training Center Director for the American Safety and Health Institute.  I have trained thousands of law enforcement, corrections and probation officers over the years in CPR and First Aid.

Monica Caison, Founder of CUE Center for Missing Persons

For complete details on all the conference events, registration, and how to become a volunteer, please call the CUE Center for Missing Persons at (910) 343-1131 or e-mail cuecenter@aol.com.

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN:

https://fs12.formsite.com/cuecenter/form4/index.html