Lauren's Experience
After a decade in academia, I decided to alter direction and offer private forensic consulting. Now, I share my passion by helping others and aiding in solving crimes. My clients range from small rural police offices to Capital Defenders Offices and lawyers.
I have over 15 years' experience working in forensic science and gathering data related to forensic investigations. I am a Fellow within the American Academy of Forensic Sciences Anthropology Section, received the University of Tennessee Volunteer 40 Under 40 Award, and am passionate about forensic science. I received my BA in Anthropology from the University of Tennessee, MA in Anthropology from Louisiana State University (LSU), and PhD in Geography and Anthropology from LSU.
In 2020, I taught a course at the Mississippi Coroner and Law Enforcement Conference, which was approved by the Chief Medical Examiner for 8 continuing education hours. I developed a forensic curriculum titled, Forensic Anthropology, Unusual Death Scene Recovery, and Unique Scavenging Activity of Human Remains.
Why Pharr Forensic Consulting, LLC?
I am a vulture scavenging expert and spent a year conducting decomposition, taphonomy, and animal GPS tracking research at the Texas State Forensic Anthropology Research Facility. I also volunteered in the LSU Forensic Anthropology Computer Enhancement Services (FACES) Laboratory in Baton Rouge. I have over 4,000 hours of skeletal recovery experience and have provided expert opinions in two capital murder cases and have assisted in several other forensic anthropology cases. Case examples include the Route 29 Stalker in Virginia and the State of Louisiana v. Barthelemy, a death penalty case.
I have experience visiting crime scenes, collecting evidence, writing reports for detectives, processing soft tissues, recovering skeletal remains, and assessing the biological profile. Because of this experience and my time spent in forensic laboratories, I am familiar with the sensitive nature of the work required of forensic anthropologist as well as biosafety protocols. I was a visiting scientist within the Forensic Anthropology Unit of the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in New York City and attended autopsies and participated in the daily operations of the OCME.
I also have experience in mass disaster response. My training with the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology involved handling the postmortem recovery efforts of a mock plane crash.
Awards and Grants
- Volunteer 40 Under 40 Award, University of Tennessee
- TEDx Talk with over 1,000,000 views
- 12 media appearances
- Over $64,000 in graduate awards
- 24 conference presentations – 18 peer reviewed, 9 American Academy of Forensic Sciences presentations
- 30 scientific conferences attended
- 11 invited speaker presentations
- 26 continuing education events attended
- National Science Foundation (NSF) – Doctoral Dissertation Research (PD 98-1352) ($12,000)
- 2014 J. Lawrence Angel Award; award given by the Physical Anthropology Section of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS)
Publications
Pharr, L.R. 2009. A Taphonomic Model of Concealment: Decomposition and the Postmortem Interval (PMI) in a 55-Gallon Barrel. M.A. thesis, Louisiana State University.
Stamper, T., Pharr, L.R., Anderson, G., Gondor, C., Dedmon, A. and Kimsey, R. (2020) "First observation of burnt vertebrate carrion scavenging by black-billed magpie (Pica hudsonia Sabine): potential significance in forensic investigation highlight the need to evaluate all possible vertebrate scavengers at a site." Canadian Society of forensic Sciences, 53:3, 95-108.
Unpublished Dissertation
Pharr, L.R. 2015. Using GPS Tracking and Long-Term Decomposition Studies to Investigate Vulture Scavenging and Flight Patterns in Relation to a Forensic Anthropology Facility in Texas. Doctoral dissertation. Louisiana State University.
Honors
- 2015 LSU Dissertation of the Year Nominee
- 2014 J. Lawrence Angel Award; award given by the Physical Anthropology Section of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS)
- The Graduate Dean’s Distinguished Scholar Award, Louisiana State University
- Omicron Delta Kappa National Honor Society
- Sigma Xi
- Phi Sigma Theta National Honor Society
- Gamma Beta Pi National Honor Society
- The National Scholars Honor Society
- Gamma Theta Upsilon International Honor Society
- National Dean’s List 2003-2004
- Dean's List, 5 semesters at the University of Tennessee