Lesnevich & Detwiler Forensic Document Examiners

10/11/2024

Week of Wins: Celebrating Two Great Court Decisions as an Expert Witness

This week has been nothing short of extraordinary! After months of detailed preparation and in-depth analysis, I’m excited to share that I’ve been involved in two significant Will Contest cases—both of which concluded with excellent outcomes.

The first decision, which came earlier in the week, was from a PA Superior Court ruling. This case had been in progress for quite some time, and while I felt confident about the potential outcome, seeing the final judgment in our favor was incredibly rewarding. As an expert witness, you spend countless hours examining evidence and analyzing details to ensure your testimony is not only thorough and accurate but also understandable to the court/jury. The validation that comes with a favorable ruling reinforces the importance of meticulous preparation and clarity in presenting expert evidence.

Just when I thought the week couldn’t get better, I received another decision yesterday, this time from a separate Will Contest case in Delaware in which I testified earlier this year. This case was particularly significant to me due to the level of complexity involved and the critical role my testimony played in clarifying the key issue. Waiting for the court’s decision is always a bit tense, but the sense of satisfaction that comes when justice is served is truly unmatched.

These successes are more than just professional milestones—they highlight the crucial role expert witnesses play in guiding the court toward fair and accurate decisions, especially in cases as sensitive as Will Contests. Each case presents its own unique challenges, but the objective remains the same: to provide clear, objective, and reliable expert analysis that helps secure the best possible outcome for all involved.

See Decisions Here:

https://courts.delaware.gov/Opinions/Download.aspx?id=370520

https://www.pacourts.us/assets/opinions/Superior/out/J-A16004-24o%20-%20106073009281180540.pdf?cb=1

06/30/2023

Could not have asked for a better outcome in this case!

05/24/2023

https://www.attorneygeneral.gov/taking-action/jury-convicts-union-county-woman-of-stealing-from-husband-for-years-then-murdering-him-by-poisoning-his-coffee/

Truly a sad case...but I am pleased of the outcome after two long years of work!

HARRISBURG—Attorney General Michelle Henry today announced that Myrle Miller of Union County, was found guilty of first-degree murder for poisoning her husband, John Nichols, in 2018.

09/01/2022

"Khody Detwiler, a forensic document examiner, compared Brian Giles’ handwriting to a letter he reportedly wrote to the clerk of courts."

A Johnstown man was ordered on Wednesday to stand trial, accused of murdering his wife – whose body was found months later in a shallow grave along a hiking trail.

08/14/2022

Here is an opinion that was handed down by the court in an interesting Will contest matter that I was recently called to testify in.

"Moreover, the expert witness Khody Detwiler gave credible, clear, and convincing testimony as to the inauthentic nature of the signature, and explained in significant detail what methods and factors were used and considered in reaching his conclusion...Accordingly, this court need not address whether the subject document has sufficient testamentary disposition, as a forgery cannot be upheld as a valid will." (see page 6)

08/12/2022

According to a report that published in February of 2020 by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) titled, Forensic Handwriting Examination and Human Factors: Improving the Practice Through a Systems Approach, visual aids can increase understating and retention levels of oral testimony by up to 65%. Effective demonstrative exhibits that assist the trier of fact in a clear, convincing, and unbiased manner can be the capstone to great expert testimony. Here is a brief example of a demonstrative exhibit that our firm would typically prepare in a case involving the authenticity of a signature.

01/06/2022

"The authors of the Report are highly-qualified and vastly experienced forensic examiners…One of the authors, Mr Detwiler gave evidence at the hearing during which he illustrated the analysis with slides…Based on the expert evidence alone, I am left in no reasonable doubt that the Letter is a forgery."

(See Paragraphs 30-36 for more details)

12/14/2021

12/14/2021

"In order to find out if there was a basis for the claims of forgery or alteration, the Library employed a noted forensic document expert, Khody Detwiler. He examined ten diaries that refer to morphine injections and payments to physicians. He also examined photostated pages, as well as pages that show signs of erasure and overwriting. He performed this work March 8–12, 2021, at The Mary Baker Eddy Library in Boston. He submitted his report in May 2021."

Read about efforts to confirm the authenticity of controversial documents in our collection.

12/14/2021

“LEWISBURG — A daylong preliminary hearing for Myrle E. Miller, accused of killing her 77-year-old husband in 2018, ended Monday with a continuance when a prosecution witness was unavailable to testify… Detwiler, a forensic document specialist, testified that Nichols’ signatures on checks and documents related to two loans against his life insurance policies were fraudulent.”

LEWISBURG — A daylong preliminary hearing for Myrle E. Miller, accused of killing her 77-year-old husband in 2018, ended Monday with a continuance when a prosecution witness was unavailable to