as part of URI’s Forensic Science Partnership Thursday Seminar Series KINGSTON, R.I. — February 22, 2000 — A leading forensic scientist will discuss on Thursday, Feb. 24 a pioneering survey of all that is known about the use of poison as a weapon in murder. John H. Trestrail III, a registered pharmacist, will be the guest speaker at the University of Rhode Island Forensic Science Partnership Thursday Seminar Series in Room 124 of Pastore Hall, at 4 p.m. Trestrail, who uses as part of his e-mail address the word venomous, is the editor of the book Criminal Poisoning: An Investigation Guide for Law Enforcement, Toxicologists, Forensic Scientists, and Attorneys. Trestrail, a fellow of the American Academy of Clinical Toxicology and a diplomate of the American Board of Applied Toxicology, works at the Regional Poison Center, Spectrum Health, Grand Rapids, Michigan. Among the topics on which Trestrail will touch are the use of poisons in history and literature, convicting the poisoner in court, a review of different types of poisons, techniques for crime scene investigation, and the critical essentials of the forensic autopsy. Trestrail is also expected to address what is known about poisoners in general (psychological profile, types, and statistical analyses) and their victims (who gets poisoned, investigative considerations, and classic symptoms of poisoning). He will mention the problems of proving poisoning and convicting the poisoner in court. Trestrail graduated with honors, obtaining a B.S. degree in pharmacy, from Ferris State University, Big Rapids, Mich. From 1967-1968, he attended graduate school, majoring in natural product chemistry at the College of Pharmacy, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio. Mr. Trestrail’s public service experience was with the United States Peace Corps, from 1968-1970, where he taught chemistry at the University of the Philippines College of Agriculture, in the Republic of the Philippines. He is a visiting instructor at the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia. Since 1976, he has served as the managing director of one of the nation’s certified regional poison centers. Trestrail founded the Center for the Study of Criminal Poisoning, as well as the Toxicological History Society, and has been featured in several episodes of “The New Detectives,” on the Discovery Channel. -xxx- For Further Information: Dave Lavallee 401-874-2116