Anna M. Cox, MFS — Instructor Profile

About Anna M. Cox, MFS

Anna M. Cox, MFS of Cox Forensic Consulting and Training, LLC has worked in the field of forensics for twenty-four (24) years. She began her career as a volunteer autopsy technician for the Hillsborough County Medical Examiner’s Office in January of 2000. In July of 2000, Anna was hired by the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office Forensic Science Section as a Forensic Science Specialist. She began her bloodstain pattern training in June 2001. Prior to leaving the sheriff’s office in June 2013 to start Cox Forensic Consulting and Training, Anna was the primary bloodstain pattern analyst at the sheriff’s office and was often requested by other agencies in the State of Florida to perform bloodstain pattern documentation and analysis under mutual aid. Anna also specializes in chemical enhancement of blood.

Anna has provided bloodstain pattern analysis and conclusions in 247 violent crime and homicide cases in five (5) states and in federal and military jurisdictions. She still responds to active crime scenes to assist agencies throughout the state of Florida with their investigations. She has testified 69 times in hearings and trials as a Bloodstain Pattern Analysis expert in most of the jurisdictions. She is a member of the International Association of Identification and a grant peer reviewer for the United States Department of Justice.

Anna earned a Bachelor of Science Degree from Juniata College in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania where her coursework included Calculus and Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and their laboratory components. She has a Certificate in Crime Scene Technology from St. Petersburg Junior College, a Graduate Certificate in Forensic Death Investigation from University of Florida, and a Master of Forensic Sciences with Specialization in Investigation from National University in San Diego, California. Some of Anna’s advanced graduate coursework included Forensic Analysis of DNA, Forensic Anthropology, Forensic Medicine I and II, Law and Criminal Procedures, Forensic Photography and Fingerprint Analysis. Her thesis was titled “Differentiating Impact Spatter from Transfer Stains on Textiles: Does the Introduction of Stain Resistant Moisture Wicking Fabric in Men’s Athletic Shirts Prohibit Correct Identification?” The yearlong thesis project required strict adherence to the Scientific Method.

Anna has instructed coursework in basic and advanced bloodstain pattern analysis, proper homicide processing techniques, and chemical enhancement of latent and blood patterns for law enforcement agencies, universities, attorney offices, and professional associations. She was also an adjunct instructor for the St. Petersburg Junior College Crime Scene Technology Program.