look.
When Dr. Smock’s evaluation was complete, based on location and
characteristics of the injuries, it was clear to him that the woman’s
wounds were self-inflicted.
“As soon as I saw the tell-tale characteristics, I called the detective. I testified before Judge Gina Calvert, and later that day they
brought the man out of jail,” said Dr. Smock. “The judge told the
wrongfully convicted boyfriend, ‘What you were saying, that you
didn’t do it, is absolutely true.’ And he broke down right there in
the court room. It was very emotional.”
“The science of living forensics helps medical professionals reconstruct injuries to better understand the nature of how they were
inflicted. This knowledge protects the innocent from a miscarriage
of justice. That’s what this is all about,” said Dr. Smock, who credits
Detective Johnson for considering the forensic consultation at all.
“He’s an outstanding domestic violence detective.”
“We highly value Dr. Smock’s opinion,” said Johnson, equally
appreciative. “He’s pretty much the resident expert in deciphering
injuries and helping to confirm or deny statements. It’s comforting to
have an expert such as him to fall back on when you have questions.”
With the help of Dr. Nichols and Dan Danzl, MD, chairman of
Emergency Medicine at the University of Louisville, Dr. Smock
worked to create the first fellowship in clinical forensic medicine
within the United States in 1993-1994.
When asked how many people participated in the first fellowship,
Dr. Smock laughs and holds up a finger. “One. Just me.” In the 20
years since, just three others completed the fellowship. The fellowship
was the logical extension of a 1990 consultation service created by
Smock and Nichols to examine living victims and suspects when
Louisville police were skeptical of their stories.
“Dr. Nichols or I would go examine the victim in the hospital.
Usually, it was child abuse. It could be shooting, could be strangulation, could be stabbing.” For the next six years, Dr. Smock worked
as the program’s director, even while serving as a hospital resident.
Dr. Nichols took responsibility for the program when he retired
from the chief medical examiner position in 1997. In that time, Dr.
Smock received his own office with the title of Police Surgeon and
hired three nurses who help with examinations and evaluations.
His work was set.
“I’ve known Bill for 30 years,” said Louisville Chi Y