News Article

Edison State Students Get First-Hand Experience

Jan 29, 2010


Southwest Florida – January 26, 2010

 

Edison State Students to Assist in Cold Case Investigation

 

Crime Scene students at Edison State College are getting  first-hand  experience volunteering  with the

Hendry County Sheriff’s Office and The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

 

 

In February of 1988, 7-year old Alejandra Hernandez was playing alongside her parents and about 60

others working deep in the orange groves.   The little girl was kidnapped, raped, murdered and buried in a

shallow grave not far from where the group was working.  The case has never been solved.

 

 

Twenty one years later the Hendry County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the National Center for

Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), has reopened the case.  The group has requested the

assistance of Professor Dennis Fahey, the lead faculty member for crime scene at the college.  Professor

 

Fahey has been a consultant in numerous cases including most recently the Casey Anthony murder trial in

Orlando, Florida.

 

 

When the students heard of the case, they immediately volunteered their time.  Over the past several

weeks, Edison State College students have been working under the supervision of the Hendry County

Sheriff’s Office; assisting with administrative aspects of the case.

 

 

“One of the biggest challenges training Crime Scene Investigators is getting experience on real cases,

said Fahey.  This is an amazing professional opportunity for our students”.

 

 

On January 30, 2010 the Hendry County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from NCMEC and Edison State

College students will reenact the day Alejandra was killed.  The students will have a first-hand

opportunity to observe the workings of a murder investigation and participate in the reenactment.

 

 

The College is proud of the work the students are doing and their dedication to the community.

 

 

Media is invited to the reenactment.

The group will meet at U-Save Store in Labelle on Route 80 at 9:00 am, Saturday,

January 30, 2010. 

Trucks can lead the group to the reenactment location in the groves.

 

 

For additional questions or media contact information, please call Mr. Dennis Fahey (239)850-0875. 

 

Edison State College is Southwest Florida’s largest, most established, most accessible and most affordable

school of higher education serving more than 18,000 students in 5 counties with campuses in Lee, Collier

and Charlotte, and a center serving Hendry/Glades.  Many classes are available online at

www.edison.edu.  

Last Updated: January 29, 2010

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