Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation
Law Enforcement > Bureau of Criminal Investigation > Laboratory Division

Laboratory Division

In processing more than 200,000 pieces of evidence a year, BCI’s Laboratory Division employs the highest standards of care and most advanced technologies to help law enforcement throughout Ohio bring criminals to justice, exonerate the innocent and find answers for grieving families.

The forensic scientists at BCI are committed to providing accurate, timely analysis of evidence to all of Ohio’s law enforcement agencies. The scientists specialize in examining physical and biological evidence in multiple forensic disciplines, listed at right.

Tools used by the Laboratory’s forensic scientists include chemical tests, digital photography, comparative microscopes, video spectral comparators, scanning electron microscopes, X-ray fluorescence spectrometry, capillary electrophoresis instrumentation, gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and Fourier transform infrared spectrometry. Scientists in the DNA and CODIS units are assisted by lab robotics that speed turnaround times, reducing from days to hours the time needed to conduct certain tests.

BCI’s forensic scientists also provide:

Laboratory Division

CODIS

CODIS

Pilots Ohio’s DNA identification database

Latent Prints

Latent Prints

Links crime scenes prints
to people who made them

Drug Chemistry

Drug Chemistry

Identifies illegal drugs seized
throughout the state

Trace Evidence

Trace Evidence

IDs physical evidence
left at crime scenes

DNA

DNA

Tests biological material
in search of the source

Questioned Documents

Questioned Documents

Authenticates documents
and handwriting

Firearms & Toolmarks

Firearms & Toolmarks

Matches evidence to the original tool or weapon


Division Contacts
Karen Kwek
Laboratory Director
740-845-2553 | Karen.Kwek@OhioAGO.gov
Abby Schwaderer
Quality Assurance Manager
740-845-2517 | Abby.Schwaderer@OhioAGO.gov
Brenda Gerardi
BCI DNA Laboratory Manager
234-400-3682 | Brenda.Gerardi@OhioAGO.gov
Jennifer Duvall
Comparative Sciences Laboratory Manager
740-845-2514 | Jennifer.Duvall@OhioAGO.gov
Jessica Toms
Chemistry Laboratory Manager
740-845-2616 | Jessica.Toms@OhioAGO.gov
Diane Gehres
State CODIS Administrator/CODIS Technical Leader
740-845-2522 | Diane.Gehres@OhioAGO.gov
Lewis Maddox
DNA Technical Leader
216-400-3636 | Lewis.Maddox@OhioAGO.gov
Elizabeth Benzinger
Director of Research, Development and Training
740-845-2508 | Elizabeth.Benzinger@OhioAGO.gov