selected work
Dr. TJ Payne’s work spans legal investigation, cold-case review, forensic behavioral consulting, investigative writing, LGBTQ+ casework, forensic behavioral science analysis, and narrative case review.
Selected projects include active case investigation, published reporting, cold-case review, forensic consulting, and long-form case analysis focused on unresolved deaths, marginalized victims, institutional gaps, violence, mental health, and the ethical responsibility of telling stories about real people.
Active Cold-Case Homicide Investigation: Poe black
Dr. Payne is currently investigating the unresolved homicide of Poe Black, a young transgender man whose body was found in Imperial County, California, in 2021. This work involves field investigation, timeline reconstruction, interviews, victimology, police records, autopsy review, investigative-gap analysis, and narrative case development.
This investigation is also supported through a fiscally sponsored fundraising campaign for travel, records review, interviews, and production expenses.
Cold Case Agency Review Work
Dr. Payne works with a cold case agency conducting reviews of nationally recognized cases, including the Black Dahlia, Zodiac, and Steven Avery cases. This work involves reviewing case materials, timelines, investigative theories, behavioral context, evidentiary gaps, and the ways public narratives develop around unresolved or contested cases.
Forensic Writing, Reporting & Case Analysis
Dr. Payne’s writing and reporting work includes published reporting on Nex Benedict, which involved travel to Oklahoma, interviews, case research, community context, and analysis of the institutional and social conditions surrounding anti-LGBTQ+ harm.
Through Substack and other long-form writing, Dr. Payne also examines criminal cases through a forensic behavioral science lens, often revisiting older or widely discussed cases with attention to violent criminal behavior, mental health, addiction, trauma, victimology, investigative gaps, and the difference between public narratives and available case material.
Read Dr. Payne’s long-form case analysis and investigative writing:
Forensic Consulting & Narrative Case Review
Dr. Payne’s consulting and case review work includes forensic behavioral analysis, victimology, timeline reconstruction, legal and investigative record review, ethical true crime consultation, and narrative case development for media, advocacy, legal, and investigative projects.
work with dr. payne
If you are working with complex case material and need support with case review, investigative gaps, legal records, timelines, interviews, behavioral analysis, or narrative summaries, you can request an initial consultation.