Terrestrial Forensics

ISRT terrestrial forensics from cold cases till warcrimes we can assist governmental institutes on global level.

Meet our
Terrestrial Forensics Team:

  • Ricardo Villegas (CL)

    As a detective Ricardo has over 29 years of experience in various criminal investigations, including homicides, narcotics, and intelligence.

    A graduate of the FBI National Academy’s 220th session in Quantico, Virginia, he also served as a Criminal Intelligence Officer at Interpol’s headquarters in Lyon, France. Later, he led Interpol’s Organized Crime Unit until 2019. In 2020, he became Head of Interpol’s Regional Office for South America.

    His career earned him two medals of honor from the Colombian Police, one from the Czech Republic, and the “President of the Republic” distinction from former Chilean President Sebastián Piñera.

  • Benedict Rodburn (UK)

    Benedict is a forensic archaeologist from the UK and has worked as an archaeologist / forensic archaeologist in multiple countries and in various capacities since 2005.

    During this time, he has worked as part of the forensics unit at a UN tribunal based in The Netherlands, assisted with
    archaeological and forensic archaeological case work in several capacities and gained
    extensive experience in disaster victim identification (DVI) as both a Team Leader / first
    responder on multiple major incidents globally.

    Benedict also lectures at various universities
    and forensic institutes to a wide range of audiences as well as creating course content. As instructor for
    international law enforcement as part of an EU funded project based in Eastern Europe.

  • Skylar Joseph (USA)

    Skylar is a Forensic Anthropologist and Archaeologist focusing primarily on Human Rights and Humanitarian actions. Since 2017 she also works as the Lead Bioarchaeologist and Field Supervisor for the Tell Timai Archaeological Project, based in the Egyptian Delta.

    Skylar has two Master of Science degrees in Forensic Anthropology and Human Rights, a Bachelor of Arts degree in Anthropology and History, and is currently pursuing her PhD in Law at Leiden University.

    Her present research is focusing on the missing and deceased migration crisis in the Central Mediterranean. More generally, her research interests focus on themes of systemic discrimination, genocide, crimes against humanity, State accountability, capacity building, and community engagement. Skylar is also trained as a Rescue Diver.

  • Emilio Nuzzolese (IT)

    Emilio Nuzzolese, born in Bari, Italy, in 1970, studied dentistry at the University of Bari, Italy, and received his Dental Degree cum laude in 1994. In 2006, he earned his PhD on Skull-Photo Superimposition for Human Identification, and in 2012, his Master of Science in Children Rights. He also holds a degree in “Science and Law” (LLB) and a second-cycle degree in “Criminology for Investigation and Security” (BACrim).

    In 2018, he became a Researcher and Assistant Professor in Legal Medicine at the University of Turin, and in 2021, he was awarded Associate Professor in Legal Medicine at the University of Turin. In 2023, he was appointed as an Honorary Juvenile Judge at the Juvenile Court in Bari, Italy, by the Ministry of Justice, until 2025.

    He is the founder and president of the Association Forensic Odontology and Human Rights (AFOHR), International Delegate of the Italian Academy of Legal and Forensic Dentistry (OL-F), Officer of the Italian Red Cross Military Corps, and a member of the Mass Fatality Victims Unit of the Italian Red Cross Military Corps. He has also participated as an invited expert in the INTERPOL DVI Forensic Odontology Sub-Working Group from 2010 until 2022. Additionally, he is the founder and president of the Civil Protection Association Dental Team DVI Europe.

    In 2015, he received the honor of “Knight of the Republic for merit” from the Council of Ministers and the President of the Italian Republic. He was also awarded the title of “Ambassador for Human Rights” by the association Youth for Human Rights and received several medals for military peacekeeping missions abroad, along with multiple recognitions from humanitarian and solidarity non-profit organizations.

    He is the author/co-author of over 100 publications, including contributions in books, textbooks on child abuse, and three monographs. He holds three utility patents and one invention and has delivered over 300 contributions in international congresses and events on legal medicine and forensic dentistry since 2003.

    According to Web of Science, he has 1,158 citations, and his h-index is 18 (Google Scholar, January 2025). His research interests include human identification, forensic dentistry, dental malpractice, child abuse and dental neglect, digital forensic odontology, and human rights.

    He is also the Program Lead in Forensic Odontology training and Director of the Disaster Victim Identification Training Course (2021 and 2022) at the University of Turin, where he is responsible for the Human Identification and Forensic Odontology Laboratory.