Florida

Longwood, FL Evidence Lab

751 Fleet Financial Court
Longwood, Florida 32750

JOHNATHAN HORNADAY: IAAI-CFI, NAFI-CFEI, West Palm, FL

John Hornaday is a Certified Fire Investigator through the International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI-CFI) and Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator through the National Association of Fire Investigators (NAFI-CFEI). He has 26 years of experience in the fire service, serving as a firefighter, fire investigator, emergency medical technician, apparatus driver/operator, and hazardous materials specialist. John served as a Lieutenant and Assistant Fire Marshal with the Prince William County Department of Fire & Rescue since 2007 to 2022. John is a member of the International Association of Arson Investigators and has an Associate’s degree, Fire Science/Firefighting from Columbia Southern University.

ANTHONY KEMENY: NAFI/CFEI- Eustis, FL

Anthony Kemeny is a court-qualified expert witness , a Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator through the National Association of Fire Investigators and a Fire Investigation Technician and Evidence Collection Technician through the International Association of Arson Investigators. He has over five years of experience in the fire industry in various positions, with his most recent position as a Law Enforcement Detective for the Bureau of Fire, Arson, and Explosives Investigations and the Department of Financial Services in the State of Florida, where he was a Florida State Certified Fire Investigator.

JAMES SPENCER : NAFI/CFEI, IAAI/ECT- West Melbourne, FL

James Spencer is a Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator (CFEI) through the National Association of Fire Investigators, and a Certified Evidence Collection Technician (ECT) through the International Association of Arson Investigators. He has over 18 years of experience in the fire investigation industry, having served in a variety of roles, including Firefighter with the West Glenville Fire Company and Senior Fire Investigator for Schenectady County, before relocating to Florida.

JEFFREY McVEY: NAFI/CFEI – Tallahassee, FL

Jeffrey McVey is a Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator through the National Association of Fire Investigators and a Certified Evidence Collection Technician through the International Association of Arson Investigators. He has over 15 years of experience in the fire industry in various positions, including his previous position as a Firemedic and Acting Fire Investigator for Hillsborough County Fire Rescue. He has a Bachelor of Science in fire science from Columbia Southern University. He holds an active membership with the International Association of Arson Investigators, the National Association of Fire Investigators, and the Florida Advisory Committee on Arson Prevention. He is also certified in Florida as a Firesafety Inspector.

WILLIAM “JERRY” HIERS Jr.: IAAI/CFI, NAFI/CVFI – Jacksonville, FL

Jerry Hiers, Jr. is a Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator and Certified Vehicle Fire Investigator through the National Association of Fire Investigators. He has over 20 years of experience in the fire investigation industry in various positions, including his previous positions as a Fire Investigator for National Fire Experts and a Fire Analyst for Fire Investigative Research Enterprises (F.I.R.E. Inc.). Jerry has a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy with an emphasis in Logic and Ethics from the University of North Florida. He holds an active membership with the National Association of Fire Investigators, the International Association of Arson Investigators, and the Florida Chapter of the International Association of Arson Investigators. He holds a State of Florida Arson Investigator Certificate and has conducted over 450 origin and cause investigations. Jerry is a court-qualified expert witness.

STEVEN J. LICHORAT: NAFI/CFEI – Port St. Lucie, FL

Steve Lichorat is a Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator through the National Association of Fire Investigators. Steve has nearly 40 years of experience in public service, more than 20 of which were spent in the fire service. He has served in the positions of volunteer firefighter, fire chief, commissioner, and senior fire, arson, and explosives investigator. Steve retired as Deputy Fire Coordinator of Schenectady County in 2022. In that position, he administered fire training programs, hazardous materials response teams, mutual aid programs, and a mass casualty response plan. Steve is also a federally licensed drone pilot and served as the key stakeholder in command of drone search and rescue missions, as well as incident command, during various missions, ranging from fire response, ice and water rescue, and crowd and community safety controls during events. Steve is a member of the International Association of Arson Investigators, the Florida Chapter of the International Association of Arson Investigators, and the National Association of Fire investigators.

MARK A. WILLIAMS: IAAI-CFI // NAFI-CFEI – Montgomery, AL

Mark Williams is a Certified Fire Investigator by the International Association of Arson Investigators and a Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator through the National Association of Fire Investigators. Mark has seven years of law enforcement experience in addition to sixteen and a half years of fire service experience within Montgomery Fire & Rescue, including serving as a firefighter, fire sergeant, fire lieutenant, and fire captain. Previously a fire investigator for the city of Montgomery, he has been examining fire scenes since 2006. Mark is also a member of the Alabama Association of Arson Investigators as well as a member of the National Association of Fire Investigators.

NELSON NUNEZ: Mechanical Engineer – Altamonte Springs, FL

Nelson Nuñez is a Mechanical Engineer with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Central Florida. He has experience in different manufacturing environments from manual process to advanced automated equipment, with experience in 2D and 3D drafting, product testing, electrical/mechanical/optical troubleshooting, machine-vision, manufacturing, and field service. Nelson performs forensic engineering analysis on location and in laboratories. He performs destructive and nondestructive testing and analysis of electrical systems and components as needed in subrogation cases.

CHARLES DALE ASHWORTH: NAFI/CFEI, NAFI/CFEI, Evidence Tech – Sorrento FL

Charles D. Ashworth is a Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator and a Certified Vehicle Fire Investigator through the National Association of Fire Investigators. He has over two years of experience in the fire industry in various positions, with his most recent position as a Law Enforcement Detective for the Bureau of Fire, Arson, and Explosives Investigations and for the Department of Financial Services in the State of Florida, where he was a Florida State Certified Fire Investigator. Prior to that, Charles was a Major Case Detective for the Orange County Sheriff’s Office (FL), with over 28 years of law enforcement experience. Charles is a court-qualified expert witness.

JOHN W. CAVANAUGH: IAAI/CFI, NAFI/CFEI – Fort Myers, FL

John Cavanaugh is a Certified Fire Investigator through the International Association of Arson Investigators and a Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator through the National Association of Fire Investigators. Throughout John’s 20 years in law enforcement, he investigated felony and misdemeanor crimes and took part in undercover narcotics investigations. During his tenure with the police department, John was assigned to the fire investigation unit for the Town of Brighton, NY, where he conducted origin and cause investigations for 18 years. He also served in the volunteer fire service for more than 20 years in capacities ranging from firefighter to training officer to chief of the department. He retired as Assistant Fire Marshal of the Town of Wheatland, NY, where he was responsible for fire inspections and code enforcement. John is a member of the International Association of Arson Investigators, the New York and Florida Chapters of the International Association of Arson Investigators, and the National Association of Fire Investigators.

STEVEN LAWRENCE: CFEI – Clearwater, FL

Professional bio coming soon.