Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Fresno Death Scene Investigator Finds Fame on TikTok by Re-Creating Bloody Crime Scenes
Liz-Juarez
By Liz Juarez
Published 2 years ago on
July 21, 2022

Share

 

Much like in the television mystery “Dexter,” large rolls of blood-splattered paper and plastic tarps line Jeffrey Gentry’s garage walls.

Gentry is a certified death scene investigator and bloodstain pattern analyst in Fresno. And, on his time off, he shares his knowledge of blood patterns with more than 81,000 TikTok followers by re-creating real-life crime scenes.

It’s a family production with his wife and kids often helping create the educational videos for his social media platforms.

While other kids and their fathers throw a baseball around or kick a soccer ball, Gentry and his 7-year-old daughter, Aubrey, often spend several afternoons hitting bloody sponges with baseball bats.

“It’s one of the things she likes doing,” said Gentry. “To the outside person, it’s kind of weird, but for our family, it’s not abnormal.”

Blood Pattern Work Can Help in Death Scene Investigations

Gentry has investigated more than 3,000 deaths in the last 13 years, including hundreds of homicides and traffic accidents.

“Through my work as a death scene investigator, I have been witness to a lot of bloody scenes,” said Gentry. “I like going to the scenes. I think it’s very interesting, but I’m looking at it from a scientific side of things.”

Gentry’s work is important. Sometimes it’s the difference between a crime going unsolved and a family getting justice for the loss of a loved one.

After Gentry finishes analyzing a death scene, he is usually tasked with notifying the family of the person who died.

“I’ve woken people up in the middle of the night and told them your kid has died in a car accident or you know someone committed a suicide or a homicide victim, and it’s horrible every single time,” said Gentry.

“I still get nervous every single time I give a death notification. … You have to be very serious, but you also have to be compassionate. You can’t just deliver that news and take off.”

There Aren’t Many Certified Bloodstain Pattern Analysts

Gentry is one of only six certified blood pattern analysts in California and one of 60 in the world.

“I’m seeing a lot of bloody scenes, and so that’s what got me interested in the blood pattern analysis,” said Gentry. ” I realized that there’s not a lot of blood pattern analysts around.”

Becoming a bloodstain analyst isn’t easy, Gentry said. You must have the right scientific academic credentials and at least 240 hours of specific training in blood pattern work.

Gentry graduated from UC Merced with a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry and molecular biology and then earned a master’s degree in administration in 2009.

Jeffrey Gentry is a certified death scene investigator and bloodstain pattern analyst working in Fresno. He has more than 81,000 TikTok followers. (GV Wire/Liz Juarez)

What Can you Learn from Gentry’s TikTok videos?

Many of Gentry’s videos focus on showing the types of blood patterns and stains found at crime scenes. Often, he uses fake blood or draws his own blood to demonstrate.

Gentry uses fake blood to recreate crime scenes and explain blood patterns for educational videos he creates for TikTok. (GV Wire/Liz Juarez)

For example, someone who gets punched in the face repeatedly could have a broken nose that produces round bloody droplets similar to someone who accidentally cuts their hand with a knife.

Gentry explains that someone who is higher from the ground might end up producing a different patterned droplet than a person who is close to the ground.

Gentry’s array of crime scene props. (GV Wire/Liz Juarez)

Additionally, Gentry shows the types of blood patterns that show up on the floor or on a wall if someone was hit by a blunt object, which often makes much smaller and more rapid blood patterns.

Gentry says he tries to be as educational as possible and he often challenges viewers to decide whether the blood they are seeing is real or fake.

However, perhaps the greatest joy of all in making the videos is the additional time Gentry gets to spend with his family — showing that a guy with a job like his can lead a pretty normal life even if his line of work is anything but normal.

A Family of Blood Pattern Experts

Gentry’s family is totally at ease with his videos, the blood-spattered garage walls, and crime scene props.

In fact, Aubrey often appears in the videos, helping him recreate bloody crime scenes and come up with fun ideas.

She will often come home from school explaining that she noticed blood in the school restroom or spotted a dead animal near the school.

@jeffreygentrybpa

Mini Dexter #bloodpatternanalyst #forensicscience #forensics #police #fyp #itsacrimescene #stemlife #stem #myfavoritemurder #ssdgm #viral #viralvideo #education #teachersoftiktok #awesome #bloodpatternanalyst #dexter #minidexter #dadsoftiktok

♬ Dexter Main Theme (From “Dexter”) – Geek Music

His wife and daughter Sophie also get in on the fun by helping set up lighting and cameras.

Gentry doesn’t know if any of his children will follow in his footsteps, but they all seem to have an affinity for science and mathematics.

“I love spending time with my family,” said Gentry. “It is really fun as a father seeing your kids interested in something you are so passionate about.”

@jeffreygentrybpa

#bloodstainpatternanalysis #teachersoftiktok #dadsoftiktok #science #fyp #myfavoritemurderpodcast #ssdgm #stemlife #stem #viral #viralvideo #dexter #education #forensicscience #forensics #dadmoves #itsacrimescene #kids #kidsoftiktok

♬ Dexter Main Theme (From “Dexter”) – Geek Music

Looking Ahead

Gentry hopes that through his videos he can inspire more kids and college students to become interested in his work and follow a similar career path.

He’s done some teaching and participates in career days at the Central Unified School District. And, he provides an online bloodstain pattern class through the Death Investigation Academy.

In the future, Gentry hopes to do a lot more teaching and forensic consulting.

“I have taught college-level forensic science and math to police academies and all the way down to elementary age kids,” said Gentry. “I think teaching kids is my favorite because they just soak the information right up.”

Many of Gentry’s followers on TikTok show an interest in studying forensic science and similar career fields like his. (Screenshot)

Follow Gentry on Social Media for More Videos

You can find more of Gentry’s educational videos on his TikTok, Youtube, Facebook, and Instagram accounts or sign up for his class here. 

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

‘It’s Living Hell’: Nurses Say CA Addiction Recovery Program Ended Their Careers

DON'T MISS

Santa Who? Bizarre Christmas Traditions Stealing the Holiday Spotlight

DON'T MISS

New Decisions Boost California’s Zero-Emission Vehicle Mandate, but Major Hurdles Remain

DON'T MISS

Only $20K More to Bring Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to Fresno

DON'T MISS

Jeffrey Sachs Warns of Looming US War With Iran

DON'T MISS

Cat House on the Kings Urgently Needs You to Donate Dollars and Adopt Your New Best Friend

DON'T MISS

The Surprising Sexual Politics of Nicole Kidman’s Kinky ‘Babygirl’

DON'T MISS

Why It’s Hard to Control What Gets Taught in Public Schools

DON'T MISS

FDA Approves Weight-Loss Drug to Treat Obstructive Sleep Apnea

DON'T MISS

In a Calendar Rarity, Hanukkah Starts This Year on Christmas Day

UP NEXT

Cat House on the Kings Urgently Needs You to Donate Dollars and Adopt Your New Best Friend

UP NEXT

This French Bulldog Is So Fetch: Meet Toaster Strudel

UP NEXT

Clovis Residents Can Draw the City’s Next Election Map

UP NEXT

Fresno County Driver Escapes Injury After Falling Asleep, Overturning Vehicle

UP NEXT

Corcoran Prison Guard, Inmate Accused of Orchestrating Assault on Other Inmate

UP NEXT

Visalia Police Arrest 8, Seize Guns and Drugs

UP NEXT

Next Phase of Friant-Kern Canal Repairs Begins With Intense Scrutiny of Study Contract

UP NEXT

Time to Celebrate! $1M Gift Tops Off Fundraising Goal for Marjaree Mason Center

UP NEXT

Kings County Man Arrested in Child Molestation Case Identified

UP NEXT

Visalia Police Seek Public’s Help in Finding Missing At-Risk Man

Only $20K More to Bring Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to Fresno

5 hours ago

Jeffrey Sachs Warns of Looming US War With Iran

21 hours ago

Cat House on the Kings Urgently Needs You to Donate Dollars and Adopt Your New Best Friend

22 hours ago

The Surprising Sexual Politics of Nicole Kidman’s Kinky ‘Babygirl’

23 hours ago

Why It’s Hard to Control What Gets Taught in Public Schools

23 hours ago

FDA Approves Weight-Loss Drug to Treat Obstructive Sleep Apnea

23 hours ago

In a Calendar Rarity, Hanukkah Starts This Year on Christmas Day

24 hours ago

A Look at the $100 Billion in Disaster Relief in the Government Spending Bill

24 hours ago

It’s Eggnog Season. The Boozy Beverage Dates Back to Medieval England but Remains a Holiday Hit

24 hours ago

9-Year-Old Among 5 Killed in Christmas Market Attack in Germany

1 day ago

‘It’s Living Hell’: Nurses Say CA Addiction Recovery Program Ended Their Careers

Bobbie Sage thought nursing would be her salvation. She was trapped in an abusive relationship with four kids and looking for a steady incom...

5 hours ago

5 hours ago

‘It’s Living Hell’: Nurses Say CA Addiction Recovery Program Ended Their Careers

5 hours ago

Santa Who? Bizarre Christmas Traditions Stealing the Holiday Spotlight

5 hours ago

New Decisions Boost California’s Zero-Emission Vehicle Mandate, but Major Hurdles Remain

5 hours ago

Only $20K More to Bring Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to Fresno

21 hours ago

Jeffrey Sachs Warns of Looming US War With Iran

22 hours ago

Cat House on the Kings Urgently Needs You to Donate Dollars and Adopt Your New Best Friend

23 hours ago

The Surprising Sexual Politics of Nicole Kidman’s Kinky ‘Babygirl’

23 hours ago

Why It’s Hard to Control What Gets Taught in Public Schools

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend