Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (b)
Victim specialists Miranda Adkins and Veronica Cordova from the FBI’s Honolulu Division brought their crisis expertise to support grieving families at shelters and the Family Assistance Center, a one-stop shop offering hot meals and information about housing, medical, and financial services.
Their initial job was to provide “culturally sensitive crisis intervention and emotional support to families,” said Adkins, a licensed clinical social worker. Hawaii has a diverse population that includes many cultures. The victim specialists comforted bereft relatives as they completed extensive paperwork about the unaccounted for and gave DNA swabs.
“We worked closely with other local agencies. This was definitely a team effort,” said Cordova. “Maui is dear to me. I often stayed in Lahaina, so making the drive to see what was left was heart-wrenching.”
By August 18, some DNA matches of the deceased had been returned, and it was time to make next-of-kin death notifications. Many of the families the FBI visited for the notifications had previously met Adkins and Cordova at the Family Assistance Center. This familiarity helped when it came time to deliver grim news.
They traveled to relatives’ homes with an officer from Maui PD or Honolulu PD and chaplains to provide “wraparound support,” said Adkins. “We wanted the next of kin to feel they were emotionally supported with a team approach through such a difficult situation.”
Victim specialists assist with death notifications through planning, preparation, delivery, and follow-up with compassionate and direct communication. As part of the follow-up process, Adkins and Cordova shared mental health resources, and the FBI’s support to these families continues.