Lorraine Heath, forensic DNA consultant and owner of Seniors Helping Seniors, on how her time at UTM solidified her career path

UTM alum Lorraine Heath. Photo by Holland America Photography.

Lorraine Heath (HBSc 1998 UTM) is a seasoned forensic scientist with over 25 years of experience, specializing in cold cases and high-profile homicides. Growing up in Ontario with academic parents, she was inspired to pursue a career in science. After studying forensic science at the University of Toronto Mississauga, she worked globally, including at the Kansas City Police Department and the Lothian and Borders Police Department in Edinburgh. Eventually, she became a forensic science lecturer and expert in the field. 

Today, Lorraine owns Seniors Helping Seniors, a franchise providing in-home care to the elderly, showcasing her dedication to service and community impact.

Can you tell us a bit about your personal background? 

I grew up on a hobby farm near Acton, Ontario, home of the famous leather factory with the slogan “It’s Worth the Drive to Acton.” My family commuted every day to Toronto where my mom worked as a Botany Professor at the University of Toronto and my dad as a Mycology Professor at York University. I attended St. Clement’s School in Toronto from grade 1 to 12/13. In a high school English exam, I learned about “forensic science” and decided that is what I wanted to do. 

What brought you to UTM and what was your UTM student experience like? 

I initially enrolled at the U of T's downtown campus because my parents wanted me to get the full experience and move into residence – even though my mom was a faculty member at the downtown campus and commuted daily – and I wanted to try city life. Originally, I planned to major in molecular biology and genetics, but as I was finishing 1st year, a new program in forensic science opened at UTM. I applied as was admitted into the first year of that program and transferred to UTM. I lived in residence on campus.

Do you have a favorite memory as a UTM student?  

I think my favourite non-academic part of UTM was the night club on campus – my friends and I would do our homework, then could run down to the night club for a few hours of fun. I also loved getting poutine at the Harvey’s – I think it was Harvey’s! 

My favourite academic part of UTM was doing the forensic entomology course during the summer and, because UTM is more rural than many university campuses, we were able to put out pig carcasses to study the insect succession during decomposition.

What led you to study Biology & Forensic Science?

I’ve always been an animal lover and knew I would go into a career in biology and I knew that DNA and genetics were where the most biology jobs were going to be in the coming years. Both my parents were biologists – my mom was a botanist and my dad was a mycologist. A reading comprehension exercise in a high school English class featured an article on forensic science and I just knew that is what I wanted to do. When I started university, there were no forensic science degree programs in Canada so I decided to go for molecular biology and genetics so I would be prepared for a career in forensic DNA analysis. Later, I transferred to the double major program at UTM when it became available.

What were some of the most interesting lessons or classes that stayed with you? Any professors that come to mind?

The Introduction to Forensic Science class was great – lots of guest speakers and we learned about all the different ways in which science could be applied to legal matters. As mentioned above, I also loved the summer forensic entomology class. Dr. Jerry Melby was leading the program and his Forensic Anthropology class was fabulous.

What’s something you learned as a UTM student that has made an impact on navigating your career?

My time at UTM solidified that I was on the right career path. I did an internship in my last year which gave me a taste of real-life forensic science, so I knew what a career in the field entailed and that it was something I wanted to do. 

Tell us about your early days after graduation. You moved abroad? 

Shortly after graduating, I got my first forensic science job at the Kansas City Police Department in Missouri, USA. I moved there and I started my training in forensic DNA analysis. I also became trained in crime scene investigation. Unfortunately, I didn’t love the lab part of the job. I was also married at the time and my husband was unable to get a work visa in the US.

So, I accepted a job in Edinburgh, Scotland at the Lothian and Borders Police Department Forensic Laboratory. It was a big move but I had UK citizenship through my parents and I loved Edinburgh. Again, I didn’t love the job – I was hired as more of a technician than a scientist and I didn’t enjoy just doing the lab work. I was beginning to wonder if forensic DNA was the right field for me. 

Next, I accepted a job at Liverpool John Moore’s University in Liverpool as a forensic science lecturer. I loved teaching crimes scene investigation and forensic DNA classes. I was also a student advisor and obtained a post-graduate teaching certificate. As part of the condition of employment, I also started research for a PhD. However, I ultimately decided I really didn’t enjoy research and I was also divorced and wanted to move back to North America. By this point in time, I had a good amount of both theoretical and practical expertise and was considered an expert and it was therefore easier to find jobs.

I accepted a position as a DNA criminalist with the Arizona Department of Public Safety where I was working cases from start to finish – evidence examination, lab work, report writing and court testimony – and I was  allowed to do crime scene investigation.

As you mentioned, you eventually became an expert in your field. Please tell us more about some of your career highlights.

When I worked for AZDPS I became a specialist in cold cases, high profile homicides and a new DNA analysis technique. That expertise followed me from that point forward. My career highlights were the really high profile, complex and/or cold homicide cases I worked on and then testified in court. I was the key analyst on the Baseline Killer/Rapist case – Mark Goudeau – in Phoenix, a high profile contract killing of an optometrist in Tucson – State v Schwartz – a series of 30-40 year old murders of sex workers in Spokane, WA (State v Donna/Donald Perry, State v Richard Aguirre and others) and a cold case that had been featured on Americas Most Wanted (State v Patrick Gibson). Another highlight was being involved in an episode of Forensic Files about the State v Donna/Donald Perry case and training many new forensic scientists as a supervisor and technical leader for the last 15 years of my forensic science career.

Working as a forensic scientist in a sheriff’s department in the U.S. must have been both challenging and rewarding. Are there any stories you can share?

I’ve worked for multiple state and county level law enforcement agencies in the US. I chose to work in the US because of my expertise and interest in homicide cases – there are many more homicides in the US than Canada or the UK. I love the challenge of these cases both in the lab and during court testimony. I am one of the few forensic scientists who truly enjoy court testimony. Some of the challenges have included various convicted individuals – or their family members, such as Marc Goudeau’s wife – targeting me and trying to cast doubt on my credibility and integrity online. 

Another challenge is the sometimes frustrating and restrictive para-military law enforcement environment. However, the satisfaction that comes with finding key evidence in a cold case or at a crime scene, or testifying in a complex case and knowing you presented the scientific evidence as accurately and objectively as possible, allowing justice to be done definitely outweighs the challenges.

What compelled you eventually to leave your position with the Sheriff’s Department to pursue other goals? 

After 25 years in forensic science, I had moved up as far as I wanted. The next step was to become a laboratory director, which I had no interest in because I would be far removed from the cases and the science. I was no longer doing much casework and I had been in leadership positions for 15 years. I was ready for a change and wanted sometime that was more positive on a daily basis. I had also developed an interest in human rights and just completed a degree in Human Rights Practice from the University of Arizona and decided it was time for a change. However, I didn’t want to leave my southern California home. 

Can you tell us more about your new venture?

After exploring many options, I ended up investigating franchise ownership. A close family member had recently been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Independence and care for seniors was something that was on my mind during this transitional time. I decided to purchase a franchise business called Seniors Helping Seniors which hires senior caregivers to provide in-home care and assistance to other seniors so they can remain living independently in their own homes for as long as possible. My caregivers assist seniors with companionship, light housekeeping, shopping/errands, transportation, personal care, dementia care and more – whatever the client needs to make their life a little easier.

After 25 years in public service and law enforcement, with no business experience, opening my own business has definitely been a challenge. However, I have really enjoyed learning new things and discovered that many of the skills I gained in my forensic science career have transferred well to my new business. After only 3 months in business, I have hired 20 caregivers and have 15 clients. Seeing the value my business brings and the relief my clients experience when they realize they can remain living where they want to live with just a little help from one of my caregivers is very gratifying and rewarding.

What is next for you? How do you see yourself and your business growing over the next five years?

My goal is to continue growing my business over the next five years to approximately 100 caregivers and 80-90 clients. My initial franchise license is for 10 years, at which time I hope to retire and sell the business, or semi-retire by hiring a general manager to take care of the day-to-day business operation.

Do you have advice for anyone contemplating a drastic career change like yours? 

I think my best advice is to really examine why you want to make a change. What do you like most about your current career, what do you like least, what are your strengths & weaknesses, what do you want to be doing on a daily basis, what are your income goals? Then, consider how a different career could make the best use of your strengths, maximize the things you enjoy and minimize the things you like the least. All careers have their joys and challenges, highs and lows and you need to determine which kinds of those things you want to, or have to, deal with. 

I also highly recommend a life coach. I have been using a performance and life coach in other areas of my life for many years and she was invaluable in helping me objectively evaluate where I was, where I wanted to go and what I would enjoy doing.

What do you do when you’re not working? 

My biggest passions are horses and travel. I have two horses! I do a lot of volunteering in the equestrian community and I moved to southern California because of the climate and the equestrian culture and opportunities. 

I also love to travel – my parents and I travelled a lot when I was younger and that has led me to continue to travel as much as I can as an adult. Recent trips include the Galapagos Island, Japan and South Korea, Greece and Italy and Costa Rica. While I normally don’t go to the same place twice, I have fallen in love with Costa Rica, have visited it twice already and will undoubtedly visit again. 

I love all types of animals, so I share my life with three dogs, one cat, two parrots and a range of lizards, frogs and snakes. I also enjoy quilting and have side businesses providing Pulse Electromagnetic Field therapy for humans and animals and saddle fitting for horses and riders. I am very blessed to live a full and busy life.

Originally published by University of Toronto Mississauga