Local man films ‘Forensic Files’

Some cameramen might find it depressing to spend all day filming a murder victim’s blood-stained clothing for an episode of Court TV’s Forensic Files. But Southworth resident Stan McMeekin said the crime shows are some of his favorite jobs to work on.

“Each one is completely different,” McMeekin said, explaining that the episode he was filming last week at the Kitsap County Courthouse was the eighth episode he has filmed for the series.

°?“I always learn so much,°± he said.

For example, there was the episode where he learned that dog DNA can be used to catch a murderer.

“°?In that one, this guy shot a man and woman in their home, then on the way out the door, shot their dog,°±” McMeekin said, explaining that while the shooter was not close enough to his human victims to have their blood splatter on him, animal blood had landed on his shirt that was later proven to belong to the couple’s dog.

°?“It was first case I knew of where the dog ended up convicting the guy,”°± he said.

On Friday, McMeekin was filming an episode detailing the 1986 murder of Tracy Parker, a Poulsbo girl who was only 16 when she was bludgeoned with a hammer by Brian Keith Lord, a Silverdale resident.

As Deputy Prosecutor Tim Drury carefully laid out Parker’s shirts, pants and countless baggies of paint chips and other small pieces for McMeekin to film, series producer Chip Silvey explained it was these dozens and dozens of bits of trace evidence that made the case perfect for Forensic Files.

“It was the most complicated case in terms of forensic evidence that Washington state had seen at the time,” Silvey said, explaining that Lord was arrested and convicted largely due to small bits of evidence found on the blanket wrapped around Parker’s body.

Though for Forensic Files he was merely a hired lens, McMeekin also runs his own production company, Solana Productions Northwest, out of the South Kitsap home he bought after moving to the area years ago with his wife and son.

After working for years for television stations, including Seattle’s KIRO, he said he decided to buy all his own equipment and go freelance, which allows him to not only make more money, but to pick and choose his projects.

In just the past two weeks, McMeekin said he had crisscrossed the country and filmed in Phoenix, Boston, Maryland, Canada and Alaska, adding that he was glad to be shooting evidence in Port Orchard not just because it was an opportunity to glean more scientific knowledge.

“This is the first time I’ve been able to shoot so close to home,” he smiled.

Comment on this story.

COMMENTING RULES: We encourage an open exchange of ideas in our online community, but we ask you to follow our guidelines for respecting community standards. In a nutshell, don't say anything you wouldn't want your mother to read. Please see our FAQ if you have questions or concerns about using Facebook to comment.