William Ramsey Investigates Model Detective: A True Story of Heels, Handcuffs and Homicides with Author Michele Wood.
Mar 13, 2026
Michele Wood, former Chicago homicide detective and author, now writes about her 25+ year law enforcement career. She recounts leaving the military and flight service for patrol, brutal long homicide shifts, leading a high-volume west-side team, and training as an FBI-certified hostage negotiator. Conversations cover witness safety, limits of DNA and confessions, changing urban violence, and life after nonstop adrenaline.
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Witness Interviews Often Outweigh Confessions
- Michele argues witness interviews are often more crucial than confessions because witnesses provide context investigators need.
- She emphasizes building trust, protecting anonymity, and avoiding putting witnesses at risk in gang-heavy neighborhoods.
Violence Shifted To Younger, Less Disciplined Offenders
- Michele notes violent patterns changed since the 1990s: overall murder counts fell but offenders are younger and less bound by past loyalties or respect.
- She observes shootings, carjackings, and witness-targeting have increased in brazenness.
DNA Helps But Can Be Ambiguous And Slow
- Michele warns against the 'CSI effect' and overreliance on DNA: DNA is powerful but often ambiguous and slow.
- She notes commingled DNA samples can be unusable and DNA doesn't automatically identify killers.
