Veronique Delattre, D.D.S., associate professor of Restorative Dentistry, was recently filmed by a crew from Court TV for the show “Psychic Detectives” for her role in a missing persons case in 2002.

According to the show’s producers, a young man named Craig Matthews*, became a missing person in May 2002 after having an argument with his wife. It was reported that Matthews fled into the woods after ingesting a large among of pharmaceuticals that could stop his heart. The police conducted a search, but were not able to find the man.  

The family also searched for Matthews and after finding nothing they contacted psychic Kelli Faulkner for help.

Faulkner directed them to a location in the Greater Houston area where a skull was later located in December of 2002.  The skull was turned over to authorities who contacted Delattre.

Delattre examined the skull and compared it to Matthew’s dental records for a positive match. Delattre is a diplomate of the American Board of Forensic Odontology and a fellow of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences. An airdate for the show has not yet been determined, but will be reported in the UTDBeflash once it is available.

* Another name has been attached to the case at the request of the family.

DB People is a new UTDBeflash feature, which will highlight a student, resident, employee or member of the faculty each week.

By day, a dedicated dental student. By night and weekends, an outdoorsman.

It’s an incredible balance of work and life that make third-year student Brian Jaynes a joy to be around.

Jaynes, a native of Orange, is well-liked among his professors and classmates. Outdoor activities such as squirrel hunting, duck hunting and salt-water fishing are ways he likes to spend his time. Frog-gigging is his favorite.

Jaynes is also active in the Psi Omega fraternity at the Dental Branch, which is instrumental in community

service events such as the Race for the Cure breast cancer initiative. In addition, he plays on a Dental Branch intramural softball team.

Jaynes began studying dentistry after spending time with both dentists and physicians following his undergraduate studies. “I really appreciated the dentist and patient relationship,” he said. “Dentists seemed like they had more time to sit down, talk with their patient and work on solving the health concern.”

Betty Shynett, D.D.S., F.A.D.G, assistant professor of Restorative Dentistry, who is Jaynes’ practice leader, says that he will make a fine dentist one day. “Brian is dedicated, mannerable and is processing the massive amount of material presented in the junior year methodically,” she said.  She encourages him to keep excellence as his goal.

Jaynes is a graduate of Louisiana State University with a B.S. in microbiology. He is married to his high-school sweetheart Amy, who is a nurse in Clear Lake. After receiving his D.D.S., Jaynes said he will be the first person in his family to earn a doctorial degree. “My family is very proud of me,” he said. He hopes to become a small town dentist with a four-wheel drive and a boat.

If you know of anyone in your class or department who would make a good DB People profile, submit their name and a brief comment about them to dbnewsdesk@uth.tmc.edu.

Gillian Rittman, research scientist in Diagnostic Sciences, was the first Star Performer chosen as part of the Employee Relations Committee’s new staff recognition program. Rittman has served the Dental Branch for 16 years.

She was nominated by those she works with in Diagnostic Sciences, who said:

“Gill is a research scientist with considerable experience and knowledge in a variety of histologic and tissue processing techniques. She has provided invaluable assistance to researchers throughout the Dental Branch and is very conscientious with the routine tissue processing of the department’s biopsy service.”

A full story on Rittman, her activities and why she won the award will appear on the UTDB Web site next week.

Nominations are being accepted for the next award cycle in November.

Visit  http://www.db.uth.tmc.edu/UTDB_eflash/archive /2006/061506_UTDB_eflash_extra.htm  for the details and nomination form.