SURVIVOR MONTH on Just The Tip-Sters begins with our first edition of MURDER NERD UNIVERSITY - where Melissa focuses on the sciences and practices and interesting people - both in the past and in modern-day criminology - that contribute to the art of criminal justice.  In late 2017 Brigida Uto (who later changed her surname back to maiden name McInvale for reasons that will become obvious) got very sick for no apparent reason.  The young special needs teacher, who by all accounts had a happy life and rewarding career, a naval officer husband and a young child - was suddenly seeing her health degrade slowly, day after day, week after week.  Moving back and forth between the naval hospital and a local community hospital, doctors could not diagnose what was wrong with Brigida, as the symptoms seemed to be all over the map.  Finally, when it became too painful for Brigida to even walk, she landed in the emergency room of the community hospital on a night when the attending physician happened to also be a toxicologist - part of an elite group of toxicologists working at the hospital - and that doctor, when he examined Brigida, had a hunch...so he called his boss.  His boss was Dr. Jeff Lapoint - who, with his team, working with local police, the FBI and NCIS - proved that Brigida was poisoned with thallium - a deadly metal that her husband, Race Uto, had been shaving into her food.  Using a compound so rare that it took clearance - and some heavy questioning - from the National Security Apparatus - Dr. Lapoint and his team saved Brigida's life and helped put the diabolical husband behind bars for a very long time.  Join Melissa as she engages Dr. Lapoint in a wide ranging conversation about the case and the art of toxicology in the service of saving lives.  SUPPORT OUR SPONSOR - KLEANSPA BATH AND BODY by Jennifer Hardaway - get 15% off your total order by entering Promo Code TIPSTERS at checkout!  That's kleanspa.com - Prepare to smell delicious!