Monica Canales is currently a Medicolegal Death Investigator for the Hillsborough County Medical Examiner. While working towards her undergraduate degree at USF, she was employed as a Sexual Assault Crisis Counselor for the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay. Ms. Canales obtained her Victim Services Practitioner Designation and conducted forensic sexual assault examinations with a nurse examiner, as well as provided counseling services to survivors. In 2010, she graduated cum laude from USF with her bachelor's degree in Criminology and a minor in Sociology. She was a member of Alpha Phi Sigma and Pi Gamma Mu Honor Societies. Ms. Canales went on to obtain her master's degree in Forensic Psychology at the Chicago School of Psychology in 2013. Her master's thesis focused on development of grief counseling and support services for family members suffering a traumatic loss.

Ms. Canales actively conducts death investigations on individuals who die in Hillsborough County by means of accidents, suicides, homicides, and natural disease. She has experience identifying remains, post-mortem changes, and scene investigation. She attended numerous trainings, conferences, and obtained her certification through the American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators. Ms. Canales is also a member of the Florida Association of Medical Examiners. Within the next couple years, she hopes to utilize her experience and become a Special Agent with the FBI.