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CRIME SCENE RECONSTRUCTION AND ANALYSIS

Crime Scene Reconstruction and Analysis Gary A McA in A!A Ga in

Crime Scene Reconstruction

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Crime Scene Reconstruction and Analysis #$y do %e $a e crime scene reconstruction and analysis& 'o% did criminolo(y ori(inate and de elo) into t$e science it $as no% *ecome& Most im)ortant is+ %$o or %$at %ill s)ea, -or t$e silenced ictim o- a *rutal $omicide& T$e ictim $as *een silenced and all t$at remains is t$eir li-eless *ody. No ot$er $umans %itnessed t$is *ar*arous e ent e/ce)t t$e ictim no% deceased and+t$e )er)etrator or UNSU0 as 0AU calls t$em. #ere any indicatorsor e idence le-t t$at %ill lead to t$e ca)ture and )rosecution o- t$e sus)ect& #$at can no% *e done -or t$e ictim ot$er t$an *urial& And+ $o% does one (o a*out -indin( out %$at e/actly $a))ened& 0y utili1in( somet$in( called crime scene reconstruction2 #$atis *y de-inition crime scene reconstruction and analysis& 3T$e use o- scienti-ic met$ods4 )$ysical e idence4 deducti e and inducti e reasonin(4 and t$eir interrelations$i)s to (ain e/)licit ,no%led(e o- t$e series o- e ents t$at surround t$e commission o- a crime.5 6 Association -or Crime Scene Reconstruction. 7$tt)899%%%.acsr.or(9: Crime scene reconstruction is more com)re$ensi eand -ocused on -inal )ro*lem resolutions t$an criminal in esti(ati e analysis. A -oremost -orensic analyst and crime scene in esti(ator $ast$is to say a*out reconstruction. 3Reconstruction is di--erent -rom re6enactment4 re6creation4 and criminal )ro-ilin(.5 7Lee4 et. al.4 ";;18 "<": #$en s$ould reconstruction *e underta,en& 3Crime6scene reconstruction is o- alue %$en reconstruction is started at t$e scene durin( t$e initial )$ases o- t$e in esti(ation4 durin( t$e in esti(ation4 and durin( t$e ad=udication )rocess. T$e reconstruction analyst may determine4 %$ile t$e inter ie%s are *ein( conducted4 it$e stories *ein( told *y t$e ictims4 %itnesses4 and9or sus)ects are true. 0y ,no%in( t$e e ents as reconstructed4 t$e detecti es conductin( t$e inter ie%s may *e a*le to detect dece)tion or

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inconsistencies. T$e use o- t$is ,no%led(e can *e a )o%er-ul tool in t$e $ands o- an e/)erienced in esti(ator.5 7Tur ey 1???8 <@6?: #$o set t$e standards and %$o %ere t$e -orerunners o- t$is )rocess t$at is used to ma,e accurate and determinate analysis& #$o )ro ided t$e )attern o*ser ed *y t$e in esti(ators at t$e scene o- todayAs $omicide settin(& T$e )ro(ressi e in esti(ati e )attern can *e seen in )rocedural ste)s to *e -ollo%ed at e ery crime scene. At t$e crime scene t$e -ollo%in( ste)s are -ollo%ed -or eac$ item o- e idence8 3Reco(nition4 Breser ation4 Documentation4 Collection4 Trans)ortation4 Identi-ication9classi-ication4 Com)arison4 Indi iduation4 and Inter)retation9reconstruction. Traditionally4 t$e s)eci-ic duties are *ro,en do%n as -ollo%s8 Detecti e9in esti(ator9-orensic tec$nician 1. Reco(nition ". Breser ation Corensic tec$nician 7a,a crime scene tec$nician: >. Documentation D. Collection E. Trans)ortation Corensic scientist9criminalist F. Identi-ication9classi-ication <. Com)arison @. Indi iduation ?. Inter)retation9reconstruction T$e )ro*lem is t$at t$ese -orensic titles and roles are o-ten mi/ed4 misunderstood4 or outri($t con-used4 sometimes o er many (enerations o- )ro-essionals in a (i en system. As a result4 -orensic =o* titles a*ound4 %it$ more t$an one to descri*e t$e same set o- dutiesGcrime scene in esti(ator4 crime scene tec$nician4 -orensic in esti(ator4 e idence tec$nician4 -orensic tec$nician4 la*oratory tec$nician4 la*oratory s)ecialist4 -orensic s)ecialist4 -orensic analyst4 -orensic scientist4 criminalist4 etc. #$at is im)ortant to remem*er a*out titles is t$at t$ey are administrati e and not necessarily su((esti e o- a )articular *ac,(round4 education4 trainin(4 or

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e/)ertise. It is t$e %or, t$at de-ines t$e )ro-essional. It is education4 trainin(4 e/)erience4 and t$e Huality o- %or, )roducts t$at de-ine e/)ertise. 7C$isum I Tur ey ";;<8 / i: T$e a-orementioned )roceedin(s and res)onsi*ilities clearly de-ine necessary s)eci-ics -or crime scene in esti(ation. 'o% t$is is e/ecuted is summed u) in t$e last sentence+ education4 trainin(4 e/)erience4 and t$e Huality o- %or,. T$e crime scene s$ould *e ie%ed as a )u11le %it$ eac$ )iece o- e idence -ormin( a small *ut inte(ral )art o- t$e o erall com)osite4 i.e. a mosaic iyou %ill. T$e crime scene in esti(ator must start %it$ an o erall e aluation o- t$e crime scene in Huestion *y )ausin( at t$e determined )oint o- entry and t$en scannin( t$e entire crime scene to -orm an o erall )icture 7crime scene com)osite: in t$eir mind. And t$en t$ey s$ould )roceed t$rou($ t$e crime scene )ayin( )articular attention to e ery *it o- rele ant e idence at t$at )articular crime scene. T$is %ill )ro ide a mental com)osite to com)are t$e -inal )rocessed results a(ainst. 0ut+ are %e (ettin( a little a$ead o- oursel es $ere& T$e $istory o- crime reconstruction can teac$ us many t$in(s. Dr. Jose)$ E. 0ell 71@><6 1?11: im)ressed u)on $is students t$e necessity o- astute o*ser ation and in-erence. Bayin( attention to e ery detail no matter %$at4 and+ al%ays care-ul to note $is surroundin(s4 $e could read $is )atients and students li,e a *oo,. 'is in-luence %as noted and e/tended t$rou($ one o$is students Sir Art$ur Conan Doyle. Doyle %rote o- $is teac$er and mentor Dr. 0ell8 3I t$ou($t o- my teac$er Joe 0ell4 o- $is ea(le -ace4 o- $is curious %ays4 o- $is eerie tric, o- s)ottin( details. I- $e %ere a detecti e $e %ould surely reduce t$e -ascinatin( unor(ani1ed *usiness Ko- detecti e %or,L to somet$in( nearer an e/act science. I %ould try Kto seeL i- I could (et t$is e--ect. It %as surely )ossi*le in real li-e4 so %$y s$ould I not ma,e it )lausi*le in -iction& It is all ery %ell to say t$at a man is cle er4 *ut t$e reader

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%ants to see e/am)les o- t$isGsuc$ e/am)les as 0ell (a e us e ery day in t$e %ards. T$e idea amused me.5 7C$isum I Tur ey ";;<8 E: T$is is t$e same Doyle t$at (a e li-e to S$erloc, 'olmes ia $is no els de)ictin( t$e e er o*ser ant detecti e. T$e -irst mention o- criminalistics came -rom Dr. 'ans Gross and $e *ecame ,no%n as t$e -at$er o- criminalistics -rom $is seminal %or,4 3'and*uc$ -ur Untersc$unsric$ter als System der !riminalisti, KCriminal In esti(ation4 A Bractical Te/t*oo, -or Ma(istrates4 Bolice O--icers4 and La%yers 7Gross4 1?;F:L. It %as a %aters$ed e ent in %$ic$ Gross )roclaimed t$e irtues oscience a(ainst intuition4 and a systematic a))roac$ to $olistic crime reconstruction a(ainst unin-ormed e/)erience and o ers)eciali1ation. S)eci-ically4 Gross %rote on t$e im)ortance oo*=ecti ity and t$eory -alsi-ication %$en see,in( to reconstruct e ents. 37I*id8 1<: #$ereas Dr.As 0ell and Gross %ere de-inite -orerunners in criminalistics4 t$e -irst crime la*oratory %as esta*lis$ed *y Edmond Locard. It s$ould *e s)eci-ically noted and cate(ori1ed in t$e memory o- any and all in esti(ati e criminalists+LocardAs E/c$an(e Brinci)le. T$is )rinci)le am)li-ies one o- t$e most salient )oints in criminolo(y4 and t$at is 3e ery contact lea es a trace.5 I include rele ance as to ori(in and translation o- LocardAs seminal $y)ot$esis. 3'o%e er4 Locard is most -amous -or t$e -orensic a/iom t$at *ears $is name8 LocardAs E/c$an(e Brinci)le. It $as *een misstated. Misre)resented4 and misattri*uted o er t$e years *y t$ose lecturin( and %ritin( aut$oritati ely on t$e su*=ect. Con-usion in t$e -orensic science community and amon( students $as resulted. A re-erence -rom Locard -ound in La Bolice et Les MMt$odes Scienti-iHues4 in t$e ori(inal Crenc$4 may *e o- use to understand %$at $e actually meant 7Locard4 1?>D4 )). <G@:8 A rec$erc$e des traces nAest )as4 autant HuAon )ourrait le croire4 une inno ation des criminalistes modernes. CAest une occu)ation )ro*a*lement aussi ieille Hue IN$umanitM.

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Le )rinci)e est celui6ci. Toute action de lA$omme4 et a-ortiori4 lAaction iolente HuAest un crime4 ne )eut )as se dMrouler sans laisser HuelHue marHue. LAadmira*le est Ia ariMtM de ces marHues. TantOt cc seront des em)reintes4 tantOt de sim)les traces4 tantOt des tac$es. Translation8 Searc$in( -or traces is not4 as muc$ as one could *elie e it4 an inno ation o- modern criminal =urists. It is an occu)ation )ro*a*ly as old as $umanity. T$e )rinci)le is t$is one. Any action o- an indi idual4 and o* iously4 t$e iolent action constitutin( a crime4 cannot occur %it$out lea in( a mar,. #$at is admira*le is t$e ariety o- t$ese mar,s. Sometimes t$ey %ill *e )rints4 sometimes sim)le traces4 and sometimes stains. In 1?>E4 a S)anis$ translation o- t$is same (eneral )rinci)le %as )ro ided in Locard 71?>E4 ). 1;<:8 AJ mai$ec$or le es im)osi*le actuar4 y so*re todo actuar con la intensidad Hue su)one 1a acciPn criminal4 sin de=ars indicios de su )aso. Translation8 To t$e criminal4 it is im)ossi*le -or $im to act4 and mainly to act %it$ t$e intensity t$at su))oses criminal action4 %it$out lea in( indications o- $is ste).5 7I*id8 ">6"D: Can %e understand t$e si(ni-icance o- LocardAs Brinci)le& T$ere is al%ays somet$in( le-t *e$ind re(ardless o- its minutiaeand it is u) to t$e criminalists to -ind it2 T$e ictim can no lon(er s)ea, a*out %$at $a))ened to t$em4 *ut+ t$e e idence 7es)ecially trace e idence: can re eal olumes a*out %$at really $a))ened. #$at Huestions s$ould *e as,ed o- and at any crime scene& #$ere do %e -ind t$e )recedent and )ro(enitor o- t$is inHuiry& T$e man res)onsi*le -or as,in( t$e ri($t Huestions concernin( crime analysis %as4 Ed%ard Oscar 'einric$ 71@@161?E>:. 3Understand t$is -irst45 $e usually said. 3Crime analysis is an orderly )rocedure. ItAs )recise and it -ollo%s al%ays t$e same Huestions. 3Brecisely %$at $a))ened& Brecisely %$en did it $a))en& Brecisely %$ere did it $a))en& #$y did it $a))en& #$o did it&5 3ItAs all li,e a mosaic4 and e ery

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-act must *e e aluated *e-ore it can *e -itted into t$e )attern. In t$at %ay4 e ery -act as it is de elo)ed and eHuated *ecomes a clue.5 7I*id8 "<: And $o% did it $a))en %as added to t$e -i e Huestions in esti(ators as, o- t$eir crime scenes. T$ere are multi)le indi iduals t$at set t$e standards -or modern crime scene tec$nolo(ical )rocessin( and e aluation. Eac$ one *uilt u)on anot$erAs %or, until %e $a e an e/tensi e and com)re$ensi e data *ase o- ,no%led(e and a))lications. T$ere is a ca eat to t$eir %or, $o%e er as %as -ound in t$e 3trial o- t$e century5 %$erein t$e e/cellent %or,s oLAAs Scienti-ic Ser ices 0ureau Director4 0arry A.J. Cis$er %as used to discredit t$e )rosecution. 'is o%n %ords concernin( its use8 3Durin( t$e ;. J. Sim)son trial4 -riends and collea(ues -rom around t$e United States and *eyond called to tell me t$at t$e -i-t$ edition o- t$is te/t*oo, %as *ein( used *y t$e de-ense team to raise Huestions a*out t$e crime scene )rocedures used *y t$e )olice. In a %ay I %as -lattered to $a e *ecome a -ootnote in t$e 3trial o- t$e century85 $o%e er4 I %as also concerned t$at some o- t$e statements made in t$is te/t %ere misconstrued and ta,en out o- conte/t. I learned a lesson -rom t$is case G t$ere is muc$ more to crime scene in esti(ation t$an sim)ly )ro)er )olice in esti(ati e tec$niHues and -orensic scienti-ic and tec$nical s,ill. A))earance and )erce)tion as %ell as t$e a*ility to communicate e--ecti ely to a =ury are eHually im)ortant. I once attended a class at t$e C0I Academy and still remem*er t$e instructorAs ad ice8 3ItAs not only im)ortant to *e s$ar)+ you $a e to loo, s$ar)4 as %ell25 To )ut it anot$er %ay4 a))earances and )erce)tion are e ery *it as im)ortant as ,no%led(e4 s,ills4 and a*ility4 at least in t$e eyes o- t$e =ury and t$e )u*lic.5 7Cis$er ";;;8 Brolo(ue: It is im)ortant to see t$e in(enuity o- t$e criminal element 7and t$eir la%yers: ca)itali1in( on t$e (enius o- -orensic scientists *y usin( t$eir o%n %or, to c$allen(e t$e

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e idence a(ainst t$em or t$eir client 7s: i- t$ey re)resent t$e sus)ect. T$e criminal element 7includin( t$eir la%yers: is determined to (et a%ay %it$ murder. I- t$e Sim)son crime scene %ould $a e *een )ro)erly )rocessed *y com)etent criminalists4 t$e case and =ury decision %ould certainly *e di--erent t$an it %as. T$e t%o ictims could not s)ea,4 *ut+ t$e e idence could4 *ut+ it %as contaminated and *ecame Huestiona*le4 c$allen(ed4 and+ in alidated2 Dr. Baul L. !ir, 71?;"61?<;: says t$is a*out e idence. 3T$is is e idence t$at does not -or(et. It is not con-used *y t$e e/citement o- t$e moment. It is not a*sent *ecause $uman %itnesses are. It is -actual e idence. B$ysical e idence cannot *e %ron(+ it cannot )er=ure itsel-+ it cannot *e %$olly a*sent. Only its inter)retation can err5 7C$isum I Tur ey ";;<8"@:. T$e e idence i- uncontaminated at t$e crime scene+ cannot *e in error. Only t$e $uman element can cause t$e e idence to *ecome contaminated and o- little or no use %$atsoe er. Collo%in( t$e t$ou($ts o- Dr. !ir, %e can determine t$e -ollo%in(. 7Cis$er ";;;8 16E: 1. B$ysical e idence can )ro e t$at a crime $as *een committed and esta*lis$ t$e ,ey elements o- a crime. ". B$ysical e idence can )lace t$e sus)ect in contact %it$ t$e ictim or %it$ t$e crime scene. >. B$ysical can esta*lis$ t$e identity o- )ersons associated %it$ t$e crime. D. B$ysical e idence can e/onerate t$e innocent. E. B$ysical e idence can corro*orate t$e ictimAs testimony. F. A sus)ect con-ronted %it$ )$ysical e idence may ma,e admissions or e en con-ess. <. B$ysical e idence is more relia*le t$an eye%itnesses to crimes. 7Remem*er Dr. !ir,As e aluation on e idence $ere.: @. Court decisions $a e made )$ysical e idence more im)ortant. ?. B$ysical e idence is e/)ected *y =uries in criminal cases. #e can see t$e alue o- e idence in any crime in esti(ation and t$is im)ortance cannot *e minimi1ed2 T$e )ro)er )rocedures must *e -ollo%ed at e ery crime scene4 and+t$is is o-

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)aramount im)ortance2 Eac$ )iece o- e idence s)ea,s4 s)ea,s -or t$e ictim4 and s)ea,s a(ainst t$e sus)ect t$at committed t$e crime. Eac$ )iece o- e idence $as a oice t$at must *e $eard. Not only a oice4 *ut+ a small -ra(ment o- a )icture t$at %$en com)leted+ %ill (i e t$e in esti(ati e team a com)lete )icture o- %$at e/actly $a))ened2 It is u) to t$ose (at$erin( e idence4 includin( trace4 to *e care-ul and dili(ent in t$eir collection and o*ser ations. All in esti(ations must *e team%or, oriented. T$is cannot *e t$e )ro er*ial 3micturatin(contest5 as to =urisdiction4 )ositions4 and t$e usual )ro*lems %it$ inter6de)artmental a(endas. Cis$er says t$is a*out team%or,8 3T$e -inal element in crime scene in esti(ation is team%or,. T$e -ull in esti(ation ocriminal acts in ol es scores o- )eo)le %$o o-ten %or, -or di--erent or(ani1ations. T$is system %as )ur)ose-ully desi(ned so t$at no one )erson or entity can o)erate inde)endently. As suc$4 t$ere %ill al%ays *e 3tur-5 issues t$at arise G 3T$is is my res)onsi*ility4 youAre not su))osed to do t$at.5 In addition4 as %e mo e to lar(er and more com)le/ criminal =ustice systems4 %e are more li,ely to *e dealin( %it$ )eo)le %$o are -aceless oices at t$e ot$er end o- t$e tele)$one. Cor com)le/ systems to %or,4 team%or, is o- t$e utmost im)ortance. Eac$ element o- t$e criminal in esti(ation G t$e uni-ormed o--icer4 t$e detecti e4 t$e crime scene s)ecialist4 t$e -orensic scientist4 t$e coroner4 t$e -orensic )at$olo(ist4 t$e )$oto(ra)$er4 t$e )rosecutor4 and all t$e ot$er ital )layers in t$e 3system5 G $a e to %or, coo)erati ely to ma,e t$e entire )rocess %or,. No one element or )erson is more im)ortant t$an any ot$er )erson or element. Eac$ )erson $as a ital role to )lay and eac$ element must *e accom)lis$ed in a res)onsi*le4 )ro-essional and timely manner to ma,e e ery com)onent -unction )ro)erly.5 7Cisc$er ";;;8 ";: QCor t$e %ant o- a nail4 t$e s$oe %as lost+ -or t$e %ant o- a s$oe t$e $orse %as lost+ and -or t$e %ant o- a $orse t$e rider %as lost4 *ein( o erta,en and slain *y t$e enemy4 all -or t$e %ant ocare a*out a $orses$oe nail.Q 66 0en=amin Cran,lin Bay attention to detail2 KEm)$asis MineL A case can *e eit$er %on or lost at t$e crime scene. You usually only $a e one o))ortunity to )rocess t$e crime scene %it$out contamination. I- it rains4 t$e e idence can *e %as$ed a%ay. I- t$e crime scene is e/)osed to t$e re(ular $uman element on a daily *asis4 t$e e idence %ill *e tram)led and *ecome useless. T$e )rocess must *e ri($t t$e -irst time. Rarely

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are t$ere (o *ac,s or+ do o erAs2 Usually t$e -irst res)onder or t$e -irst o--icer at t$e scene is con-ronted %it$ a dynamic ra)idly c$an(in( en ironment and attention to detail must *e t$eir )rimary concern. T$eir su*seHuent actions may *e t$e determinin( -actor in t$at )articular case. T$is role4 )osition4 cannot *e minimi1ed4 and+ trainin( -or t$is e entuality must *e a de)artmental )rereHuisite. Bre)aration cannot *e understated2 At e ery crime scene t$ere is e idence t$at must *e )reser ed -or t$e in esti(ati e team. Cirst res)onder must ta,e e/tensi e measures to ensure t$at t$is does $a))en. Remem*erin( LocardAs E/c$an(e Brinci)le t$at e idence no matter $o% minute4$as *een le-t *y t$e criminal. And+ it is -irst res)onderAs duty to )reser e t$is e idence -or -orensics. Cirst res)onder %ill -ollo% de)artmental )rotocol until relie ed o- )osition *y In esti(ati e Detecti e or $i($er ran,in( o--icer res)ondin( to scene. One o- t$e )ro*lems encountered *y crime scene in esti(ators can *e -ound in %$at is called t$e 3CSI E--ect.5 Do tele ision CSI ty)e )ro(rams correctly )ortray actuali1ations or+ can t$ese e ents *e (lori-ied and some%$at inaccurate -or (lamori1ation e--ect& KLen(t$y Huote no% included -or rele ance to su*=ect matter.L 3Corensic -raud and -orensic incom)etence may only intensi-y in t$e -uture in res)onse to t$e so6called 3CSI e--ect.5 T$is is a 3)$enomenon in %$ic$ actual in esti(ations are dri en *y t$e e/)ectations o- t$e millions o- )eo)le %$o %atc$ -a,e %$odunits on TR. It $as contri*uted to =urorsA desire to see more -orensic testimony -rom t$e stand.5 7'em)el4 ";;>4 ). 1>: In a NielsenAs ratin( )oll4 se en o- t$e to) "; TR s$o%s %ere )remised on -orensic in esti(ations and courtroom dramas4 meanin( t$at more t$an 1"; million ie%ers4 many o- %$om are )ros)ecti e =urors in criminal cases4 %atc$ t$ese s$o%s eac$ %ee, 7Salmon and OA0rien4 ";;E:. Re(retta*ly4 'olly%oodAs

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)ortrayal o- -orensic science is -ar -rom accurate4 as t$ese 3s$o%s tend to em*ellis$ and e/a((erate t$e science4 i(nore actual time lines -or testin( and raise e/)ectations o- t$e (eneral )u*lic4 la% en-orcement4 and =udicial system to an e/tremely a*surd and totally unrealistic le el5 7#ec$t4 ";;>4 ). D;>:. T$e CSI e--ect may e/acer*ate t$e -orensic -raud )ro*lem in t%o res)ects. Cirst4 accordin( to many )rosecutors4 t$e CSI e--ect $as raised t$eir *urden o- )roo- to suc$ an e/tent t$at it is 3,illin(5 le(itimate )rosecutions 7Terrence Carley4 a )rosecutor in Ocean County4 Ne% Jersey4 as Huoted in Coscarelli4 ";;E:. Cor instance4 t$e Dela%are Su)reme Court $eld t$at a trial =ud(e a*used $is discretion %$en $e -ailed to re)rimand a )rosecutor %$o com)lained to a =ury t$at t$e standard -or (uilt %as no lon(er 3*eyond a reasona*le dou*t.5 T$e )rosecutor ar(ued t$at t$e ne% standard is 3t$e TR e/)ectation t$at Kcriminal de-endants: $o)e -ol,s li,e you %ant. Can t$ey meet NC.S.I.A& I- t$ey donAt $a e -in(er)rints4 $e canAt *e (uilty. On TR4 t$ey %ould $a e -ound -in(er)rints. 0ut t$is isnAt TR4 t$is is real li-e5 70oats%ain . State4 ";;E Del. LESIS 1F@ at T>+ t$e error %as ruled $armless *ecause 3t$e e idence introduced at trial )roduced o er%$elmin( )roo- o(uilt5:5 7Cis$er ";;;8 E1<61@:. It a))ears t$at imitations to reality sometimes can )ro e detrimental to actual crime scene in esti(ations. 'o%e er+ in t$e midst o- all o- t$is arise )ro(rams4 sans CSI4 t$at can assist in courtroom )resentations. Com)uteri1ed Crime Ma))in( can )resent a ery detailed )resentation o- %$at %as -ound at t$e scene4 %$at e idence re ealed4 and )lace e eryt$in( in )ro)er ie%in( order. As t$e =urists most li,ely ie% tele ision as ane eryday $a*it i.e. ne%s and )ro(rams ointerest4 t$e com)uteri1ed )resentation %ould *e acce)ta*le and understanda*le -rom t$eir =uristAs )osition and )ers)ecti es. Anot$er aid to )resentation can *e -ound in modelin( t$e

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crime scene. 0y )lacin( t$e model *e-ore t$e =ury and e/)lainin( eac$ element o- t$e crime4 t$e =ury dra%st$eir o%n conclusion as to actual e ents ia )resentation *y t$e DAAs )rosecutorial team. One )icture is %ort$ a t$ousand %ords4 so t$ey say. Crime scene reconstruction ia eit$er one o- t$ese )resentations can $a e an e--ect to%ards con ictin( t$e sus)ect i- t$e e idence is conclusi e4 and+ i- t$e e idence is )ro)erly )resented4 o- course2 E ery crime scene is di--erent4 e en i- t$e crime is )er)etrated *y t$e same serial ,iller. T$e ,iller ma,es ad=ustments -rom t$e )re ious crime as t$ey continue to learn -rom eac$ crime t$ey commit. Ber$a)s t$e in esti(ator t$in,s t$at crime scenes are al%ays t$e same. 0ut+ t$ere are su*tle di--erences at eac$ crime scene4 and+ o-- times t$e e idence is $idden -rom ie%2 Eac$ crime scene is di--erent2 As t$e criminal and t$eir MO5s or si(natures are *ecomin( more com)le/ and $arder to discern4 science $as also *ecome more com)le/ and more so)$isticated in e idence disco ery. 3Modern crime and medical e/aminer9coroner la*oratories use a ast array o- scienti-ic s)ecialties to e/onerate t$e innocent and send murderers4 ra)ists4 *ur(lars4 and s%indlers to =ail. 0ones tell stories o- identity4 trauma4 and )ostmortem mutilation. T$e -orensic ant$ro)olo(ist reads t$em. T$e odontolo(ist analy1es teet$ and t$e mar,s t$ey ma,e. Beo)le constantly e/c$an(e *its o- t$emsel es %it$ t$eir surroundin(s. T$e trace e idence s)ecialist studies $airs4 -i*ers4 )ollen4 )aint4 soil4 and (lass to determine %$o %as )resent at a crime scene. T$e *allistics e/)ert loo,s at tools and %ea)ons. T$e *iolo(ist analy1es *lood4 sali a4 and semen to tie )er)etrators to ictims or locations5 7O%en ";;;8 @:. E en t$e minutest o- trace e idence is discerna*le under t$e ne% tec$niHues and microsco)es no%utili1ed *y -orensics. E en cases o- ot$er eras can *e sol ed usin( modern

Crime Scene Reconstruction

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-orensic tec$nolo(y. Arsenic remains in t$e *ones and almost e ery )art o- t$e *ody4 lon( a-ter t$e indi idual $as died. One o- t$e ma=or accom)lis$ments -or -orensic science %as t$e disco ery o- $iddentrace e idence in t$e Ban Am Cli($t 1;> destruction. T$e airliner %as disinte(rated *y t$e e/)losion. T$e crime scene %as com)rised o- almost 14;;; sHuare miles. 0ut2 T$e -ollo%in( is detailed in its )resentation8 3T$e -act t$at t$e air)lane ictims %ere -ound to $a e su--ered lun( dama(e -rom iolent decom)ression su((ested t$at some catastro)$ic -ailure $ad made t$e aircra-t disinte(rate in t$e air. In order to esta*lis$ t$e seHuence o- e ents leadin( to t$e disaster4 in esti(ators needed to collect as muc$ o- t$e %rec,a(e as )ossi*le e en t$ou($ t$e de*ris %as %idely scattered. Cra(ments $ad dri-ted in t%o trails o- %rec,a(e co erin( an area o- almost a t$ousand sHuare miles o- nort$ern En(land and )art o- Scotland. Ne ert$eless more t$an -our million )ieces %ere traced. E entually o er ninety )ercent o- t$e air)laneUs structure %as reco ered and used to reconstruct t$e )lane in a $u(e $an(ar at a -ormer army ammunition store.5 7#ard ";;;8 1D;: Cour million )ieces o- e idence (at$ered -rom a))ro/imately 14;;; sHuare miles4 and o er ninety )ercent o- t$e airlines structure %as (at$ered2 E idence su((ested t$at an e/)losion $ad ta,en )lace2 E entually in esti(ators -ound a tiny )iece o- circuit *oard and t$is t$en leads t$em to conclude t$at a Tos$i*a radio cassette )layer %as used as t$e detonation de ice t$at destroyed Ban Am Cli($t 1;>. T$is e idence cou)led %it$ t$e -orensic analysis and crime scene reconstruction led in esti(ators to t$e )eo)le res)onsi*le -or t$is atrocity t$at ,illed "E? )eo)le on t$e )lane and 11 on t$e (round. Usin( a detailed t$ree dimensional reconstruction )rocess led t$em to t$e )art o- t$e -usela(e t$at $eld t$e *om*. T$is t$en led t$em to t$e container t$at $eld

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t$e *a((a(e %it$ t$e *om*. Curt$er in esti(ation re ealed t$e *a((a(e %as loaded onto t$e <D< at Cran,-ort4 Germany4 and no% t$e conclusion o- Ban Am Cli($t 1;> -orensically s)ea,in(8 3Corensic s)ecialists -ound (arment -i*ers in t$e -ra(ments o- t$e case. T$ese %ere traced to clot$es *ou($t in Malta and -lo%n to Cran,-urt on t$e day o- t$e cras$. In esti(ations on Malta traced t$e )urc$ase o- t$e clot$es to a Li*yan %$o did not actually *oard t$e -li($t to London4 t$ou($ t$e *a((a(e containin( t$e clot$es %as acce)ted.5 7O%en";;;8 1D": T$e crime scene reconstruction and analysis e entually led in esti(ators to t$e )eo)le res)onsi*le -or t$is terri*le crime. Conclusion8 E ery crime scene contains e idence4 e ery crime scene can and %ill -ollo% LocardAs E/c$an(e Brinci)le4 3e ery contact lea es a trace.5 I- t$e crime scene in esti(ator 7s: and t$eir team are dili(ent4 e idence %ill *e reco ered t$at %ill e entually lead to t$e ca)ture and con iction o- t$e criminal 7s: res)onsi*le. T$e dili(ent crime scene )rocessin( team %ill -ollo% esta*lis$ed )rotocol and res)ond accordin(ly. E/am)les o- irres)onsi*le crime scene )rocessin(4 7li,e t$e O.J.Sim)son crime scene: $aunt in esti(ators to t$is day. Jo$n Dou(las and Mar, Ols$a,er in t$eir *oo, The Cases That Haunt Us, ma,e a determination concernin( t$e Jon 0enet Ramsey crime scene4 t$at it %as not $andled and )rocessed correctly. T$us+ t$e )er)etrator $as yet to *e disco ered. Jo$n Dou(las $as determined t$at t$e RamseyAs are tellin( t$e trut$2 3A-ter I $ad s)ent a*out t%o $ours %it$ Ramsey4 $e e/cused $imsel- to (o to t$e rest room. I turned to 0ryan Mor(an4 %$oAd *een in t$e room t$e entire time4 and said sim)ly4 3I *elie e $imV I (a e t$em my analysis t$us -ar and %$y I *elie ed t$e RamseyAsA stories5 7Dou(las I Ols$a,er ";;;:. So+ a-ter all o- t$is4 t$iscrime remains unsol ed. 'o%e er+ i- t$e

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crime scene %as )rocessed 7reconstructed: correctly4 t$ere %ould )ro*a*ly *e di--erent results4 and+ a sus)ect %ould $a e *een determined and a))re$ended. T$e ictim can no lon(er s)ea,4 *ut+ t$e e idence le-t *e$ind containsa oice o- %$at $a))ened to t$em. It is u) to t$e in esti(ators and t$e -orensic team to $ear t$at oice and res)ond %it$ in esti(ati e results t$at -orm a com)osite )ointin( to%ards t$e )er)etrator 7s: ot$at )articular crime.

Crime Scene Reconstruction

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T#ritten -or Criminal Justice

Crime Scene Reconstruction

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Re-erences C$isum4 I Tur ey4 0rent E. Crime Reconstruction 71st ed.4 Rol. 1:. San Die(o4 CA8 Else ier Academic Bress. 7Ori(inal %or, )u*lis$ed ";;<: Dou(las4 Jo$n I Ols$a,er4 Mar,. 7";;;:. The Cases That Haunt Us 71st ed.4 Rol. 1:. Ne% Yor,8 Simon I Sc$uster. 7Ori(inal %or, )u*lis$ed ";;;: Cis$er. 7";;D:. Techniques of Crime Scene Investigation 7<t$ ed.4 Rol. 1:. 0oca Raton4 CL8 CRC Bress. Lee4 Balm*ac$4 Timot$y.4 I Miller4 Marilyn T. 7";;1:. Henry Lee's Crime Scene Hand oo! 7"nd ed.4 Rol. 1:. Ne% Yor,8 Academic Bress. O%en4 Da id. 7";;;:. Hidden "vidence 71st ed.4 Rol. 1:. 0u--alo4 NY8 Cire-ly 0oo,s 7USA: Inc. 7Ori(inal %or, )u*lis$ed ";;;: Tur ey4 0rent. 71???:. Crimina# $rofi#ing %n Introduction to &ehaviora# "vidence %na#ysis 71st ed.4 Rol. 1:. San Die(o4 CA8 Academic Bress. 7Ori(inal %or, )u*lis$ed 1???: