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Susan A. Bender 1
Revised from Documents Presented by Southern Institute of Forensic Science, New Orleans, June 2005
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Revised from Documents Presented by Southern Institute of Forensic Science, New Orleans, June 2005
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Revised from Documents Presented by Southern Institute of Forensic Science, New Orleans, June 2005
Is His Mother A
Blood
Relative?
Police are called to a house where they find a woman dead in the middle of
her living room floor. All signs immediately point to a homicide. The police
have been called to the scene by the victims son, who provides them with
the following story:
I came home from school and my mom was cooking dinner. I didnt want to
eat what she was fixing, so I decided to walk to the KFC down the street to
get some hot wings. But when I got there, I realized I had left my wallet
and had to go home to get it. When I got to the front walk, I saw the front
door was open, and I rushed in and found my mom on the floor bleeding; her
purse was sitting on top of her body. I tried to get her to wake up, and then
tried CPR, but I think she was dead when I got here. That is when I called
you. Someone must have broken into the house after I left and killed her for
her money. I dont know anyone in the world who would want to hurt her. But
I do remember a strange looking man lingering around the neighborhood for
the last several weeks, but he never seemed like any sort of threat.
Little did he know that the description he gave matched the appearance of
Sam Spade, whom the police had under suspicion for an unrelated crime.
This scenario is based on a true case from the 1980s in Greeley Colorado. There is a correct answer
to this case, and a suspect was arrested, charged and convicted .
The police are immediately suspicious of the sons story. Lets see if you can
piece the evidence together to come up with a solution to this chicken
hearted crime.
Here is the evidence: (Remember good detectives make notes about the
details from witness statements and evidence from the crime scene.)
1. There is a tremendous amount of blood at the scene, and signs of a
tremendous struggle.
2. A search of Mr. Spades home revealed a number of suspicious items;
including a white undershirt that appeared to have blood on it.
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Revised from Documents Presented by Southern Institute of Forensic Science, New Orleans, June 2005
10. The blood spatter pattern in the house indicates that the attack
started at the kitchen table, the mother had obviously been seated
and ready to eat her dinner. There is food on the table. The table has
been set for two. There is an overturned chair beside the table.
There is a newspaper on the edge of the table with vertical blood
spatter drops on it and it is open to the automotive section with
several car ads circled. The police believe that the mother had been
interrupted while she was eating and had tried to make it to the front
door to escape her attacker. There are blood drops on the floor next
to the threshold. There is a bloody drag mark across the floor
indicating she had been dragged back into the room. There are bloody
footprints leading backward away from the body, and anther set
leading to the phone. There is no blood on the phone or the table near
the phone. There is an arterial spray at about 5 feet from the floor
on the wall to the left of the kitchen table. There is also a smeared
bloody handprint on the door jam. There is an obvious set of cast off
marks on the ceiling above the body
11. Upon examining the contents of the mothers purse they find a bloody
check stub from the IRS in the amount of $3000 and a bank deposit
slip for the same amount. There is about $50 in cash in her wallet,
and there is no blood or bloody prints on the wallet.
12. A test of the blood stain on the shirt found in Mr. Spades home
reveals that it was from a person with type AB blood. Unfortunately
the victim, Mr. Spade, and the victims son all have type AB blood. So
the initial tests were unable to support or refute the contention that
Mr. Spade was the perpetrator.
13. Mr. Spade and the victims son were asked for a cheek swab to match
to the bloody toothpick found on the sink on the victims residence.
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Blood in the
Secret Garden
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Revised from Documents Presented by Southern Institute of Forensic Science, New Orleans, June 2005
Then the lead detectives and the crime scene technicians will sign the
entrance log to the scene and begin observing and collecting evidence.
The most important skill of the lead investigator is his/her powers of
observation and the notes that he/she takes at the scene. A crime scene
sketch is drawn to be used for placement of evidence. Witness
statements are taken by the detectives at this point and contact
information from the witnesses is collected. All evidence collected at the
scene is placed into paper evidence bags and is labeled and sealed.
Firearms are placed into a safe box with straps that secure the weapon
to the box so that it does not shift in transit thereby destroying and
trace evidence such as fingerprints that might be present on the weapon.
The body of the victim cannot be removed until someone from the
Medical Examiners office or Coroners office has arrived at the scene.
At the scene, paper bags are placed over the hands of the victim. These
bags are sealed with evidence tape and the tape is signed (initials are
partially on the tape and partially on the bag to help determine if the
tape has been disturbed) by the lead detective on the scene.
During the entire process pictures are taken of the scene, usually one
close-up shot and one at a predetermined distance and a panoramic view
of the entire scene to show the relationship of the victim and the other
evidence at the scene. Many of the pictures are taken using a one to one
scale that allows for direct measurements and comparisons of the
evidence from the photographs and does not necessitate the use of the
actual evidence from the crime scene. Once a crime scene has been
altered, it has been destroyed forever, and cannot be recreated.
When it is time to transport the body from the crime scene the body is
wrapped in a clean white cotton sheet that is labeled as to direction of
placement of the body. This sheet allows all trace evidence that might
fall of the body during transport to be collected and examined. The body
is NEVER placed directly into the black plastic body bag. It would be
difficult to locate evidence 1) against a black background 2) if it is
degraded after in comes in contact with the plastic.
Once the body is removed from the scene it is transported to the
Medical Examiners office or the Coroners Office. When the body
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arrives at the morgue, a technician signs for the body and all of the
personal effects that accompany the body are receipted. Jewelry is
described by color, yellow metal not gold and clear stones, not diamonds.
There is a liability issue. If the documentation that accompanies the
body to the funeral home, indicates that the victim had a diamond ring
and the ring was actually the Walmart plastic special the Medical
Examiners office is legally responsible for the cost of a diamond ring.
All external anomalies are observed, and measurements and locations of
wound are documented on a paper chart and by photograph. Positions of
wounds are measured as a distance from the bottom of the victims feet
to the location of the wound. X-Rays are taken of the body to find
bullets, or the location of previous injuries. If bullets are found they are
removed and sent to the ballistics lab for comparison to other evidence
that may have been found at the crime scene or may be matched to a gun
that is later linked to a possible suspect. If blunt force trauma is
suspected, photographs of bruising patterns are taken to be matched to
crime scene reconstructions to help determine the type of object used
during the assault.
If the victim was stabbed, photographs are taken of the wounds, and
latex may be used to recreate the appearance of the blade or other
weapon that created the injury. All body hair is combed to remove trace
evidence, and the body is thoroughly examined with alternate light source
to view fibers, and particulates. The body may also be examined for
fingerprints from the perpetrator.
A Y-shaped incision is made from clavicle to sternum and extends down to
the top of the pubic bone and the incision is at the depth of the body
cavity or the depth of the ribs. In females, the incision is made lateral to
the breasts and down under the breast. The skin from the top of the
body is lifted toward the head and flaps are created along the sides of
the body. They do not use a saw or clippers to chop the ribs because of
the danger of aerosolization of bone fragments and the possibility of
disease and clippers create sharp bone fragments that can be dangerous
to the person performing the autopsy. The ribs are removed by cutting
through the cartridge that attaches them to the breastbone.
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Blood that may have collected in the body cavity is collected and
measured. Arteries are cut and tied off so they do not retract into the
body. Blood is drawn from the descending aorta, fluid is drawn from the
vitreous chamber of the eye, and urine is drawn from the bladder. These
samples are sent to the toxicology lab for analysis. Typically the
metabolites of the drugs or other substances are present (Metabolites
are the fragments of the drug that are left after the action of the
digestive system or the action of other substances and processes within
the body.) Time since death can be determined by measuring the
potassium levels in the vitreous fluids of the eye, and if a person has
been strangled the small blood vessels in the eye break these are called
petechia.
Next the heart, esophagus, and descending aorta are removed. The
physician will reach under the mandible and tongue. The trachea and
esophagus come out -all in one piece with the lungs attached. The organs
below the diaphragm are removed individually. Stomach contents are
collected and this can be used to help establish time since death. The
individual organs from the chest cavity are now dissected out from the
block of organs. The entire length of the intestine is examined (run) to
determine the presence of injury or foreign objects in the intestine. In
an autopsy performed by the Medical Examiner, the brain is always
removed; if the autopsy is performed in a hospital the brain is not
normally removed. The entire autopsy process usually takes 30-45
minutes. In the case of significant trauma to the body the autopsy may
take weeks to complete. Once completed, the organs are returned to the
body cavity and the incisions are stitched closed. The body is then ready
for pick up by the funeral home.
Once the manner and cause of death have been established, the lead
detectives are notified and the investigation proceeds. Witness
statements are examined and further leads are developed. Ballistics and
toxicology reports are not immediately available to investigators so they
must pursue other avenues of investigation.
Once the toxicology reports are available, the medical examiner will
inform the investigators of the prescription, and illicit drugs and alcohol
that were present in the body fluids of the victim,
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Autopsy Report
1. The body is that of a well developed Caucasian male. He was
identified by the Hinds County coroner as Grant Robinson a local
dentist. He appears to be the stated age of 32 years. The deceased
is dressed in a pair of black boxer shorts.
2. There is a gunshot wound in the right chest wall. It is a contact
wound as is evidenced by the charring of the skin immediately around
the wound. There is no stippling or soot present on the body.
3. An examination of the gunshot wound shows that the bullet entered
the body from the left and it has transected the descending aorta
and the left primary bronchial tube. Death would have occurred
instantly. The bullet is removed from the macerated tissue of the
inferior lobe of the left lung.
4. The bullet has been sent to the State Crime lab for analysis.
5. Swabs are taken from both of the victims hands for GSR analysis.
6. The rest of the body is unremarkable with no apparent trauma or
bruising.
7. The body is opened with a standard Y shaped incision.
8. Vitreous fluids, blood, and urine are withdrawn for toxicology analysis
and are sent to the State Crime Lab.
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Toxicology Report
Analysis of the vitreous fluid, blood and urine are as follows:
Vitreous Fluids:
Metabolites of cannabis
Metabolites of the prescription drug Elavil
Metabolites of the drug Paxil
Blood:
Metabolites of cannabis
Metabolites of the prescription drug Elavil
Metabolites of the drug Paxil
Ethyl alcohol level 0.8%
Urine:
Metabolites of cannabis
Metabolites of the prescription drug Elavil
Metabolites of the drug Paxil
Ethyl alcohol level 0.5%
*The next step would be for the investigators to call the medical examiner
and ask, how, and for what those drugs are prescribed. They will also need
to know the legal limit for intoxication as measured by blood and urine
alcohol concentrations.*
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Ballistics Report
There were two exhibits submitted to the lab for analysis.
Exhibit Number One: submitted by the Hinds County coroner
Exhibit Number Two: submitted by the State Pathologist Dr. Stephen
Haynes
Both exhibits Number One and Number Two are ballistics matches and
appear to be fired from the same gun. The weapon has been identified as a
9 mm Luger .
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Case Conclusion
Lt. Switzer called Dr. Robinson office and after questioning the
receptionist at his office established that in fact Dr. Robinson had not
cancelled any of his appointments on January 4.
Based on the toxicology report and the phone interview with the doctor, it
was clear that Dr. Robinson had been depressed.
The Gun Shot Residue test indicated that Dr. Robinson had recently fired a
weapon, and the type of weapon indicated that the wound had been a close
contact wound.
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Autopsy Report
The following traumatic injuries were found on the victim:
Signs of emphysema
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Coroners Report
The injury patterns on the victim are as follows:
Abrasions on the skin were from pressure not from sliding; there is
no indication that the victim was thrown from a vehicle.
Toxicology Report
Blood alcohol levels were as follows:
Ethanol (grain alcohol): .411%
Methanol (wood alcohol): .045%
Isopropyl (rubbing alcohol): .035
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holidays and so she has prepared and frozen meals for the family to eat
while she is gone.
Rachael is 12 years old and attends the public school in her
neighborhood. She is a great student. Her teacher has decided to ask
Rachael to participate in their schools reading fair. Rachael wants to
participate but lately she has been so tired. Rachael reads as a hobby and
the new Harry Potter book has just come out so she hasnt been sleeping
very well so she attributes being tired to her lack of sleep. So she tells her
teacher that she will be happy to go to the reading fair. Her teacher gives
her a list of books that are a part of the competition and she decides to
read all of them to see which one she likes best. Rachael reads all ten of the
books on the list, and she begins experiencing a problem with her vision and
has been having headaches, she attributes this to all of her reading. But her
parents are concerned and make an appointment for Rachael to see the
doctor next week for a physical. This same week, her family decides to
participate in the American Heart Associations Heart walk to honor her
grandfather who had died last year of a heart attack. The walk is about two
miles and they walk sponsors have decided to have the walk begin and end
along Madison Avenue, where the pavement is new and smooth. Before she
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What possible diagnosis would you make at this point to help Rachael?
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a very strict training schedule, and as a result was suffering from her lack
of training during the off season. She was really stiff and her arms ached,
but she believed this was a really small price to pay for a possible full
scholarship.
Several evenings when Arielle came home from practice she was too
tired to eat and went strait to bed. Having been a high jumper in high school
and college, her father had experience with sore muscles and injuries. So on
the way home from work he stopped at the pharmacy and bought Arielle
several over the counter muscle creams and pain killers. He was very careful
to make sure that none of the capsules contained Aspirin. These creams
seemed to help, but Arielle started having increasing problems with an upset
stomach. She and her parents believed that her problems were related to
all of her increased training and the related stress and excitement about
the beginning of track season. Arielle assured her parents that she would be
fine and that another doctors visit was not necessary.
It was now March and the college scouts were scheduled to visit her
school next week. As a result, Arielle began training late into the evening.
It was now Friday night and Arielle decided to run one more lap before going
home. It was late and the sun was beginning to set. So Arielle did not see
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that one of her friends had dropped a t-shirt on the track. Arielle rounded
the last turn and was heading for the finish line, just as she turned and was
moving toward the inside lane she saw something on the track. She jumped
over what she later realized was her friends t-shirt. As she jumped she
landed poorly and twisted as she landed. She immediately realized that she
was hurt but decided to finish the sprint for the finish line.
As soon as she arrived home, she took a really hot bath to help her
sore muscles. She dried off and opened both tubes of the muscle creams
that her dad had bought for her. She covered her legs with a heavy layer of
both creams and put on a pair of sweats and went to sleep. When her
mother checked on her that evening, she was fast asleep. So her mother
decided not to wake her for dinner. Her parents were concerned but this
was not the first evening in the last few weeks that Arielle had slept
through dinner. The next morning they would wake her up early and feed
her a good breakfast so that she was ready for the scouts that were coming
to see her.
Her father woke up early the next morning. He had decided to take
the day off so that he could go to the school to encourage Arielle during her
try-outs. He quietly went down stairs and began making breakfast. When
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the meal was ready he went to the bottom of the stairs and called Arielle
for breakfast. When she didnt answer, he waited several minutes and called
her again. She still didnt answer, so he decided to go upstairs and check on
her. When he entered her room she was lying on her side facing away from
him. He called several times and got no response; he tried to rouse her and
soon discovered that his 17 year old daughter was DEAD.
Questions to ponder:
1. What do you believe happened to Arielle?
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Trouble in Paradise
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Trouble in Paradise
This is a true story that took place in the Mississippi Delta in early 2001.
Tim and Chelsea were high school sweethearts. They had grown up in
a very rural section of the Mississippi Delta. They married at eighteen and
by the time they were twenty-five they had four children. They had three
boys Scott, Sam, and Jeremy and a girl Jessica. Tim worked on his familys
cotton farm from dawn until dusk every day of the week, and Chelsea was
tired of being the sole parent and of never receiving help from her husband.
The last several years the weather had not been kind to the farmers
in the Delta. There had been very little rain and the cotton yield was not
high enough for the farmers to make a substantial profit. So the money for
Chelsea and Tim was in short supply.
To increase the cotton yields, Tim decided to use pesticides and
herbicides to treat his fields. Even though the finances were tight he
decided that the use of these chemicals was a good investment. These
chemicals are very dangerous to the workers who apply them. If not
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schedule. He had also begun having difficulty gripping objects with his right
hand. He said he didnt always feel what he was trying to hold onto/
These problems were always worse first thing in the morning, right
after he took his shower, and as the day progressed his concentration and
memory began to improve. One good thing was happening, the worse that
Tim felt the more attention he began to receive from his wife Chelsea. She
even began to help him was his hair for him during his morning shower. She
even bought him a special conditioning shampoo to help to treat the dandruff
that he had developed. Chelseas mood had begun to brighten and she was
happy that because Tim was sick he was being forced to spend more time at
home.
Tim enjoyed the extra attention that he was receiving, but after all
of the months of her unstable behavior and argumentative attitude he was
suspicious. Tim went to see his family physician and the doctor was puzzled
by Tims symptoms. He had previously been a very healthy young man.
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Questions to ponder:
1. Do you believe that Tim has a right to be suspicious?
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chain of custody of the evidence had not been maintained. At the point
where Tim began to become suspicious, he should have called the police and
allowed one of their forensic investigators to take the samples. This way
they could have established that Chelsea had been responsible for adding
the pesticides to the shampoo. At this point, fingerprints could have been
taken from the containers and other trace evidence could have been
collected. Since there had been a history of domestic problems in the
household the police told Tim that a case could be made by Chelseas
defense attorney that Tim had poisoned himself to get custody of his
children. Because evidence had been destroyed when Tim collected the
samples police were unable to verify the reliability of the tests that were
performed by the Toxicology Lab.
Ultimately, Tim did get a divorce from Chelsea and did get full
custody of his children, but the judge based his decision on Chelseas mental
instability and not on the attempted poisoning. Chelsea was not arrested and
no charges were ever filed against her.
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This is a true story the names have been changed to protect the person of
interest, because her trial is just beginning in the metro area.
James and Heather were happily married and lived in a nice new house
in an expensive, exclusive subdivision in Madison County. James had just
opened a new hardware store in Clinton and Heather was finishing her
degree in Chemistry at a local university. Everything was great. James
parents had retired and were planning on taking a cruise. James was thrilled
with how quickly his hard ware sore was growing because many out of state
people were moving to Clinton to get a job with the new telecommunications
company that had just moved into the area.
What is the saying if it seems too perfect it probably is? James and
Heather were sitting at the breakfast table watching the news and the
broadcast paused for an important announcement. The chairman of the
telecommunications company had just been indicted for misappropriating
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company funds. James was concerned but he knew the man and he was one
of his best customers.
Several months passed and the hardware store was beginning to feel
the effects of the fear that the workers in the telecommunications company
felt. If you are not sure that you will have a job next week, you are not
likely to spent money on unnecessary household repairs.
In the meantime, Heather just accepted a job at a local chemical
company. Money in the household was not as limited as it could have been, in
light of the hardware stores problems. Several months passed and the
hardware stores problems continued to increase. James had not seen a
profit for six months so he and Heather decided to close the store.
Heather was concerned because she knew they could not make ends
meet on only her income. She hoped that James would ask his parents to
help them make ends meet. James was reluctant to ask his parents for
money, they had worked hard their entire lives and were now enjoying their
time together as they traveled around the country. Heather continued to
work hard and decided to get a tutoring job to earn extra money. But she
knew she had to do something drastic if the situation did not improve.
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Meanwhile James was really suffering, he felt like a failure because he could
not adequately support his family.
On the way to work one morning, Heather stopped at the local
discount store to buy a plant for a lady at her school that was retiring.
While standing in line waiting to check out she was reading some of the
packages of seeds that were on the counter. One package of seeds was for
a large leafed plant called Castor Beans. She decided to buy the seeds
because she had a perfect place in the yard for a tall large leafed plant.
There was an accident outside the store and Heather was forced to sit in
traffic waiting for the police to clear the scene. Something sparked her
memory and she reached across the seat to re-read the seed package.
Somewhere she remembered reading about a chemical poison that could be
extracted from Castor beans.
When she finally got to work she searched the Internet for
everything that she could learn about Castor Beans. She discovered that
there was indeed a poison that could be extracted from the seeds of the
plant. According to the FBI website it was drop for drop the most dangerous
poison known to man. Heather found several more articles and decided to
print them out to read later. She taught her class, but in the back of her
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mind she kept thinking about that package of seed that were in her car.
Could this simple package of seeds from the discount store be the solution
to all of her financial problems?????
What do you think happened next?
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1. Who killed Mr. Harris? What evidence do you have to support you
conclusion?
2. Create a table of evidence to support the idea that the other five
women were innocent.
4. On the last page of this worksheet write a two paragraph story that
describes what you believe happened on the night of Friday October
13, 2004
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Questions
Questions 15 will require some research on your part to answer. Questions
68 should be answered based upon your knowledge of crime scene
investigation and autopsy procedures.
1. Why does the FBI have jurisdiction over the Sue Frost poisoning
case?
2. When did product tampering become a crime handled by the FBI?
3. Which previous case led to product tampering becoming a crime that
falls under FBI jurisdiction?
4. Where did this case (referred to in Question 3) of product tampering
occur?
5. Who was ultimately convicted of the crime referred to in Question 3?
6. What should be the next step(s) in the investigation of the case
called A Headache to Die For?
7. Why would the death certificate for Stella Pennys husband, Bart, not
have shown cyanide poisoning as the cause of death?
8. Why was it important for the FBI agents to determine if there was a
possible connection between Sue Frost, a banker, and Bart Penny, a
construction worker?
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Questions
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involvement of Stella Penny in the death of her husband grew as the FBI did
more background checks on her. It was discovered that Mrs. Penny had been
convicted of check fraud, forgery, and child abuse while living in California in
the late 60s and early 70s. She was no longer in trouble with the law but it
was discovered that she and her husband had been in significant debt and
that the bank was moving to foreclose on their home at the time of Barts
death. Being broke or living close to bankruptcy seemed to be the normal
mode of existence for the Pennys.
However, investigators found that Stella had somehow managed to find the
money to increase the insurance coverage on Barts life. As a state employee,
Bart had a $31,000 life insurance policy with an additional $105,000 of
coverage should death result from an accident. Stella had increased the
value of the policy with an additional $40,000 of accidental death coverage.
Thus she stood to receive $176,000 if Bart should die accidentally.The FBI
also learned that Stella had called the doctor who had signed the death
certificate to ask if he was positive that her husband had died from
emphysema, the cause listed, or if he could have been mistaken in his
findings.
Questions
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even the possibility of hiring a hit man to do the killing. She also mentioned
to her daughter the possible use of cyanide to murder her husband. Regina
informed the agents that her mother had researched the effects of cyanide
on humans at various libraries.
Questions
Questions
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Death at
Breakfast
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Death at Breakfast
It was a warm Saturday morning in March. It had been an unusually
wet spring and Chris wanted to take advantage of the deck outside the
community hall in the apartment complex where he lived. So he invited his
friends over for a well deserved home cooked breakfast/brunch. The
invitations included a planned menu of toast, biscuits, waffles, pancakes,
eggs, sausage, bacon, and fruit. He wanted to thank his friends for all of
their kindness. His friends had supported him emotionally and financially,
during the last few months after he had lost his job. He had a fist fight
with his boss, after the boss had insulted his girlfriend. He was still
receiving threatening phone calls from someone but he did not believe he
was in any danger.
Chris went for a walk to enjoy the morning, stopped by the mailbox
and found a package addressed to him. He assumed that one of his friends
had sent him an early Birthday present. But he did not recognize the return
address. As he walked back toward his apartment, he noticed that the
outside of the package was dusty, but he would worry about that later. He
was just looking forward to a morning with a house full of guests.
Chris began cooking at 10 a.m. he made the waffles first and then
began searching the cabinets for the pancake mix. On the back of the shelf
he found a packaged mix that had been opened and in the cabinet for several
years but that was all he had so he decided to use it. While he was searching
for the ingredients for his feast, he noticed that he had a water leak under
his sink. It was a slow leak and he didnt think much of the problem, but
knew he needed to report it to the building maintenance man after his party
was over. Just another reason for him to move, the air conditioner had not
been working properly for several weeks and now this, but he was not going
to let this ruin his party. What Chris didnt realize is that this leak had been
happening for several months and the bottoms of his wooden cabinets were
wet.
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In April 2006, the experience of a 14-year-old who had eaten pancakes made from a mix
that had gone moldy was described in the popular newspaper column Dear Abby. The account
has since been circulated widely on the Internet as scores of concerned homemakers ponder
the safety of the pancake mix lurking in their larders.
There is truth in this tale. Yet its inherent warning is overblown.
The cause of his death was determined to be anaphylaxis due to an allergic reaction to
molds.
Anaphylaxis is a rapidly developing immunologic reaction that occurs when those who have
allergies come in contact with the substances they are allergic to. When it kills, it does so
by triggering fatal respiratory or cardiac arrest.
The pancake mix that delivered a toxic payload was analyzed and found to contain four
rather nasty molds: Penicillium, Fusarium, Mucor, and Aspergillus. The decedent had not
been allergic to eggs (which are a component of pancakes), so there was no doubt as to
which allergy had killed him. It had been mold, and nothing but.
There was a death, and it had been due to ancient pancake mix. Or, rather, to an allergic
reaction to the mold that had grown in the stale pancake mix.
It needs be kept in mind there is nothing inherently toxic about pancake mix that has
passed its freshness date, the product's getting old does not transform it into a poison, nor
does the growth of mold within opened boxes of flapjack powder turn it into something that
will fell all who ingest it. Only those who have allergies to mold are at risk, and even then,
for the pancake mix to pose a hazard it has to contain mold spores, not just be over the hill.
For mold to gain access to a food product, the foodstuff has to be exposed to its spores.
Pancake mix cocooned in an unbleached wax paper, plastic, or a foil pouch within its outer
packaging wouldn't have this contact and should still be safe no matter how old it gets.
However, mix sold unpouched in cardboard boxes or paper sacks would likely be at risk even
if the box or sack hadn't previously been opened, because such packaging would not
necessarily keep dampness out, and mold thrives in damp environments.
What does all this mean? If you don't have a mold allergy, you needn't fear your pancake
mix; if you do have such a sensitivity, you shouldn't keep your flapjack makings around for a
few years after opening the box or pouch it came in. It's not worth dying over 50 worth of
pancake mix, so when in doubt, throw it out.
DEAR ABBY: I recently made a batch of pancakes for my healthy 14-year-old son,
using a mix that was in our pantry. He said that they tasted "funny," but ate them
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anyway. About 10 minutes later, he began having difficulty breathing and his lips
began turning purple. I gave him his allergy pill, had him sit on the sofa and told him
to relax. He was wheezing while inhaling and exhaling.
My husband, a volunteer firefighter and EMT, heated up some water, and we had my
son lean over the water so the steam could clear his chest and sinuses. Soon, his
breathing became more regular and his lips returned to a more normal color.
We checked the date on the box of pancake mix and, to my dismay, found it was
very outdated. As a reference librarian at an academic institution, I have the ability
to search through many research databases. I did just that, and found an article the
next day that mentioned a 19-year-old male DYING after eating pancakes made with
outdated mix. Apparently, the mold that forms in old pancake mix can be toxic!
When we told our friends about my son's close call, we were surprised at the number
of people who mentioned that they should check their own pancake mix since they
don't use it often, or they had purchased it some time ago. With so many people
shopping at warehouse-type stores and buying large sizes of pancake mix, I hope
your readers will take the time to check the expiration date on their boxes. SUE IN
WYANTSKILL, N.Y.
DEAR SUE: Thank you for the warning. I certainly was not aware that pancake mix
could turn moldy and cause an allergic reaction in someone with an allergy to mold
but it's logical. I wonder if the same holds true for cake mix, brownie mix and
cookie mix. If so, then a warning should be placed on the box for people like me.
We hear so often about discarding prescription and over-the-counter medications
after their expiration dates, but I don't recall warnings about packaged items in the
pantry. Heads up, folks!
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knee). Wonka stated that he thought Spray got these while crawling on the
floor of the party room when he got sick and threw up last night.
The body was removed to the West County Hospital morgue to a wait an
autopsy.
Autopsy Report
The body is that of a well developed Caucasian male. The body is clothed in
a pair of white socks and a pair of blue briefs. There are fresh abrasions on
both knees. The body has been identified as that of Jack Sprat by the
West County Coroner. An arm band on the body confirms this identification.
The findings of the autopsy are unremarkable except for the following:
1. mild inflammation of the esophagus
2. severe gastritis
Samples of vitreous fluids, blood, and urine were taken to the state crime
lab for toxicology analysis.
Tissue samples were taken for microscopic analysis.
Toxicology Report
The toxicology report indicates the following:
Vitreous: 0.14 % ethyl alcohol
0.02 % metabolites of cannabis
Blood: 0.18 % ethyl alcohol
No metabolites of cannabis
Urine: 0.15 % ethyl alcohol
No metabolites of cannabis
No other illicit or prescription drugs were found.
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Sara Smart: No, He is an ass. Besides Jim had gotten sick and threw up. I
was worried about him.
Detective Strong: Tell about that.
Sara Smart: He was really sick. So sick he fell down. His roommate helped
him after he fell. I went to his room with them. Jack was out of it. I was
really up set because he was so drank. Falling down drunk and Jimmy was still
giving me a hard time. One of my friends was at the party and ready to go
back to dorm, so I left with her.
Detective Strong: When you left the fraternity house that was with Jack?
Sara Strong: His room mate, Willie Wonka.
Detective Strong: When did you find out about Jacks death?
Sara Strong: Willie came over to my dorm and told me.
Detective Strong: Thank you Sara. I may need to talk to you again.
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Investigative Follow-up
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Male
62 YOA
60
210 lbs.
Aguilar Cerveza
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Conclusion
From a preponderance of physical evidence the events in this shooting
incident lead one to believe that this was suicide. This case is determined to
be self-inflicted gunshot wound resulting in death.
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The Crime
at Tiger
Land
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Forensic Anthropologist
Sherlock Bones
Ballistics Expert
Hava Holster
DNA Expert
Twisted Helix
Fibers Analyst
Thready People
Loopy Pad
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FBI Guy
Eliot Ness
Lead Detective
Perfect Record
Beat Cop
Flat Harrytoe
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CIA Analyst
World Traveler
BAU Profiler
Mandy Goneaway
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College Student
College Student
Ima Slow
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Ima Brain
Housewife
Shirley Vacuum
Car Dealer
Speedy Riggs
Store Owner
Punjab Jewman
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School Teacher
Manny Students
Track Coach
Running Bare
Exotic Dancer
Wiggle Booty
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Bank Teller
Showme Money
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Electronics Technician
Ibea Whiz
School Principal
Lotsa Trouble
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Sales Clerk
Cotton Pants
Insurance Salesman
Yure Ingoodhands
Dentist
Toothy Business
Doctor
M.D. Patient
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a small house
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EVIDENCE
EVIDENCE
EVIDENCE
EVIDENCE
ADDITIONAL
ADDITIONAL
ADDITIONAL
ADDITIONAL
ADDITIONAL
EVIDENCE
EVIDENCE
EVIDENCE
EVIDENCE
EVIDENCE
ADDITIONAL EVIDENCE
ADDITIONAL EVIDENCE
ADDITIONAL EVIDENCE
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The Crime
at Tiger
Land
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6. Additional Evidence
B. You will record the card information that you drew in the exam
data table
C. You will generate your own plot and conclusions using the above
cards as your guide.
D. Use the sample crime scene sketch only as a guide as to how
your scene might look.
E. As you write your ORIGINAL mystery use the attached rubric as a
guide for what is expected in your completed exam.
F. Be sure to include the additional evidence that you were
provided and then discuss how All of the evidence will be
analyzed. (ie. If a fiber were found what does this mean and how
would you do it?) (ie. If a fingerprint could be found where might
it be and how would you find it and how would you analyze it?).
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Data Table
Record the cards that you will use to construct your crime in the
table below.
CHARACTERS: Decide on a crime and who
has committed the crime. Who are your
suspects? Who will work to solve the crime?
How do the characters respond to the events
in your story? What specific scientific
specialties will need to be involved in your
investigation and what will they do?
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3= Gold Shield
Detective
2= Investigator
Trainee
1= Case
Unsolved
Elements
of the
Mystery
Characters The mystery
has a logical
well thought
out beginning.
A crime is
present and
the reader
knows who has
committed the
crime. Your
suspects
(characters)
are clear. The
reader knows
who will work
to solve the
crime. The
reader knows
how the other
characters
respond. The
specific
scientific
specialties
involved in the
investigation
are clear and
the reader
knows what
they will do to
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A background is
present. The
relationship of
the characters
prior to any
crime taking
place is unclear
and not well
planned. The
activities the
characters
enjoyed not well
planned. The
medical problems
that the
characters not
well planned. The
effects of the
medical problems
are present.
Unique
characteristics
of the victim are
present but may
or may not help
identify the
person
Background is
unclear and not
planned. There
is no relationship
of the
characters The
activities the
characters
enjoyed are
unclear not well
planned. The
medical problems
that the
characters are
not present, are
confusing, and
have not
connection to the
case. The
effects of the
medical problems
are not present,
are confusing,
and have not
connection to the
case. Unique
characteristics
of the victim are
not present and
do not help
identify the
person.
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Evidence of
where the crime
took place is
present. The
primary crime
scene or
secondary crime
scenes are
established but
the role of one is
unclear. The
location of the
crime present
but its
relationship to
the case is not
well planned. The
evidence found
at the scene is
present but the
connection to the
case or where it
may lead is not
clear.
Evidence of
where the crime
took place is
present but is
unclear or not
well planned. The
primary crime
scene or
secondary crime
scenes are
established but
the role of one is
unclear The
location of the
crime present
but its
relationship to
the case is
unclear and is
not well planned.
The evidence
found at the
scene is present
but is unclear
and the
connection to the
case or where it
may lead is not
clear or is
unplanned
The clues are
present but are
unclear The
person who
reveals the clues
Evidence of
where the crime
took place is
present but is
unclear and not
planned. The
primary crime
scene or
secondary crime
scenes are vague
and the role of
both is unclear
The location of
the crime is
unclear but its
relationship to
the case is
unclear and is not
well planned. The
evidence found
at the scene is
present but is
unclear and the
connection to the
case or where it
may lead is not
clear or is
unplanned
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the clues is
clear and they
are related to
the rest of the
mystery. The
discovery of
the clues is
clear and well
planned. The
evidence is
present at the
scene. The
means by
which the
evidence was
generated is
clear and well
planned. The
motive for the
crime is clear.
The
relationships
of the
characters
that might
lead to suspect
one or more of
them are clear
and well
planned
Distracters There are
elements
present that
will clearly
lead the
investigator
away from the
is clear The
discovery of the
clues is present
The evidence is
present at the
scene. The means
by which the
evidence was
generated is
present. The
motive for the
crime is present.
The relationships
of the
characters that
might lead to
suspect one or
more of them
present but may
be unclear as to
the rest of the
case or is not
well planned
is present. The
discovery of the
clues is present
The evidence is
present at the
scene. The means
by which the
evidence was
generated is
present but is
unclear or not
well planned. The
motive for the
crime is present.
But is unclear
The relationships
of the
characters that
might lead to
suspect one or
more of them
present but is
unclear as to the
rest of the case
or is not well
planned
is not present.
The discovery of
the clues is not
present The
evidence is not
present at the
scene. The means
by which the
evidence was
generated is not
present but is
unclear or not
well planned. The
motive for the
crime is not
present. The
relationships of
the characters
that might lead
to suspect one or
more of them not
present but is
unclear as to the
rest of the case
or is not well
planned
There are
elements present
that will lead the
investigator away
from the solution
to the crime.
There is more
There are no
elements present
that will lead the
investigator away
from the solution
to the crime.
There is one
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solution to the
crime. There is
more than one
suspect with a
possible
motive. The
evidence has
been
processed
properly and
there have
been no
mistakes made
in the case
Plot Step by step
plot is clear
and well
planned. The
clues are well
planned and in
sequential
order. The
evidence
appears in a
sequential well
thought out
order. The
evidence has
been properly
preserved for
analysis. The
chain of
evidence has
been
maintained.
The
investigator
has a logical
suspect with a
possible motive.
The evidence has
been processed
poorly and there
have been
mistakes made in
the case
suspect with an
unclear motive.
The evidence has
not been
processed
properly and
there have been
mistakes made in
the case
Plot is present
and not well
planned. The
clues appear. The
evidence appears
The evidence has
been analyzed
but mistakes
have been made.
The chain of
custody/evidence
is questionable.
The investigator
has a list of
suspects but
they are not
clearly related to
the case.
Plot is present
but is vague and
is not well
planned. The
clues appear but
are unclear. The
evidence appears
but has no real
connection to the
case. The
evidence has not
been analyzed
The chain of
custody/evidence
is questionable or
nonexistent. The
investigator has
a list of suspects
but they are not
clearly related to
the case.
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list of
suspects.
Conclusion Conclusion is
present and is
logical and well
thought out.
There is a
person of
interest
clearly
identified.
The final case
conclusion is
clearly
established.
Evidence is
clearly
connected to
the final
solution. The
final testimony
is well planned
and sequential
in order. An
arrest warrant
can be issued
and the person
of interest can
be convicted
of a plan with
all of the
effective
elements
present. Good
flow of ideas
from beginning
Conclusion is
present. There
is a person of
interest clearly
identified. The
final case
conclusion is
established.
Evidence is
connected to the
final solution.
The final
testimony is
planned. An
arrest warrant
can be issued and
the person of
interest can be
convicted
Conclusion is
present but is
vague or unclear.
There is a person
of interest
identified but
the reader is
unclear as to why
this person is a
suspect. The
final case
conclusion is
established but
is unclear.
Evidence does
not really lead to
the final solution.
The final
testimony is
unplanned. An
arrest warrant
cannot be issued
and the person
of interest
cannot be
convicted
Conclusion is not
present. There
is not a person of
interest
identified The
final case
conclusion is not
established.
Evidence does
not lead to a
final testimony is
unplanned. An
arrest warrant
cannot be issued
and the person
of interest
cannot be
convicted
Mystery is set up
All of the
effective
elements are
present but not
in a logical
sequence. Flow
of ideas from
beginning to end
Mystery is set up
Some of the
effective
elements are
present but not
in a logical
sequence No real
flow of ideas
Conclusion is
Mystery is just a
story. Few of the
effective
elements are
present and not
in a logical
sequence No real
flow of ideas
Conclusion is
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to end of the
mystery.
Logical
conclusion is
present.
Mechanics Correct
spelling,
grammar, and
punctuation.
Complete
sentences are
used. Correct
use of
capitalization.
All sources are
cited and
bibliography is
present.
is present.
Conclusion is
present.
present but is
difficult to solve
given the flow of
the work.
present but is
difficult or
impossible to
solve.
Some spelling
and grammar
errors, some
punctuation
errors are
present.
Complete
sentence are
used. Some
capitalization
errors. Some
sources are cited
with a partial
bibliography
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When police arrived at the address given by the frantic caller, they
found a young man lying face up on the couch. He had obviously been
dead for some time. Maggots were found concentrated in the head
and chest region. The windows were closed, although the open
curtains allowed sunlight to enter, and the air-conditioner was set to 72
F. What had happened? When had this person died? Was he
murdered?
Musca
Calliphora
#1
29 and 20
25 and 29
Sarcophag
a
29
#2
#3
6
28
35
15
31
#4
6 and 19
18
9 and 15
Case
Piophila
9
Pupae
39
(Sarcophaga
)
33
(Calliphora)
References
Goff, ML. (2000). A Fly for the Procsecution: How Insect Evidence Helps
Solve Crimes. Cambridge: Harvard University Press.
Sachs, J.S. (1998) A maggot for the prosecution. Discover,
November, pp 103-108.
Web Sites
Revised from Documents Presented by Southern Institute of Forensic Science, New Orleans, June 2005
Revised from Documents Presented by Southern Institute of Forensic Science, New Orleans, June 2005
Murder Investigation #1
POLICE REPORT
The body of a female was found in an alley behind the dumpsters in a
major U.S. city. No apparent wounds were observed on the body.
WEATHER REPORT
Daytime temperatures have been fairly consistent for the past 3
weeks ranging from 70-74F.
ANALYSIS
1. Approximately how long has this person been dead?
11 DAYS
2. Why are maggots of different ages found in the body?
Adults of the same species will arrive at the body at different
times. Adults of different species may also arrive at different
times or they may colonize the resource in different stages of
succession.
3. Besides temperature, what abiotic conditions would you want to
obtain from the weather stations to help you to be more confident
of your estimation above?
Humidity, rain, cloud cover (for estimating microclimate
difference), wind, etc.
Revised from Documents Presented by Southern Institute of Forensic Science, New Orleans, June 2005
Murder Investigation #2
POLICE REPORT
The body of a young male was found inside an apartment in a major
U.S. city. Maggots were found concentrated in the head and chest
region. The windows were closed, although the open curtains allowed
sunlight to enter, and the air conditioner was set to 72 F.
WEATHER REPORT
Daytime temperatures have been variable over the past three weeks
ranging from 75-94 F. Skies have been sunny.
ANALYSIS
1. Approximately how long has this person been dead?
5 DAYS
2. What effect, if any, does the outside temperature have on your
estimation of time of death?
Because the inside temperature is 72, the outside
temperature has no effect on larval development.
3. How does the fact that the windows were closed relate the
populations of flies you observed in and around the body? (i.e., is
there something different about this population than the
population in investigation#1). How do you explain the absence of
Calliphora vomitoria?
Because the windows were closed, the only flies that could have
laid eggs on the body were those that were already present at
the time of death. Thus, C. vomitoria must not have been
present even though we would expect to see it as an early
colonizer.
Revised from Documents Presented by Southern Institute of Forensic Science, New Orleans, June 2005
Revised from Documents Presented by Southern Institute of Forensic Science, New Orleans, June 2005
Murder Investigation #3
POLICE REPORT
The body of a young male was found in a field near a small, rural town. The
autopsy report reveals that cocaine was present in the body.
WEATHER REPORT
Daytime temperatures have been unusually warm over the past three weeks
ranging from 84-86F.
ANALYSIS
Revised from Documents Presented by Southern Institute of Forensic Science, New Orleans, June 2005
Murder Investigation #4
POLICE REPORT
The body of an old female was found in a dense, evergreen forest far away
from any urban area.
WEATHER REPORT
Daytime temperatures have been average over the past 3 weeks ranging
from 70-73 F. Temperatures in the woods would be approximately 5
cooler due to the lack of sun in the shady environment.
ANALYSIS
Revised from Documents Presented by Southern Institute of Forensic Science, New Orleans, June 2005
Case 1
Case 2
This case requires students to recall that the adult flies lay eggs in cavities
within the body. They should expect foul play because there is a large
concentration of maggots in the chest cavity.
Case 3
The twist in this case is the presence of cocaine in the body. Students must
recall that cocaine speeds up growth of certain maggots thus, if they fail to
take this information into account, the post-mortem interval they calculate
will be longer than it actually is. The most common mistake that students
make on this case is that they add extra days (because growth is
accelerated) rather than subtracting days. This case is the most difficult
because it requires students to not only work with the effects of cocaine on
the growth of the larvae, but the higher temperature as well.
Case 4
This case allows students to build on what they learned in Case #3 because
the body here contains arsenic. Arsenic slows larval growth so the same
logic used to solve Case #3 can be applied here as well. This case also
requires that students pay attention to the habitat in which each fly species
is typically found.
Revised from Documents Presented by Southern Institute of Forensic Science, New Orleans, June 2005
Objective
In this activity, students evaluate the evidence from four death scenarios.
For each scenario, they are given a sample of simulated maggots that were
collected from the body; asked to determine the post-mortem interval and
determine whether or not foul play was involved in the death.
Materials
Death scenarios
Reference charts of life history (Table 1)
Ecological Information (Tables 2 and 3)
Plastic sandwich bags containing maggots
Ruler
Procedure
1. For each of the cases, use the information provided on the Life
History sheet to determine approximately how long the body,
from which the sample of insects was obtained, has been
dead.
2. Each plastic sandwich bag contains the maggots and puparia
found in or around the body and a ruler measuring them.
3. Some data from the police report also included- some of it may
be useful, some of it may be irrelevant to the questions you are
trying to answer.
4. Begin with Case #1 and progress sequentially to Case #4.
Revised from Documents Presented by Southern Institute of Forensic Science, New Orleans, June 2005
Murder Investigation #1
POLICE REPORT
The body a female was found in an alley behind the dumpsters in a
major U.S. city. No apparent wounds were observed on the body.
WEATHER REPORT
Daytime temperatures have been fairly consistent for the past 3
weeks ranging from 70-74F.
ANALYSIS
1. Approximately how long has this person been dead?
Revised from Documents Presented by Southern Institute of Forensic Science, New Orleans, June 2005
Murder Investigation #2
POLICE REPORT
The body of a young male was found inside an apartment in a major
U.S. city. Maggots were found concentrated in the head and chest
region. The windows were closed, although the open curtains allowed
sunlight to enter, and the air conditioner was set to 72 F.
WEATHER REPORT
Daytime temperatures have been variable over the past three weeks
ranging from 75-94 F. Skies have been sunny.
ANALYSIS
3. How does the fact that the windows were closed relate the
populations of flies you observed in and around the body? (i.e.,
is there something different about this population than the
population in investigation#1). How do you explain the absence
of Calliphora vomitoria?
Revised from Documents Presented by Southern Institute of Forensic Science, New Orleans, June 2005
Murder Investigation #3
POLICE REPORT
The body of a young male was found in a field near a small, rural town. The
autopsy report reveals that cocaine was present in the body.
WEATHER REPORT
Daytime temperatures have been unusually warm over the past three weeks
ranging from 84-86F.
ANALYSIS
4. Does the location of the body, coupled with the insects recovered
from it, suggest foul play or not, or can you tell from the
information given? Explain.
Revised from Documents Presented by Southern Institute of Forensic Science, New Orleans, June 2005
Murder Investigation #4
POLICE REPORT
The body of an old female was found in a dense, evergreen forest far away
from any urban area.
WEATHER REPORT
Daytime temperatures have been average over the past 3 weeks ranging
from 70-73 F. Temperatures in the woods would be approximately 5
cooler due to the lack of sun in the shady environment.
ANALYSIS
3. Does the location of the body, coupled with the insects recovered
from it, suggest foul play or not, or can you tell from the
information given? Explain.
Revised from Documents Presented by Southern Institute of Forensic Science, New Orleans, June 2005
Table 1
The development of body length (in millimeters) of some fly species during
their metamorphosis at 72 F.
Species
Musca
domestica
Egg
Egg
L-6
L-6
L7-11
L1216
L17-20
L21-25
L26-30
L31-35
P26-29
P26-29
P26-29
P26-29
P26-29
P26-29
A30-32
Species
Calliphora
vomitoria
Species
Sarcophaga
carnaria
Egg
L9-11
L9-11
L12-16
L12-16
L17-20
L9-11
L12-16
L17-20
L21-25
L-26-30
L31-35
Species
Piophila
nigriceps
Egg
Egg
L17-20
L36-40
L3
L21-25
L31-44
L3
L21-25
L34-36
L4-6
L26-30
L34-36
L7-9
L26-30
P28-30
L10-13
L31-35
P28-30
L14-16
L31-35
P28-30
P13-15
P31-34
P38-30
P13-15
P31-34
P28-30
P13-15
P31-34
P28-30
P13-15
P31-34
P28-30
P13-15
P31-34
P28-30
P13-15
P31-34
A22-35
A16-18
P-31-34
A36-38
White=Sarocophaga
Blue=Musca
Yellow=Calliphora
Pink=Piophila
Brown=Pupa (cant determine the species of pupae except by size)
Revised from Documents Presented by Southern Institute of Forensic Science, New Orleans, June 2005
Table 2
Temperatu
re
55F
65F
80F
85F
Table 3
Ecological
Traits
Habitat
Lighting
Drugs
Musca
domestica
Calliphora
vomitoria
Sarcophaga
carnaria
Piophila
nigriceps
Delayed 4
Delayed 2
Accelerated 1
Accelerated 3
Delayed 4.5
Delayed 3
Accelerated 2
Accelerated 4
Delayed 4
Delayed 2
Accelerated 1.5
Accelerated 3
Delayed 3
Delayed 1
Accelerated 1
Accelerated 2
Musca
domestica
Urban and
rural
Full to partial
sun
No effect
Calliphora
vomitoria
Urban and
rural
Partial sun to
shady
Sensitive to
effects
Sarcophaga
Piophila
carnaria
nigriceps
Urban and
Urban
rural
Prefers sunny Prefers sunny
No effect
No effect
Revised from Documents Presented by Southern Institute of Forensic Science, New Orleans, June 2005
Whodunit
Revised from Documents Presented by Southern Institute of Forensic Science, New Orleans, June 2005
Whodunit
Solve this murder mystery:
In 1932, a healthy person traveling in Wales died in a locked hotel room.
Not only was the door locked, but the windows were nailed shut. For some
reason, the hotel maids were superstitious about the room and insisted that
the room itself was capable of killing people. While skeptical of that idea,
the police were baffled as to the cause of death, and they began an
investigation of the room itself.
It looked like a room for murder, dark and damp; it was papered with dark
green velvety wallpaper that added to the gloom. The wallpaper looked
normal, but the police found that it contained arsenic, a poison. However the
victim was not likely to have eaten the wallpaper. Only if the poison was
converted to a gas might it have poisoned the victim. And even then a high
concentration would be required to be fatal. In reading up on arsenic
compounds, one of the police detectives discovered a fungus Scopularis
brevicalis that converted arsenic to a gas.
Can you explain the murder?