Recreating Death

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Recreating Deaths Half AcreForensic Science
and Tech Farm
Dr. David K. MillsLouisiana Tech University
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Forensic Science at Louisiana Tech University

• A Brief History
• Coursework
• Research Activities
• Future Directions

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Forensic Science

• What is it?
• Components-
• Applied Science
• Basic Science
• Legal/Courts Testimony
• Facilities

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Scope of Forensic Science

• Criminalistics
• Specialities
• Medicine
• Anthropology
• Odontology
• Entomology
• Others

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History of Forensic Science

• Chinese medicine-6th Century
• 1839-MJB Orfila, toxicology
• Late 1800s-Alexandre Lacassagne, ballistics and
  bloodstain patterns
• 1910-Edmund Locard, exchange principle
• 1924-August Vollmer, LAPD crime lab
• 1932-FBI Laboratory, fingerprints

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Forensic Science is NOT
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Forensic Science is

• CS Investigators
• Physical Evidence
• Forensic Science
• Forensic Taphonomy
• Forensic Archeology

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Forensic Anthropology at Louisiana Tech University

• Integrating Field Investigations with Laboratory
  Analysis

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Coursework in Forensic Science

• Forensic Anthropology
• Biological Anthropology
• Research in Forensic Anthropology
• Readings in Forensic Science
• Readings in Bioanthropology

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Human Osteology Lab
Objectives

• Intense instruction in human osteobiology
• Methods used in human identification

Aging Sexing Population Affinity Diet Pathology Tr
auma
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Investigative Field Techniques

• Simulated Crime Scenes
• Pics as model corpses
• Forensic Taphonomy
• Forensic Archeology
• Moot Court

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Crime Scene Excavation

• Site survey and discovery
• Crime scene preservation
• Site formation processes
• Site excavation

• Forensic archeological methods
• Importance of context and the
• chain of evidence
• The art of archeology

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Recovery and Analysis

• Recovery of material artifacts
• Data recording
• Forensic photography

• Preservation of skeletal remains
• Preliminary field analysis
• Curation and transport

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Investigative Field TechniquesForensic Archeology
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Laboratory Analysis and Reconstruction
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Mock Inquest
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Mock Inquest

• Each forensic team submits a written forensic
  case report.
• Students portray expert witnesses and defend
  their conclusions.
• Afterwards, crime scenario is presented and
  compared to forensic team findings.

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Model Human Corpse

• Hormel pygmy pig is used as a model human
  corpse
• Document arthropod succession is used to
  determine post-mortem death interval
• Patterns of decomposition and disarticulation are
  documented
• The model corpse is used for other research
  purposes (e.g. studies in taphonomy)

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Forensic Entomology

• Students prepare experimental area in environment
  A
• Two entomology groups sample, monitor and analyze
  arthropod and tissue samples

• Model corpse is placed in secured cage surrounded
  by dead fall traps
• Sampling will begin when first blow fly lands

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• Traps are sampled at set times in morning and
  afternoon.
• Temperature, rainfall and other climatic
  variables are measured.

• Arthropods are sorted and counted.
• Arthropod taxonomy is identified, and succession
  is determined.
• Tissues are fixed and processed for paraffin
  embedding and stained.
• .

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Research Activities inForensic Taphonomy

• Bioturbation
• Cut mark analysis
• Differentiating bone trauma from geofact
• Cell and tissue decay
• Site formation processes
• Chlorophyll concentration as PMI indicator
• Hydraulic transport and differential preservation

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Image Analysis and Forensic Anthropology
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Bone Modification