FORENSIC SCIENCE

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FORENSIC SCIENCE
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PHYSICAL EVIDENCE EVERY CONTACT
LEAVES ITS TRACE
Wherever he steps, whatever he touches, whatever
he leaves, even unconsciously, will serve as
silent witness against him. Not even his
fingerprints or his footprints, but his hair, the
fibers from his clothes, the glass he breaks, the
tool mark he leaves, the paint he scratches, the
blood or semen he deposits or collects-- all of
these bear mute witness against him. This is
evidence that does not forget. It is not
confused by the excitement of the moment. It is
not absent because human witnesses are. It is
factual evidence. Physical evidence cannot be
wrong it cannot perjure itself. It cannot be
wholly absent only its interpretation can err.
Only human failure to find it, study and
understand it, can diminish its value.
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• Forensic comes from the Latin word forensis
  meaning forum
• The individual with the best argumentation and
  delivery would determine the outcome of the case.
  In other words, the person with the best forensic
  skills would win.

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History of Forensics

• 700s Chinese used fingerprints to establish
  identity on clay tablets
• 1248 Chinese 1st recorded medical knowledge on
  solving a crime. Distinguished between drowning
  and strangulation
• 1784 John Toms of Lancaster, England convicted
  murder based on wad of paper in pistol matching
  half in his pocket. First use of physical
  evidence
• 1810 Surete of Paris First detective force

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• 1905 FBI formed via Theodore Roosevelt
• 1910 Edmond Locard
• Locard Exchange Principle always a transfer of
  evidence when contact is made between person or
  place. Ex. Dog hair

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• 1923 Frye v. United States A scientific
  principle must gain general acceptance among
  scientific community
• 1977 AFIS Automated Fingerprint Identification
  System
• 1986 DNA evidence

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• 1993 Daubert et al v. Merrell Dow Three key
  provisions
• Scientific knowledge
• Assist the trier of fact (jury or judge)
• Judge is gate keeper
• 1998 NIDIS FBI DNA database

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Criminalist to Forensic Science Specialists

• Forensic Science Specialists
• -Pathologist
• -Anthropologist
• -Odontologist
• -Entomologist
• -Physiatrist
• -Serologist
• -Toxicologist
• -Botanist

• Criminalist
• -Crime-scene investigator
• -Latent print examiner
• -Firearms examiner
• -Tool mark examiner
• -Document examiner
• -Trace Evidence examiner

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Role of the Criminalist/Forensic Scientist

• Render impartial findings based on scientific
  evidence
• Act as an expert witness ( can give opinion)
• Findings may serve to
• Establish crime has been committed
• Establish and link elements of crime
• Confirm and refute eyewitness testimony
• Establish a time frame

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• Induce a confession
• Include/exclude suspects
• Give information on modus operandi (mo)
• MO Learned behavior, can change, what criminal
  did to commit the crime (location, point of
  entry, tools, time of day, alibi)
• Signature Does not change, expresses killers
  personality, pose victim in religious manner

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VANPAC Bomber

• Dec 16 1989 Federal Judge Robert Vance in
  Alabama killed by box in the mail
• Dec 18 Attorney Robert Robinson in Georgia died
  from a second package bomb
• Dec 18 3rd bomb found during routine screening
  in an Atlanta courthouse
• Dec 18 4th bomb was delivered to a female
  employee of the NAACP legal counsel in Florida
  she went to run errands, her car broke down, she
  forgot about the package in her back seat of car.
  Heard about bombing on the news, called bomb
  squad next day.

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VANPAC Bomber cont.

• All 4 bombs were constructed the same
• Black enamel painted box
• FBI agent talked with an ATF agent who thought it
  sounded like a 1972 bomb
• Found bomber of 1972 case, Walter Leroy Moody had
  recently been released from prison
• Further investigation found evidence to convict
  for new bombings

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Son of Sam Signature

• I am deeply hurt by your calling me a wemon
  hater. I am not. But I am a monster. I am the
  "Son of Sam." I am a little "brat". When father
  Sam gets drunk he gets mean. He beats his family.
  Sometimes he ties me up to the back of the house.
  Other times he locks me in the garage. Sam loves
  to drink blood. "Go out and kill" commands father
  Sam. Behind our house some rest. Mostly young
  raped and slaughtered their blood drained
  just bones now.

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Crime Lab Services

• Federal
• FBI to provide impartial services for all
  federal agencies in criminal and civil matters as
  well as state and local
• DEA Drug Enforcement Agency
• ATF Alcohol Tobacco Firearms
• U.S. Postal Inspection Service

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• State
• Crime Labs (State Highway Patrol)
• Local
• St. Louis City and County Crime Lab

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Copy the text below in the space above the
lines. Do NOT write on the lines.
I have your daughter. Do what you are told and
no one will get hurt. Put 100,000 dollars worth
of 20s in a suitcase and place it in locker
number C8160 at the bus depot. I will get back
in touch with you as to the whereabouts of your
daughter. Your loyal fan.
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Copy the text below in the 2nd space above the
lines. Do NOT write on the lines.
You didnt follow directions! Your daughters
life is in real danger! You have one more
chance to get this right. Now I want 200,000
dollars worth of 20s in a suitcase. Get it
ready and wait for further instructions. Still
your loyal fan