Figure 10.44 Victim on floor in master bedroom after being rolled to his right by para- medics. Note void produced by right shoulder from original position. Figure 10.45 Bloody shoe prints on carpet in master bedroom leading away from master bathroom. ©1997 CRC Press LLC The bedspread has been pulled back over the foot of the bed. A large contact bloodstain and spatters are seen on the exposed portion of the bed- spread, which is on the bed. Blood drip patterns and transfer of blood are observed on the exposed portion of the bedspread on the floor. There is evidence of dripped or projected blood on the exposed sheet near the foot of the bed which continues over the edge of the foot of the bed with a downward directionality. There is a knife case present on the bed on the side nearest the entrance to the bathroom. It is located near the edge of the bed and the pillow. The glass top has been broken with shards of glass present on the top of the case as well as on the surrounding sheet (Figure 10.46). Small circular apparent bloodstains are seen on the sheet to the left of the case and possibly on or beneath a shard of glass on the sheet near the lock of the case. The case contains several types of folding knives and a stellate-shaped instrument. Below the broken glass area, a knife impression is seen near other knives in the case. Master Bathroom. Near the entrance way to the bathroom on the east side of the master bedroom are additional individual drips of blood on the carpet. Also seen are blood transfer impressions consistent with having been pro- duced by bare feet. On the edging between the bedroom carpet and the Figure 10.46 Knife case with broken glass top. Note impression showing shape of missing knife. ©1997 CRC Press LLC bathroom tile and onto the tile itself is seen a continuation of stains produced by individual free-falling drops of blood. A partial shoe print is present on the edging extending onto the bed- room carpet. The area of the tiled bathroom floor between the sink cabinet to the north and the closet to the south shows an array of dripped and projected bloodstains. There are numerous bloody partial shoeprint trans- fers oriented in different directions. Much of this floor area is covered with smeared blood which is consistent with having been produced by bare as well as shod feet (Figures 10.47 and 10.48). A large smearing of blood has travelled across the bathroom floor to the base of the sink cabinet, where a transfer of blood is seen consistent with having been produced by a bare foot. In some areas of the floor, drips of blood have been deposited on top of the smeared areas of blood. A blood-transfer stain is seen consistent with a partial shoe print over a partial hand print. Blood has dripped on top of the edge of the sink and on the front of the sink cabinet, where some projected blood is also noted. A pair of tan trousers is observed on the bathroom floor and cover some of the deposited bloodstains. The trousers appear to be considerably blood- stained with some bloody shoe transfers present. Blood transfer and dripping of blood extends onto a blue throw rug on the bathroom floor to the east of the closet entrance. Two projectile casings were found on the floor of the bathroom. Figure 10.47 Bloody impression created by bare foot on floor of master bathroom. ©1997 CRC Press LLC Bathroom Closet. The entrance to the bathroom closet is on the south side of the bathroom. On the wall to the west of this entrance is a blood transfer consistent with a hand and feathered downward. A transfer of blood is present on the right-side closet door casing above the latch area. There was sufficient blood within this transfer to permit a flow pattern down the casing to the floor below. Additional but lighter blood transfers are present closer to the latch area. Within the closet there is a large contact bloodstain on the carpet in front of a rack of hanging clothes (Figure 10.49). Projected bloodstains and blood transfers including numerous partial shoe and footprints are seen around this heavily bloodstained area. Projected bloodstains and spatter were present on the south and west walls of the closet approximately 15 inches above the floor. These stains are more apparent when the clothing is removed from the racks (Figure 10.50). Transfer bloodstains are noted on the exposed surfaces of some of the hanging clothing. A picture frame on the carpet exhibited projected and dripped bloodstains both on top of the frame and below. Two projectiles were recovered from the floor of the closet. Reconstruction and Sequence of Events The victim in this case, K.J., received gunshot and knife wounds which resulted in considerable bloodshed within his residence during the assault as well as at his final resting position in the master bedroom (Figure 10.51). Figure 10.48 Bloody impression created by shoe on floor of master bathroom. ©1997 CRC Press LLC Initial bloodshed of the victim has occurred at the south end of the kitchen, where free-falling drops of blood impacted the tile floor. However, the appearance of bloodstains does not necessarily indicate the precise location Figure 10.49 Blood soaked area of carpet in master bathroom closet. Figure 10.50 Impact blood spatters on wall close to floor in closet of master bathroom. ©1997 CRC Press LLC in the residence where the initial injury or injuries occurred to the victim. A trail of dripped bloodstains on the kitchen floor shows directionality to the north into the dining room of the residence. Some of these bloodstains have been altered while still partially wet which indicates a secondary activity having taken place. A blood transfer stain on the kitchen wall to the left of the entrance way to the dining room likely was produced by a hand wet with blood. The trail of bloodstains from the victim continues to the west parallel to the dining room table and then north into the master bedroom. The victim was likely struck by a projectile while retreating through the dining room into the master bedroom. This projectile exited the victim and re-entered the vertical blinds and sliding glass door casing at the west side of the dining room. Impact blood spatter is noted on the vertical blinds in proximity to the projectile defect. Dripped bloodstain patterns show continuation of the victim’s route to the east around the foot of the bed into the bathroom and into the walk-in closet. Physical activity involving bloodshed has occurred in the bath- room-closet area. In the closet the heavy accumulation of blood on the carpet beneath the hanging clothing is consistent with the victim being positioned on or close to the floor during significant blood loss. Bloody footprints close to the south wall and pointing outward would position the victim close to Figure 10.51 Diagram of residence showing path of retreat of victim. ©1997 CRC Press LLC that area at some point in the sequence. Bloody shoe prints on the opposite side of the large bloodstain on the carpet in the direction of the south wall would position an assailant close to the victim while in the closet. Areas of spattered and projected bloodstains on the south and east walls of the closet are consistent with physical activity involving the victim and assailant while the victim is close to the floor. Evidence of projectiles within the closet would indicate shots fired into that area. Bloodstains present on the tile floor of the bathroom show transfer and sliding of both shod and bare feet. There is evidence of sliding of a bare foot wet with blood. This is also an area where blood other than that of the victim is identified, indicating a bleeding assailant as well as bleeding victim. It is concluded that the injured bleeding victim was able to get out of the closet through the bathroom and back into the master bedroom while still alive and able to ambulate. This is based upon the presence of bare footprints in blood leading out of the bathroom. Bloody shoe prints leaving the bathroom in the same direction indicate the departure of the assailant from that area back into the master bedroom. There is no bloodstain evidence to indicate that the victim was dragged back into the master bedroom. Addi- tional physical activity involving bloodshed has occurred in the master bed- room prior to the final resting position of the victim. Contact was made by a bleeding area of the victim on the bedspread with evidence of spatters of blood on that surface as well. Bloodstains beneath the bedspread on the carpet at the foot of the bed indicate that the bedspread had been moved during the struggle. This is also an area where blood other than that of the victim is identified, indicating a bleeding assailant as well as bleeding victim. The victim sustained significant blood loss on the floor to the west of the bed. It was noted in the autopsy report that the victim had sustained an incision of the left common carotid artery. With sufficient blood pressure, this type of injury produces characteristic arterial spurting patterns on nearby surfaces. These types of patterns are not observed along the retreating route of the victim. An explanation for this is that the incision to the common carotid artery in the neck may have occurred in the final stages of the assault. The accumulation of injuries with external and internal bleeding would likely have lowered blood pressure, lessening the opportunity for large spurting patterns to be produced. The presence of shards of glass on the bed in the master bedroom on and around the knife case would indicate the case was broken while on the bed. Cutting and stabbing of the victim likely occurred in the closet, bath- room, and master bedroom area of the residence. Outside of these areas, the bloodstain evidence is more consistent with a gunshot wound of the victim occurring in the dining area and his movement retreating from the south end of the kitchen, where his bloodshed was initially observed on the floor. ©1997 CRC Press LLC Bloodstains different than the type of the victim were detected in the master bedroom and bathroom as well as inside the front door. The exit of an assailant from the premises is documented by blood-drip patterns which exhibit a directionality on the sidewalk away from the entrance way of the premises. These bloodstains are likely a continuation of the drip pattern from inside the front door. There is no evidence of a struggle involving forceful bloodshed having occurred in the foyer inside the front door nor at the south end of the kitchen where the victim’s blood is initially observed. Preparation for Trial Attorneys, whether for the prosecution or defense, may not be as familiar with bloodstain interpretation as with other types of forensic evidence. It is important to establish a rapport with attorneys through pretrial conferences. This will provide opportunity for counsel to become familiar with the expert’s qualifications, limitations, and professional demeanor, as well as the field of bloodstain evidence. The expert’s testimony should be outlined in detail. It is often helpful for the expert to provide questions in logical order and to suggest the types of demonstrative evidence to be used during trial. The order of presentation of items of physical evidence as well as photographs, slides, video tapes, charts, diagrams, or models should be prepared. The direct examination should include an opportunity for the expert to educate the jury about blood- stain interpretation. The narrative is enhanced with the use of representative photographs, slides, or demonstrations of various types of bloodstain patterns. Experts should be prepared to defend their conclusions during cross exam- ination by opposing counsel. Possible cross-examination questions should be posed to the witness prior to trial. It is also helpful to provide questions for cross examination of opposing experts. Credible witnesses are dedicated to accurate and detailed work and do not overstate the facts. Experts testifying concerning bloodstain pattern interpretation should be cautious and conserva- tive with their conclusions, especially when there are a limited number of blood- stains for interpretation. Other activities or events that could produce similar bloodstains should be acknowledged during the direct examination. Bloodstain Interpretation Questions for Trial Blunt Force Trauma 1. Have you read any texts or scientific publications pertaining to blood- stain interpretation? Name the publications and authors. 2. Describe the training courses that you have completed in bloodstain interpretation, giving dates of courses and names of instructors. ©1997 CRC Press LLC 3. Have you ever conducted any experiments to recreate bloodstain pat- terns to verify those present at crime scenes? 4. Would you describe courses which you have taught in bloodstain interpretation? 5. Have you authored any scientific articles or books on the subject of bloodstain pattern interpretation? 6. Are you a member of the International Association of Bloodstain Pattern Analysts? 7. Would you state the criteria for membership in that organization? 8. Have you ever qualified as an expert in the area of bloodstain pattern interpretation? 9. How many times and in what jurisdictions? 10. Do you testify only for the defense or prosecution? 11. Is bloodstain pattern interpretation considered a science? 12. How many times have you reconstructed a crime scene utilizing blood- stain patterns? 13. How is this type of reconstruction accomplished and what types of equipment and materials are used? 14. Did you examine the scene in this case? 15. Describe the types of activity that may be verified by bloodstain pat- tern interpretation at a crime scene. 16. Would you agree that crime scene reconstruction using bloodstain pattern recognition and interpretation should be accomplished by individuals well trained and experienced in that field of expertise? 17. Would you differentiate between the point of convergence and the point of origin of bloodstains? 18. How is the point of convergence determined? 19. How is the point of origin determined? 20. How is the angle of impact of a bloodstain measured? 21. What is a formula for determining the angle of impact? 22. Would you distinguish among low, medium, and high-velocity impact blood spatter? 23. What types of events are commonly associated with each? 24. What other mechanisms can produce bloodstains in the size range of medium to high-velocity that are not related to impact? 25. How often have you observed high-velocity impact blood spatter asso- ciated with blunt force beating injuries? 26. Is it possible to estimate accurately the number of blows struck to a victim in one location by observation of medium-velocity impact blood spatter? 27. What type of bloodstain patterns are utilized for estimation of the number of blows struck to a victim in a location? ©1997 CRC Press LLC 28. How are these bloodstain patterns produced and where are they gen- erally located? 29. What is the difference between a cast-off and a wave cast-off blood- stain? 30. Did you examine and photograph the scene for bloodstain evidence before the body was moved? 31. What types of bloodstains did you observe at the scene of the death of this victim? 32. Where was the medium-velocity impact blood spatter located at the scene of this beating death? 33. Was there any evidence of dripping of blood or flow patterns on any surfaces? 34. Did you examine the ceiling, walls, or other objects for evidence of cast-off bloodstains on these surfaces? 35. Did you measure and photograph these bloodstains? 36. Did you reconstruct a point of convergence or point of origin of any of the bloodstain patterns? 37. Were you able to determine where in the residence the altercation may have started? 38. Were you able to determine the relative position of the victim and assailant at the time of initial bloodshed? 39. Did you examine the suspect’s person or clothing for bloodstain evi- dence? 40. How would this examination help to verify conclusions drawn from bloodstains at the scene? 41. Did you examine any weapon associated with the investigation of this death? 42. What kind of bloodstains, if any, did you observe? 43. Were you able to associate any particular type of weapon with the bloodstains you observed at the scene? 44. What type of bloodstains may be present to assist with this determi- nation? 45. What additional information did you utilize to form your conclusions? 46. What other activities may produce similar bloodstains? 47. Which bloodstains, if any, tell you that this defendant struck the vic- tim? 48. How many of the stains utilized in forming your conclusion were tested for human blood? 49. How many of these stains were typed or further classified? 50. If the victim were struck in the position which you describe, what quantity of blood would you expect to find on the clothing of the assailant? ©1997 CRC Press LLC [...]... Relating to Bloodstain Interpretation Alabama California Florida Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Louisiana Louisiana Maine Maine Michigan Mississippi ©19 97 CRC Press LLC Leonard v State, 551 So 2nd 1146 1989 Robinson v State 574 So 2nd 910 1990 State v Carter 48C, 2nd 73 7, 312 P 2nd 665 19 57 Chesire v State 568 So, 2nd 646 1990 State v Rodgers 812 P 2nd 1208 1991 State v Erickson No 79 -186, App 411 NE 2nd 44... App 411 NE 2nd 44 1980 Hampton v State 588 N.E 2nd 1992 State v Hall 2nd 80, No 62 176 1980 State v Graham, Jr 422 So 2nd, 123 1983 State v Powell 598 So 2nd 454 1992 State v Hilton 431 A, 2nd, 1296 1981 State v Philbrick 436 A, 2nd, 844 1981 U.S.A v Price U.S Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit 72 8 F, 2nd 365 State v Jordan 464 So 2nd, 475 1985 Supreme Court Decisions Relating to Bloodstain Interpretation... Corning, NY: Laboratory of Forensic Science 7 MacDonell, H.L 1 973 Laboratory Manual on the Geometric Interpretation of Human Bloodstain Evidence Corning, NY: Laboratory of Forensic Science 8 MacDonell, H.L 1993 Bloodstain Patterns Corning, NY: Laboratory of Forensic Science 9 Redsicker, D R 1991 The Practical Methodology of Forensic Photography New York: Elsevier/CRC Press ©19 97 CRC Press LLC Serology... estimate, we get a range from 171 1 ( 175 0 – [.025 × 175 0]) to 179 9 ( 175 0 + [.025 × 175 0]) Any band falling in this 171 1 to 179 9 range falls into the range where the lab knows that an identical band would fall The K1 band is 175 5; it clearly falls into the match window and the visual match is confirmed If the K1 band had fallen outside of the 171 1 to 179 9 window, the visual match would not have been confirmed If... these fragments are of precisely known length; thus, they may be used to estimate the sizes of other fragments, just as we use a ruler to measure unknown lengths or a balance to weigh unknown samples ©19 97 CRC Press LLC Figure 11 .7 Interpretation of an autoradiogram or autorad Autorads are X-ray films exposed to the nylon membrane onto which the patterns of DNA fragments have been transferred; these sets... Comfort 113 AD 2nd 420 1985 State v Farris 670 P 2nd, 995 1983 State v Bishop 1 978 State v Chiellini 5 57 A, 2nd 1195 1989 SUGGESTED READING 1 DeForest, P.R., Gaensslen, R.E., and Lee, H.C 1983 Forensic Science — An introduction to Criminalistics New York: McGraw-Hill 2 Eckert, W.G and James, S.H 1989 Interpretation of Bloodstain Evidence at Crime Scenes New York: Elsevier/CRC Press 3 Kirk, P.L 1 974 Crime... Can the stain be linked to an individual source? More specifically, what and how many genetic markers may be used to analyze the stain and give an appropriate answer to the investigator or to a court of law? Serological Forensic Evidence Comes in Many Forms Most samples that come into a crime laboratory have dried and degraded, a fact that both aids and hinders the serologist To be sure, the available... chromosomes, X and Y 4 (A = Adenine, G = Guanine, C = Cytosine, T = Thymine) 3 × 109 (3 billion) bp (base pairs) 50,000 to 100,000 1000 bp 100 to 25,000 bp 1 × 1014(100 trillion) 70 to 10,000 0 to 10 16,569 as the nuclear membranae which surrounds the DNA This, in effect, allows the DNA to go freely into the reaction solution Salt (NaCl) is added to stabilize the DNA, while the detergent helps in the... rate to declare matches between unknowns and knowns by producing a window around the estimated size of the Q band In our example the Q3 band was sized at 175 0 Assume that the lab rate of sizing error is 2½% — that is, for known bands the average size ± 2½% constituted 99% of the labs measurements Placing a 2.5% window around the 175 0 size estimate, we get a range from 171 1 ( 175 0 – [.025 × 175 0]) to 179 9... or Autorad Is the Hard Copy of the Forensic DNA Specialist’s Analysis of a Series of DNA Samples Figure 11.6 is an autoradiogram or autorad; it is a photographic image of the pattern of DNA fragments, arranged in vertical columns, produced by known and unknown samples Larger DNA fragments are at the top of the autorad, because, by convention, the origin or well into which DNA samples were placed for . Relating to Bloodstain Interpretation Alabama Leonard v. State, 551 So. 2nd 1146 1989 Robinson v. State 574 So. 2nd 910 1990 California State v. Carter 48C, 2nd 73 7, 312 P. 2nd 665 19 57 Florida. So, 2nd 646 1990 Idaho State v. Rodgers 812 P. 2nd 1208 1991 Illinois State v. Erickson No. 79 -186, App. 411 NE 2nd 44 1980 Indiana Hampton v. State 588 N.E. 2nd 1992 Iowa State v. Hall 2nd 80,. Circuit 72 8 F, 2nd 365 Mississippi State v. Jordan 464 So. 2nd, 475 1985 ©19 97 CRC Press LLC SUGGESTED READING 1. DeForest, P.R., Gaensslen, R.E., and Lee, H.C. 1983. Forensic Science — An introduction