Crime Scene Evaluation and Investigation
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Strayer University, Virginia Beach *
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Course
499
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Health Science
Date
Dec 6, 2023
Type
pptx
Pages
14
Uploaded by mrslight2018
Crime Scene Evaluation and Investigation
Ivy Munn
November 2, 2023
Professor Wilson
CRJ499
Overview of the Case
Victim Information:
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The victim was a twenty six year old woman (Inc, 1) .
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Her body was discovered on the roof of a Bronx public housing apartment building.
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She had been living with her parents in the same building.
Discovery:
The discovery of the victim’s body was made by a fifteen-year-old boy who found her wallet in the stairwell while leaving for school. He gave the wallet to his father when he returned from school, who returned the wallet to the victim’s apartment. Victim’s Absence from Work:
The victim’s mother called the daycare center where the victim worked after receiving the wallet. She was informed that her daughter hadn’t shown up for work that morning. Time of Discovery:
The victim’s body was discovered at 3:00pm., indicating a significant time gap from her last known departure from her apartment at approximately 6:15am. Condition of the Victim:
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The victim was found nude. ●
She had suffered severe physical trauma, including facial fractures, broken jaw and nose, and loose teeth. ●
Her nipples had been cut off post-mortem and placed on her chest. ●
Bite marks were present on her thighs, which were determined to have occurred after death
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Numerous contusions and lacerations were visible on her body
Sexual Assault and Mutilation:
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The perpetrator had subjected the victim to sexual assault and mutilation. An umbrella and pen were forcibly inserted into her vagina, and a hair comb was placed in her pubic hair
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Semen was recovered from the victim’s body, suggesting that the assailant masturbated over the victim after the attack
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Disturbingly, human feces were discovered on the roof landing, covered with the victim’s clothing
Overview of the Case cont…
Written Messages:
The offender left derogatory messages on the victim’s body, which were written in ink on her thigh (“You can’t stop me”) and abdomen (“F*** you”). Missing Personal Items:
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The perpetrator had taken a pendant the victim usually wore, possibly as a momento. ●
The victim’s underpants were placed on her head, and her nylons were removed and loosely tied around her wrists and ankles. Organized vs. Disorganized Characteristics:
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The crime appeared to be unplanned, as the perpetrator used available objects (victim’s possessions) as weapons. ●
However, the positioning of the body, mutilation, and specific acts indicated a degree of premeditation, suggesting the crime scene was rehearsed. Risk Assessment:
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The crime was considered high-risk, being committed in broad daylight and involving considerable time spent by the perpetrator. ●
The victim, who was of small stature and lived with her parents, did not appear to expose herself to high-risk situations.
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Tools for Crime Scene Evaluation
Crime Scene Kit:
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Collection Bags: To secure and preserve evidence. ●
Gloves: For handling evidence without contamination. ●
Tweezers: Precise handling of small items. ●
Swabs: To collect biological samples. ●
Evidence Markers: Clearly identify and document evidence locations
Forensic Photography Equipment:
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Camera: High-resolution for detailed evidence documentation. ●
Tripod: Ensures stable shots for accurate representation. ●
Scales: Provide a reference for size and dimensions of evidence (Grant, 2)
Measuring Tools: ●
Tape Measure: For linear measurements in the crime scene. ●
Laser Measure: Offers precise distance measurements for accurate reconstruction
Evidence Collection Logbook:
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Crucial for documenting every piece of evidence collected. ●
Includes details like item description, location, and collector’s information
Rationale for Tool Selection
Crime Scene Kit:
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Purpose: Ensures proper handling and containment of evidence ●
Relevance: Vital for securing various items related to the crime, preventing contamination, and preserving their integrity for analysis
Forensic Photography Equipment:
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Purpose: Captures detailed and accurate visual records of the crime scene. ●
Relevance: Provides visual documentation crucial for analysis, reconstruction, and presenting evidence in court. Measuring Tools:
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Purpose: Enables accurate measurement of distances and dimensions.
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Relevance: Essential for creating precise diagrams and reconstructions, aiding in understanding the spatial relationships of evidence. Evidence Collection Logbook:
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Purpose: Establishes a clear chain of custody for all collected items. ●
Relevance: Ensures proper documentation, tracking, and accountability of each piece of evidence, maintaining its admissibility in court.
Securing the Crime Scene
Establishing Perimeter with Crime Scene Tape:
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Purpose: Defines the boundaries of the crime scene.
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Rationale: Prevents unauthorized entry and preserves the integrity of the scene, ensuring evidence remains undisturbed. Restricting Access to Authorized Personnel Only:
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Purpose: Limits entry to essential personnel directly involved in the investigation. ●
Rationale: Reduces the risk of contamination and interference, maintaining the integrity of evidence for thorough examination. Assigning Officers to Maintain Scene Integrity:
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Purpose: Ensures continuous oversight to prevent unauthorized entry or tampering. ●
Rationale: Provides an additional layer of security, safeguarding the crime scene from potential compromises
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Processing the Crime Scene
Initial Walkthrough to Identify Key Areas:
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Purpose: Gains an overview of the crime scene and identify areas of interest. ●
Rationale: Helps establish a systematic approach to evidence collection and documentation.
Documenting the Scene - Photography and Sketching:
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Purpose: Create a visual record of the crime scene layout and relevant details. ●
Rationale: Provides a comprehensive visual reference for later analysis and court presentation. Preliminary Evidence Collection - Wallet, Personal Items:
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Purpose: Secure critical items that may hold immediate evidentiary value. ●
Rationale: Prevents potential loss or contamination of crucial evidence, ensuring its integrity.
Techniques and Procedures
Handling of Potential Evidence:
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Gloves, Tweezers, Swabs - ○
Purpose: Minimize contamination and preserve the integrity of potential evidence.
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Rationale: Ensures that biological or trace evidence is collected and handled with the utmost care.
Packaging and Labeling Procedures:
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Purpose: Safely contain and identify each collected item. ●
Rationale: Maintains the chain of custody and provides a clear record of evidence origin. Documentation of Each Collected Item:
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Purpose: Create a detailed record of evidence for future reference.
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Rationale: Supports the integrity and admissibility of evidence in legal proceedings
Rationale for Procedures
Ensuring Chain of Custody and Evidence Integrity:
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Purpose: Maintain a documented record of all individuals who have handled the evidence. ●
Rationale: Demonstrates that the evidence has been properly handled and prevents tampering or contamination. Adhering to Forensic Best Practices:
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Purpose: Follow established protocols to guarantee accurate and reliable analysis
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Rationale: Increases the credibility and reliability of the evidence in court
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Preservation of Evidence
Proper Packaging to Prevent Contamination:
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Purpose: Safeguard evidence from external elements or substances that could alter its integrity. ●
Rationale: Ensures that evidence remains in its original state, maintaining its probative value. Storage in Sealed Containers:
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Purpose: Create a controlled environment to protect against potential damage or degradation. ●
Rationale: Preserves the evidence’s integrity over time, especially for long-term storage
Labeling for Identification:
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Purpose: Clearly identify each piece of evidence for tracking and retrieval. ●
Rationale: Maintains an organized record for all items collected, crucial for chain of custody.
Walkthrough and Narration
Upon arriving at the crime scene, the immediate surroundings were a Bronx public housing apartment building where the victim resided. The building itself was a typical urban structure, with multiple floors and access points. Notable features included the stairwell where the victim's wallet was discovered by a young boy, initiating the chain of events leading to the discovery of the crime. My initial observations were profoundly distressing. The victim's body, found on the building's roof, exhibited signs of extreme violence. She had been brutally beaten, strangled, and subjected to horrifying mutilation. The scene indicated a high level of aggression, with the perpetrator employing improvised weapons of opportunity, including the victim's own belongings.
The positioning of the body and the orchestrated mutilation suggested a disturbing level of premeditation, contrasting with the apparent spontaneity of the crime. This dissonance between planning and impulsivity became a central aspect of the investigation. The victim's lack of defensive wounds or signs of struggle implied that she was caught off guard, unable to react in time. This sudden and overwhelming violence painted a grim picture of the perpetrator's aggression. Moving forward, the crime scene processing involved meticulous documentation through photography and sketching. Every detail was captured, ensuring a comprehensive record of the scene. Initial evidence collection focused on personal items like the victim's wallet, critical in establishing a timeline of events.
Techniques and procedures were executed with precision, taking into account the sensitivity of the crime. All potential evidence was handled with care, using gloves, tweezers, and swabs to preserve its integrity. Each item collected was rigorously documented, creating an unbroken chain of custody vital for the investigation. These procedures were crucial in upholding forensic best practices, maintaining the highest standards of evidence handling. Adhering to these protocols ensured that the evidence collected would stand up to scrutiny in court. Preserving the evidence was paramount. Every item was packaged meticulously to prevent any risk of contamination. Sealed containers and precise labeling further safeguarded the integrity of the evidence, guaranteeing its admissibility in court.
Photographs of the crime scene were taken to provide a visual record of key areas and evidence. These images would play a crucial role in the subsequent investigation and trial, offering a clear and unambiguous account of the scene. Additionally, a crime scene map was created to illustrate the layout upon arrival. This visual aid would aid in reconstructing the events and understanding the spatial dynamics of the crime. In summary, the initial walkthrough and narration of the crime scene revealed a harrowing act of violence and a perpetrator whose actions were both impulsive and disturbingly methodical. The procedures followed in processing the scene were meticulous, guided by a commitment to preserving the integrity of the evidence. The resulting documentation and evidence collection would become crucial elements in the ensuing investigation and trial.
Case Resolution and Suspect Profile
The profile derived from the crime scene characteristics suggested that the offender was a white man, aged between twenty-five and thirty-five years, with an average appearance. This assessment was instrumental in narrowing down the list of suspects provided by the investigative task force. It pointed towards an offender who did not display the impulsive behavior characteristic of teenagers or young adults in their early twenties. Similarly, it was unlikely that the perpetrator was in his late thirties or forties, as such an individual would likely have committed similar crimes earlier, increasing the chances of apprehension.
The offender's methodical organization of the crime scene, including the positioning of the body and the placement of earrings, was indicative of a level of maturity not typically associated with impulsive perpetrators. This characteristic pointed towards a suspect in the specified age range.
The profile also shed light on the offender's level of education and employment status. The suspect was likely a high school or college dropout, or possessed education below that level. Additionally, he was most likely unemployed, or if employed, it was in a blue-collar or unskilled job. This information helped in focusing the investigation on individuals matching this description.
Crucially, the assessment ruled out the involvement of alcohol or drugs in the commission of the crime. This, combined with the suspect's social inadequacy and unmarried status, provided a clearer understanding of the offender's psychological state.
Furthermore, the profile indicated that the perpetrator either lived or worked near the crime scene. This detail was pivotal in narrowing down the list of suspects. It suggested that the suspect had a reason to be at the location at the time of the crime, likely due to employment or residency in the apartment building.
The sadistic and violent nature of the crime, coupled with the evidence of a collection of pornography, indicated underlying psychological issues and a deep-seated rage or hatred towards women. These characteristics helped shape the investigation by providing insights into the offender's motives and potential triggers.
Armed with this profile, the police reviewed the list of twenty-two suspects and identified one individual who closely matched the described characteristics. The suspect's connection to the apartment building, coupled with his history of mental health issues and previous suicide attempts, further solidified the alignment with the profile. Additionally, the discovery of a collection of pornography during a search of the suspect's residence corroborated the profile's assessment.
This detailed profile not only guided the investigation but also played a pivotal role in the resolution of the case. It provided a roadmap for narrowing down the pool of suspects, ultimately leading to the identification and apprehension of the offender. The subsequent arrest, trial, and guilty verdict were made possible through the careful consideration of the suspect profile derived from the crime scene characteristics.
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Lessons Learned
Thorough Initial Assessment: The importance of a comprehensive initial assessment cannot be overstated. In this case, the initial observations played a critical role in establishing the nature of the crime, its level of planning, and potential offender characteristics. Going forward, it is imperative to dedicate ample time and resources to the initial assessment phase.
Effective Use of Profiling: The offender profile generated from crime scene characteristics provided invaluable guidance for narrowing down the list of suspects. This technique should be further integrated into investigative protocols, especially in cases with limited leads or conclusive evidence.
Interagency Collaboration: The involvement of the FBI at a critical juncture in the investigation proved instrumental. This highlights the importance of interagency collaboration, especially when facing complex cases that may benefit from specialized resources and expertise.
Evidence Preservation and Documentation: The meticulous preservation and documentation of evidence were key in building a solid case against the suspect. This underscores the need for continuous training in evidence handling techniques and the use of updated forensic technologies.
Utilization of Psychological Profiling: The offender's psychological profile was a crucial component in identifying potential motives and triggers. This case emphasizes the value of incorporating psychological profiling into investigative strategies, particularly in cases with sadistic or violent elements.
Enhanced Security at Psychiatric Facilities: The fact that the suspect could freely leave the psychiatric hospital highlighted a significant security lapse. Future investigations involving individuals with a history of mental health issues should involve close coordination with relevant facilities to ensure tighter security measures.
Improved Victim Risk Assessment: While the victim in this case was deemed to be at low risk based on her lifestyle, future investigations should refine victim risk assessments. Factors such as living arrangements, routine activities, and personal relationships should be carefully evaluated to determine potential vulnerability.
Continued Training and Education: Keeping investigators updated with the latest forensic techniques, profiling methodologies, and best practices is essential. Continuous training programs should be implemented to ensure that investigators are equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge to handle complex cases.
References:
1.
Inc, S. P. (2019). CUSTOM: Strayer University CRJ 499 Undergraduate Capstone in Criminal Justice Custom Electronic Edition. SAGE Publications, Inc. (US). https://strayer.vitalsource.com/books/9781544399294
2.
Nicholas Márquez-Grant, Julie Roberts. Forensic Ecology Handbook : From Crime Scene to Court. Wiley-Blackwell; 2012. Accessed November 5, 2023. https://search-ebscohost-com.libdatab.strayer.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&
db=nlebk&AN=493707&site=eds-live&scope=site