Homicide Investigation

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Homicide Investigation
JS 112 051710
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Homicide Investigation

• Requires the greatest effort of all major crimes
• Coordinate witnesses, suspect, officers, forensic
  pathologist, criminalists, medical examiner etc.
• Many disciplines, attention to detail
• Brings together many concepts of the course

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Initial Steps

• Initial focus Finding the body
• Rules of first officer on the scene still apply.
• Find and collect all evidence
• Determination of suspicious death vs. natural
  causes vs. accident or suicide

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Murder, Suicide or Accident?

• Suspect the worst- Murder
• Murderers have been known to make the death
  appear to be an accident or suicide
• Systematic and accurate investigation can reveal
  the deception
• Evaluate the circumstances revealed at the crime
  scene
• Questions
• What was the cause of death?
• Could the deceased have produced the injuries or
  brought about the circumstances that caused the
  death?
• Are there any signs of a struggle?
• Where is the weapon, instrument or object that
  caused the injuries or traces of the medium that
  caused death?

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Cause of Death

• The injury, disease, or combination of the two
  which initiated the fatal train of physiologic
  disturbances.
• Multiple Blunt Force Injuries
• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
• Drowning
• Undetermined

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Manner of Death

• The fashion in which the cause of death arose.
• Natural
• Accident
• Homicide
• Suicide
• Undetermined

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Reasons For Determining Cause and Manner

• Innocent exonerated.
• Murder recognized.
• Compile medical evidence for civil/criminal
  matters.
• Wrongful death suits.
• Suicide exclusion clauses.
• Recognition of hazards to public health.

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Cause of Death

• Apparent cause of death vs Actual cause that will
  be determined by the medical examiner
• Determining the cause of death represents a
  starting point and assists in putting facts and
  circumstances behind the death into focus.
• Investigator should have a working knowledge of
  appearance of injuries and wounds in order to
  take first steps in death investigation
• Erroneous estimate of the cause may lead the
  investigation in a wrong direction and may even
  jeopardize the ultimate solution of the crime
• Experience vs Expertise-
• Cooperation and teamwork with investigator and ME

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Suicide

• Self inflicted injuries or could have deceased
  brought about the circumstances that caused the
  death?
• Answer based on the evaluation of injuries and
  other factors about the mental and emotional
  state Common modes of death by suicide are
  drowning, hanging, shooting, poisoning, jumping
  from heights, cutting arteries, stabbing and
  strangulation.
• Detailed examination of the crime scene to
  determine if factors are consistent with suicide
• Think about the 55 gallon gal suicide shown by
  Wiley

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Suicide (continued)

• Possible suicide
• Nature and position of injuries
• Hesitation marks involving wrist slashing
• Gunpowder tattooing firing at close range
• Wound location within reach of the deceased
• In suicides with guns the victim usually drops
  the weapon or throws it up to several feet away
• No blood on the inside of hands or corresponding
  parts of the gun grip and the rest of the hand
  blood soaked is usually a good indication that
  the victim fired the shot
• Dead in a room with door locked from the inside-
  look for unusual traces and marks on doors, locks
  and latches
• Suspicious death
• Defense injuries would not be expected on a
  suspected suicide
• Blood marks on the hand and grip that do not
  match

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Suicide (continued)

• Interviews with the deceaseds relative and
  friends
• Information from physician or psychologist
• History of suicide threats or suicidal tendencies
  significant
• Search for suicide notes (55 gallon gal) at the
  victims residence and workplace
• Have a qualified document examiner evaluate the
  note for authenticity. Collect handwriting
  exemplars and search for the writing instrument
  and paper used. The document should be examined
  for latent prints.

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Suicide (continued)

• Motives.
• Terminal illness
• Poor financial situation
• Marital or family problems
• Psychological problems- Often killing family
  members precedes the suicide- Then it becomes a
  homicide investigation
• Inheritance and insurance matters will be
  influenced by the order in which the victims died
• Sometimes motives are not apparent. So deeply
  hidden they may remain a mystery.

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Struggle?

• Obvious signs of struggle
• Bloodstains- considered the best clues for the
  reconstruction of the course of events
• Pulled-out hair
• Overturned or displaced articles of furniture
• Rumpled rugs
• Marks of weapons
• Injuries

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Struggle Bloodstains

• No bloodstains produced in first stage of attack
• If victims do not immediately become unconscious
  at the first blow, stab cut or shot it can nearly
  always be assumed their hands will become covered
  with their blood from touching the injured parts
  of their body
• If they attempt to escape or resist, their blood
  covered hands leave marks often indicating their
  position.
• After a struggle in a room with furniture a large
  number of marks of bloodstained hands may be
  found on the legs of tables and chairs.
• Bloody hair leaves stains on undersides of tables
  and chairs
• Bloody imprints on doors, phones, hung up
  clothers, draperies, curtains etc.
• Blood spatter on the door- need to note position
  of the door.
• Drops of spattered blood can indicate position of
  a piece of furniture
• Especially important are footprints in blood
  (remember the first cold hit case)

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Other signs of struggle

• Pulled out hair- certain indication of struggle
• Overturned and displaced furniture
• Chairs, pedestals and other light pieces of
  furniture fall in the direction in which the
  struggling persons are moving.
• If you suspect a criminal has righted overturned
  furniture, examine it for fingerprints
• Prints on light furniture, its position should be
  examined as it may indicate the furniture was
  used as a weapon.
• Heavy furniture displaced marks or scraping
  indicate displacement.
• Rumpled rugs provide signs of struggle.
• Murder victim may kick floor or furniture and
  shoes leave marks etc.

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Other signs of struggle

• Marks of weapons
• e.g. ax swung and scrapes a ceiling or slips
  along a piece of furniture
• If bloodstained then the blood will be left in
  the shape of the weapon
• Cartridges, cartridge cases, bullets and bullet
  holes are obvious indications of weapons
• Defense injuries
• Marks appear to be of a struggle

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Death by violence outdoors

• Not so distinct as indoors
• Fight preceded, ground will be trampled
• Footmarks made with shoes of different sizes and
  appearances or if marks have the form that
  results from feet set down obliquely against the
  ground indicate evidence of a fight
• Suicides with hanging, ground may be trampled but
  marks have normal appearance of those of a person
  walking.
• Struggle outdoors bloodstains, pulled out hair,
  marks of weapons, resistance injuries, broken
  twigs, trampled leaves, torn-up moss and grass,
  and footprints where you normally avoid

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Location of Weapon

• Absence of a weapon at the scene indicates murder
• If a weapon or instrument is found then an
  analysis of the situation should be done to
  provide a preliminary decision as to whether it
  is murder or suicide
• Nothing should be moved or altered
• If evidence might be destroyed, the investigation
  needs to be postponed
• If found, then photograph and describe position
• Pathologist should always be consulted to
  determine if an object can be considered a
  dangerous weapon

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Examination of a dead body at the crime scene

• Before examining the body- Precautions
• Example of officer probed wound with a pencil to
  determine track of a bullet!
• Clothing of victim examined but only visible
  parts before pathologist arrives
• Buttoned, attached, creased, wrinkled, marked by
  injuries, stains, position of clothing, how far
  pants pulled up, garments twisted, inside out.
• Any displacement from normal should be measured.
  Shirts checked for button side right to left or
  left to right

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Clothing

• Check folds. Horizontal or vertical. Due to
  crumpling of garment
• When body is dragged, horizontal creases occur
  that are dirty on the outside but clean on the
  inside folds
• If a body is lifted, characteristic formations
  are produced.
• If the raised part of a fold is bloodstained but
  the inner part is free from blood, then the
  position of a part of the body when violence was
  exerted can be determined with certainty
• Damage to the clothes from tearing, crushing,
  cutting, penetration should be measured and
  documented. At autopsy, the damage to the
  clothes and position of wounds on the body can be
  compared. Important information on the body
  position when the injury was inflicted.

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Stains

• Stains may consist of blood, semen, saliva,
  phlegm, vomit, feces, urine, dust, dirt or other
  contamination.
• Document, type, location, size, flow.
• Direction of flow especially strems of blood can
  contribute to the reconstruction of events in
  death by violence. All marks of blood flowing
  in the wrong direction should be examined and
  photographed
• Blood froth when a person continues to breathe
  after blood has penetrated the air passage coming
  out of the mouth and nasal passages
• Estimate blood amount

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Homicide Investigation-Step-by-step

• 1) Confirm the appearance of signs of certain
  death
• 2) Photograph the body before altered. If
  already altered, photograph then return to
  original position and photograph
• 3) Preliminary investigation of pockets- ID
  documents in wallet, purse, watch or other
  valuable articles. Very carefully so original
  position of clothes restored.
• 4) Preliminary sketch of the body position.
  Marks made at places on the floor, top point of
  the head, ears, elbows, hands, crotch, knees,
  heels and point of toes. Outer contour with chalk
• 5) Position of the body described. In relation
  to nearest article of furniture, object or fixed
  point. Visible clothing described without
  details
• 6) Detailed examination. Only visible details
  are examined and described. The original
  position of the body must not be changed

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Homicide Investigation-Step-by-step

• 7) Head described and examined in relation with
  respect to the body, eyes and mouth open, color
  of skin, injuries, presence of blood, state of
  hair, presence of saliva, phlegm, vomit, foreign
  bodies (soil, sand, vegetable matter, hair etc)
  Direction of flow of liquids should be noted
• 8) Examine the trunk, position, bending or
  twisting, the position of visible clothing and
  condition, folds, injuries to the body and
  clothes, presence of blood, saliva semen phlegm,
  vomit, and foreign bodies.
• 9) Arms and legs examined in the same way as the
  trunk. Hands should be given special attention.
  Presence of rings, wristwatches, marks left by
  objects. Foreign objects examined, especially
  fragments of hair or skin under nails. Dirt from
  under nails collected. If detailed exam cannot
  be done then enclose the hands in clean paper
  bags tied securely at the wrists. Legs, distance
  between knees and between heels. Soles of feet
  or shoes for presence of blood and other material
• 10) Course or sequence of events. Consider
  opinions of others for reconstruction.
• 11) Underside of body and those portions covered
  by clothes should not be examined at the scene
  unless done in the presence and request of the
  pathologist.
• 12) After body removed, area under the body
  should be examined. Critical evidence may be
  there. Pool of blood, bullets, fragments of
  bullets, projectile Relationship between
  location of injuries and bloodstains on the floor
  should be established.
• 13) Body should be transported in the position
  found if possible. If necessary, clothing can be
  fixed in original position with pins. Moved on
  clean sheet of cotton or plastic or on an
  undertakers impregnated paper sheet. Protect
  body from contamination and prevent minute
  evidence from loss.
• 14) Officer should accompany body to hospital,
  morgue or autopsy.

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Detailed examination

• Photographs
• Determine entry and exit paths for coroner and
  check for evidence
• Methodically planned examination with nothing
  forgotten
• Make accurate notes with details. Never throw
  away notes
• As far as possible put back into original
  position. Use chalk before moving to mark
  original position.
• Measurements, as each object is found.
• Shooting, look for weapon, cartridges, cases,
  bullets. Photograph if found. Fingerprints
  recorded.

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Security concernsOutdoor crime scenes

• Difficult to physically secure
• Accessible at many points by many people
• Perimeter may grow beyond original boundaries
• As for other scenes, multiple perimeters with
  varied levels of security
• Access strictly monitored and regulated

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Searching an outdoor area

• If no emergency exists (eg bad weather, missing
  child, injured vicitm) time can be taken
• Identify resources and human support needed
• Consider using volunteers with training or
  experience (eg fire departments, emergency
  response personnel, National guard, military)
• Instruct search party as to scope and protocols
  and how to respond if find evidence (Leverite)
• Trained CSI leader should form subgroups and be
  sure single command post gets all info

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Support Equipment forSearching an outdoor area

• Support equipment
• Canines
• locate missing individuals, dead and decaying
  remains and objects touched by those missing
• Should be used early as presence of large search
  parties will interfere with tracking
• Helicoptors
• Large and/or remote areas
• FLIR forward looking infrared detects thermal
  patterns for living or decaying bodies in total
  darkness

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Communications for Outdoor scenes

• Communications with command center
• Different search groups must communicate vital
  information in timely manner
• Large search parties require many portable radios
• Cell phones but only in coverage areas (and only
  with a good carrier!)
• If underwater, need trained personnel

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More considerationsOutdoor crime scenes

• Inclement weather
• Immediate attention and response to minimize loss
  or destruction of evidence
• Imprint and blood and trace will be damaged
• Use tarps to protect
• Document, preserve and collect if possible
  without delay
• Winter conditions may require thaw. Portable
  heaters and tarps can be used to melt ice and
  snow if needed

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More topics on Outdoor Crime Scenes

• Highways
• Secondary scenes, dump sites, primary shooting
  scene
• Police involved shooting- high profile
• Difficult to safely secure with high traffic
• Broken glass, ejected cartridge cases empty
  pistol magazines, imprint patterns
• Shut down highway if possible. Divert traffic
  away. Some impossible to close, traffic too
  great and insufficient alternate routes
• Hostile crowds
• Quick, effective documentation (seems like
  oxymoron)
• Gather evidence transport to more secure location

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Processing Outdoor scenes

• Perimeter established
• Document before any aspect disturbed
• Map with reference (base or datum point)
• Coordinated can be re-established if needed.
• All evidence taken should include distance and
  compass directions
• Use of GPS with accuracy of a few feet
• Need more precise distances with traditional
  measurements

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Necessary equipment specific to outdoor scenes

• Pruning shears, axes, saws to clear vegetation
• Marking devices or placards mark evidence or
  areas where metal detector
• String and police line tape- perimeter
• Shovels, hand trowels and rakes- removal of dirt
  in excavation and digging
• Paint brushes-careful removal of dirt in contact
  with buried evidence
• Large buckets to remove soil and debris to other
  areas for further processing
• Sifting screens to search for small objects

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Necessary equipment specific to outdoor scenes
(continued)

• Evidence bags and boxes- to store evidence
  recovered
• Portable generators- power for lighting and
  heating
• Tarps and tents- temporary structures to protect
  scene and evidence
• Mapping equipment- GPS, tape measure, ruler,
  compass and protractor
• Metal detector to detect any small metally
  objects buried
• Access to ground penetrating radar
• Communication devices

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Estimating time of death

• Postmortem signs of death
• Changes in the eyes- Cornea becomes dull and film
  may appear over the eye within several minutes to
  a few hours depending on open or shut, temp,
  humidity and air current. Not reliable
• Temperature of the Body- Rate of cooling depends
  on factors, temp at time of death, environment
  temp. clothing, surface area to body weight.
  Core body temp considered one of the more
  reliable. Insert thermometer in liver vs ambient
  temp
• Rigidity of the body. Immediately after death,
  the body is flaccid. Rigor mortis sets in
  extremities jaw, fingers first and is complete in
  2-6 hours. Remains for 2-3 days then disappears
• Lividity Blood settles to lowest portion of the
  body due to gravity. Blue or red marks on skin.
  First signs in 1 hour, full development 3-4
  hours. Does not form on parts exposed to
  pressure. Can be used to determine if body was
  moved.
• Decomposition- Autolysis and bacterial action
• Action of insects and animals

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Other indications of time of death

• Stomach contents and intestines
• Watches and clocks
• Conditions
• Papers in mailboxes
• Food materials state of decomp
• Dampness of laundry hung up
• Cobwebs
• Dates on clendars,
• Flowers withering
• Growth of vegetation outdoors

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Decay

• Extent of decay of clothing
• Cotton decomposes 4-5 years
• Wool after 8-10 year
• Leather and silk only after 20 years or longer

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Identification

• Eyewitness most common.
• Dental records very reliable but must have
  antemortem record and be able to find the
  dentist.
• Teeth preserved even with trauma, fires,
  decomposition.
• Fingerprints reliable if prints on record.
• AFIS Automated fingerprint identification
  system.
• Tattoos or other external marks (eg. absent
  fingers).
• Internal autopsy findings.
• DNA
• Circumstances least reliable.

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POSTMORTEM MANIPULATIONS

• In all trauma deaths, the Medical Examiner has
  jurisdiction over the body after death.
• No manipulation of a body after death is
  permissible unless consent is first obtained from
  the Medical Examiner.
• The only exception is Law Enforcement may search
  the body for ID at the scene of an auto accident.
  (Organ Donor)

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Who Can Pronounce Death?

• ANYONE As long as the person can recognize
  death.
• Decapitation
• Decomposition
• Rigor
• Lividity
• Massive Blood Loss

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Livor Mortis

• Gravitational settling of the blood.
• Usually maroon or purplish in color.
• 30 min 2 hours Onset
• 8-12 hours Fixed
• Blanched vs. Non-Blanched

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Rigor Mortis

• The tightening of the muscles in the body due to
  an increase of lactic acid.
• 0-12 hours Sets
• 12-24 hours Remains Set
• 24-36 hours Resolves
• Starts simultaneously, but is seen first in
  smaller muscles.

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The Autopsy

• Examine clothing and collect trace evidence.
• Collect toxicology, serology, microbiology, and
  special study specimens.
• External examination and x-rays.
• Internal examination.
• Package evidence and take fingerprints.

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Ligature Strangulation

• Death can occur without suspension
• Full suspension
• Less likely to see petechiae
• More likely to have fractures
• Rarely see vertebral fractures
• Horizontal ligature furrow more likely in
  homicide
• Pure homicidal ligature hanging very rare

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Decomposition

• Green discoloration of lower abdomen
• Marbling of skin
• Bloating of body with skin slippage
• Purge from mouth, anus
• Disintegration of body

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The scene will contain forensic evidence.
Identify it, collect it and preserve it and it
will speak for the dead