So What Did Margie Say About.....CSI: Girls Gone Wild

In the 11/27/13 episode of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation titled "Girls Gone Wild" technician Brody used two one dollar bills set at a ninety degree angle to photograph a shoe wear impression.  Obviously she didn't have her crime scene kit with her and used something at hand to give a relative size.   It is extremely important to include some type of scale when photographing either shoe wear or tire track impressions and it is standard operating procedure to abut them at a ninety degree angle at a corner of the impression.  But I think even she would have preferred something that would lay flat and not have all the crinkles and wrinkles that could/would create distortion.

It was interesting that she included something in the shoe wear photograph to use as a measuring tool but the tire tread pattern that was sent to the lab digitally did not show any sort of measurement at all.

Well, here is something that will measure up:
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
We all have many things to be thankful for so enjoy your day and be good to each other.

So What Did Margie Say About.....NCIS: Gut Check

The 11/19/13 NCIS episode titled " Gut Check" focused heavily on security. 

Gated parking lots, locked doors, metal detectors, and bullet proof or resistant glassed in areas haven't stopped persons who are intent on entering and creating havoc.

From watching recent news events, it would seem that most of the damage done lately is internal and not from outside sources.

Perhaps some of the $$ spent on security should be channeled toward sensitivity training and good mental health evaluations and programs.

I'm just saying....

So What Did Margie Say About.....Bones: The Mystery in the Meat

The 11/22/13 Bones episode titled "The Mystery in the Meat" was based on a person having been killed, placed in a meat grinder and added to stew which was then packaged in cans and sold to several locations, one being a school.  My question is: how did such a long piece of clavicle bone survive the machine that 'ground things into uniform pieces'?  And if this were so, how could the only mark on the bone produced by a sharp instrument be from the murder weapon and not the blades of the grinder? 

I find it interesting as well that a whole eyeball would survive the process.  It would seem that such a fragile part of the human body could not maintain its shape and inner fluid through such a process.

But the one thing that flustered me was the insinuation that arterial blood spray in the hair would withstand a dozen washes and still remain.  Just ask someone who cleans crime scenes as a profession.  There must be some cleaner that will wash it all away!

So What Did Margie Say About......CSI: Helpless

I was thrilled that in the 11/14/13 episode of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation titled "Helpless" that a CSI actually admitted that a surface was 'not conducive to prints'.

There is a symptom of these shows called the "CSI effect" which manifests in court trials.  The juries are so used to the fast and miraculous results seen in this television shows that they have come to expect the results in real life.

A lot of time and attention is now the duty of attorneys to explain why things are not there or why they don't have a case based on some of the same results that the jury saw in an episode last week.

The fact that the television show is slowly beginning to put some reality back into the excitement of criminal investigation is going to be a blessing to CSIs and attorneys alike in future court cases.

So What Did Margie Say About.....CSI: Under a Cloud

The 11/6/13 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation episode titled "Under a Cloud" included the statement that a defense review is the worst part of the job.

Certainly there is some anxiety included with such reviews as everyone can think of something that they would like to go back and do again or just do the first time.  Every scene investigation can be improved but no one person is ever perfect.  If you follow standard operating procedures and take thorough notes with proper documentation, there should be no problems. 

I have had several defense reviews.  That is the nature of our business and certainly the defendant's right.  I have not had a problem.  I credit my training and documentation for that.

The worst part of the job for me is always the realization of what people are actually capable of doing to each other.  That I have a difficult time with.

Technically, I would love to talk to someone with a portable laboratory like was portrayed in the episode.  I have several questions.  Do you have to recalibrate the equipment every time you cross a speed bump, railroad tracks, or a pot hole?  Some of these instruments can be sensitive.  Do you have any interference when you gas up the vehicle?  Don't the gasoline fumes cause concern?  How did it do a complete DNA analysis in a matter of seconds??

Perhaps this expensive alternative is merely an initial and preliminary test which will later be confirmed at the laboratory.  Or maybe I'm out of touch with the most modern of technology!

So What Did Margie Say About.....Bones: The Nazi on the Honeymoon

In the 11/4/13 Bones episode titled "The Nazi on the Honeymoon" both Forensic experts said that visiting the springs was not a good idea because they contain wild boar fecal matter.

This takes me back about two decades when one of my job duties was to test the public swimming pools and the water parks for bacteria.  Boy, the things that grew in some of those waters!!

Now I know that thousands of people have played in the waters and very few have gotten deathly ill.  So the adage that ignorance is bliss really applies here.

Studies have been done that indicate with all the antibacterial soaps and lotions that we are becoming our own worst enemy when it come to battling germs and bacteria.  We can't build up a tolerance to such germs and bacteria without exposure to them.

Still, to this day, I have a hard time getting all those overrun petri dishes out of my mind when it comes to the inviting clear waters.

So What Did Margie Say About.....CSI: Passed Pawns

The 10/30/13 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation titled "Passed Pawns" established a dangerous idea.  They insinuated that promotions are based solely on 'solves'. 

My issue with this idea is twofold.  First, an investigation has to be a team effort.  No one person or entity will 'solve' the case.  There are many facets to an investigation and albeit the forensics is one of the most important (I am a bit biased here) it also takes good old fashioned 'shoe leather' to complete an investigation.  What about the folks who answer the tip line phone calls?  What about the officers who conduct the neighborhood canvas?  Even in the evidence area of the investigation there are those that document who are sometimes separate from those who collect and preserve the evidence.  And in this day and age, it is a rare circumstance indeed for the crime scene technician to be the same person who actually conducts the analysis on said evidence.  Also, in this day and age, there are specialists rather than generalists so multiple forensic scientists are involved in the 'solve'.

My second point is that the idea of counting 'solves' could potentially lend itself to an elevated pressure to 'fudge' some of the results.  This is not only unethical but dangerous to the whole idea of justice.  Let's hope that good old fashioned integrity and good work would be the reasons for a promotion which is earned on merit and experience.

So What Did Margie Say About.....CSI: Last Supper

The 10/16/13 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation episode titled "Last Supper" spoke of the use of mikrosil to capture knife tool marks in bone.  This is a truthful and accurate, albeit rare, occurrence in an investigation.  Mikrosil is a casting material that is usually used for 'classic' tool marks but certainly a knife blade cutting into bone is considered a tool mark. The identification of a knife when the blade strikes the bone hard enough and that tool mark is discovered in autopsy can certainly be valuable information.

Another useful bit of information obtained was the fingerprint in blood.  Blood is useful and fingerprints are useful but you put someone's finger in someone else's blood and now you have a timeline.  The victim had to be bleeding and the suspect had to have been at the scene after the bleeding began.

I do have a question as to a fingerprint maintaining its' integrity in a 'sugar' straw.  Sugar would be extremely soluble and even though the 'sugar' straw may hold up for awhile with the liquid coursing through it, I have my doubts as to how valuable the minutae in the print would be.  If you could get an individualization from that - wouldn't it be sweet?

 

 



What Did Margie Say About....Bones: The Lady on the List

The 10/14/13 Bones episode titled "The Lady on the List" brought about a few points of discussion.

I  am not aware of the Smithsonian having a veterinarian on staff to be able to capture and care for a wild hawk.  Amazingly Dr. Saroyan drew blood from the bird without issue for analysis.  It is true that animals feast on the remains and that information can be obtained from what they regurgitate or defecate but I doubt that an agency would care for the rodent, bird, or mammal with as much care as was taken tonight.

Another issue is with the removal of the face like a Halloween mask.  What happened to all the muscles and tendons and such holding the face on the skull?  I have never seen anyone just "lift" the face without the use of a scalpel to cut it away.

The last issue is with the ear wax.  I am not discounting that there is a gold mine of information in the wax but I have never seen it analyzed outside of a television show.  I doubt also that a neat little ball could be obtained from the remains as was depicted tonight.

Bones and Booth were not the only ones 'repelling' tonight. 

So What Did Margie Say About....Bones: The Sense in the Sacrifice

 

The 10/7/13 episode of Bones titled "The Sense in the Sacrifice" reminded me of the short story The Gift of the Magi.

The difference here is that Bones and Booth dealt with their 'ethical dilemma' by the willingness for each to be the one to kill Christopher Pelant.  Even though they stared evil directly in the eye, it was not in either one of their personalities to just murder someone without immediate provocation.  But because they felt that if they didn't do it, the other would be hurt, they independently decided to take care of it.

Even though it is a bit far fetched to believe that a forensic anthropologist would be placed in this emotional position, I find it more believable than Pelant slicing a body in the time that was portrayed.  Especially when you compare his action to a team of people in a forensic lab who needed all their talents and a good amount of time to accomplish the same task.

Great drama but stretching realism.

So What Did Margie Say About....CSI: Take the Money and Run

The 10/2/13 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation episode titled "Take the Money and Run" begins with an armed robbery at a casino where the suspect used a strobe light sphere as a distraction.  The suspect also fired his weapon and shot the security guard.  This is hard to do under the circumstances presented.

Many law enforcement agencies practice shooting.  Where I used to work they did what was called "butt, belly, left, and right".  The value of the initial positions allowed you to practice in different positions to simulate different possibilities and circumstances you may face in the field and the use of both hands allowed for some familiarity in case your dominant hand was injured and you had to use your "weak" hand to fire your weapon.

I have also participated in practice firing a weapon in the snow, in the rain, in the wind, in the dark, and in the dark with flashing police vehicle lights.  You'd be surprised how these different situations influence one's ability to hit what you are aiming at. 

No wonder they call it a 'shot in the dark'.  It's difficult to pull off!

So What Did Margie Say About.....Bones: El Carnicero en el Coche

The 9/30/13  Bones episode titled "El Carnicero en el Coche" made me smile when there was a burst of bloodspatter on the interior windshield after a blast of rounds from an automatic weapon killed the driver.  It did not match the two bullet holes with a small amount of blood flow from facial wounds when the victim was viewed.  The victim also was wearing a wool cap which would have contained a lot of the 'burst' of spatter.  I also don't think that an automatic spray of gunfire would only result in two facial wounds.  What a terrible shot the shooter was if this is so.  I would imagine that an automatic weapon with the firepower displayed would create a great deal of damage if just aimed in a general direction.  It sure did a lot of damage to the glass and body of the vehicle!

I did appreciate the reenactment reference the yaw of the bullet to answer the question as to why there were two entry wounds but no exit wounds in the initial victim.  The beveling of the skull bone was mentioned.  Usually there is a conical shape which indicates which way the projectile is traveling.  Some wounds are more difficult to determine if entry or exit but within a series of examinations such as the underlying bone beveling; the underneath damage of the injury skin; the tearing of the skin surrounding the injury; and even potential reenactments, the wounds are usually determined correctly.

Interesting show tonight, I am very happy that original episodes are back!

So What Did Margie Say About.....CSI: The Devil and D. B. Russell

The 9/25/13 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation episode titled "The Devil and D. B. Russell" shows how criminal investigation goes way beyond mere physical evidence.

More often than not the show focuses on a death investigation and how tangible evidence is recognized, collected, preserved, analyzed, and used to determine the crime and the perpetrator.

Once you add the dimension of living victims, the intensity changes.  Now there is the pressure of dealing with not only physical evidence but psychological evidence and doing the "analysis" in sufficient time and with the quality to actually save those lives.

CSI Russell even stated that investigators are 'trained to follow evidence but sometimes they just need to follow that voice'....

How much pressure is added when a human life is in the balance?  How do you determine what physical evidence is crucial when you don't have a physical scene but only a mere video or telephone demand?

Sure they used audio analysis and encryption and manufactured DNA, but it was the piecing together of the mental or the psychological evidence which led to the avenues to save the kidnapped CSI.

If only the clues had come together in time to save all the other victims!

So What Did Margie Say About.......Elementary: Heroine

 

The 9/19/13 repeat Elementary episode titled "Heroine" begins with Irene Adler (aka Moriarty) stating "as if men had a monopoly on murder".

True enough, when I began my career in the late 70's females were usually only considered as suspect when it involved domestic violence or when their children were killed.  It was usually considered a crime of passion or as a result of a mental illness.  It was not considered that there was planning and thought behind the elimination of life, not by a woman.

As the years went by and women held more positions of authority in society it became true that they may have also become more violent in other aspects of society.  However if you look at statistics of serial killers (people who kill multiple people over a time period); spree killers (people who kill multiple people in a short period of time); and now active shooters and/or work related violence shootings, the perpetrators are for the most part male.

Criminal profilers who develop a potential suspect rely on these trends to develop their profiles.  How long will it be before women break the glass ceiling of criminal violence and therefore make it necessary to reevaluate those profiles?

So What Did Margie Say About....NCIS: Damned if You Do

The 9/17/13 repeat NCIS episode titled "Damned if You Do" presented quite the dilemma to folks who believe that answers are all in black and white.

Some of the quotes from tonight's episode include:
"good people making bad decisions", "ruin a good pair of shoes to do what's right", "can't be held responsible for what you don't know", "take responsibility for actions", and "put all the secrets behind us and the honest man comes out on top".

I am reminded of the song Blurred Lines.  You know what you have been taught and you know what you believe in but does the world's rules always follow the true and narrow?  Do you at times have to make decisions that you don't like but know that in the long run it may be the best and most beneficial for the circumstances?

Anyone who is a position of authority or who has great responsibility knows that their career path is not paved in gold but often the pathway is full of ruts and mud.  You may be able to clean your shoes but does the smell ever really go away?  Is it true that the end justifies the means?

A lot to think about.  A lot to digest.  A lot to decide where you stand.

So What Did Margie Say About...CSI: Skin in the Game

The 9/11/13 repeat CSI: Crime Scene Investigation episode titled "Skin in the Game" had its first blog entry on 5/16/13.

One thing tonight's episode brought to light was the tenuous relationship between law enforcement and the media.  The media always wants front line access and total information but law enforcement is usually leery of allowing either.

It surprises me that the reporter was front and center at scenes, with evidence, and listening in on interviews.  There is such a thing as "ride along" but such total access is certainly not a common occurrence.

In many instances when too much information is released an investigation is compromised.  There are always certain details kept 'close to the vest' and are usually facts that only a suspect would know.  This helps to validate the confession when, and if, one is obtained.  It also allows those individuals who like to confess to be eliminated when their details are 'not on the mark'.  How can these facts be protected if they hit the front page of the paper or the early edition of the news??

The paperwork alone between the reporter who has free access and the law enforcement agency would likely be enormous.  Both sides want protection and security.  Both sides have agencies behind them that would likely worry about forthcoming lawsuits from victims or witnesses or even suspects.

I know there is a first amendment right which protects free speech but I think that the price to pay for "free" speech is a bit excessive if a guilty person goes "free".  Don't you??
 

So What Did Margie Say About...NCIS: Double Blind

The 9/10/13 NCIS repeat episode titled "Double Blind" incorporated a fire investigation within the episode in which the fire began in a fuse box.

 

In a fire investigation the investigator wants to rule out the cause being accidental or an act of God before they call it Arson - an intentionally set fire.

 

An act of God would include a lightning strike which can often cause a fire.

 

An electrical fire can be caused by a short in a fuse box or an overloaded outlet.

 

An accidental fire may be as a result of a burning candle overturned, someone falling asleep and dropping a burning cigarette, a forgotten pan left on a stove top, and/or a heater too close to combustible materials.

 

To show Arson one would look for multiple sources of origin, pour patterns, or severe burning in an area not containing a lot of natural combustible materials.  Of course there are things which can indicate these indicators but are misleading.  For instance, if the foam in a sofa melts and the resulting liquid "pours" across the floor, it will simulate an accelerant pour pattern but is actually an natural occurrence due to the fire and heat.

 

The fire triangle states that oxygen, heat, and fuel are all necessary for sustained fire.  Without any one of these the fire cannot exist.  To determine if the fire was 'assisted' in its intensity or its creation is the job of the fire investigator.

 

This is just the tip of the iceberg to fire investigation.  I apologize for using this analogy (ice) when dealing with such a HOT topic.

So What Did Margie Say About CSI: Fearless

The repeat 8/28/13 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation episode titled "Fearless" had its' first blog entry on 5/2/13.

 

Tonight I'd like to address their fingerprint match which consisted of only 5 - 6 points of identification.  It's true that one only needs about a 1/4" area of the print (a little smaller than the partial obtained on the small latex item in the show).  However, the points of comparison have to be there.

 

A fingerprint is comprised of friction ridge skin.  There are ridges that split.  If it splits into two lines it is called a bifurcation.  If it splits into three lines, it is called a trifurcation.  If it splits and comes back together to create a circle then it is called an island.  If the line stops, the end is called an ending ridge.  All of these are points of identification.

 

In the United States there is no specific number of points of identification needed to render an individualization.  It is usually up to the training and experience of the examiner.  However, it is rarely done on less than 8 points.  And now even that is being called into question.  And it is always done with verification by a human being - not the instrumentation.  The machines are only a tool.

 

When is the last time you heard of a machine testifying in court?  But wait - what is the name of the computer that won Jeopardy??

So What Did Margie Say About...CSI: Code Blue Plate Special

The first blog entry reference the repeat episode of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation titled "Code Blue Plate Special" appeared on 5/30/13.

 

Tonight I'll focus on the bloodstain pattern analysis.  I say bloodstain pattern analysis instead of blood-spatter because there is more to the science than the 'spatter'. 

 

In bloodstain patterns there are stains that are created through 'active' events and stains that are created through 'passive' events.

 

In this episode the significant analysis of the blood was done on passive stain patterns.  When the blood flows it will always flow downward due to gravitational pull.  When you look at the downward flow on the chin of a deceased you know that their original position was upright when blood began to flow.  Gravity pulls it down.

 

The same is true when looking at the flow on the clothing.  If a person is upright when they suffer a blood letting injury and maintain that position then gravity will pull the blood flow downward and this will be demonstrated on the staining on their clothing.  If they are on the ground when the blood flows then gravity pulls it downward across the curves of the body and this staining is evident on their clothing.

 

Where blood pools and where it saturates the clothing are also telltale indicators of body positions and subsequent motion or movement.

 

So you see, you don't have to have spatter, gunshot impact spatter or otherwise, to be able to interpret the language of blood and hear the story that it has to tell.  Even in the midst of "action" such as eight people being shot, the quieter evidence was the most informational.

So What Does Margie Say About....NCIS: Shiva

The repeat NCIS episode on 8/20/13 titled "Shiva" clearly demonstrates why any investigator or supervisor too close to the crime should not be involved in any capacity with the investigation. 

 

Oftentimes the agency itself is eliminated from being the lead agency in the investigation.  In the Commonwealth of Virginia, a crime involving someone related to or part of a local law enforcement agency is usually handled by the Virginia State Police.

 

Even if the local agency investigator could remove his emotions from the circumstances, which is almost humanly impossible, the "smell test" won't be passed at court time.  Any defense attorney will go full tilt to show the jury how prejudiced and emotional the investigator is due to the ties to the victim.  The tie may be a direct relationship or just the result of working in the same agency as someone related to the victim.

 

Any investigator needs to keep an open mind and a level emotion.  I dare say that anyone with human empathy and compassion could not do this if the situation is just too close to home.

 

An overzealous investigator or supervisor is a detriment to a good outcome regardless of how pure the intentions are.

 

It is never a bad thing to ask for assistance, especially when the result is the ultimate truth.

So What Did Margie Say About...CSI's Sexual Assault Kit

The 8/14/13 repeat episode of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation titled "Backfire" had its first blog entry on 4/11/13.

 

This time I'd like to talk about the Sexual Assault Kit that turned the investigation in this episode.  I haven't spoken of the contents of the kit prior to now.

 

The clothes are taken.  If not all of the clothes, the underwear in particular is taken at the very least.  The victim may be asked to remove her clothing while standing on a large sheet of paper so that any trace evidence that falls off during the disrobing may be collected and possibly used to help identify a perpetrator.

 

The fingernails are scraped, again to collect any possible trace or potential DNA from the suspect.

 

Wounds and injuries are photographed.

 

Swabs are taken and potential evidential fluids are obtained from the mouth, the anus, and the vaginal area.  Sometimes the inner thighs are swabbed as well. 

 

If the interview of the victim suggests that other areas are to be swabbed, then that area is swabbed as well.  For instance, the suspect may have kissed or licked the victim.  These areas need to be swabbed.  The suspect may have bitten the victim  These areas need to be swabbed and photographed and if bite marks are present, casts need to be taken.  And obviously, if the victim ejaculated on the victim or other object, these areas need attention. 

 

Hair samples used to be taken in the form of combings of the pubic region in case suspect hairs were present.  As I have mentioned in the past, microscopic examination of hairs is no longer routine and hairs that naturally fall out will not have the root present to get a DNA profile.  But if hairs from the suspect are pulled out - now there is the potential to have the root present and possibly a DNA profile from the suspect.

 

Times have changed over the last few decades and sexual assault victims are interviewed and treated differently than in the 'good ole days' when it was essentially up to the victim to prove that she didn't entice the perpetrator and wasn't just crying 'wolf'.  In the 70's and 80's the rape victim had to essentially have suffered severe injuries to obtain any credibility to her accusation of assault.

 

Thank goodness we are past that.  Unless, I guess, you are a drunk teenage girl who has overdone the beverage intake at a party attended by high school athletes.  But this is a topic for another day.

So What Did Margie Say About...Systematic Approach to Crime Scene Investigation

Hello faithful followers and newbies as well.  I wasn't home last night so I thought I'd discuss a bit about the systematic approach to crime scene investigation.

It actually begins way before you get the call.  You must check your vehicle to make sure that it is functional and completely stocked.  How is your oil?  Does the vehicle have a full tank of gas?  How is your supply of bags, markers, tweezers, gloves, etc?  Is your camera functional?  Do you have spare batteries and memory cards?

When you get the call then you begin an emotional transformation.  You need to handle your emotions while doing your job.  A horrendous scene, especially one involving a child, takes a toll on you but it cannot interfere with the duties required of you.  A mental preparation and calming is essential.

Then you do a preliminary walk through.  The first priority on any scene is safety.  Safety and care of the victims and the law enforcement personnel.  Once the scene has been declared safe and medical attention has been rendered to those victims that can be helped by that, then comes the evidence.  One must evaluate the environmental conditions and establish a priority of the evidence to be gathered.  For instance, if you are working an outside scene and it is raining or soon going to be raining you must take precautions to protect vulnerable evidence from the environment.  A heavily traveled area is also a priority.  But you must determine the scope of the scene and the potential evidence prior to beginning any collection.

Once you know what you are dealing with and have an idea of the tools you will need to deal with what you have, then you begin documentation and collection.  Documentation consists of notes, photographs, and sketches.  You should takes notes on EVERYTHING.  What do you see, hear, smell, feel, and observe?  Are the lights on or off, what is the temperature, what is the thermostat setting, is anything out of place, and on and on.  Then you photograph to place the item of evidence in a relationship within the scene and then a close up of the evidence itself.  If it is in a difficult location such as under something or stuck in something or on top of something then supplemental photographs may be necessary.  Then the item is measured for placement in a sketch.

Then you collect and package for the best possible preservation of that piece of evidence.  Labeling is important as well.  You should have already designated areas for evidence, equipment, and trash.  Everything has a place and should be put in its place.  That is easier for organization and accountability.

At the final phase you ask for a 'fresh pair of eyes' if possible to review the area and view the scene to see if they notice anything that you may have overlooked.  This is also the time to dust for fingerprints and leave that black powder on everything.

Once back at the office or the laboratory is when the real fun begins:  PAPERWORK!!    

This is really just a brief discussion and "the tip of the Iceberg" but it gives the basics so that any Titanic disaster should be avoided.

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So What Did Margie Say About...CSI: Dead of the Class

The repeat CSI: Crime Scene Investigation episode titled "Dead of the Class" airing on 8/7/13 also had a post from 3/21/13.

 

The episode begins with the description of the deceased females neck wound as an irregular laceration.  Wound interpretation can lend itself to some valuable information in a criminal investigation.

 

First there is a distinction between a cut and a laceration.  A laceration is not a defined wound but more of a tear.  A cut is a wound which has been 'sliced' and displays clean edges.  Also a cut is longer than it is deep and a stabbing is deeper than it is wide.

 

A wound's edge can often give information as to the width of a blade, if the knife has a hilt, if the blade is single or double edge, and if the blade is serrated. 

 

The depth of the wound may give an indication of the length of a knife's blade.  One must be cautious because if strength and force is applied during a stabbing the knife can go into the body farther than the length.  The skin has elastic properties and may reconstitute to an original state once the knife has been withdrawn.

 

I have spoken of Langer's Lines before.  These lines which are also referred to as cleavage lines is used to describe or define the direction within the human body along which the skin has the least flexibility.  One must also consider if the wound is located in a fleshy or fatty portion of the body or in an area where bone is prevalent.

 

Retrieving information from a wound, and documenting these informational points, is a good investigative tool.

 

Of course, nothing will ever be as definitive as "the Mark of Zorro".  Crime scene investigators should be so fortunate.

So What Did Margie Say About...NCIS: Devil's Trifecta

The repeat NCIS episode on 8/6/13 titled "Devil's Trifecta" begins with FBI agent Fornell getting shot and then shooting through the front windshield of a vehicle.

 

Bullet holes in the windshield glass are capable of providing information as to the sequence of the shots from the radial cracks generated by the damage.  Radial cracks will not cross an existing radial crack so it's easy to track the crack and see which was the original and which cracks then stop the others in their path.

 

Bullet holes in the windshield glass are also capable of providing information as to which direction the bullet was traveling when the damage was created.  A crater is created which shows direction as well as the side view of the glass gives you distinctive radial cracking.  'Radial cracks create right angles to the rear' due to the pressure and strain on the glass when the damage is created.

 

All is well and good so far but what they didn't account for is the potential for ricochet bullets once they hit the windshield.  The slope of the windshield also may create a problem with firing your weapon into and through the glass.  There have been cases of officers attempting to shoot through the windshield and end up injuring themselves by their own bullet ricochets.

 

Also it was a good thing that the bullet that hit Fornell actually hit the bullet proof vest.  Why didn't the shooter go directly for the head shot?  With a driver in a vehicle it would seem that the most visible and largest target would be the head of the driver.

 

Many years ago manufacturers designed a safety glass which is supposed to break into cubes when broken and damaged.  In a scene situation, it is good to consider how to protect the glass from 'shattering' when it is moved or towed for processing.  One good bump and all that great information is just a pile of cubes in the front seat and floorboard of the vehicle.  

The 7/31/13 "Last Woman Standing" episode of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation had an original blog post on 2/28/13.

 

Tonight I'd like to talk about the mechanism behind the bloodshed involved in the first homicide in the elevator.  The deceased died of blood loss from a breached artery.

 

The human heart is a pump which circulates the blood throughout the body.  The blood carries oxygen and nutrients picked up in the lungs to the extremities so cells can be replenished.  This is done by way of the arteries in the body.

 

The arteries are much more muscular than the veins in order to withstand the blood pressure which propels the liquid blood through the vessels in order to reach those cells at the extremities.

 

When the heart pumps and blood is under pressure while traveling through the body, there is a classic pattern created called an arterial spurt when this pressurized blood "squirts" out the vessel where a hole or defect is created.

 

As the body begins to die and lose blood pressure, the 'pumps' of blood become less forceful and also contain less volume.  You can actually count the heart beats by the number of spurts and tell the sequence by the characteristics created by diminishing pressure and volume.

 

If you noticed the elevator walls, they tried to portray these arterial spurting patterns.  On a crime scene the telltale clue that it is arterial is the amount of volume propelled by force to create these patterns.  A splash may demonstrate the volume but not the force.  Expirated and impact patterns may demonstrate the force but not the volume.  

 

In bloodstain pattern analysis it always comes back to the size, the shape, and the distribution of the blood patterns and what mechanism or event can create stains with these characteristics.

 

Sometimes bloodstain pattern interpretation is like our elevator - it definitely has it's ups and downs! 

The 7/30/13 NCIS repeat episode titled "Shell Shock (Part 2)" focused on Post Traumatic Stress (PTS) in reference to a soldier back from war.

 

Obviously the effects of killing, death, violence, evil, meanness, and darkness are escalated when it comes to war but I dare say that there are varying degrees of PTS associated with the death and destruction seen at crime scenes.

 

Speaking of darkness, has anyone noticed how dark they keep the NCIS set??  The office, the interrogation rooms, hotel rooms, and the autopsy room are extremely dark.  I know that the federal budget is tight but goodness, you'd think they could afford to pay the light bill.

 

Good lighting is necessary, especially in the autopsy room.  Outside of keeping the stainless steel tables clean and free of potential contamination, great lighting is probably the next important aspect in the environment that assists the Medical Examiner in their job.  Many even have additional lighting instruments which help them when examining small things or when viewing up close and personal in an area of interest.

 

I find it absurd that the areas of work which demand attention to detail and meticulous observation are kept so dim.

 

I say if these producers want to 'illuminate' us in the ways of forensics that they start with the light bulb! 

So What Did Margie Say About...CSI: Forget Me Not revisited

The 7/24/13 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation episode titled "Forget Me Not" had its' first blog entry from the air date of 2/21/13.

 

This time I'd like to talk a little about some evidence that wasn't mentioned directly but was brought to mind during the discussion of evidence in regards to the wine glass in the hotel room.  Of course the obvious and most commonplace evidence is the fingerprint.  But they also noted the presence of lipstick on the glass.

 

If you have ever looked at a lip print you will notice both horizontal and vertical lines within the print.  There have been studies that indicate that these patterns of lines may be as unique as fingerprints.  For some odd reason, which has not been emphasized to my knowledge, the reliance of these line patterns for identification or individualization never really caught on in the forensic world.

 

It reminds me of ear prints.  Back in the day when there was a definite problem with safe crackers the ear print was considered an important piece of evidence.  As it turns out, to hear the tumblers in a locking mechanism, the thief would press his (or her) ear up against the safe.  Several cases have been known to include ear print samplers in order to make an ear print comparison. 

 

I guess as life gets more technical and complicated, so does the accountability of evidence.  It has been literal decades since I have heard any mention of anyone interested in pursuing studies to validate either ear prints or lip prints.

 

One aspect of today's security and identification technology does involve the scanning of the iris of the eye.  This particular facial feature is still as strong as ever in forensics.  I guess that old adage "the eyes have it" is truer than we think.

So What Did Margie Say About...NCIS and CSI this week

The 7/17/13 repeat episode of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation titled "Exile" had a original blog entry posted on 2/13/13.  The last post discussed autopsies.

 

This time I would like to make mention of the importance of elemental analysis.  The black streaks of oily residue test results turned out to be motor oil.  This in combination with the results of the analysis of the fragment of metal embedded in Marta's heel led the investigators to the Auto Body Shop where they located the crime scene of the homicidal beating.

 

The steps taken in a criminal investigation are like piecing together a puzzle.  Every little piece helps to make the overall picture.  One analysis leads to a scene or a victim or a suspect.  This is the 'triangle' in criminal investigation.  The best outcome ties all three together and links them.

 

On another note, I cringed when they picked up the burlap sack fiber in the hotel room where Estevan was killed.  Not that it was an improper technique to collect the fiber but it wasn't photographed in its' original position under the corner of the desk but rather "flying in the air" in the grip of the tweezers.  It is proper crime scene technology to bring your packaging material to the evidence rather than creating more travel or movement which creates the possibility of loss or damage.  And, of course, the tweezers must be cleaned prior to collecting any other piece of evidence.

The 7/16/13 repeat episode of NCIS titled 'Phoenix' begins with an exhumation of a body that had been buried for 12 years.

 

The body was in really good condition with only a little mold as a tell tale sign that it had been buried.  It was even in good enough condition that they could run toxicological tests on the liver.

 

The condition of a body in an exhumation relies on the tightness of the seals of the coffin. 

 

I have seen bodies that have been buried for over a decade, not unlike the one portrayed in tonight's episode, that look like they have only been buried for a short time.  On the flip side, I have seen bodies that were in terrible shape and some floating in excess water after only having been buried for a year or two.

 

The difference was the condition of the casket seals.  Extra moisture that seeps in does not do a body good.  I have seen coffins that have been washed up after a flood but upon opening the casket, the bodies were able to be identified by visual because of their good condition.

 

This is why a lot of suspects prefer cremation over burial to destroy potential evidence.  In reality all they would need to do is buy an inexpensive casket and have their "loved ones" buried in a flood zone. 

So What Did Margie Say About...Criminal Minds: God Complex

 

 

 

On 7/10/13 CBS aired a repeat episode of Criminal Minds titled "God Complex" instead of the usual CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.

 

The episode was about a mortician trained individual who was experimenting with limb, specifically the leg, reattachment in his garage.

 

This is about as absurd as Dr. Conrad Murray attempting to administer a surgery anesthetic to Michael Jackson as a sleep aid in his bedroom.  That didn't turn out particularly well either!

 

When you think of attaching bones, ligaments, muscles, blood vessels, nerves, and goodness knows what else - how crazy is it to portray a lone individual attempting this in his garage with limited equipment and medical supplies?  And talk about an environment that's less than sterile!

 

And how long would you figure an average operation like this would take?  It's about as similar as solving a complex crime in an hour show. 

 

I think they went way out on a limb on this one (pun intended)!

So What Did Margie Say About...repeat of CSI Fallen Angels

If you check the blog entry for 3/27/13 you'll see that the 7/3/13 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation episode titled "Fallen Angels" is a second repeat airing.  Unlike CBS, I will try not to repeat myself in this current blog.

 

The body of the Reverend and the man who jumped out the window both had their liver temperatures taken to help to establish the time of death. The internal body temperature is supposed to drop so many degrees per hour after death.  This, of course, can vary with environmental conditions and where the body is located.  The time of death is only an estimate at best and is really given as a 'window' and range of a possible time of death.

 

I noticed that Nick wore his gloves when walking to check to find the potential location of the cartridge case.  If you watch enough episodes you will notice that the technicians wear their gloves to answer their phones and perform menial tasks after and between evidence collection and handling.  This in essence defeats the purpose of using gloves to begin with.  It is recommended in crime scenes or laboratory work that the investigator or scientist change their gloves between each item of evidence collected or handled and they certainly should NEVER keep them on when walking out of the scene or away from a completed task.

 

I was also amazed that the batteries in the buried boys' key fob were still viable after a year underground.  Even if they were the super duper EverReady kind, could you really hear the beep under a significant depth of packed down dirt?

 

I do want to end the blog tonight the way I did in March - mentioning the blood.  They stated that the blood on the flashlight was black and not tacky.  There is no way to 'age' the deposit of blood but these are indicators of aging.  But like so much else in Forensics, the environmental conditions and the surface on which you find the blood could definitely affect these indicators. 

 

As always, it pays to be conservative and cautious.

So What Did Margie Say About: NCIS: Recovery

There are so many psychological aspects to the 7/2/13 repeat NCIS episode titled "Recovery": why is it so imperative for investigators to have psychological evaluations?; how detrimental are romantic relationships with co-workers?; what are the ramifications of adoption?; and how do personal issues influence stress and sleep deprivation?. 

 

However, let's stick with physical evidence - the bullet found in the front seat of the vehicle.  The mold spores helped to establish that the murder weapon was an older one.  The striations on the bullet were not really stressed in this episode but Abby did use the number of lands and grooves and the twist to determine the possibilities of the weapon type used.

 

When a weapon is made the barrel is drilled and a particular number of depressions are created and in either a right hand or left hand twist.  The number of "lands and grooves" along with the twist help the investigator in narrowing down how manufacturers bore their particular barrels and therefore a list of potential brands of weapons are made available.

 

The markings created when the barrel is tooled create the striations on the soft lead of the bullet as it travels through the barrel once the gun is fired.  But first one needs the suspected weapon to actually make the comparison between the striations on the bullet from the scene or the body and that of a bullet fired from the suspected weapon.

 

This is the one time that it's good to have 'an interesting new twist' in the case investigation.

So What Did Margie Say About...CSI: Dead Air

The 6/19/13 repeat "Dead Air" episode of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation caused an eleven on my forehead twice during the show from frowning and wrinkling my eyebrows.

 

The first time was when CSI Finlay stated that the spatter on the back of the anchor chair caused by the stab wound.....  Let's think about this.  What exactly would cause spatter?  If you think of the mechanism of stabbing, what liquid blood would be compressed or impacted to create spatter?  The blade enters and may cause internal bleeding but unless it hits an artery or some area that would cause an escape of air and blood, there is no spatter.  Then she went on to say that directional drops meant the killer went in a certain direction.  

That theory of directionality is fine but again let's consider the mechanism of a single stab wound creation.  The blade goes in and comes out directly almost in a wiping motion between the skin of the wound which rids the blade of excess blood.  Why is this important?  Because it takes excess blood on the blade in order to have a sufficient amount to drip off to establish this blood trail.  I would doubt that a single stab wound would generate such an amount on the knife blade to allow as many drops (if any) that were displayed.

 

The second was during the autopsy of Mr. Howard.  The Medical Examiner (ME) grabs the lungs to display the lack of soot within the lungs.  That is a good concept except that the lungs that the ME grabbed were as stiff as a board and clearly made out of plastic.  The show usually takes such pains to make things look lifelike and realistic that this was a big disappointment. 

 

What certainly rang true was the mass of photo flashes going off during the events depicted.  The press is notorious for being right there and taking as many photos as possible.  When they say that a picture is worth a thousand words, you would hope that they mean the crime scene photo taken by the CSI and not the press.

So What Did Margie Say About...cross, oblique, or skim lighting techniques of a CSI

On 6/18/13 there was a contractor who is not affiliated with VA Power (they stressed that) that cut down a tree and caused my neighborhood to lose power because it crashed into power lines.

 

As I was sitting in the dark watching the flicker of candles, fanning myself with a piece of cardboard, and listening to a battery operated radio - I found myself wondering why I don't have a laptop or a generator.

 

But I do have several flashlights!!

 

I always say on a crime scene that the flashlight is your friend.  It not only illuminates the dark but can give you insight into shadowed nooks and crannies.

 

It is also a great enhancement tool.  Try getting two pieces of paper and placing them on top of each other. Now write or print something on the top piece of paper.  Now toss that top piece of paper away.  If you use your flashlight and direct the beam directly on the second piece of paper, you light it up really well but you don't see much information.  Now begin to lower the flashlight so that the beam skims across the paper  The lower you go so that the beam hits the paper obliquely, you can begin to read the indented writing.

 

This works because the depth creates a shadow and allows you to see detail.  It's great on latent fingerprints and finding hairs and other trace on floors too.

 

So, even though I didn't get a chance to watch any television, hopefully I allowed you a chance to 'light up your life' with a technique called cross, oblique, or skim lighting.  Amazing, isn't it, how something so simple can work so well.  Unlike electricity or contractors!! 

Image Source

So What Did Margie Say About...CSI: Risky Business Class

The 6/12/13 repeat CSI: Crime Scene Investigation episode titled "Risky Business Class" gave me several issues to discuss.

 

First - any scientist worth their salt believes wholeheartedly in a recreation or reenactment when dealing with a scene reconstruction.  Usually one would use a scale model or the actual scene to assist in proving a theory or to assist in establishing a working scenario.  

I don't know of many agencies or organizations that have the money, time, materials, personnel, or room to construct a life size model - especially of an airplane.  What a luxury.  Where would you store it?  Could you bring it into a courtroom?

 

Second - in a fire with the intensity that was suggested by the plane crash, there is a real danger that ammunition would actually explode due to the conditions and the heat surrounding the weapon.  Perhaps they were suggesting that the fact that the gun was semi melted into a section of carpet would have protected it from the heat and the discharge of the ammunition.

 

Third - when the green paint chip retrieved from the airplane door seal was suspected to have come from a particular tool, it was shown to have been placed back on the tool itself to establish a match from a fracture match between the paint chip and the tool.  This practice is an absolute NO NO in forensics work.  You would never want a 'question' and a 'known' to come into contact.  That is a defense attorney's dream.  They can suggest that the evidence was compromised or contaminated by the physical contact.  The fact that these two items were originally one together could easily be shown by one-to-one photography and overlapping the photographs without losing the integrity of the evidence.  

 

I must admit that it was a refreshing spin to add genealogy in combination with DNA as a twist to solving the outcome of the investigation.  It is always a positive to keep an open mind to other potential assists when available.