Bones reviewed by a Real CSI

So What Did Margie Say About...

As a Bloodstain Pattern Analyst when I hear a bloodstain pattern referred to in a television show my ears perk up.  In the 2/4/13 episode of Bones titled "A Doll n the Derby" they stated that 'cast-off spray' leads to a determination of a 'stabbing'.  

 

I would refute that and mine would be a cautionary tale.  By definition a cast-off pattern is one created when a bloody object is in motion and this action allows blood to fling off or "cast-off" the bloody item.  The action of a backswing creates a linear blood pattern and  many objects can be bloody to cause this.  The suspects hands, saturated head hair, bloody clothes, the victim thrashing about, or a weapon used in blunt force trauma would all be possible sources to account for this particular pattern.

 

This scene was extremely bloody due to subsequent actions upon the victim and many actions could have accounted for the cast-off pattern.  It is imperative not to come to a conclusion at such an early stage of an investigation.  As it turns out, the victim was 'stabbed' in the eye with a key which created a loss of vitreous fluid from the eye itself and not blood.  So the 'stabbing' did not and could not have created this specific pattern.  Blood wasn't even generated from this action! 

 

In a real situation, it is more than likely that the shirt that displayed this pattern would have soaked through with blood like a paper towel soaks up coffee and the original pattern would have been masked anyway.  Then the issue becomes null and void.

Episode available online ON Demand or 8 days after airing

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