Thursday, February 7, 2013

So What Did Margie Say About...




As a Bloodstain Pattern Analyst, the Part 1 of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation episode "In Vino Veritas" shown on 2/6/13 gave me some mixed feelings.
 
There were numerous references to bloodstain pattern analysis: a bloody shirt under a bed, large circular stains on the floor of a jewelry store, spatter and a drop in a wine warehouse, and stains on a passenger seat of a vehicle.  I am always encouraged when this mostly unknown and often misunderstood discipline of forensic science is promoted right up there with fingerprints and DNA.
 
Bloodstain patterns indicate what type of event may have caused the stain patterns and it relies heavily on size of stain, shape of stain, and the distribution of the stains within a pattern.  Take for instance the larger stains on the floor of the jewelry store.  Larger stains means a larger volume.  This means either a heavy flow or a hesitation where the stain is located so the blood can accumulate.  Neither of these scenarios makes sense for a "trail leading out of the jewelry store".
 
Again, looking at size and distribution, what was termed "high velocity spatter" did not display the proper sizes or the pattern stain placement to indicate a gunshot.  Even though the term "high velocity spatter" is not a common phrase anymore in the discipline of bloodstain analysis, the indication is that the force used to break the blood into pieces was significant and would consequently create much smaller spatter than other types of forcible events - like a beating.  The stains on the bottle corks looks like a good size and not ones that would immediately indicate a gunshot, especially without corresponding stains in nearby locations.
 
Looking at the shape of the 'gravitational drop' this is within realism.  A drop of blood falling straight down would create a circular stain.  However, I would ask why only one?  If someone were bleeding and blood was freely flowing, I would expect a distribution of several drops from the wound.
 
Another observation to discuss is the location of the staining on the passenger seat of the vehicle.  Noting their location I was concerned when the body in the trunk had no corresponding staining on her body.  Later it was disclosed that it was an abdomen injury but this did not calm my concerns.  It made little sense to me how the stains were transferred from the area of injury to the location on the seat.  And the statement that it was a lot of blood meaning that the victim did not die quickly only made it worse.  That was not a great deal of blood and there certainly was not a great deal of blood on the body.
 
It always fascinates me that the producer has no qualms about decomposing bodies being shown in all their glory but are hesitant to really pour it on when it comes to the blood.  Go figure??

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