Murder or Suicide?

Forensic ScienceCSI, Bones, Castle, Law and Order, Dexter, NCIS ….

Forensic Science• Forensics: The application of science to answer questions in a

legal system• It is important that forensics follows a standard of quality• Forensic scientists regularly come under pressure for the quality

of their work• Mistakes can let murderers get away

Forensic Science• Evidence: anything that can be used to indicate the truth of an

event• Footprints, receipts, phone records, blood, DNA, fingerprints…

• Contamination: When evidence from a crime scene has been altered, damaged, or in some way changed.

Case: O.J. Simpson• June 1994 Football player and actor O.J. Simpson was caught

fleeing after he found out he would be charged with the murder of his wife and his wife’s lover.

• There was a lot of evidence recovered:-Hair, DNA, footprints, Simpson’s bloody socks, blood on his

Bronco, and bloody leather gloves

Case: O.J. Simpson• Simpson hired a “dream team” of expensive lawyers who tried to

discredit the investigating police as racist and incompetent• Simpson’s defence lawyer asked Simpson to try the bloody glove on

to see if it fit.• Simpson tried but claimed the glove was too small.• The jury acquitted Simpson of the murders.• Many people believe Simpson

to be guilty

• Recently, Simpson released a book titled “If I did it,” it was quickly pulled out of productionand none were sold.

History of Labs

• Most Crime Labs were established within police agencies and performed • Firearms• Fingerprints • Photography

Forensic Science SpecialtiesForensic Pathology:• Pathology is a specialty area of medicine• Pathology is the study of diseases and the bodily changes

caused by the diseases• Forensic pathologists determine the

cause of death (the medical reason why a person died; e.g. asphyxiation)• Forensic pathologists determine

the manner of death (the circum-stances causing death; e.g. homicide)

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Forensic Science Specialties

Forensic Entomology:• Entomology is a branch of biology devoted to the

study of insects• Forensic entomologists use insects to investigate• By examining insects, larvae or pupae associated with

a corpse, knowing the life cycle of insects, and by using the existing environmental factors, forensic entomologists can estimate the time of death

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Forensic Science Specialties

Forensic Odontology:• Odontology is the study of the physiology, anatomy, and pathology of

teeth• Forensic odontologists perform two types of analyses involving the

human dentition• Identify human remains by comparing premortem and postmortem dental

X-rays• Bite mark comparisons (crime scene marks to known bite marks)

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Forensic Science SpecialtiesForensic Anthropology:• Physical Anthropology is the science

of the human skeleton and how it has evolved over time

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Forensic Science SpecialtiesForensic anthropologists:• Can determine whether found remains are

of human or animal origin• Reconstruct the skeleton from found remains• Provide an estimate of age, stature, and

gender• Can sometimes determine racial origin• Detect skeletal abnormalities and any trauma• Can provide information about the cause of

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Forensic Science Specialties

Forensic Toxicology:• Forensic toxicology is the study of the effects of

extraneous materials such as poisons and drugs in the body• Forensic toxicologists must determine both the presence

and the amounts of extraneous materials in the body• Assist the medical examiners in determining the cause of

death• May be involved in the determination of ethanol levels in

blood and breath samples

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Forensic Science Specialties

Forensic Psychiatry & Psychology:• Psychiatry is a branch of medicine concerning the

diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of mental illness• Psychology is the scientific study of the mind and

behavior of humans• Forensic psychiatrists & psychologists evaluate

offenders for civil and criminal competence and may be involved in offender treatment programs• A few specialize in “profiling” of criminal cases,

primarily serial murderers and serial rapists

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Forensic Science Specialties

Forensic Engineering:• Involved in the investigation of transportation

related accidents, material failures, and structural failures

Forensic Computer Science:• Use information located on computers and other

electronic devices as investigative aids• Find hidden or deleted information to determine if

internet based crimes have been committed

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Forensic Science SpecialtiesCriminalistics:• Criminalistics involves the examination,

identification, and interpretation of items of physical evidence

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Forensic Science Specialties

Four major areas of examination:• Biological evidence• Forensic Chemistry• Pattern evidence• Other patterns (scene reconstruction)

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