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Crime Scenes: Science and EngineeringCrime Scenes: Science and EngineeringCrime Scenes: Science and EngineeringCrime Scenes: Science and EngineeringCrime Scenes: Science and EngineeringCrime Scenes: Science and EngineeringCrime Scenes: Science and EngineeringCrime Scenes: Science and Engineering

Westinghouse Science Honors InstituteWestinghouse Science Honors Institute

Special Agent Andrea DammannFederal Bureau of Investigation

Pittsburgh PennsylvaniaPittsburgh, Pennsylvania

When A Crime Occurs:When A Crime Occurs:There exists a scene containing the evidence of There exists a scene containing the evidence of

the crime…the crime…

andandandand

Th i l b t d t i thTh i l b t d t i thThe crime laboratory ready to examine the The crime laboratory ready to examine the evidence for the information it contains.evidence for the information it contains.

But, there is a gap between the two.But, there is a gap between the two.

The gap between the crime scene and The gap between the crime scene and the laboratory is filled by the work ofthe laboratory is filled by the work ofthe laboratory is filled by the work of the laboratory is filled by the work of the Evidence Response Teamsthe Evidence Response Teams

�ERT��ERT�

How does the evidence get from the How does the evidence get from the crime scene to the lab?crime scene to the lab?crime scene to the lab?crime scene to the lab?• Someone must properly document the

original conditions at the scene and the workoriginal conditions at the scene and the work done to collect the evidence from the scene.

• Someone must decide which items at the• Someone must decide which items at the scene are evidence and which are not.

• Someone must decide how to properly• Someone must decide how to properly collect the evidence, and then do it.

• Someone must be qualified and able to tell a• Someone must be qualified and able to tell a jury how it was all done in order to have the evidence accepted into court.

��ERTs do all of the above!ERTs do all of the above!p

Underwater Search and Evidence Underwater Search and Evidence R T (USERT)R T (USERT)Response Team (USERT)Response Team (USERT)

P id t f tifi d di• Provides teams of certified divers• Forensically trained

E i d ith t t f th t f i l• Equipped with state-of-the-art professional dive team equipment

• Four Established Teams:• Four Established Teams:• New York• Miami• Miami• Los Angeles• Washington Field Office• Washington Field Office

H R i D t tiH R i D t tiHuman Remains DetectionHuman Remains Detection� Canine capable of

scenting the odor of h d itihuman decomposition.

� Can recognize� Can recognize decomposition odor in various forms (ie body, b d t bl d t )body parts, blood etc).

� Buried or submerged� Buried or submerged under water.

Human Scent Evidence TeamHuman Scent Evidence TeamHuman Scent Evidence TeamHuman Scent Evidence Team

� Specially trained human scent discriminating caninescanines

� Non-destructive scent collection techniques.

� Techniques to provide investigative leads by

d ti t t hconducting scent-match checks

T i iT i iTraining…Training…Initial Initial 80 H B i C T W k• 80-Hour Basic Course - Two Weeks• Crime Scene

ManagementManagement• Documentation

S h T h i• Search Techniques• Evidence Issues

Reco er• Recovery • Packaging• Preservation

• Forensic Skills

TrainingTraining Ad dAd dTraining…Training…AdvancedAdvanced

– Forensic Anthropology

– Post Blast and Large Vehicle Bombing Investigations

T i iT i iTraining…Training…AdvancedAdvancedBloodstain Pattern

– Advance Crime Scene Photography

– Bloodstain Pattern Interpretation

Bloodstain Pattern AnalysisBloodstain Pattern Analysis

Can be used to reconstruct the crime:

Type of force usedType of force usedPoint(s) of originNumber of blowsSequence of eventsPosition of victim and perpetratorMovement of people and objectsMovement of people and objects

HighHighV l itV l it

Medium VelocityMedium VelocityVelocityVelocity

Low VelocityLow Velocity

(image�source:�Peel�Regional�Police,�2002)Ppt created by Hochrein (2010)

Surface TextureSurface TextureSurface TextureSurface Texture

Ppt created by Hochrein (2010)

N

XY


162.6cm162.6cm

XX


162.6cm162.6cm

XX

40.6cm40.6cm YY


Di i f T lDi i f T lDirection of TravelDirection of TravelStain shape will indicate direction of

travel–Round – 90 deg–Elongated - angleg g–Round smooth end – toward the origin–Tail end points in the direction of travela e d po ts t e d ect o o t a e

A l fAngle of I tImpact

Determining Angle of ImpactDetermining Angle of Impact

Angle of ImpactAngle of Impact

Opposite SideOpposite Side

HypotenuseHypotenuse


FORMULAS YOU NEED TO KNOWFORMULAS YOU NEED TO KNOW

Ppt�created�by�Hochrein�(2005)Ppt created by Hochrein (2010)

Determining Angle of ImpactDetermining Angle of ImpactStep 1.Step 1. Measure the length and width of Measure the length and width of each bloodstain.each bloodstain.Step 2.Step 2. Divide the width by the length to Divide the width by the length to calculate the sine of the impact angle.calculate the sine of the impact angle.(Th i i th f ti f t l i i ht t i l(Th i i th f ti f t l i i ht t i l(The sine is the function of an acute angle in a right triangle, (The sine is the function of an acute angle in a right triangle, equal to the ratio of the opposite leg to the hypotenuse.) equal to the ratio of the opposite leg to the hypotenuse.)

Width = .56cmWidth = .56cm

Length = 3.21cmLength = 3.21cm

Sine = .1744548Sine = .1744548

Inverse Sine of 1744548 = Angel of ImpactInverse Sine of 1744548 = Angel of Impact

Measure the mass of thedrop, not the total length.

Inverse Sine of .1744548 = Angel of ImpactInverse Sine of .1744548 = Angel of Impact

Angle of Impact = ____Angle of Impact = ____1010Ppt�created�by�Hochrein�(2005)Ppt created by Hochrein (2010)

Determining theDetermining theP i t A f CP i t A f CPoint or Area of ConvergencePoint or Area of Convergence

Step 1.Step 1. Calculate the angle of impact.Calculate the angle of impact.

Step 2.Step 2. Using strings, lasers, or draw Using strings, lasers, or draw through the long axes of the bloodstains, through the long axes of the bloodstains, fi d h th i t t ( i t ffi d h th i t t ( i t ffind where they intersect (point of find where they intersect (point of convergence).convergence).

(image�source:�James&Eckert,�1999) Ppt created by Hochrein (2010)

139.7cm139.7cm

72.4cm72.4cm


Determining theDetermining theP i t A f O i iP i t A f O i iPoint or Area of OriginPoint or Area of Origin

Step 3.Step 3. Measure the distance from the base of Measure the distance from the base of ppthe individual bloodstains to the point of the individual bloodstains to the point of convergence convergence (This will represent the value of the (This will represent the value of the Y axis in calculating the point of origin)Y axis in calculating the point of origin)..

(image�source:�James&Eckert,�1999)


35.6cm35.6cm


FORMULAS YOU NEED TO KNOWFORMULAS YOU NEED TO KNOW

Ppt�created�by�Hochrein�(2005)Ppt created by Hochrein (2010)

Determining theDetermining theP i t A f O i iP i t A f O i iPoint or Area of OriginPoint or Area of Origin

Step 5.Step 5. Calculate the point or area ofCalculate the point or area of originoriginStep 5.Step 5. Calculate the point or area of Calculate the point or area of originorigin(the elevation in space which is the Z axis)(the elevation in space which is the Z axis) using the using the following equation:following equation:

Tangent of the Angle of ImpactTangent of the Angle of Impact(Tan of 21 degrees = (Tan of 21 degrees = .3839.3839))

XX

Distance from point of convergenceDistance from point of convergencep gp gto bloodstain (Y axis) = to bloodstain (Y axis) = 35.6cm35.6cm

Point of OriginPoint of OriginPoint of Origin Point of Origin (Distance from Surface)(Distance from Surface)

(Z axis)(Z axis)== 13.67cm13.67cm


CastCast--Off PatternsOff PatternsCastCast Off PatternsOff Patterns�Created by blood thrown from a bloody

object during “whip like” termination of aobject during whip-like termination of a back stroke�Characterized by linear (in line) stain pattern�Characterized by linear (in-line) stain pattern�Shape of drops change from round on the

d i i t l t d t f dend near origin to elongated at far end� Can tell:

– Minimum number of blows– Where the killer was when the blows were

d i i t dadministered

S i li d E iS i li d E iSpecialized EquipmentSpecialized EquipmentTotal Station

Hochrein 2002

HOW IT WORKSHOW IT WORKSHOW IT WORKSHOW IT WORKS


Southeast IsometricView ofFoyerFoyer

What is DNA?What is DNA?

D ib N l i A idA T

� DeoxyriboNucleic Acid� found in most cells� two strands form a twisted ladder

G CGC � two strands form a twisted ladder

� ladder rungs made of pairs of “bases”-- building blocks of DNA

GCA T

4 bases -- G, C, A, T� bases are used as an alphabet

ATG C � order of bases is important

123-1234 vs. 321-4321

G CA T

GC

Sources of DNASources of DNA

NuclearNuclear� 2 copies of each gene� inherited from both� inherited from both

parents� unique to individual

Xq

Mitochondrial100’ t 1000

XX

� 100’s to 1000 copies/cell

� maternally inherited� maternally inherited� not unique to individual

Maternal Inheritance

1st generation

2ndgenerationg

Advantages of mtDNAAdvantages of mtDNA• Can get results in situations where unable to getCan get results in situations where unable to get

nuclear DNA -hair teeth bones degraded DNA-hair, teeth, bones, degraded DNA

• Missing persons cases-because mtDNA is maternally inherited, can use maternal relative as known to compare to remains

• Highly variable between unrelated individuals

Femur ComparisonHuman femaleHuman female

Large DogLarge Dog DeerDeerLarge DogLarge Dogg gg g DeerDeerSmall DogSmall Dog

g gg g

SheepSheepPigPig

SheepSheep

Black BearBlack Bear

Sarah Rae BoehmSarah Rae Boehm

Local CaseLocal Case –– Western PA andWestern PA andLocal Case Local Case –– Western PA and Western PA and WVWV

USAi Fli h 427USAi Fli h 427USAir Flight 427USAir Flight 427September 8, 1994

E t f Chi– Enroute from Chicago– Crashed in Hopewell Twp.– All on board were killed

• 127 passengers5 b• 5 crew members

– ERT worked with FBI Disaster Squad in to identify victimsSquad in to identify victims

I S iI S iIra SwearingenIra Swearingen

– DisappearedDisappeared December 12, 1999

S h f b– Search of burn barrels January 1, 2000January 1, 2000

Greene County – November 29, 2000

Shell CasingShell Casing

Skeletal RemainsSkeletal Remains

F i WilliF i WilliFrancis WilliamsFrancis Williams� Francis Williams

– Killed August 18, 1999– Search of home January 14-15, 2000

O h L l CO h L l COther Local Cases. . .Other Local Cases. . .

�Jessica Newell - 1997– Martinsburg, WV

�Shenee Freeman 1997�Shenee Freeman - 1997– Oil City, PA

�Tausha Lanham - 1998WV and Burgettstown PA– WV and Burgettstown, PA

O h L l CO h L l COther Local Cases. . .Other Local Cases. . .�Joyce Wroczynski - 2001

– Putnam County WVPutnam County, WV

Annette Bright 2001�Annette Bright – 2001– Westmoreland County, PA

C ll B bC ll B bAugust 28, 2003

Collar BombCollar Bombg ,

O h L l CO h L l COther Local Cases. . .Other Local Cases. . .� Kelly Jo Elliott –

– Killed 5/2006Killed 5/2006 Ohio County, WV

– Body recovered 11/2006 yClearfield County, PA

� Gabrielle Becen – 6/2006– Green County, PAGreen County, PA

Joshua Michael RidingsJoshua Michael RidingsJoshua Michael Ridings Joshua Michael Ridings February 20, 2007 February 20, 2007 –– Wheeling, WVWheeling, WV

Major CasesMajor CasesMajor CasesMajor CasesNational

International

World Trade CenterWorld Trade CenterWorld Trade CenterWorld Trade Center

New York, New YorkNew York, New YorkFebruary 26, 1993

Murrah Federal Murrah Federal Murrah Federal Murrah Federal BuildingBuildingBuildingBuilding

Oklahoma City, OKOklahoma City, OK April 19, 1995

UNABOMUNABOM Theodore KaczynskiTheodore KaczynskiUNABOM UNABOM –– Theodore KaczynskiTheodore Kaczynski

Khobar TowersKhobar TowersKhobar TowersKhobar Towers

SAUDI ARABIAJune 25, 1996Ju e 5, 996

TWA Flight 800TWA Flight 800TWA Flight 800TWA Flight 800

US Embassy BombingsUS Embassy BombingsUS Embassy BombingsUS Embassy BombingsAugust 7, 1998

KKKKKosovoKosovoKosovoKosovo

War Crimes1999

USS ColeUSS Cole -- YemenYemenUSS Cole USS Cole YemenYemen

October 12, 2000

September 11 2001September 11 2001September 11, 2001September 11, 2001

W ld T d CW ld T d CWorld Trade CenterWorld Trade Center

Th PTh PThe PentagonThe Pentagon

U it d Fli ht 93United Flight 93

Shanksville, Pennsylvania

Evidence Response TeamsEvidence Response Teams

�Pittsburgh �Detroitg�Cincinnati �Indianapolis�Chicago�Cleveland

�Knoxville�Louisville�Cleveland �Louisville

I SiI SiImpact SiteImpact Site

Th O iTh O iThe Operation…The Operation…

Space Shuttle ColumbiaSpace Shuttle ColumbiaSpace Shuttle ColumbiaSpace Shuttle Columbia

F b 1 2003February 1, 2003

Riyadh Saudi ArabiaRiyadh Saudi ArabiaRiyadh, Saudi ArabiaRiyadh, Saudi Arabia

May 12, 2003May 12, 2003

E i R d l hE i R d l hEric RudolphEric Rudolph� Olympic Park Bombing

Atlanta, GA 1996

� Abortion Clinic Bombings Atlanta and BirminghamAtlanta and Birmingham 1996-1998

� Captured May 31, 2003 Murphy, NC

H it i Mi iH it i Mi iHumanitarian MissionHumanitarian MissionTsunami 2005

I35W B id C llI35W B id C llI35W Bridge CollapseI35W Bridge Collapse� Minneapolis, MN

A t 2007– August 2007

� ERT– Total Station Mapping

of Scene

� USERT – Victim Recovery– Evidence Recovery

M R lM R lMost Recently….Most Recently….

DC M t C h•DC Metro Crash•Afghanistan•Iraqq

Q ti ?Q ti ?Q ti ?Q ti ?Questions?Questions?Questions?Questions?

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