What is an example of a real case where blood spatter evidence was used?
This happened when Craig Perry was accused of murdering his terminally ill uncle, Robert. Craig claimed that his uncle had committed suicide, but the first blood spatter expert said the evidence made this extremely unlikely. Additionally, Craig had a pattern of blood on his pants that is typical in a gunshot murder.
What was the blood in the family automobile actually when it was tested by forensic scientist?
Forensics investigators found “blood stains” in the family car and concluded that Lindy had taken Azaria there to cut her throat. Later analysis revealed that the stains came from a spilled drink and a sound-deadening compound that came with the car.
How can blood spatter be used in a criminal case?
These droplets of blood have been acted on by forces other than gravity, either being cast off of a weapon, or spraying from a victim onto a surface. The shape and size of these droplets can help to determine the positioning of a victim, the type of weapon used, and the force used in the crime.
What did the blood spatter tell us in the Sam Sheppard case?
However, a medical technician from the coroner’s office now testified that blood on Dr. Sheppard’s watch was from blood spatter, indicating that Dr. Sheppard was wearing the watch in the presence of the battering of his wife. The defense countered with the expert testimony of eminent criminalist Dr.
How does blood solve crime?
Properly collected and preserved blood evidence can establish a strong link between an individual and a criminal act. Blood evidence or the lack of blood evidence can also be used to bolster or contradict a witness statement or any statements that the suspect may make.
What crime unit would analyze blood stains?
The biology unit analyzes evidence such as blood, semen, saliva, bones, plant matter, and insects. Bodily fluids are some of the major forms of evidence handled by that unit and can be used to conduct DNA fingerprinting to identify both the victims and the perpetrators of violent crimes.
How important is blood and blood stains in crimes of violence against persons?
The pattern of the bloodstain, which is also referred to as blood spatter , can be important in identifying the weapon used to inflict the injury, and help determine if the victim was moving or motionless when injured.
Was Dr Sam Sheppard proven innocent?
Sheppard never did. Publicly at least, he maintained his innocence until his death. Even his own lawyers, to whom he might have been expected to confide his guilt, were never told by Sam that he was guilty.
Did Sam Sheppard clear DNA?
New DNA evidence taken from the exhumed body of Dr. Tissue samples taken from Dr. Sheppard’s body, which was exhumed under a court order last fall, show ”he is excluded as a donor” of the blood found at the murder scene, Terry Gilbert, the lawyer, who represents Dr. Sheppard’s son, Sam Reese Sheppard, said today.
Does Luminol destroy DNA?
Luminol has been widely used in the field of crime scene investigations to detect latent blood; however, luminol has the tendency to destroy DNA evidence. DNA was extracted from blood-containing denim substrates after fluorescein was applied to the substrates.
Who collects blood at a crime scene?
A good method of blood evidence collection for one forensic scientist may not be a good method for another forensic scientist. The crime scene investigator should meet regularly with his or her crime lab’s forensic scientists to determine the most suitable manner for collecting and preserving blood evidence.
Can a blood spatter expert make a difference in a trial?
Still, there have been times where the entire outcome of a case depended on the analysis of the blood spatter expert. A scenario that can sometimes make for a (excuse the pun) messy trial. Here are a few of the cases where the blood spatter analysis made all the difference.
How was Bryan’s conviction based on blood spatter interpretation?
His conviction was based in part on the testimony of an expert witness in blood spatter interpretation. The blood spatter testimony indicated that the weapon used was a .357, like the one that Bryan owned.
How did Victor Balthazard contribute to the study of blood splatter?
Victor Balthazard and co-workers also conducted research on blood spatter patterns and presented their findings to the scientific community in 1939. In 1955 during the case of State of Ohio v Samuel Sheppard blood splatter played a large role in showing Shepard was innocent of murdering his wife.
What is the history of blood splatter?
Macdonnell researched blood splatter for many years including documents relating to blood spatter interpretation that reached back into the 1500’s. Most of the work by Macdonnell occurred in the 1970’s, funded by the Law Enforcement Assistance administration.