1 The Homicide Crime Scene 1
The Crime Scene 2
At the Crime Scene 3
The Homicide Investigation Starts at the Crime Scene 6
Determining the Dimensions of the Homicide Crime Scene 8
Protecting the Crime Scene 12
2 First Officer's Duties: General 25
Notification of a Possible Homicide: The Official Notification to the Police 25
First Notification of Homicide Received in Person by Patrol Officer 29
First Officer's Duties on Arrival at the Scene 30
Protection of Life 31
Safeguarding the Scene and Detaining Witnesses or Suspects 33
The First Officer Initiates the Homicide Investigation 35
Dealing with Emergencies at the Scene 37
Conclusion 39
3 First Officer's Duties: Specific 41
The Suspect in Custody 42
Transporting the Suspect 44
Examination of the Suspect for Evidence 44
The Dying Declaration 44
The Victim Removed to the Hospital 45
The Victim Pronounced DOA at the Hospital 45
The Officer's Duties at the Hospital 46
The Victim Confirmed DOA at the Scene 47
Handling Witnesses at the Scene 47
Additional Officers at the Scene 48
Handling News Media Personnel at the Scene 48
The Documentation of Events by the First Officer 49
The Changing Sequence of Command 50
Patrol Officer's Checklist 50
4 The Preliminary Investigation at the Scene:The Detectives 55
Initial Receipt of Information 55
Arrival at the Scene 56
Describing the Scene 58
Implementing Crime Scene Procedures 59
Direction of Uniformed Personnel at the Scene 60
The Teamwork Approach 61
Directing the Investigation at the Scene 61
Duties of the Detective Supervisor on Arrival at the Scene 62
Preliminary Interview of the First Officer 63
Interview of Ambulance Personnel 65
Handling Curious Onlookers 67
Handling Witnesses at the Scene 68
The Canvass 71
The Preliminary Medical Examination at the Scene 76
5 Specific Investigative Duties at the Scene 79
The Suspect in Custody 79
Interview and Interrogation of the Suspect in Custody 80
Examination of a Suspect for Evidence 81
Evaluation of the Suspect's Demeanor and Mental Capacity 82
Obtaining a Dying Declaration 83
Questions to be Asked in a Dying Declaration 84
Documentation of the Dying Declaration 84
Handling Buried-Body Cases 85
The Discovery of the Buried Body 85
The Excavation 86
The Body 89
Search for a Buried Body 89
The Investigative Checklist 91
Selected Reading 101
6 The Crime Scene Photographs 103
The Value of Crime Scene Photographs 103
Crime Scene Photography and the Investigator 104
Admissibility of Photographic Evidence 104
Photographing the Homicide Crime Scene 107
Outdoor Locations 107
Indoor Locations 107
The Body 107
Suspects 110
Type of Film 111
Recommended Crime Scene Photographs 111
Practical Application of Crime Scene Photography 113
Videotaping 115
Advantages of Videotaping 115
Videotaping Procedure 116
Conclusion 117
Selected Reading 117
7 The Crime Scene Sketch 119
The Sketch 119
Preparing the Crime Scene Sketch 124
Selected Reading 130
8 The Homicide Crime Scene Search 131
Methods of Crime Scene Search 132
Formulating the Search 132
The Homicide Kit 137
The Search 139
Examination of the Body at the Scene 141
Release of the Body 145
The Scene 146
Examining the Outdoor Scene 149
Examples of Evidence Found Outdoors 150
Examining an Outdoor Scene at Night 152
Physical Examination of a Suspect in Custody 154
Residue Testing 157
Release of the Scene 158
Conclusion 159
Selected Reading 160
9 Estimating Time of Death 161
The Process of Dying 164
Body Changes after Death 165
External Agents of Change 177
Insects 177
Plants 180
Animals 180
Bodies in Water 181
Information Derived from the Scene 182
Conclusion 183
Selected Reading 183
10 The Identity of the Deceased 185
The Identification 185
Identification at the Scene 186
Personal Identification 186
Clothing and Possessions 187
Identification by Photographs 187
Description of the Body 188
Clothing 189
Jewelry and Watches 189
Fingerprints 189
Obtaining Fingerprints from Dead Bodies 190
The Teeth 193
Age 194
General Facial Characteristics 194
Race 195
Socioeconomic Group 196
Occupation or Habits 196
Positive Identification 196
Bite-Mark Identification 199
Inquiries Relative to Forensic Odontology 199
The Bones 200
Age 201
Sex 203
Race 204
Height and Other Individual Characteristics 204
Determination of Cause of Death 204
Determination of Whether the Bones Are Humanor Animal 205
Examination of the Bones 206
Facial Reconstruction 206
Forensic Sculpture 207
Conclusion 213
Selected Reading 214
11 Modes of Death 217
Gunshot Wounds 217
The Projectile Striking the Body 218
The Nature and Extent of Gunshot Wounds 219
Smudging or Smoke 222
Searing 222
Tattooing or Stippling 222
Reentry 222
Ricocheting 224
Shotgun Wounds 224
Contact Wounds 224
Bullet Track 226
Cutting Wounds 233
Stabbing Wounds 235
Blunt Force Injuries 236
Lacerations 237
Chopping Wounds 237
Poisons 240
Deaths by Asphyxia 242
Strangulation 242
Hanging 245
Drowning 247
Inhalation of Poison Gases 249
Suffocation 249
Autoerotic Deaths 250
Typical Cases 253
Determining the Involvement of Sexual Asphyxia 255
Summary 257
Suicides 257
The Weapon 257
Wounds 260
Motives and Intent 261
Suicide Notes 263
Background Information 263
Arson and Deaths by Fire 264
Sex Homicides 266
Selected Reading 270
12 Collection of Evidence 271
Procedures for Collection of Evidence 271
Collection of Specific Types of Evidence 273
Body Materials 273
Objects 280
Impressions 288
Selected Reading 296
Appendix: Requesting Laboratory Assistance:Shipment of Evidence to FBI Laboratory 298
13 The News Media in Homicide Investigations 321
Establishing a News Media Policy 321
"Fair Trial Free Press Principles" 323
Building a Relationship with the News Media 325
Homicide News Release Policy 328
Handling the News Media at the Scene 331
Preparing the News Release 334
Handling Questions during News Conferences 336
Conclusion 337
Selected Reading 338
14 The Autopsy 339
The Medical Examiner/Coroner 339
Investigation of Death 344
Purpose of the Autopsy 345
Cause, Manner, and Mode of Death 346
Investigative Information Provided by the Autopsy 348
The Medicolegal Autopsy 350
Examination of the Crime Scene 351
Identification of the Body 352
External Examination of the Body 353
Internal Examination of the Body 355
The Protocol 367
Summary 369
Human Anatomy 370
Directional Terms 370
Body Cavities 372
Quadrants 374
The Skeletal System 377
The Heart 377
Selected Reading 380
15 Identification of Suspects 381
Bite-Mark Identification 381
The Bite Mark 384
Collection of Bite-Mark Evidence at the Scene 386
Interpretation of the Bite-Mark Evidence 388
Examination of the Bite Mark 388
Summary 389
Hypnosis 390
What Is Hypnosis? 390
Value to the Investigator 391
Shortcomings of Hypnosis 391
Case History 392
Summary 393
Latent Prints on Human Skin 393
General Considerations 393
Procedures 393
Polygraph Examinations 396
The Examination 396
Possible Subjects for Polygraph Examinations 397
Subjects that Cannot Be Tested 397
Investigator's Duties Prior to the Examination 397
Polygraph Procedures 398
Summary 399
Psychological Profiling 399
What Is the Psychological Profile? 400
The Purpose of the Profile 400
When Profiling Can Be Productive 400
Case History 401
Factors which Can Be Determined in a Psychological Profile 404
The Investigative Approach to Profiling 405
Offender Profiles 407
Goals of Offender Profiles 408
Case History 408
Summary 415
Psycholinguistics 415
What Is Psycholinguistic Analysis? 416
Methodology 416
Case History 417
Psycholinguistics As an Investigative Tool 418
Utilizing Psycholinguistic Analysis 419
Summary 420
Psychics 420
What Is a Psychic? 420
How Can the Police and Psychics Work Together? 421
Charlatans and Frauds 423
Summary 425
Selected Reading 425
16 Managing the Homicide Investigation 427
Management Policy 427
Teamwork 428
Police Department Policy 428
Interagency Relationships 429
Documentation 430
Notekeeping 430
Official Reports 430
Indexing the Homicide Investigation 435
News Clipping File 442
The Investigative Conference 443
Conclusion 443
Glossary 445
Index 453