Scientific Foundations of Crime Scene Reconstruction
Introducing Method to Mayhem
By Jon J. Nordby, Ph.D.
Published December 17th 2012 by CRC Press – 681 pages
Description
Philosophers of science have long used reconstructive reasoning to develop historical explanations covering the origins of natural phenomenon. The application of the scientific method is a powerful tool for solving crimes through reconstruction of the events. Scientific Foundations of Crime Scene Reconstruction: Introducing Method to Mayhem demonstrates how to use the scientific method and exercise the critical thinking that is essential for the development of sound data and the construction of reliable explanations.
- Provides a clear yet rigorous account of the scientific method accessible to non-philosophers
- Supplies examples showing the application of scientific methods to the reconstruction of events that leave physical evidence at crime scenes
- Presents self-contained chapters—each with specific points about how a scene reconstruction is built upon the analysis of specific physical evidence
- Discusses the scope and limitations of physical evidence and the resulting analyses that they support in crafting scientific crime scene reconstructions
- Includes case studies of crime scene reconstructions from Dr. Nordby’s experience, complete with color photographs and laboratory notes
Moving systematically from case to case, this volume is an essential reference for forensic and law enforcement professionals who need to step into new or unfamiliar areas to understand how science can help them do their jobs. It enables forensic scientists to apply the natural sciences to casework in shooting and nonshooting cases. It also educates attorneys who need to understand scientific evidence and the process of crime scene reconstruction from the scientific point of view.
Contents
SHOOTINGS
Three Strikes and Out
Introduction to a Shooting Reconstruction
Ballistics and Scientific Method
The Scope of This Reconstruction
Hoodie Analysis: Photogrammetry Method
Use of the Autopsy Photos in the Shooting Reconstruction
Reconstruction Methods
External Autopsy Photographs and Developed Measurements of Entrances and Exits
Shooting Reconstruction of Deal’s Position for the 1-Second, Three-Shot Sequence Only
Laboratory Notes and Drawings
Laboratory Photographs: Clothing and Other Items Submitted to the Laboratory
Microscopy
Entrance Wounds and Scene Measurements, Photogrammetry, and Total Station Measurements for Limited Shooting Reconstruction
The Medical Examiner’s Autopsy Report
Scientific Shooting Reconstruction Independent Measurements
Trajectory and Muzzle Movement in Triple-Tap Firing
Instrument Calibration and Validation Data
Misplaced Method
The Scene
Shotguns, Shells, and Sabots
Other Shotgun Injuries to Document
Search of the Premises
The State’s Expert "Reconstructionist" Reconstructs the Shooting Murder from the Clues
Revisiting the Scene Science: The Problem of Data
Testing to Develop Scientific Inferences from Data
Scientific Inferences from the Decedent’s Sweater
Scientific Inferences from the Suspect’s Glasses
Scientific Conclusions about the Shooting Events
The Room with the View
Case Review
Autopsy Terminal Ballistics
Examination of Smith & Wesson Revolver
Trace Evidence
Bloodstain Pattern Summary: Clothing, Bedding, and Cloth Items
Ballistics
Issues with a Small Room and Powerful Ammunition
The Experiment’s Conclusion
Results
Maxalline’s Injury Hypothesis
Clothing Examination: The Blue Sweatshirt from Lesella
Blanket Folded on Bed
Yellow Towel
Red Bedspread
White Pillow
Bedsheet
Basic Progress
See No Evil
"Ballistics" Further Clarified
Gunshot Residue as Trace Evidence Analysis and Analytical Chemistry
Posing the Questions
Scene Visit
Evidence Examinations
Crime Scene
Scene Reconstruction Based upon Physical Evidence Examined
Brief Bloodstain Pattern Analysis Glossary
A Christmas Story
Target Construction Based upon My Analysis of Jimmy DeLauro’s Jacket
U.S. Model 856 Air Rifle
Canadian Model 856 Air Rifle
Summary of the Project
Summary of Conclusions
Medical Data
Ballistics and Firearms/Bullet Examinations
Comments Regarding the Limits of Both the Data and the Conclusions
Hold Me Closer, Tiny Dancer
Official Stories
My Assignment
Scene of Shooting
Evidence Examination: Item #10 Orange Jacket
Evidence Examination: Item #11 Black Nylon Pants
Trajectory Analysis: Item #10 Orange Jacket, Item # 11 Black Pants, and Autopsy Data
Scene Photographs
Limited Trajectory Analysis
Evidence Examination: Item #5 Old English Label Bottle—Broken Pieces of Glass
Shooting Evidence Examination: Item #6 "Black Bag Containing Miscellaneous Items"
Use of Deadly Force Issues
Crime Scene Shooting Reconstruction Summary
Laboratory Notes and Evidence Photographs
Postscript
Man Down
Administrators’ Use of the Shooting Reconstruction
Further Administrative Review
Reconstruction Data
NONSHOOTINGS
A Flash in the Pan
Basis for Arson Determination
Analysis of the Data
Fire Basics
Melting Points of Common Substances
Flash Points and Autoignition Temperatures
J.B.J. Fourier, French Mathematician and Physicist: Heat Transfer
Testing and Experiments
Aftermath: Trial
The Party’s Over
Bloodstain Pattern Analysis and Scientific Method
Conclusions and Their Basis
Documentation in Reconstruction Reports
Data and Interpretations
Medical Examination: Defendant’s Injuries
Bloodstain Pattern Analysis: Examination of Bloodstains and Trace Evidence
The Dagger
Event Reconstruction Based Upon Data Supplied
Developing Additional Data
Brief Illustrated Reconstruction
Dagger, Decedent’s Left Hand Injury and Bloodstained Clothing
The Dagger and Its Location in the Truck
Brief Summary of Overall Conclusions
Manner of Death Issues
The Picture of a Crime
Issue and Focus
The Videotape Data
Method: Photogrammetry
Photographic Comparisons
The Best Method Possible versus This Method of Relative Approximation
Caveats
Addendum: Bertillon’s Anthropometric Calculations for Identification
Cold Case Crackpots
Introduction: "Cold Cases" and Forensic Science
Science versus Nonscience
Case Review
Summary of Basic Conclusions
Shoe Print Evidence
Necessary Preliminaries for Photoanalysis
Photogrammetry Again (Measurements from Photos)
Pattern Matching and Analysis
Tracker Report: The Photographic Evidence
The Photos in General
Bloodstain Pattern Evidence
Decedent’s Position(s) and Movements Based on BPA and Autopsy Data
Limited Crime Scene Reconstruction: Postmortem Position Only
Sciences That Could Have Been Applied in 1973, in 1986, or Now
Negative Effects of Evidence Destruction
Bombs Away
The Device and the ATF Review
The Device Errata
Description and Analysis of the Device
Testing the Device
Alternative Contexts and Their Effects on the Device
The Brothers Grimm
Scene Description
Examination of the Suspect
Examination of the Knife
The Scenario
Testing of Force Required to Reproduce the Victim’s Fatal Injury
Examination of Bloodstain Patterns and Trace Evidence
Crime Scene Analysis: One-Story Residence
Crime Scene Reconstruction
Photographs from Final Analysis Forensics
Slow But Sure: Testudines Chelonia
The Evidence and the Trial
The Injuries
Histology Study
APPENDIX A: Error Rates, Certainty Factors, and Confidence Coefficients
APPENDIX B: Bloodstain Pattern Basics
INDEX
Author Bio
Jon J. Nordby runs Final Analysis Forensics, an independent consulting practice in death investigation, forensic science, and forensic medicine. He specializes in scientific scene reconstruction, evidence recognition, collection and analysis, ballistics, bloodstain pattern analysis and medical-legal death investigations.
He served the National Disaster Medical System with Region X DMORT, deploying to the scene of the 9-11 World Trade Center attack on the United States. He has worked as a medical investigator with the Pierce County and King County (Washington) medical examiners' offices and the British Columbia Coroner’s Service Forensic Unit. He also taught crime scene investigation and scientific evidence analysis to countless members of Washington State's legal, coroner, and law enforcement agencies. In addition, Dr. Nordby has investigated and reconstructed a number of officer-involved shootings as well as many homicide cases around the United States, Canada, and Europe. All the cases and discussions in this volume are developed from his own scientific work with each case and his investigative experience over the last 25 years
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Name: Scientific Foundations of Crime Scene Reconstruction: Introducing Method to Mayhem (Hardback) – CRC Press
Description: By Jon J. Nordby, Ph.D..
Philosophers of science have long used reconstructive reasoning to develop historical explanations covering the origins of natural phenomenon. The application of the scientific method is a powerful tool for solving crimes through reconstruction of the...
Categories: Forensic Science, Forensic Science - Law
