Forensic Science Essay

8/11/2019 Forensic Science Essay

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A Report on Forensic and Crime Scene Requirements in Support

of a Police Investigation at the Bourne Valley Nature Reserve on

!" th Novem#er !$$%&

Contents

Non 'echnical Summary (

Introduction !

Bourne Valley Forensic Analysis) *#servations and Implications for an Investigation +

- Searching the area ,

- State of remains -

- Subsequent Analysis .

/iscussion %

Conclusions ((

Recommendations (!

Appendices (+

- Maps (+

- Pictures (0

- Tables !$

- Figures +0

References +%


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A Report on Forensic and Crime Scene Requirements in Support of a Police

Investigation at the Bourne Valley Nature Reserve on !" th Novem#er !$$%&

A Dorset Police informant has provided the information that an 1 year old male drug

dealer !as led to the "ourne #alley $ature %eserve& shot dead and concealed in

undergro!th in mid 'uly ())*+ Due to the location of the crime scene and lapsed time

before report& the Dorset Police S, .Senior ,nvestigating fficer/ determined the need for

forensic consultation pertaining to the appropriate methods of evidence identification&

recovery& e0amination and analysis+ This request !as made on the ( th $ovember ())* and

a reconnaissance visit to the crime scene !as conducted on the same day+ n the basis of

the geographic location and past recordings of the !eather and indigenous species& it is

suggested that these factors coupled !ith the lapsed amount of time mean the humanremains !ill be in an advanced stage of decomposition and !ill most li2ely have been

scavenged+ Ta2ing this into account& along !ith the classification of the %eserve as a

protected site& it is advised that nonintrusive archaeological visual search techniques be

employed to locate the remains& !ith 3%D .3uman %emains Detection/ trained dogs to aid

in locating the scavenged parts& and that a forensic archaeologist and conservation officer

for the %eserve be consulted to determine !hether intrusive methods are necessary+

Although the crime scene has been contaminated since the incident due to the humantraffic the site is sub4ect to& there remains a !ealth of evidence to be retrieved+ As the

murder occurred !ithin the %eserve there is the possibility of trace evidence from both the

murder !eapon and the individual5s !ho perpetrated the act+ The human remains and any

personal artefacts that are recovered are also vital pieces of evidence+ ,t is recommended

that for an in-depth analysis of all of these a forensic entomologist& forensic pathologist&

forensic anthropologist and ballistics e0pert should be consulted+ The necessity of this is

dependent on the in-house e0pertise and funding available to the Dorset police force+

2 1A Report on Forensic and Crime Scene Requirements in Support of a Police Investigation at the

Bourne Valley Nature Reserve on !" th Novem#er !$$%&


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Introduction

This is a report based on the Bourne Valley Nature Reserve, which was undertaken at the

behest of the Dorset olice S!" #Senior !nvesti$atin$ "fficer%& 's this re(uest was )ade with

the view that the subse(uent report act in an advisory capacity, the infor)ation contained

herein has been collated with this in )ind& Specifically the Dorset olice S!" was interestedas to what protocol would be best suited for locatin$ and retrievin$ the re)ains of a *uvenile

)ale hu)an& Based on infor)ation fro) a police infor)ant the individual in (uestion is

known to have been a dru$ dealer, and was shot dead in Bourne Valley in )id +uly 2 -&

There is very little further infor)ation with re$ards to these events. at the ti)e of the report

no further witnesses had co)e forward, and no recovery of the re)ains atte)pted& 's well as

the e/act co0ordinates where the re)ains were left #see 1ap 3 icture 4%, and the precise phrasin$ that the victi) was led to the Reserve prior to bein$ shot dead, the police infor)ant

was also able to provide the detail that the re)ains were concealed in under$rowth& 5ith

these factors in )ind the Dorset police are also anticipatin$ infor)ation on possible trace

evidence located in the Reserve, and further e/a)ination and analysis which )ay be possible

once the re)ains have been retrieved& 's this re(uest was )ade on the 2 th Nove)ber 2 - a

reconnaissance visit to the cri)e scene was conducted on the sa)e day in order to $et the

subse(uent infor)ation to the police as fast as possible&

There is a lar$e catalo$ue of literature dealin$ with forensics and cri)e scene analysis, which

ran$es fro) case reports, such as the forensic investi$ation into the )urder of the !talian

ri)e 1inister 'ldo 1oro #6o)bardi, 4---%, to reco))endations of cri)e scene protocol

fro) police officers #6ee et al, 2 4. epper, 2 %, and even detailed e/planations of the

usefulness of individual forensic sub0disciplines such as ento)olo$y #Byrd 3 7astner, 2 4 %&

These te/ts )ay be of interest for Dorset police officers, to $ive an insi$ht into the

possibilities of forensic analysis and de)onstrate how the police force and forensic e/perts

can work to$ether to investi$ate cri)es& The sheer )a$nitude of infor)ation available

however, renders the idea of relyin$ on docu)ented theories on a case by case basis

i)practical, both fro) the viewpoint of police ti)e and resources, and fro) the idea that all

relevant theories will be easily accessed& This )eans that for relevant infor)ation on a

specific cri)e scene, it re)ains preferable for an e/pert to $uide the police, to advise on the

opti)al )ethods available and to sift out infor)ation that )ay be of particular use for the

cri)e under investi$ation&




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!n order to acco)plish these ai)s the followin$ report has been $enerated by perfor)in$ an

initial assess)ent of the cri)e scene location, weather and indi$enous species, with a view to

deter)inin$ what forensic bearin$ these have, if any& Based on the classification of the

incident as a )urder investi$ation and the ti)e sensitivity this lends it, this report has been

for)ulated as an initial $uide to introduce the S!" to their cri)e scene and help shape the

investi$ation& !t should not be taken as a step by step instruction )anual. indubitably over the

course of the investi$ation new evidence will be discovered and it is i)perative that the

investi$ation re)ain fle/ible so as to adapt its approach in this instance& 6ikewise, althou$h it

is the ai) of this report to address pertinent forensic )ethodolo$ies and theories, they are

bein$ discussed in re$ards to their possible relevance to this specific case& Therefore for )ore

technical detail and $uidance on their practical application it is ur$ed that the Dorset police

contact specialists in these areas where su$$ested&

Bourne Valley Forensic Analysis) *#servations and Implications

for an Investigation

Respondin$ to the Dorset police S!"9s re(uest for a consultation, a visit to the Bourne Valley

Nature Reserve was carried out on the 2 th Nove)ber 2 -& The purpose of this visit was to

ascertain the environ)ent and habitat in which an 4: year old )ale was suspected of bein$

killed and concealed& The S!" )ade this re(uest in order to $ain advice on the opti)al)ethod of searchin$ the area, with forensic e/pertise also advisin$ what re)ains )ay be

recoverable, other pertinent forensic evidence to look for, and whether e/tra forensic

consultation would be of value to the subse(uent investi$ation upon successful retrieval of

re)ains& 5ith these ai)s in )ind the analysis below has been split into the cate$ories of.

searchin$ the area, state or re)ains, and subse(uent analysis&

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Searching the area

birch woodland, acidic $rassland, pasture $rassland and a)enity

$rassland? #Bourne Strea) artnership, 2 -%& The si@e and variety of land )eans that we are

dealin$ with a co)bination of open and obstructed search areas, the presence of which would

necessitate the application of )ultiple search )ethods #Dupras et al, 2 A%& The classification

of the Reserve as a Site of Special Scientific !nterest #SSS!%, Special rotection 'rea #S '%,

7andidate Special 'rea of 7onservation #S'7%, Ra)sar Site, Site of Nature 7onservation

!nterest #SN7!%, as well as bein$ Cn$lish Herita$e rade !! listed #Bourne Strea)

artnership, 2 -%, all )eans the treat)ent of the area )ust be carefully planned and co0

ordinated with the Borou$h of oole9s conservation depart)ent to ensure no undue da)a$e is

caused by the investi$ation&

5hilst =clearin$ plant $rowth? #Dupras et al, 2 A p&48% is a co))on practice in areas of

dense folia$e, with care bein$ taken that no evidence is dis)issed with the $rowth debris, that

kind of treat)ent in this case would violate the Reserve9s status as protected land and run the

risk of da)a$in$ the habitat of its indi$enous species, of which the endan$ered S)ooth

Snake Coronella austriaca and Sand 6i@ard Lacerta Agilis #see Table 8% are afforded special

protection under the 4-:4 5ildlife and 7ountryside 'ct #Readin$, 4--E% as well as the

7onservation 'ct of 4--;, the Bern 7onvention of 4-E- and the Curopean FnionGs Habitats

and Species Directive of 4--2 #Bourne Strea) artnership, 2 -%& There are a nu)ber of

nonintrusive archaeolo$ical techni(ues which can be e)ployed instead, and these focus

pri)arily on visual searches& Fse of $eother)al e(uip)ent by helicopters can be a (uick way

of locatin$ recently deceased individuals, and even so)e not so recent thanks to the self0

heatin$ of around 2E08E 7 #Byrd et al in Byrd 3 7astner, 2 4 % that larvae )asses on

cadavers under$o in their feedin$ process, but after ; I )onths the )a$$ots will have

developed into flies #1archenko, 2 4%& This )eans $round searches are our )ain recourse

here& By dividin$ the search area up usin$ =natural and cultural #)an0)ade% obstructions or

features? #Dupras et al, 2 A p&2 % it is easier to i)ple)ent strip, $rid, or circular pattern

searches #see


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around =$eophysical tools such as )etal detectors and $round0penetratin$ radar? #Schult@,

2 E 4A%& 'lthou$h these techni(ues are )ore co))only used in detectin$ clandestine

$raves they )ay be useful here to $ive the search party the location of evidence which has

been lost to view&

There are a nu)ber of known access points to the Reserve. Blo/worth Road, Jeyes 7lose,

Cverin$ 'venue, Turbary 7lose, and 'stbury 'venue #see 1ap 8%& However the land is

enclosed by inter)ittent )etal fences, portions of which are easily scaled, and this broadens

the nu)ber of possible entrance and e/it routes e/ponentially& The e/act location na)ed by

the police infor)ant as the site where the hu)an re)ains were concealed, co0ordinates

&E8E;88, 04&- ; : #see 1ap ; 3 icture 4%, is a si$nificant distance away fro) the known

access points& Due to the scale of the location the )ore opti)al use of police ti)e and

resources would be to focus on the se$)ent of the Reserve that has already been linked to the

cri)e, until such a ti)e as further evidence can link other locations as entrance or e/it routes&

The hu)an traffic that a site such as a known Nature Reserve )ay be sub*ect to, as well as

the i)pact this )ay have on ac(uisition of useful forensic evidence, )ust also be taken into

account& 7anvassin$ the areas i))ediately ad*acent to the known access points could be an

efficient way of deter)inin$ if there are any eye0witnesses to the two or )ore individuals

who entered the Reserve in )id0+uly& !n the event there are eye0witnesses, their infor)ation

)ay also aid in narrowin$ down the entrance>e/it route used and )ake an e/a)ination of

said point so)ethin$ the S!" )ay want to consider& 'ccordin$ to a survey conducted by the

Borou$h of oole 6eisure Services in 2 , the Reserve is co))only used by locals for

cyclin$, walkin$, *o$$in$, and walkin$ do$s #Bourne Strea) artnership, 2 -%& Si$ns of

fre(uent use can be observed by the presence of tyre )arks #see icture 8% and footprints #see

icture ;% i)printed in )ud& This fre(uent usa$e presents a challen$e for the search and

investi$ation, as it )eans the scene of the cri)e has already been conta)inated since the

incident occurred& Settin$ up cordons around the i))ediate site where the re)ains were

disposed should be a pri)ary task, to li)it any further conta)ination, and to also set up

cordons to restrict passerby9s to the footpaths& This is to both discoura$e the) fro)

approachin$ the cri)e scene, and to a$ain li)it evidence ta)perin$& 's the )ain )eans of

travellin$ throu$h the Reserve, the paths will have been sub*ect to the )a*ority of the hu)an

traffic and as such the likelihood of the) still containin$ evidence is sli), and due to their

)ostly0clear nature this is verifiable by a (uick visual search&

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State of remains


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be$in within )inutes after death #7arter 3 Tibbett in Tibbett 3 7arter, 2 :%& 'fter

appro/i)ately ;0A days, based on te)peratures in the FJ =durin$ sprin$ and su))er?

# unn, 2 - p&28%, the body will be$in to bloat and putrefy as the internal bacteria and

en@y)es hasten the breakdown of the dead cells& The e/act definitions of these sta$es are

often in dispute, however we can say for certain that the body9s decay is the result of

=processes ran$in$ fro) en@y)atic di$estion and bacterial action to environ)ental

conditions? #Vass et al, 2 2 p& ;2%, with te)perature and )oisture also playin$ a lar$e role,

such that =war) da)p environ)ents? # unn, 2 - p&2-% opti)ise the rate of decay& "nce

this sta$e of deco)position is reached =soft body parts rapidly disappear? # unn, 2 -

p&2;%& !t is unknown whether the victi) was wrapped in anythin$ to further its conceal)ent,

however even if it was this would only have slowed the rate of decay and would not have

been enou$h to deter scaven$ers # unn, 2 -%&

Fsin$ weather readin$s fro) the 1et "ffice weather station in Hurn, FJ #see Tables 42 3

48%, which is the closest auto)atic station to the Bourne Valley #see 1ap E%, it is possible to

$et an idea of the weather around the date of the )urder as well as since then& 's we can see

in Table 48, the )ean )a/i)u) and )ini)u) te)perature for +uly went fro) 2 &;048& 7

with an overall )ean of 4A&E 7& There was also a total of E & )) of rainfall, which to$ether

create a $ood environ)ent for deco)position, indicatin$ that unn9s #2 -% appro/i)ate

days until bloatin$ onset are likely accurate in this instance& "nce the deco)position process

be$ins a variety of fauna are attracted to the re)ains. =necropha$ous fauna, which feed and

breed on carrion. predators and parasites of necropha$ous fauna&&&. o)nivores, which feed on

both the corpse and other coloni@ers? #Jreitlow in Byrd 3 7astner, 2 4 p&2 8%& !t

essentially beco)es a feedin$ site for a nu)ber of different species, and what flesh hasn9t

been lost due to the natural breakdown of the body will rapidly disappear also&

Su#sequent analysis

Solvin$ the cri)e will re(uire )ore than si)ply locatin$ the re)ains&


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)orte) trau)a& 5hilst the lo$ical conclusion $iven our current infor)ation is that the

)urder was co))itted in relation to dru$s, we cannot assu)e this is the case& Therefore the

other priority for the forensic patholo$ist )ust be to deter)ine the identity of the deceased&

Bearin$ in )ind the state of deco)position the re)ains will have pro$ressed to, even with

flesh re)ainin$ on the skull facial identification would be i)possible # unn, 2 -%&


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/iscussion


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icture %, and likely wouldn9t have had a $reat i)pact on the te)perature& 'dded to this the

issue of scattered re)ains due to scaven$in$ is a co))on proble), and is e/ceptionally

likely in this case where the lar$er scaven$ers such as fo/es, which are capable of )ovin$

whole li)bs, inhabit the Bourne Valley, with one even bein$ spotted at the be$innin$ of

'u$ust 2 - #see Table E%& The application of HRD #Hu)an Re)ains Detection% trained

cadaver do$s to the search is an option to consider, as the recovery of scattered re)ains can

be increased up to E04 M when these are used #Jo)ar, 4---%& 5hilst the fact that re$ular

do$s and do$ walkers have not located any hu)an re)ains in the Reserve so far could

su$$est cadaver do$s would also be unsuccessful, as they so)eti)es are, it could be the case

that this is si)ply due to the fact that those do$s have not been trained to locate hu)an

re)ains #Jo)ar, 4---%&


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The presence of scaven$ers and possible conse(uences of their activities has been addressed

briefly, with the pri)ary issue bein$ that =scaven$ers can consu)e fro) 8 0E M of the

cadavers? #7arter 3 Tibbett in Tibbett 3 7arter, 2 : p&84%& 7o)binin$ this with

consu)ption fro) insects and $eneral )ass loss fro) deco)position, and after ; I )onths

there will be very little re)ainin$ tissue )ass fro) the victi) #see


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the status of the site as a Nature Reserve, its function as a public location, aswell as the issues

facin$ analysis of the re)ains once retrieved&


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Map of Bourne Valley Nature Reserve and surrounding area. Produced on t e !"#!$#%!$!

using &dina Carto 'igi(ap soft)are *y +ara urst.

1ap 2

Map of Bourne Valley Nature Reserve and surrounding area. Produced on t e !"#!$#%!$!

using &dina -eology 'igi(ap soft)are *y +ara urst.

1ap 8

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Main access points to Bourne Valley Nature Reserve &vering Avenue, /ur*ary Close, 0eyes

Close, Ast*ury Avenue, Blox)ort Road. Map courtesy of -oogle &art 1%!!23.

1ap ;

Main access points to Bourne Valley Nature Reserve, and suspected location of u(an

re(ains 14!.5"56"", 7$.2!64!83. Map courtesy of -oogle &art 1%!!23.

1ap




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+uspected location of u(an re(ains 14!.5"56"", 7$.2!64!83 )it in oa9#*irc )oodland.

Map courtesy of -oogle &art 1%!!23.

1ap A

Bourne Valley Nature Reserve and urn. Map courtesy of -oogle &art 1%!!23.

1ap E

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Met :ffice +ynoptic and Cli(atic )eat er stations in t e +out &ast of U0 (ap. Blue circles

indicate auto(atic stations ) ic ta9e daily readings. ; ite circles indicate (anual stations.

:*tained fro( t e Met :ffice 1%!!23.

icture 4

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+uspected location of u(an re(ains 14!.5"56"", 7$.2!64!83, )it in t e edgero), ) ic is

co(posed of gorse Ulex europaeus. Picture courtesy of +ara urst 1%!!23.

icture 2

Close7up of t e undergro)t of t e suspected location of u(an re(ains 14!.5"56"",

7$.2!64!83. Picture courtesy of +ara urst 1%!!23.

icture 8

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/yre trac9 i(prints located along dirt pat )it in Bourne Valley Nature Reserve. Picture

courtesy of +ara urst 1%!!23.

icture ;

+ oe i(print located along dirt pat )it in Bourne Valley Nature Reserve. Picture courtesy

of +ara urst 1%!!23.

icture

4- 1A Report on Forensic and Crime Scene Requirements in Support of a Police Investigation at the



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Close7up s ot of so(e of t e gorse Ulex europaeus present in t e Bourne Valley Nature

Reserve, picture courtesy of +ara urst 1%!!23.




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2: 1A Report on Forensic and Crime Scene Requirements in Support of a Police Investigation at the



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2- 1A Report on Forensic and Crime Scene Requirements in Support of a Police Investigation at the



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Table :

Co(plete list of +piders o*served in Bourne Valley +++


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Mont ly )eat er readings for urn, U0, %!!2. Courtesy of t e Met :ffice 1%!!23.


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+ig(oidal deco(position curves illustrating rate of (ass loss ) en cadaver is on t e soil

surface 1@3, and follo)ing *urial in soil 1 3.


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List of s9ills Dorensic Ant ropology and Dorensic Arc aeology can contri*ute to a o(icide

investigation. :*tained fro( +c ult> 'upras, %!!8 1p.6!$3.

References

Bourne Strea) artnership, 2 -& Bourne Valley 6ocal Nature Reserve& 'vailable fro)

http >>www&bournestrea)partnership&or$&uk>bourne valley lnr&ht) O'ccessed 2nd Dece)ber

2 -P& ara$raph 8&

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Bourne Strea) artnership, 2 -& Desi$nations& 'vailable fro)

http >>www&bournestrea)partnership&or$&uk>desi$nations&ht) O'ccessed 4Ath Dece)ber

2 -P&

Bourne Strea) artnership, 2 -& 5ildlife& 'vailable fro)

http >>www&bournestrea)partnership&or$&uk>wildlife&ht) O'ccessed 4Ath Dece)ber 2 -P&

Bourne Strea) artnership, 2 -& Bourne Valley SSS!& 'vailable fro)

http >>www&bournestrea)partnership&or$&uk>bv sssi&ht) O'ccessed 4Ath Dece)ber 2 -P&

Brown, '& &, 2 A& The use of forensic botany and $eolo$y in war cri)es investi$ations in

NC Bosnia& Dorensic +cience


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Dupras, T&6&, Schult@, +&+&, 5heeler, S&1&, 3 5illia)s, 6&+&, 2 A& Dorensic Recovery of

u(an Re(ains Arc aeological Approac es & Boca Raton,


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6o)bardi, &, 4---& The 7ontribution of


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Vass, '&'&, Barshick, S&, Se$a, &, 7aton, +&, Skeen, +&T&, 6ove, +&7&, 3 Synstelien, +&'&, 2 2&

Deco)position 7he)istry of Hu)an Re)ains ' New 1ethodolo$y for Deter)inin$ the

ost)orte) !nterval& =ournal of Dorensic +ciences & ;E #8%, ;20 8&

5arlow, T&'&, 2 & Direar(s, t e la) and forensic *allistics & 2nd ed& Boca Raton,

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Forensic Science Essay