Recreating Death’s Half Acre:Forensic Science and Tech Farm

Dr. David K. MillsLouisiana Tech University

Forensic Science at Louisiana Tech University

• A Brief History

• Coursework

• Research Activities

• Future Directions

Forensic Science

What is it?

Components-Applied Science

Basic Science

Legal/Courts & Testimony

Facilities

Scope of Forensic Science

Criminalistics

Specialities

Medicine

Anthropology

Odontology

Entomology

Others

History of Forensic Science

Chinese medicine-6th Century

1839-MJB Orfila, toxicology

Late 1800s-Alexandre Lacassagne, ballistics and bloodstain patterns

1910-Edmund Locard, exchange principle

1924-August Vollmer, LAPD crime lab

1932-FBI Laboratory, fingerprints

Forensic Science is NOT

Forensic Science is

• CS Investigators• Physical Evidence• Forensic Science• Forensic

Taphonomy• Forensic

Archeology

Forensic Anthropology at Louisiana Tech University

Integrating Field Investigations with Laboratory Analysis

Coursework in Forensic Science

• Forensic Anthropology

• Biological Anthropology

• Research in Forensic Anthropology

• Readings in Forensic Science

• Readings in Bioanthropology

Human Osteology Lab

• Intense instruction in human osteobiology

• Methods used in human identification

Objectives

AgingSexingPopulation AffinityDietPathologyTrauma

Investigative Field Techniques

• Simulated Crime Scenes

• Pics as model corpses

• Forensic Taphonomy

• Forensic Archeology

• Moot Court

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Crime Scene Excavation

• Site survey and discovery• Crime scene preservation• Site formation processes• Site excavation

• Forensic archeological methods • Importance of context and the chain of evidence• The art of archeology

Recovery and Analysis

• Recovery of material artifacts• Data recording• Forensic photography

• Preservation of skeletal remains• Preliminary field analysis• Curation and transport

Investigative Field TechniquesForensic Archeology

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Laboratory Analysis and Reconstruction

Mock Inquest

Mock Inquest

• Each forensic team submits a written forensic case report.

• Students portray expert witnesses and defend their conclusions.

• Afterwards, crime scenario is presented and compared to forensic team findings.

Model Human Corpse

• Hormel pygmy pig is used as a model human corpse

• Document arthropod succession is used to determine post-mortem death interval

• Patterns of decomposition and disarticulation are documented

• The model corpse is used for other research purposes (e.g. studies in taphonomy)

Forensic Entomology

• Model corpse is placed in secured cage surrounded by dead fall traps

• Sampling will begin when first blow fly lands

• Students prepare experimental area in environment A

• Two entomology groups sample, monitor and analyze arthropod and tissue samples

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• Traps are sampled at set times in morning and afternoon.

• Temperature, rainfall and other climatic variables are measured.

• Arthropods are sorted and counted.

• Arthropod taxonomy is identified, and succession is determined.

• Tissues are fixed and processed for paraffin embedding and stained.

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Research Activities inForensic Taphonomy

• Bioturbation• Cut mark analysis• Differentiating bone trauma from geofact• Cell and tissue decay• Site formation processes• Chlorophyll concentration as PMI indicator• Hydraulic transport and differential preservation

Image Analysis and Forensic Anthropology

Bone Modification