Running Head: COOPERS FURNACE KILLER
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Chronicles of a Minion Foretold Christian Mauldin, Jahidi Solomon, Jordan Burge and Angelica Shannon Cass High School
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Kastle-Meyer Blood Testing Introduction Of the evidence that was collected from the crime was possible biological evidence from the car of Jessica Baldwin. To test whether or not the evidence was in fact blood we had to run a Kastle-Meyer test. The Kastle-Meyer blood test consists of using a cotton swab to gain a sample of the possible bloodstain and from there dropping ethanol, phenolphthalein, and hydrogen peroxide onto the swab to test if blood is present. If the swab turns pink immediately after applying the hydrogen peroxide then blood is present, if there is no detectable color change then no biological evidence is present. If the cotton swab turns pink directly after being exposed to the hydrogen peroxide then we can infer that the evidence is in fact blood. With this experiment we will be able to open a door to further put our suspect closer to trial, as if we can confirm it is blood, then we can confirm whose blood it is. Materials . 70% Ethanol . Phenolphthalein solution . Hydrogen Peroxide . Water . Cotton Swab . Swatch of evidence being tested . Dropper
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Procedure 1. We began by dropping two drops of water onto the cotton swab and with this lightly
rubbing our unknown evidence to gain a sample. 2. We then used the dropper to drop two drops of ethanol onto the swab, we followed in the
same suit with the other two substances (the phenolphthalein and hydrogen peroxide). 3. After dropping the hydrogen peroxide we studied the swab to watch for a change in color.
Results Reaction to water
Slightly pink
Reaction to ethanol
Still slightly pink, but lighter
Reaction to phenolphthalein
Even lighter than the first two, but still pink.
Reaction to hydrogen peroxide
Pink
Is it blood?
Yes
After our testing we concluded that the sample tested was blood, as the change in color did occur. Discussion In our final opinion we conclude that the blood sample (a t-shirt) found in Jessica Baldwin’s car was blood, and therefore draws attention to her as a suspect to this crime. With this we can test the blood further for blood typing and hopefully match it to that of our victim, Carl Grimes. This will help with our case in concluding that Jessica Baldwin did in fact kill our victim. Blood Typing Test
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Introduction After testing the sample of blood we received from our suspect Jessica Baldwin’s car, to indicate whether it was blood, we then tested the blood for typing to see if the sample was a match to our victim. The blood typing test consists of using two separate samples of the same blood type and adding protein A to our first batch and protein B to our second. After watching the color change and the clotting of the blood samples, the blood sample collected is then tested by adding the proteins to two separate samples and watching color change and clotting to determine blood type. If the blood sample clots and is confirmed to be an A positive blood type, then the blood is a match to that of our victim. This is important and pertains to our case because we suspect that this blood may be that of Carl Grimes, and blood typing helps filter our results that way we don’t waste our time and money testing blood that isn’t even the same type of that of our victim. We believe that it is the blood of our victim, and after blood typing we suspect that it will be a match to Carl Grimes which is type A positive. If my hypothesis is true then the unknown blood will clot and change in color in the same manner of which type A positive does. Materials . Type A, B, AB, and O blood . Antibodies A and B . A blood sample dish (4x3 slots) . Droppers . Unknown blood sample Procedure
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1. Use droppers to put two drops of type A blood in the first slot of the dish. Follow in the
same suit for each blood type and for each slot in the sample dish. 2. Do the same on the second row of the blood sample dish. 3. In the third row of slots, put two drops of the unknown in two slots of the dish. 4. From there, in the first row of slots put two drops of antibody A into each sample. This is
the control of A, B, AB, and O positive blood types. 5. In the second row, put two drops of antibody B into each sample. This is the control of A,
B, AB, and O negative blood types. 6. In the final row, put two drops of antibody A into the first slot, and two drops of antibody
B into the second slot. 7. Examine the two slots of the unknown blood and compare to the others to match blood
type. Results Blood Type
Antibody A
Antibody B
A
Deep, dark, red
Light yellow
B
Murky yellow
Light pink
AB
Bright red
Pink
O
Yellow
Light yellow
Unknown
Deep, dark, red
Light yellow
After studying the color change after dropping the different antibodies into the blood samples and into the unknown sample we found that the unknown seemed to match to the type a
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positive blood. The chart above describes the color of the blood samples after being exposed to the antibodies (which are supposed to simulate the RH positive and negative) in their relation to the unknown sample. Discussion After our testing we have concluded that the suspect had the victim’s blood in the back of her car, putting her very high on our list. The testing revealed that the unknown blood on the shirt was that of Carl Grimes, our victim, and was a match to his blood type.
Microscopic Analysis of Fibers Introduction
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Among the various items that were collected at the scene of the crime there were a few fibers wrapped around the murder weapon. With this lab we are hoping to identify these fibers as ones that either look exactly like ones found on Jessica Baldwin or ones like that of found on the suspect. We suspect that by the unique color and look of the fiber that it belongs to a purse owned and carried by Baldwin, and in matching it to her we can further prove her presence at the crime. In this lab we will analyze the fiber threads themselves, and how they are made up to attempt to identify them as ones that belong to or are in relation to Baldwin. Materials . Microscope . Glass slide . Unknown fiber . Tweezers Procedure 1.
With tweezers, attach the unknown fiber to the glass slide and put under the microscope.
2. On the lowest setting, note fiber makeup and begin to sketch not what the fiber as an
entirety looks like but what the specific threads look like and record the results. 3. On the medium setting, do the same as was done on the lowest setting and record the
results. 4. On the final and highest setting do the same as was done to both steps before, and sketch
your results.
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Results Type of fiber
Low magnification
Medium
High magnification
magnification Unknown
Pattern of small
Slighly messy, seem
Seem to look that of
weaved together
to stick out
natural nature.
fibers
individually from the strand.
The fiber analysis revealed to us that with the fibers weave pattern that it seems to be of natural substance. Discussion Based on the results we have found we have concluded that the fiber is one of natural nature. Our analysis has found that the fibers do indeed seem to match the fibers on the purse of Baldwin. However, because of the multitude of natural fibers we must conclude that the evidence is simply one of class nature, and cannot call it individual, despite its unique color and overall look of the fiber that did have us slightly befuddled.
Burning Fibers
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Introduction Despite our analysis of the fibers under a microscope, we decided that to further seal our conclusion that the fiber was natural we would also burn the fiber to check if it burned like that of one that was of natural decent. To burn a fiber we used tweezers to place the fiber close to a flame and in the flame to analyze the reaction. We suspect from our previous results that the fiber will burn in a way that a natural fiber does, and that as it approaches the flame it should burn quickly and should leave behind a white fluffy residue after being burned. We hope that with this discovery it will help with fully sealing the fact that it is a natural fiber. Materials . Tweezers . Bunsen burner . A lighter . Unknown Fiber . Slow motion camera Procedure 1. Turn on the gas to the bunsen burner, and with the lighter carefully ignite the gas. 2. Being very careful, use the tweezers to pick up the piece of the fiber. 3. With one person filming the event, slowly inch the fiber towards the flame and analyze
the reaction of the fiber.
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4. Once the fiber is burnt, take note and record the residue, smell, and reaction of the fiber
while approaching the flame, while in the flame, and when removed from the flame. Results Approaching
In Flame
Flame Unknown Fiber
Singed
Removed
Odor
Residue
Burned
White fluffy
from Flame Burned
Continues to
quickly
burn
ash
Based on the results we noted from the fiber, this seems to be a fiber of natural basis, seemingly cotton. The burn patterns match that of what cotton is noted to do within flames. Discussion After running the lab we have found that the fiber is most definitely of natural basis. The fact that the fibers burn in the way that natural fibers do, and have the weave pattern that natural fibers do, this seems to be definite results. However despite the results we have found the fact that the fiber is class evidence still reigns true, while the burn pattern matches that of a natural fiber, there is not a specific result nor a specific pattern that gives it a special characteristic.
Analysis of Hair
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Introduction Among the items found at the scene were hairs around the weapon, seemingly removed in a struggle. In order to test this hair we will attach it to a glass slide, and analyze it under a microscope. Analysis consists of sketching a general picture of the hair, identifying the medulla (a visible ‘line’ within the hair), identifying the cuticle (the outer coat of the hair), the color, and the texture of the hair. While the hair will not be classified as individual evidence due to the lack of DNA, if it is a match with our suspect Jessica Baldwin’s hair, we can classify it as class evidence. We, in our professional opinion, do believe that Baldwin is the killer and hope that with this small piece of evidence we can not only further prove that the suspect was the killer, but at least prove she was present at the crime scene. Materials . Microscope . Unknown hair . Glass slide Procedure 1. Carefully remove the unknown hair from the paper bindle that it should be stored in and
place it securely on the glass slide. 2. Place the glass slide underneath the microscope and on the lowest setting analyze the
make-up of the fiber. Write down the results of your analysis. 3. Move the microscope setting to the second highest grade, and from there begin analyzing
the look of the fiber on a closer level. Record the results of your analysis.
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4. Move the microscope setting to the highest grade, and from this point again analyze the
fiber on the closest level. Record the results of your analysis. Results Source of hair
Medulla:
Cuticle:
(Type)
(Draw and
Color
Straight or
Other
curly
Type) Unknown
Absent
Flattened
Black
Straight
Solid, thick, and very easy to locate.
Baldwin
Absent
Flattened
Black
Straight
Very easy to locate, think, and solid.
The results of the hair found were as above, the medulla was absent, and the cuticle was seemingly flattened. The color was straight black, making it very easy to locate but very hard to identify the cuticle. The results matched that of what we found with hair taken from Baldwin for testing. Discussion Based on the information we have gained from the hair found, we conclude that the hair is synthetic. And while it is a match to that of what we have for Jessica Baldwin, this is a
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common type of hair, and therefore must be classified as class evidence. There is no DNA to confirm the head of which this came from, as synthetic hair does not carry DNA. Hence, while I would say that the coincidence will not go unnoticed, the hair itself will not completely close the case.
Fingerprinting and Classifying Introduction
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At the scene of the crime fingerprints were lifted from a possible weapon. Among our suspects we have high hopes to match these to a Jessica Baldwin with use of minutia and fingerprint studies. Our hypothesis is that these prints will match that of Baldwin. If the match is there, and our hypothesis is proved true then this will only add to the evidence we already have against Baldwin.
Materials . Magnetic Powder . Magnifying glass/Microscope . Marker . Lifting tape . Lifting card . Gloves . Suspects ten card
Procedure 1. Take the item being printed and with gloved hands lightly dust the prints with the magnetic powder. 2. Use the tape to lift the prints from the item and place on the lifting card. 3. Label lifting card. 4. From this point, scan the print and use either a fingerprint database or a classic magnifying glass and marker to mark the similarities between your lifted prints and the ten card of your suspect.
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Search for similarity’s in the fingerprints by paying close attention to loops, whorls, arches, and other identifying items. Results
The side by side analysis of the fingerprints found at the scene of the crime at the ones on the ten card of Baldwin are a match to each other. Discussion After matching similarities between the ten card prints and the lifted prints to that of our suspect, we found that the two were a match. Paying close attention to the little details of the prints, such as ridge endings and bifurcations we were able to make a match between the partial print lifted and the ten card
COOPERS FURNACE KILLER we had on file. While we could not make a full print, we hope that in the future we are able to lift fuller, easier to read, fingerprints.
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