Body Found at Cooper’s Furnace Angelica Shannon D.S.W. , Jordan Burge M.S.F.S. , Jahidi Solomon FOP, Christian Mauldin BFor.Od. Department of Forensics and Forensic Pathology
Case Summary: An 18-year old white male was discovered by a hiker on the Cooper’s Furnace Hiking Trail in Bartow County at 5:30 pm. He was bound with rope and partially covered with leaves. Officers also found a tire iron nearby that is believed to have been the murder weapon. The body was found by a passing hiker. They then proceeded to call 911. The first officer arrived at the scene at 5:40 pm. After securing the scene, investigators proceeded to take multiple photographs of the scene. Evidence collected included: the victim, multiple hairs, a red fiber, and a tire iron. Results and Discussion: Upon field examination, the body, later identified as Carl Grimes, was in the beginning stages of lividity and rigor mortis with only the face and neck becoming rigid. Further examination revealed a lone hair in the hand of the victim. The tire iron was found to have traces of blood and a cluster of fibers caught in its middle portion. The body was then sent to the forensic pathologist for an autopsy to determine the cause and mechanism of death. The pathologist concluded that the cause of death was a homicide caused by blunt force trauma to the upper-left portion of the skull.
This led to cranial fracturing, cerebral lacerations and eventually intracerebral hemorrhaging, which ultimately led to the victim’s death. The pathologist also concluded that the time of death was approximately 12:00pm. This was determined through examination of the state of the body at the time of discovery. Several witnesses claimed that the victim was last seen walking southeast on Old River Road at approximately 11:45 am. The police have named several suspects that were placed on the hiking trail around the time of the homicide. The police immediately searched for people that were close to the victim. In their search, they discovered that Jessica Baldwin was seen with the victim around his time of death.
Fingerprint analysis was a confirmed match between Jessica and the murder weapon. In addition to this, fibers from Jessica’s purse were a match to the fiber found at the scene. After searching Jessica’s car, a bloody t-shirt was found in the trunk. Through the use of a presumptive test and blood typing test, it
was concluded that the blood matched that of the victim.
http://salisbury.wbtv.com/news/crime/725 03-witness-sees-crim
Conclusion: Multiple instances of physical evidence, including fingerprints, hair, fiber, and blood led to the arrest of Jessica Baldwin on one count of second degree murder.
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References:
Dr. jeffrey macdonald
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Chronicles of a Minion Foretold Christian Mauldin, Jahidi Solomon, Jordan Burge and Angelica Shannon Cass High School
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
is blood, then we can confirm whose blood it is. Materials . 70% Ethanol . Phenolphthalein solution
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
. Hydrogen Peroxide . Water . Cotton Swab
possible bloodstain and from there dropping ethanol, phenolphthalein, and hydrogen
. Swatch of evidence being tested
peroxide onto the swab to test if blood is
. Dropper
present. If the swab turns pink immediately after applying the hydrogen peroxide then blood is present, if there is no detectable
Procedure 1. We began by dropping two drops of
color change then no biological evidence is
water onto the cotton swab and with
present. If the cotton swab turns pink
this lightly rubbing our unknown
directly after being exposed to the hydrogen
evidence to gain a sample.
peroxide then we can infer that the evidence
2. We then used the dropper to drop
is in fact blood. With this experiment we
two drops of ethanol onto the swab,
will be able to open a door to further put our
we followed in the same suit with the
suspect closer to trial, as if we can confirm it
other two substances (the
phenolphthalein and hydrogen
it to that of our victim, Carl Grimes. This
peroxide).
will help with our case in concluding that
3. After dropping the hydrogen
Jessica Baldwin did in fact kill our victim.
peroxide we studied the swab to watch for a change in color.
Blood Typing Test Introduction
Results After testing the sample of blood we Reaction to water
Slightly pinkfrom our suspect Jessica Baldwin’s received
Reaction to ethanol
Still slightly pink, but lighter car, to indicate whether it was blood, we Even lighter than the first two, but still pink. then tested the blood for typing to see if the Pink sample was a match to our victim. The Yes
Reaction to phenolphthalein Reaction to hydrogen peroxide Is it blood?
blood typing test consists of using two separate samples of the same blood type and After our testing we concluded that
adding protein A to our first batch and
the sample tested was blood, as the change
protein B to our second. After watching the
in color did occur.
color change and the clotting of the blood
Discussion
samples, the blood sample collected is then tested by adding the proteins to two separate
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
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
1. Use droppers to put two drops of
we suspect that this blood may be that of
type A blood in the first slot of the
Carl Grimes, and blood typing helps filter
dish. Follow in the same suit for each
our results that way we don’t waste our time
blood type and for each slot in the
and money testing blood that isn’t even the
sample dish.
same type of that of our victim. We believe that it is the blood of our victim, and after
2. Do the same on the second row of
the blood sample dish.
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
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.
. Type A, B, AB, and O blood 5. In the second row, put two drops of
. Antibodies A and B
antibody B into each sample. This is
. A blood sample dish (4x3 slots)
the control of A, B, AB, and O negative blood types.
. Droppers 6. In the final row, put two drops of
. Unknown blood sample Procedure
antibody A into the first slot, and two drops of antibody B into the second slot.
7. Examine the two slots of the
After our testing we have concluded
unknown blood and compare to the
that the suspect had the victim’s blood in the
others to match blood type.
back of her car, putting her very high on our list. The testing revealed that the unknown
Results
blood on the shirt was that of Carl Grimes, Blood Type
Antibody A
A
Deep, dark, red
B
Murky yellow
AB
Bright red
O
Yellow
Unknown
Deep, dark, red
our victim, and was a match to his blood type.
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 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
Microscopic Analysis of Fibers Introduction
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
Procedure With tweezers, attach the unknown
1.
fiber to the glass slide and put under the microscope.
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
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
presence at the crime. In this lab we will
as was done on the lowest setting
analyze the fiber threads themselves, and
and record the results.
how they are made up to attempt to identify them as ones that belong to or are in relation to Baldwin.
4. On the final and highest setting do
the same as was done to both steps before, and sketch your results.
Materials
Results
. Microscope
Type of fiber
Low magnification
magnificati
. Glass slide Unknown . Unknown fiber . Tweezers
Medium
Pattern of small
Slighly mes
weaved together
to stick out
fibers
individually
strand.
Despite our analysis of the fibers
under a microscope, we decided that to further seal our conclusion that the fiber was The fiber analysis revealed to us that with the fibers weave pattern that it seems to be of natural substance.
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
Discussion
tweezers to place the fiber close to a flame
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.
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
Burning Fibers . Unknown Fiber Introduction
. Slow motion camera
Fiber
quickly
Procedure 1. Turn on the gas to the bunsen burner,
Based on the results we noted from
and with the lighter carefully ignite
the fiber, this seems to be a fiber of natural
the gas.
basis, seemingly cotton. The burn patterns
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
match that of what cotton is noted to do within flames. Discussion After running the lab we have found
flame and analyze the reaction of the
that the fiber is most definitely of natural
fiber.
basis. The fact that the fibers burn in the
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
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
flame.
natural fiber, there is not a specific result nor Results
a specific pattern that gives it a special Approaching
In Flame
Flame Unknown
Singed
Removed characteristic. from Flame
Burned
Continues to
burn
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.
Analysis of Hair Introduction Among the items found at the scene were hairs around the weapon, seemingly removed in a struggle. In order to test this
Materials . Microscope . Unknown hair . Glass slide Procedure
hair we will attach it to a glass slide, and analyze it under a microscope. Analysis
1. Carefully remove the unknown hair
consists of sketching a general picture of the
from the paper bindle that it should
hair, identifying the medulla (a visible ‘line’
be stored in and place it securely on
within the hair), identifying the cuticle (the
the glass slide.
outer coat of the hair), the color, and the
2. Place the glass slide underneath the
texture of the hair. While the hair will not be
microscope and on the lowest setting
classified as individual evidence due to the
analyze the make-up of the fiber.
lack of DNA, if it is a match with our
Write down the results of your
suspect Jessica Baldwin’s hair, we can
analysis.
classify it as class evidence. We, in our professional opinion, do believe that Baldwin is the killer and hope that with this
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
cuticle was seemingly flattened. The color
of your analysis.
was straight black, making it very easy to
4. Move the microscope setting to the
locate but very hard to identify the cuticle. The results matched that of what we found
highest grade, and from this point again analyze the fiber on the closest
with hair taken from Baldwin for testing.
level. Record the results of your analysis.
Discussion
Results Based on the information we have Source of hair
Medulla:
Cuticle:
(Type)
(Draw and
Color
the hair is synthetic. And while it is a match to that of what we have for Jessica Baldwin,
Type) Unknown
Absent
Flattened
gained from the hair found, we conclude that
Black
this is a 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
Baldwin
Absent
Flattened
Black
DNA. Hence, while I would say that the coincidence will not go unnoticed, the hair itself will not completely close the case.
The results of the hair found were as above, the medulla was absent, and the
Materials . Magnetic Powder . Magnifying glass/Microscope . Marker . Lifting tape . Lifting card . Gloves . Suspects ten card Procedure Fingerprinting and Classifying 1. Take the item being printed and with Introduction gloved hands lightly dust the prints with At the scene of the crime fingerprints
the magnetic powder.
were lifted from a possible weapon. Among our
2. Use the tape to lift the prints from the
suspects we have high hopes to match these to a
item and place on the lifting card.
Jessica Baldwin with use of minutia and
3. Label lifting card.
fingerprint studies. Our hypothesis is that these
4. From this point, scan the print and use
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.
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. Search for similarity’s in the fingerprints
by paying close attention to loops,
prints, such as ridge endings and bifurcations we
whorls, arches, and other identifying
were able to make a match between the partial
items.
print lifted and the ten card we had on file.
Results
While we could not make a full print, we hope that in the future we are able to lift fuller, easier to read, fingerprints.
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