Forensic Reconstruction: Theory to Practice

Forensic Reconstruction introduces students to both the process of crime scene reconstruction and the basic principles of forensic investigation. These principles--including the use of logic in examination and the admission of reconstruction evidence in American courts--are examined in the first few chapters of the book. After a look at the basics, the text examines application of these standards in various stages of the reconstruction process. The text explores such applications as shooting reconstruction, DNA, pathology, and bloodstain pattern analysis, alongside more recent developments and unique areas including profiling, genetic genealogy, and computational reconstruction as applied to airplane crashes. Each chapter is written by a recognized expert in the field, adding a depth of research and unique case highlights that provide students with the most thorough understanding of each topic.

Dr. Henry C. Lee is a Professor Emeritus and founder of the Forensic Science program at the University of New Haven. He is an acknowledged visionary in the field, advancing the study of forensics at the University exponentially over the past forty years. Forensic science students and law enforcement professionals from around the world study with Dr. Lee and use cutting- edge technology in the Henry C. Lee Institute of Forensic Science Center.

Henry C. Lee has been a prominent player in many of the most challenging forensic science cases of the last forty-five years. Among the many cases he was involved with, he reviewed the investigation of the John F. Kennedy assassination and participated in the forensic evaluation of evidence and crime scenes in the JonBenet Ramsey murder, the O.J. Simpson, Laci Peterson slayings, the post-9/11 forensic investigation, the Washington, D.C. sniper shootings, and the Casey Anthony trial. He has served as a forensic consultant in all fifty states and forty-six countries.

Dr. Lee is a former Commissioner of Public Safety for the State of Connecticut, served as the State's Chief Criminalist for over two decades and as Chief Emeritus for the Connecticut Department of Public Safety. His success was the driving force in establishing the State Police Major Crime concept and in modernizing the Connecticut Forensic Science Laboratory.

Elaine Pagliaro, JD, MS, is a Forensic Science Consultant and Assistant Executive Director, Henry C. Lee Institute of Forensic Science.

PART 1: Basic Principles of Forensic Investigation

Chapter 1: Introduction to Crime Scene Investigation and Reconstruction
- Henry C. Lee, PhD
Introduction
Crime Scene
Process of Crime Scene Examination
Scientific Crime Scene Investigation
Physical Evidence
Classification of Physical Evidence
Utilization of Crime Scene Evidence
Logic and Crime Scene Investigation
Scene Investigation as a Component of the Forensic Process
Defining Reconstruction
Reconstruction Process
Types of Reconstruction

Chapter 2: Crime Scene Processing and Documentation
- John Z. Wang, PhD
Introduction
Crime Scene, Forensic Science, and the Criminal Justice System
Crime Scene Investigation and Criminal Investigation
Sworn CSIs and Civilian CSIs
Crime Scene Technicians and Crime Lab Examiners
Crime Scene Safety for Police Officers and the Team
The Globally Harmonized System and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration
Initial Crime Science Processing for Protection and Cooperation between First Responding Officers and CSI Team
Field Detector and Personal Protective Gear
Crime Scene Processing
Crime Scene Processing and Crime Scene Evaluation
Crime Scene Search Patterns
Crime Scene Preservation
Crime Scene Documentation
Crime Scene Note-Taking and Sketching
Crime Scene Photography and Crime Scene Videorecording
Basic Measurements
Crime Scene Analysis and Reconstruction
Career Opportunities: Job Requirements of a Crime Scene Technician
General Duties
Specific Duties
Organizational Responsibilities
Education and Experience
Job Challenges
Legal Challenges
Technical Challenges

Chapter 3: Logic and Crime Scene Reconstruction
- Henry C. Lee, PhD
Logic
Inductive Logic
Deductive Logic
Abductive Logic
Logic Applied During an Investigation and Reconstruction
Logic Applied to Crime Scene Pattern Interpretation: A Specific Determination
Logic Trees
A Case Using Logic: The Ellen Sherman Investigation
Initial Investigation
Reevaluation of the Scene and Evidence
Logic and the Estimation of the Time of Death

Chapter 4: Reconstruction in the Courts
- Elaine Pagliaro, JD, MS
Evidence in Legal Proceedings
Relevant Evidence Is Admissible
Evidence Must Be Reliable
Evidence Introduced through Witnesses
Admissibility of Scientific or Technical Evidence
Frye Standard
Daubert Standard
Federal Rules of Evidence
Admissibility of Scene and Incident Reconstruction
The Rise of Science in the Courtroom
Reconstruction Admissibility Questioned
Response to the 2009 NAS Report
Scientific Area Committees

PART 2: Foundational Methods of Analysis

Chapter 5: Shooting Reconstruction
- Henry C. Lee, PhD
Introduction
Reconstruction of a Shooting Incident
Physical Evidence in the Shooting Incident
Reconstruction Using Projectiles and Cartridge Cases Found at the Scene
Reconstruction by Markings on Projectiles and Casing
Reconstruction by Number and Shell Casing Ejection Patterns
Muzzle-to-Target Distance Determinations
Trajectory Determinations
Bloodstain Pattern Analysis for Shooting Reconstruction
Glass Fracture Distribution Patterns at Shooting Scenes
Releasing the Scene
Laboratory Analysis and Reconstruction
Autopsy in a Shooting Reconstruction
Types of Reconstruction
Police-Involved Shooting Incident Investigation
Duties of the First Responder in Police Shooting Cases
Evidence in Police-Involved Shootings

Chapter 6: Bloodstain Pattern Analysis in Reconstruction
- T. Paulette Sutton, MS and Peter Valentin, PhD
Introduction
Training and Education
Bloodstain Categories
Bloodstains Produced by Passive Mechanisms
Spatter Stains
Altered Bloodstains
Bloodstain Pattern Documentation
Stain Collection and Forensic Testing
Identification of People or Objects
Potential for Bias in Analysis
BPA Reconstruction and the Scientific Method
Case-Specific Experimentation
Principles of Effective Scientific Experimentation

Chapter 7: Imprint and Impression Pattern Analysis
- Tianyin Yu, MS and Henry C. Lee, PhD
Introduction
Imprints, Impressions, and Indentations
Documentation of Patterns
Enhancement of Patterns
Fingerprint Patterns for Reconstruction
Classification Methods
Sex and Age Estimation
Ethnicity Estimation
Stature Estimation
Palmprint Patterns for Reconstruction
Regions of the Palm
Sex Estimation
Stature Estimation
Palmprint Patterns for Reconstruction
Regions of the Palm
Sex Estimation
Stature Estimation
Other Considerations for Fingerprints and Palmprints
Location and Orientation of Prints
Trace Materials Present in Prints
Foot and Footwear Patterns for Reconstruction
Measurement
Collection of Exemplar Prints
Stature Estimation
Forensic Gait Analysis
Footprint Morphology
Tire and Skid Marks
Minimum Speed Determination
Tire Track Pattern Analysis
Chemical Analysis

Chapter 8: Molecular Reconstruction
- Dragan Primorac, MD, PhD, Damir Marjanovi?, PhD, and Josip Crnjac, PhD
Introduction
Sample Collection
Identification of Biological Samples
DNA Analysis and Interpretation
DNA Isolation Methods
Methods for DNA Quantification
Polymerase Chain Reaction
Multiplex PCR Systems in Forensic Genetics
Detection of DNA Analysis Results
Mitochondrial DNA Analysis in Forensics
Y Chromosome Analysis in Forensic Genetics
Recent Advances in Forensic Genetics
Phenotyping
Next-Generation Sequencing
Microbial Forensics
Glycans as a Forensic Tool for Age Determination

Chapter 9: Criminal Profiling
- Katherine Ramsland, PhD
Introduction
Earliest Profiles
Criminal Profiling in the United States
The FBI's Initial Program
Offender Point of View
Current Methods
Criminal Investigative Analysis
Victims First
Linkage Analysis and Reconstruction
The Profile
Location
Useful versus Successful versus Legal
Linking a Cold Case

PART 3: Medical Investigation and Anthropological Reconstruction

Chapter 10: Medical Investigation and Autopsy in the Reconstruction of Events Leading to Death
- Cyril H. Wecht, MD, JD and Steven A. Koehler, MPH, PhD
Introduction
The Forensic Death Scene Investigation
Forensic Death Investigators
Forensic Autopsy
Reconstruction of Firearm-Associated Deaths
Background
Firearm-Related-Death
Reconstruction of Fire-Associated Deaths
Background
Fire-Related Death
Reconstruction of Motor-Vehicle-Associated Deaths
Background
Motor-Vehicle Death
Reconstruction of Water-Associated Deaths
Background
Water-Associated Death
Reconstruction of Sharp-Edged-Object-Associated Deaths
Background
Sharp-Edged-Object Death
Reconstruction of Blunt-Force-Trauma-Associated Deaths
Background
Blunt Force Trauma
Reconstruction of Asphyxiation-Associated Deaths
Background
Asphyxia Death
Reconstruction of Fetal Death Investigation

Chapter 11: Reconstruction of Cases Involving Decomposed Bodies
- Cyril H. Wecht, MD, JD and Steven A. Koehler, MPH, PhD
Introduction
Postmortem Interval
Determining the Identity of the Body
Stages of Decomposition
Early Stages of Decomposition
Moderate Stages of Decomposition
Advanced Stages of Decomposition
Extreme Stages of Decomposition
Special Cases
Special Circumstances in Medical Reconstruction
Manner of Death Undetermined
Cause and Manner of Death Undetermined

Chapter 12: Forensic Anthropology and Reconstruction
- Jessica Crowson, MS, F-ABMDI, and R. Christopher O'Brien, PhD
Death Investigation Involving Skeletal Remains
Death Investigation Systems in the United States
Analysis to Establish Forensic Context
Individualization of Skeletal Remains, the Biological Profile, and Other Identifiers
Biological Profile Software: Forensic Anthropology Data Bank and FORDISC
Identification through Individual Pathologies, Anomalies, and Antemortem Records
Cause and Manner of Death
Skeletal Trauma from Projectiles and Gunshot Wounds
Thermal Modification to Bone
Taphonomy
Anthropologist's Report and Testimony

PART 4: Specialized/Advanced Methods of Analysis

Chapter 13: Solving Crimes using Relatives' DNA: Forensic Genetic Genealogy (FGG) and Familial DNA Searching (FDS) Applications for Casework
- Colleen Fitzpatrick, PhD, and Angie Ambers, MA, MS, PhD
Introduction
Forensic Genetic Genealogy (FGG)
Genetic Genealogy Investigations with Y-chromosome DNA Data
Genetic Genealogy Investigations with Autosomal SNP Testing Data
FGG Case Studies
High-Density SNP Processing Methods Used for FGG
U.S. Department of Justice Guidelines and Ethical Considerations
FGG and the Importance of Collaboration
Familial DNA Searching (FDS)
FDS versus Partial Matching (PM)
Success of FDS Outside of the United States
Legal and Ethical Considerations for the Use of FDS

Chapter 14: Computational Forensics: Event Reconstruction for Large-Scale Systems
- Goong Chen, PhD, and Cong Gu, PhD
Introduction
What Is Computational Forensics?
Why Computational Forensics?
Mathematical Modeling and Computer Simulation
Examples of Event Reconstruction by Computational Forensics
Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370: How Did It Hit the Water?
Germanwings Flight 9525: How Did It Hit the Mountain?
Appendix A: A Simplified Model of Airplane as a Beam for Estimating Its Critical Buckling Stress
Appendix B: Additional Tables of Information about Notation and Parameters

Glossary
Credits
References
Index