Crime Scene Investigation
The purpose of this project was to investigate a crime
scene using hands-on techniques. The methods we used are similar (if not
identical) to what happens in real-world investigations. We were all assigned
one of three crime scenes and then instructed to collect crime scene photos and
analyze evidence found at our simulated scenes.
I investigated the death of Aaron Lee, who was found dead in his kitchen by his wife. As we delved deeper into the project, we were given new information regarding our crimes, such as the results of the labs that we conducted with the provided evidence, as well as fabricated interview results. To solve our crime, bullet trajectory, blood spatter, toxicology, fingerprint fuming, blood typing, and DNA analysis were some of the labs that we conducted to solve our assigned crime. For each lab that was completed, we had to fill out an official evidence log in order to keep track of our findings and to further simulate a real-world investigation. Through our investigations, as well as a confession from the victim's wife, it was concluded that Aaron Lee's death was not a suicide, but in fact a murder committed by his wife in conjunction with his son.
Personally, I found this project to be a very engaging and eye-opening experience. I have always been intrigued by the field of forensic investigation as well as popular crime shows such as NCIS and Criminal Minds. I was very excited that I would be able to learn about some of the techniques used on these shows.
Now, forensics measures are not as glamorous as the media portrays them to be, but it was still a very revealing experience. The labs that I was able to partake in were the fingerprint superglue fuming, toxicology, and blood spatter analysis. I personally found blood spatter analysis to be the most engaging lab. For some reason I just found it fascinating that blood spatters differently depending on the trajectory of the bullet exit wound, and that one can use the simplest of all objects, string, to discover the origin of the spatter. My only quarrel that I have about this project is that we didn't have more time to go deeper into the field of forensics and be able to conduct more hands-on labs. It would have been really fun if we were able to actually conduct interviews and interrogations with real people so that we could experience that particular aspect of criminal investigations.
Below you can find crime scene photos, evidence logs, as well as the final recorded confession:
I investigated the death of Aaron Lee, who was found dead in his kitchen by his wife. As we delved deeper into the project, we were given new information regarding our crimes, such as the results of the labs that we conducted with the provided evidence, as well as fabricated interview results. To solve our crime, bullet trajectory, blood spatter, toxicology, fingerprint fuming, blood typing, and DNA analysis were some of the labs that we conducted to solve our assigned crime. For each lab that was completed, we had to fill out an official evidence log in order to keep track of our findings and to further simulate a real-world investigation. Through our investigations, as well as a confession from the victim's wife, it was concluded that Aaron Lee's death was not a suicide, but in fact a murder committed by his wife in conjunction with his son.
Personally, I found this project to be a very engaging and eye-opening experience. I have always been intrigued by the field of forensic investigation as well as popular crime shows such as NCIS and Criminal Minds. I was very excited that I would be able to learn about some of the techniques used on these shows.
Now, forensics measures are not as glamorous as the media portrays them to be, but it was still a very revealing experience. The labs that I was able to partake in were the fingerprint superglue fuming, toxicology, and blood spatter analysis. I personally found blood spatter analysis to be the most engaging lab. For some reason I just found it fascinating that blood spatters differently depending on the trajectory of the bullet exit wound, and that one can use the simplest of all objects, string, to discover the origin of the spatter. My only quarrel that I have about this project is that we didn't have more time to go deeper into the field of forensics and be able to conduct more hands-on labs. It would have been really fun if we were able to actually conduct interviews and interrogations with real people so that we could experience that particular aspect of criminal investigations.
Below you can find crime scene photos, evidence logs, as well as the final recorded confession:
evidencelogs_1.pdf | |
File Size: | 238 kb |
File Type: |
crime_scene_1_final_statement.docx | |
File Size: | 13 kb |
File Type: | docx |