Blood Spatter Analysis The success or failure of

Blood Spatter Analysis The success or failure of any criminal investigation often depends on the recognition of physical evidence left at a crime scene and the proper analysis of that evidence. Crime scenes that involve bloodshed often contain a wealth of information in the form of bloodstains. The pattern, size, shape, and the location of such stains may be very useful in the reconstruction of the events that occurred. William G. ECKERT and Stuart H. JAMES

The interpretation of bloodstain patterns found at the scene can: • Confirm or refute assumption concerning events and their sequence: – Postion of victim (standing, sitting, laying) – Evidence of movement (blood smears, flow patterns and drip trails) • Confirm or refute statements made by the principles in the case: – Are the stain patterns on a suspect's clothing consistent with his reported action? – Are the stain patterns on a victim and/or at the scene consistent with accounts given by the witnesses, victim or the suspect?

Drip Stains/Patterns
(caused by the force of gravity only)

Transfer Stains/Patterns (a blood contaminated object contacting a surface)

Spatter Patterns (impact, cast-off, etc. ) (liquid blood, internally or externally, subjected to a force greater than gravity)

Test your Skills as a Bloodstain Pattern Analyst! • As a bloodstain pattern analyst you have been called to the following scene by the police investigator. • The police were called to the following scene when the apartment caretaker found the following blood patterns in the building and within suite 203. The resident in suite 203 cannot be located and it is not known who the victim is or what the person's injuries might be.

You are asked by the investigating officer: • Can you tell me what happened? • Where was the victim initially attacked? • What was the victim's position during the attack? • What type of force created the bloodstains? • Where/what do you think his injuries might be? • This is an actual case and circumstances!

The first photograph is going up to the second floor from the apartment entrance foyer.

You then turn right and pass the next photo.

You continue up the stairs and enter into the second floor hallway at the door marked "Exit".

You pass bloodstains on the door and frame to suite 201.

Walking towards suite 203

There are bloodstains on the wall across from the entrance door to suite 203.

You then enter suite 203 and observe bloodstains on the back of the door, on the wall to the left of the door, above the stove and on the upper bedroom door frame.

These are the bloodstains on the wall, left of the door.

These are the bloodstains above the stove around the bedroom door entrance.

Case Analysis and Conclusion • Go through the pictures of the crime scene, analyze the blood stain spatter and answer the questions in schoolwork on My Big Campus